PYP Blog

I came across an online article at Real Simple that discusses Other Uses for Everyday Household Items.

From using excess Post-Its for bookmarks & playing Tic-Tac-Toe or Rubber Bands to dye Easter Eggs, a recurring thought came to my mind, what alternative uses of things from my Food Storage/Stockpile are there? Here are a few of MY ideas:

Kool-Aid. I use the lemonade flavored packets to clean my dishwasher. The citric acid does wonders on stains. (I know this idea may NOT be new, but my mom taught me this oldie, but goodie)OR

Use Kool-Aid packets to dye Easter Eggs or tye die stained white shirts. Follow standard procedures. Seems I'm not the only one who has too much Kool-Aid on hand. Here's some great ideas! My favorite is the Kool-Aid lipgloss.

FREE Conditioner. IF you are like many PYP'ers, you have extra shampoo or conditioner in your stockpile. I don't know who taught me this (sorry for not giving proper credit), but I used conditioner instead of shaving cream to shave my legs. It leaves legs smooth and IF you forget to use lotion afterwards, you don't get ash leg. OR

Mom's frugal hint...take a wet washcloth, add a dollop of hair conditioner into rag, instant cheap fabric softener!

Salad Dressing. You may alreday do this, but ALL my pasta salads use salad dressing (instead of homemade...SHH!) and I get rave reviews at potlucks. Favorites to use include: Kens Vidalia Onion & Kens Creamy Ceasar. Also, I know some marinade meats in salad dressing.

Toothpaste. This is more of a cleaning tip, but those drops of dried toothpaste in your bathroom sink? Use them! It is a cleaner that will help shine your sink. OR

Reader's Digest has 16 unusual ideas for toothpaste, but rather ingenious ones! Like cleaning one's iron?

That's just a sample of ideas. I could spend ALL day googling ideas for excess stockpile items. Instead, I'm asking YOU what are your best unique ideas? Please share!