Household items you had no idea were reusable

Sure, there are plenty of things you know are reusable – grocery bags, metal straws, reusable water bottles. But, in addition to products made specifically for that purpose, there are also plenty of other things you probably use all the time that can also be reused. Read on to find out the everyday items you shouldn’t be tossing after one use.

One tea bag can make two cups of tea – possibly even three or four. To get the most bang for your brew, continuously steep your tea in a teapot on the stove. If you only drink one cup in the morning, place your used tea bag in the refrigerator and re-purpose it later in the day to relax your eyes. Cool tea bags do wonders for eye puffiness and irritation.

Got a birthday party coming up? Bake multiple batches of cookies on the same piece of baking paper. Most brands are oven safe up to 230 degrees – and as long as there’s nothing stuck to the paper that could easily burn, it’s safe to reuse.

The pads that attach to the bottom of your Swiffer don’t have to go in the bin when you finish your chores. Fill your sink with warm water and soap and swish the duster around to ready it for a second use. Roll the pad into a power towel to eliminate any extra moisture. Allow it to air dry.

Dryer sheets are just as effective when cut in half and can be reused at least once. That’s four loads of laundry for the price of one!

Most coffee filters can be reused at least four or five times before they stop working effectively, according to groundtoground.org. Try one of these extraordinary uses for the coffee grounds (or place them in the compost), rinse off the filter, allow it to dry and reuse.

Just because it’s plastic doesn’t mean it has to be disposable. Instead of tossing a soap scum-laden curtain, try this. Remove the curtain from its hooks and put it in your washing machine, along with regular detergent and a cup of baking soda. Rehang the shower curtain to dry. The same goes for plastic shower curtain liners.

As your bath towels fade and accumulate holes, don’t immediately throw them in the bin. Cut them up and use them as washable cleaning rags to take care of dirty floors, cars, pets and more. If you’re feeling creative, you can even turn them into DIY creations like bath mats and soft dog toys.

Check out these 40 handy hints for cleaning every nook and cranny in your house. 

Your flowers and vegetables have uses beyond just their harvesting season. Let a few of your plants go to seed (if you don’t harvest them, they will stop growing and eventually produce seeds); you can keep those seeds and use them for next year’s crops.

Plus, check out the easiest foods to grow at home.

Egg cartons are designed to keep small, fragile items safe. Who says eggs should be the only things to get that protection? Use empty (and clean!) cartons to store small Christmas ornaments and lightbulbs, or turn them into organising trays for screws and bolts.

Here are 35 more home organising tips from the pros.