Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse
Give a second life to everyday items, like plastic spoons and old t-shirts.
Episode:
Bang for Your Buck
Jason DeCrow, © 2016, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Plastic Spoon Vase:
What you'll need:
- Leftover plastic spoons
- Hot glue gun
- Mason jar (a 12-ounce jar works best)
- Snap off the tops of the plastic spoons.
- Glue a plastic spoon top to the top of a mason jar where the lid would screw on (make sure the spoon top is facing upwards).
- Repeat this process until you've gone all the way around the top.
- Begin gluing spoon tops beneath the row you just completed, covering the bottom of the spoon tops on the row above. (Tip: Make sure you glue the next row of spoon tops in between the ones above--it helps create a flower petal effect.)
- Repeat going all the way down the jar until you reach the bottom.
- Finish with your favorite floral arrangement.
T-Shirt Tote Bag:
What you'll need:
- Old t-shirt (size medium works best)
- Sharp scissors
- Turn the t-shirt inside out and fold in half vertically.
- Cut along the neckline, just below the seam.
- Cut along the sleeves, just below the seam (you should have space leftover between the neck and the sleeves).
- Cut along the bottom of the shirt, just above the seam (save the strip of fabric you cut off here).
- Using the strip of fabric you just cut off, tie the bottom of the shirt together tightly.
- Flip your shirt right-side in and you're done!
DIY Cleaner and Wipes:
What you'll need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Pitcher
- Lemon and orange peels
- Scissors
- Old kitchen towels/dish rags
- Mason jar (the bigger the better)
- Mesh strainer
- To make the cleaner, add 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of water to a pitcher. You can always double the recipe depending on the size of your pitcher.
- Add approximately 5 lemon peels and 5 orange peels to the pitcher.
- Let the pitcher sit for 24 hours.
- Cut old dish towels into smaller squares.
- Roll up the dish towel squares and line them around your mason jar and in the center until the jar is full.
- Pour the mixture through the strainer over the cut-up towels in the jar.
- Take a towel out to clean and sanitize when needed. The best part of all--you can wash and reuse the dish towels when they're dirty!
Next Up
Slow Cooker Hacks
Your trusty slow cooker is brilliant for so much more than just soups and stews. Here are some favorite tricks from the crew at The Kitchen.
Piece of Cake "Lazy Brunch" Party
New Year's Eve is a late night for many people, but that doesn't mean you can't entertain on New Year's Day. The Kitchen has a few super simple ideas that make for a fun brunch with minimal effort--you can sleep in and still be a great host!
Halloween: Party Food Crafts
Throw a scary-good Halloween party with these frightfully easy and delicious party food crafts that are sure to impress your guests!
3 Ways to Use Frozen Ravioli
Learn The Kitchen co-hosts' three ideas for putting frozen ravioli to work.
The Greatest Tools
The Kitchen hosts share new and innovative ways to use three classic kitchen tools—the cast-iron skillet, the fish spatula, and the rasp grater. Learn how to teach old tools new, exciting tricks!
Save the Seeds After Carving Your Pumpkin — Here's What to Do with Them
Learn three new ways to flavor this fall-favorite snack.
Printable Dish Labels for Your Party
Be block party-ready with these handy labels — perfect for calling out common allergens and specifying dietary restrictions to keep everyone safe!
Kitchen Hacks
Try these clever shortcuts and tricks from the cast of The Kitchen the next time you need to need to reheat a slice of pizza or cool down a six-pack fast.
Better for You Food Forecast
We have some healthy food predictions to help you start the new year off right.
These Are The Only Home Bar Essentials You Need
Mix up a cocktail on a moment's notice with these tried-and-true tips from Geoffrey Zakarian!