Reuse!

[lastwaysleft]

I try my best to reuse things as often as possible.  It's good for the 'Stash and good for the environment.  Here are some ways to make reusing a part of your sustainable and frugal life:

Personal care products: The co-op near my house has shampoo, conditioner, and soaps in bulk.  So a couple years ago I bought reusable containers for these and bring the containers to the store when they're low to refill them.  Most things are cheaper in bulk than they are if you buy them pre-bottled from the store. I especially love Dr. Bronner's soap, it's a super foamy castille soap, I use it as shaving cream and as my daily soap; I've used it for washing a dog before, and according to Dr. Bronner's it has 18 uses.

Cleaning products: I make my cleaning products at home in reusable spray containers.  They are much healthier than your typical cleaning products, and much cheaper than organic ones.  I mainly use the all-purpose spray from this website (which you can make with Dr. Bronner's soap): http://www.macheesmo.com/2011/01/four-homemade-cleaners/
I've also started collecting my abundant orange peels to make this cleaner: http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2010/11/homemade-orange-cleaner.html

Cleaning instruments: I cut up old t-shirts to make rags of varying sizes which are great for cleaning and for blowing your nose.  I have a mop that has a microfiber head that can be washed to save on spendy mop-head replacements.

Food containers: I reuse all sorts of food containers.  My favorite water glasses are mason jars.  I use the plastic containers hummus comes in to store cut up vegetables.  I use glass jars with lids to get food in bulk from the grocery store to cut down on waste.  I also use these glass jars sometimes for making beverages portable (tea, or alcohol I'm taking over to my neighbor's).  One warning on this is that reheating plastic containers (or even reusing water bottles) can cause chemicals to leak into your food/beverage and then get into you, so I do not recommend it!

Gifts and cards: I buy some of my clothing secondhand and one of the stores I go to has really pretty paper bags.  I save all sorts of attractive paper that I get for free and use these, along with cut up paper grocery bags, to make birthday/holiday cards and wrapping paper.  I like to wrap presents up with string instead of tape as this is reusable and cheaper.  There's also a free store near where I live that carries donated crafting supplies.

That's all I can think of right now.  How do you reuse?

[velocistar237]

We do some of the things you list, like reuse plastic containers. My wife washes out our ziploc bags, but I refuse! I'd like to get all glass or metal containers for food eventually.

Your ideas remind me of this family:

http://www.sunset.com/home/zero-waste-home-tour-video-00418000073279/
http://thezerowastehome.com/

[AJ]

I have never been successful reusing old food containers. Typically, we get butter/yogurt/sour cream tubs, but when I see them in the fridge I always think they have their original contents in them. We use glass-lock containers for the fridge so I know what is in them at a glance. We also don't wash baggies, but we do try to use tupperware instead whenever we can. I like that better anyway, since soft things like sandwiches don't get squished.

I have been meaning to make some muslin bags for buying bulk foods with, like these: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kootsac

[Rich M]

I reuse my clothes for a whole week.
....my wife and fellow employees don't think it's so cool though.

Kidding.  But seriously,  since I do ride a bike to work, I use the same commuting gear for a few days, change at work to clothes I wear a few days with a little bathing. 

And bonus, my commute clothes smell so bad by Friday, I save the extra cash by not being invited to happy hour at the bar on the ride home.  ;)

[Melissa]

Nothing wrong with reusing clothing. I never understooc peple who thought tney had to wash everyting after wearing it only once. Why wash a sweater when you wear a turt,eneck underneath. If you wash your clothes less frequent,y theyast longer. And yes, I do draw the line at underwear.

[The Money Monk]

I reuse food containers a lot too, and not just for food. Tin cans from vegetables can be used for all sorts of things; scoops for animal food, whatever.

Any clothes that is too old gets re-purposed as rags. Saves you from buying paper towels, and cloth is a lot sturdier too.

Junk mail gets shredded and used in my chickens nest box.

[mariarose]

I reuse food containers a lot too, and not just for food. Tin cans from vegetables can be used for all sorts of things; scoops for animal food, whatever.

Tin cans are also useful as seed starting pots

[NV Teacher]

Nothing wrong with reusing clothing. I never understooc peple who thought tney had to wash everyting after wearing it only once. Why wash a sweater when you wear a turt,eneck underneath. If you wash your clothes less frequent,y theyast longer. And yes, I do draw the line at underwear.

I used to think the same way until I got head lice from school - twice.  Not fun, not fun at all.

[LibrarIan]

Nothing wrong with reusing clothing. I never understooc peple who thought tney had to wash everyting after wearing it only once. Why wash a sweater when you wear a turt,eneck underneath. If you wash your clothes less frequent,y theyast longer. And yes, I do draw the line at underwear.

I used to think the same way until I got head lice from school - twice.  Not fun, not fun at all.

Thus proving there are exceptions to every rule. I reuse clothing, but I'm not in your situation.

[CommonCents]

I'm sure I'll think of more later, but here's a start

Plastic bags (my husband hates this, doesn't think it's worth the effort).
Plastic containers I get. 
Plastic bottles if I am given them (I don't buy)
Cans, for discards (like fat) or holding things
Paper rolls - use the paper towels holders for keeping the plastic bags organized, and as a kid, used the toilet paper rolls for crafts
Plastic bags - cat litter, just all around anything
Paper bags - holds the paper for recycling
As a kid, paper bags for book covers.
Sponges - trying to use this more than paper towels
Old shirts - craft projects, cleaning/dusting
Towels - given to my sailing center for reuse or to a animal hospital
My husband reuses cups w/o washing (I hate this, he leaves them around the apartment)
Parchment paper, when I use it on rare occasions
In the past, old calendar pictures for artwork
Eggshells for Easter eggs

[PajamaMama]

I reuse the wax paper bags leftover from cereal, crackers. I wash them out and they get a few uses before I toss them.  They are great for storing homemade bread.  I also like to use them for raw meat. I can throw them out afterwards and I don't feel so bad about it since that's where they were heading anyway.

[horsepoor]

For gardening, the extra slats off of vinyl mini-blinds can be cut up and used as plant markers (write on them with sharpie).  They can also be hole-punched, so they can be tied onto almost anything that needs a label.  After removing the excess length from about 5 blinds, I pretty much have a lifetime supply of plant markers.

[meadow lark]

Okay, the mini blind slats idea is genius.