Reuse It A To Z Many Items You Have On Hand Have Plenty Of Life Left In Them, Perfect For A Second Use

Think everyday items have only one specified “use”? Perish the thought!

Look around. If you’re willing to be a little creative, many everyday items can be given another lease on life - and make your life a lot easier.

Here are ingenious tips and unusual ways, from A to Z, to make the most of things you already have. Don’t toss those old telephone books just yet…

- A AS IN APPLESAUCE.

Help an older child swallow a small pill or vitamin tablet by placing it in a spoonful of applesauce. Or mix the contents of a capsule in with applesauce and serve the medicine as a “snack.”

- B AS IN BAG.

Use a mesh bag that once held onions or potatoes to tote plastic toys to the beach. When it’s time to leave, bag the toys and dunk in the water to rinse away the sand.

- C AS IN CALENDARS.

Let your child practice writing numbers next to dates in the squares on an old calendar.

- D AS IN DISHPANS.

Arrange plastic dishpans on shelves to hold toys with detachable parts. The dishpans are kid-size for carrying and your child’s room will look neater.

- E AS IN EGG CARTONS.

Turn an empty egg carton into a neat cash register “drawer” when your kids play store.

- F AS IN FOOD COLORING.

Make a colored cow for lunch. Add a few drops of food coloring to a glass of milk for a fun, healthful beverage.

- G AS IN GLUE.

For pain-free splinter removal, apply a dab of white glue over the skin where the splinter is imbedded. Let the glue dry, then peel away. The splinter should lift out too.

- H AS IN HAIR DRYER.

Use a hair dryer on a low setting to remove crayon marks from walls and wallpaper. Warm the marks for a few seconds with the dryer, then wipe the area clean with a damp cloth.

- I AS IN ICE CUBES.

With older children, medicine will go down easier if you have them suck on an ice cube first. The ice will numb the tongue and deaden the taste buds so the medicine doesn’t taste so bad.

- J AS IN JUNK MAIL.

Before you recycle it, let kids use junk mail to play post office. An old tote bags makes an excellent mail pouch.

- K AS IN KNEELING PAD.

The same kneeling pad you use in your garden can ease strain on your knees when you kneel to bathe your toddler.

- L AS IN LUNCH BOX.

Fill an old lunch box with first-aid supplies and keep it with you in your car. You’ll be ready to handle any minor scrapes or cuts.

- M AS IN MARSHMALLOWS.

Put a marshmallow in the empty cone before you add ice cream - it will help minimize messy drips through the bottom.

- N AS IN NAIL POLISH.

Use red nail polish to paint a big dot on the hot water faucet; this way, your child can easily distinguish the “hot” knob from the “cold.” Also, paint an “X” in red polish on any container holding a potentially harmful substance, such as bleach. Teach your child the X means “Danger - hands off!”

- O AS IN OVEN MITTS.

Use oven mitts as replacement soles when pajama feet wear out. Cut the mitts to shape and sew firmly in place.

- P AS IN PLACE MATS.

Line the bottom of your child’s dresser drawers with place mats you no longer use.

- Q AS IN QUILTS.

To darken a bright room, hang a quilt over a sunny window during baby’s nap time.

- R AS IN RUBBER BANDS.

If you’re in a group with lots of moms and babies, put a colored rubber band around your child’s bottle so you can easily distinguish it from the rest.

- S AS IN SWIM GOGGLES.

Put them on kids in the bath or shower to keep eyes shampoo free.

- T AS IN TELEPHONE BOOKS.

Two or three old phone books bound together with duct tape can be kept in your car’s trunk and used as an instant booster seat.

- U AS IN UPHOLSTERY CLEANER.

Spray a little cleaner on dingy, soiled stuffed animals. Let dry, then vacuum or sponge off.

- V AS IN VINEGAR.

Remove decals stuck on a window or painted wall by moistening them with several light coats of white vinegar. The decals should soon be loose enough to be lifted off easily.

- W AS IN WADING POOL.

Slide a no-longer-used, empty backyard wading pool under a child’s bed to hold stuffed animals, toys and games he or she doesn’t play with every day.

- X AS IN XEROX COPIES.

Make photocopies of your child’s handprint each year so you can see how much he or she grows. Don’t forget to label the copies with the date and year.

- Y AS IN YARDSTICK.

Nail or glue a yardstick to your child’s bedroom wall. Measure and mark off his growth spurts regularly.

- Z AS IN ZINC OXIDE.

Use this ointment (available in white and colors) to paint a clown’s face on your child.