Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Tuesday Tips and Recycling Saving Repurposing


I like to use the type of toothpaste brand that has the container that sits up. The tube toothpaste takes up so much room, and it has to be rolled and squeezed. The gravity-fed type just suits me better.

One day when I had finished out the toothpaste and washed it out I started looking at the container. The top part pops off, and it could be re-filled with something else. I had a VOILA moment.


In the studio, there are things I use that are messy, caustic or sticky, and I need to keep them from spilling or evaporating. But I need them close by, available and handy. Could I refill the empty toothpaste container with some of my chemicals and keep them sealed, yet handy?

Guess what! It works. A gel or even a fluid will go into it and seal tightly, yet the flip top is easy to open and squirt out a controlled amount just where it's needed.

So now I keep my gel flux in a re-purposed toothpaste container. It sits beside the soldering iron, and it's all sealed up and safe, but handy when I need to appy some flux.

I also use one like it for ammonia, one for flux cleaner. How do I keep straight which is which?

The toothpaste brand comes in different flavors and they have a different colored lid. So I use a specific color for each differing chemical or liquid.


So simple! Now my hubby isn't sure what he should save and what he should throw away so he asks "Is this trash" before he gets rid of anything!

I don't have children or visitors who come into the studio, but if you do and you decide to use some of these containers, you may want to put them away in a sealed box when you're not using them so no one is confused about what's inside, or put a big label on them saying that it's NOT toothpaste!

5 comments:

Doreen said...

How cool is that!!?? I love those light bulb moments!

SummersStudio said...

I'm going to have to look for that tooth paste. That is a perfect container. We have that rule in our house too. Nothing goes into the rubbish or recycle without first passing my inspection.

Beverly Herman said...

LLYYNN that is very smart finding a use for the those containers. I am not a very good recycler sad to say.
I love your polymer clay work and the finishes you put on them. They are beautiful. Have a great day.

TesoriTrovati said...

That's not only recycling...that's art! There is an art to repurposing and seeing the possibility! Thanks for the inspiration today Lynn! Enjoy the day! Erin

SharDon Exclusives said...

Clever lady! I will try this idea..tks for sharing
Sharon