| It's all well and good for people to recycle trash, | | | | Not only does that mean you don't have to buy |
| but what about household items past their prime? | | | | anymore tarp, you have something that is far |
| With a little imagination, you can turn almost | | | | more rainproof and way less likely to develop |
| anything into something else, often for cheaper | | | | inconvenient holes. Plus, the places rings mean that |
| than you might have had to pay the "real" item. A | | | | you have a lot more option on where to tie it |
| great example of this are your common house | | | | down. Additionally, it's a lot more stylish to have |
| keys. It has potential use as a toy, a weapon, and | | | | something colorful protecting your car, bike, or |
| a letter opener. Another household item with a | | | | wood pile. |
| whole lot of unexpected uses is the shower | | | | - A blanket cover. Not for indoor use, obviously, |
| curtain. | | | | but an old shower curtain is a valuable asset on a |
| Surprised? Sure. We don't typically think outside of | | | | camping trip. Not only does it work as a tarp, but |
| the box with household items. Rather than see a | | | | you can also throw it on top of your sleeping |
| shower curtain for the sturdy, durable, exciting | | | | back and rest easy, knowing no raindrops will |
| piece of plastic it, we'd rather throw it away. Not | | | | appear to disturb your sleep. And in the morning |
| only does this create waste, but plastic is an | | | | you can hang it from a tree and use it normally |
| extremely toxic substance, both in our landfills and | | | | too. |
| to make. | | | | - Couch covers. Fussy about your households |
| Next time you replace a shower curtain, instead | | | | cleanliness? Throw an old shower curtain on the |
| of throwing the old one away, consider these | | | | furniture when you're doing something messy or |
| uses instead: | | | | just going to be out of town for a while. The |
| - A tablecloth. Plastic tablecloths might be cheaper, | | | | colors can brighten a room while also protecting |
| but nice fabric ones are often more expensive | | | | your sofa from spills |
| and involve maintenance. A shower curtain is a | | | | - Art supplies. I've seen amazing Halloween |
| great alternative to both, provided you cut off | | | | costumes assembled from an old shower curtain |
| where the holes are. It's more durable than a | | | | and some great art as well. The interesting |
| regular plastic table cloth, and it often has bright, | | | | patterns and colors you can find on them mean |
| colorful, or otherwise interesting patterns. Plus | | | | they are a great material to use in a variety of |
| rather than creating plastic, it keeps some out of | | | | arts and crafts and projects--and their length |
| a landfill. Spruce up your table with one, especially | | | | means there will be enough shower curtain for |
| if you have an extremely messy baby. | | | | everyone! Protecting the environment doesn't |
| - A impromptu raincoat. Rather than throwing out | | | | necessarily mean just sorting cardboard from |
| the shower curtain keep around in your car as an | | | | glass cans or riding a bicycle. It also means |
| emergency poncho. It'll be a lot thicker than most | | | | thinking about the world in a new way. So next |
| rain coats and it more versatile in how you can | | | | time you're considering throwing away an old |
| wear it. It's also big enough to pull someone else in | | | | household item, consider it's myriad of uses. |
| with you, if needed. | | | | Maybe, like the humble shower curtain, it's an item |
| - A tarp. Any situation where you might use a | | | | better kept onto and recycled. |
| tarp, you can also use a recycled shower curtain. | | | | |