There is no such thing as junk

We are a long way from the days of keeping up with the Joneses. In this era of cutting down on waste and tightening our financial belts; Americans have adapted to recycling and up cycling. We don't have to settle for second hand items that are poorly designed or unusable. There are many artisans and crafts people on Etsy reimaging a vintage piece of furniture and remaking it into a new functional piece. 

On HGTV there is this great show hosted by Lara Spencer; called Flea Market Flip. It is a show where two teams compete against each other for 5,000 and are given three challenges to purchase bargains, remake their vintage flea market finds, restore them, and then resell them for a profit. The winner is the team that makes the most profit from their sales. These flea market flippers have created unique items out of old vintage unusable items that would have filled a landfill somewhere in America. 

 On one show, a couple bought an old wood 1930's non-working radio cabinet for 45.00, they repainted it featuring the art deco design on it. Castors were added to the bottom of the cabinet, and shelves were made to insert in the body of the radio cabinet. The new cabinet was remade into a rolling bar cart. The bar cabinet sold for 225.00 profit, but the design was unique and beautiful.  With a little creativity, many of these items can be reinvented and upcycled into a new furniture piece.

   Upcycling is a new trend that allows vintage items with good bones to be reused and recreated into a new different item. Artisans have created a niche business that not only benefits the up cycler's business model but the environment as well.  The fewer items filling those landfills, the better it is for the global environment.

Reuse Old computer mouse pads

Cut the computer mouse pads into small circles or squares that fit on the bottom of the tip of chair legs, add super glue and then add it to the bottom of the chair tip. This will allow the chairs to glide across wood or tile flooring without scratching the floor surface

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Charcoal to banish bathroom odors

Charcoal briquettes used in small portable grills can be used to keep odors and moisture away in bathrooms, place the charcoal in a small out of the way corner and replace about every three months. The charcoal will soak up the moisture in the bathroom and help to minimize bathroom odors; but not completely banish them.    This tip I got from a vintage book on using everyday household items to address problems around the home.   

Eggplants and Tomatoes Grown Galore

This year didn't have much success in growing many eggplants or other veggies, only tomatoes were growing okay but some really small. Really hot weather in Ocala, past two weeks over 90 degrees.  My neighbor had better luck with his eggplants and he gave me some and I gave him tomatoes in turn.

Grown in Pine Run

Huge eggplants

My tomatoes grown without any pesticides

My neighbor had great luck growing  eggplants

Should I Replace or Keep old appliances for environment?

This is a dilemma; on one hand you may have vintage appliances that still work well , but are outdated by energy efficiency standards. Although, these appliances are still working well after fifteen years; sometimes the cost of potential savings in energy costs might make the cost of replacing these appliances more acceptable in the long run. 





My opinion is in terms of what is good for the overall environment; both choices are equal in savings. If you keep the vintage appliances that are still working, you are keeping this item out of a landfill which aids the environment by keeping toxins out of air or ground soil.



In my personal opinion, keeping old working appliances until they stop working is the best option for both saving the environment and your budget.  

My personal example of how older appliances if well maintained can last for years; was when my mother owned a GE washing machine that she bought in 1975. This washing machine continued to work until 1993.  She had to replace the hoses twice in all of the years she had it. The motor finally burned out and she purchased a newer smaller portable washing machine designed for apartment living. 

The best method to save the environment is to keep items for a longer period of time and to keep them out of landfills. There are other measures taken to save energy by unplugging appliances and electronics after each use.  Research which appliances will give maximum energy savings return long term.    



A blog reader shared her comment agreeing with me on holding on to older dated appliances even though she said it is difficult to keep her dated avocado green appliances.   When appliances are dated and still work, the best way to address dated colors on appliances. Is to decorate or cover these appliances with creative magnetic art boards.  Walter Drake or Lillian Vernon sites have these magnetic art boards that cover the refrigerator and the dishwasher, some have a rooster design or a patriotic design.  It is a unique creative inexpensive method to hide the appliance color.  These catalogs offer peel stick on stainless steel adhesive paper to cover these appliances. This item is great on dishwashers.

Recycle detergent bottles as watering cans

Detergent bottles are great as watering cans because they have spouts and are durable enough for outside climate. Recycling and reusing emptied detergent bottles help to keep plastics out of the landfills.  Plastic bottles are not biodegradable and take space in landfills. 



In addition it's inexpensive  because these bottles can be used in another capacity. In order to create nice clean bottles, remove the sticker label by using dishwashing detergent, or any adhesive remover. 

Be creative by painting the bottles or use chalk board paint to label the watering pots. 







Wash out bottles and remove labels

Use Dif to remove labels

Use bottles with spray nozzles or spouts

Finished product



Upcycle fan parts creatively

Use the parts of an old fan that no longer works and reuse to either repair or up cycle and create a new item. I reused the base stand part of the fan to use as a stand for a concrete stepping stone to place a plant or watering pots on it.






Fan Base

place a concrete paver on the fan base makes a great planter base

Place a concrete tiled planter base

makes a great base for water cans