Saving Containers for Future Use

[benshelpmeet]

We have started saving our Corn oil bottles (wash out with dish detergent and hot water), Shampoo and Conditioner bottles, Lotion bottles, Soft Soap containers, Cleaning supply bottles, Dressing bottles, BBQ sauce bottles, Mayo jars which are now plastic (these can be used to put left overs in)...(we use the lids on our mason jars to store things that do not need to be sealed, in the summer when flies are out I drink out of a pint canning jar and these lids come in handy to help keep flies out of my water or tea.) , Pimiento jars, Ponds cold cream jars, Vaseline jars.......

You get the idea, any jars or bottles that you can successfully reuse. Only keep sturdy plastic containers, wash well. I store my clean plastic containers in a Lg Laundry basket.

We make salad dressing and use the saved bottles from the store, When I make Pimiento and cheese (one of Bro Ben's Favorites) I pack it back into the two jars I use ( we eat the rest ) and send it to work with Ben, he eats it on crackers for lunch. 2 jars makes enough for two days lunch, I use my ponds cold cream jars for some pain cream I make, we will reuse the Soft Soap bottles for Homemade Soft Soap, I give my friends my corn oil bottles filled with homemade laundry soap, it holds enough for 7 lg loads.

I save pickle jars, jelly jars, any jar that has a metal jar lid that has been sealed, I reuse these jars and their lids for making jelly, it seals well. Wash your jars and lids well, (to take pickle smell off lids make a watery paste of baking soda and water and wipe lid with solution and set in the sun this works well.) To can jelly...make jelly or jam pour hot mixture in jars, screw lid on tight, turn upside own for about 20 min then turn upright and let cool overnight, as the liquid cools it seals the jar.

Happy Frugal Savings!

~ sister Darlene ~

[sisterAmy]

This is a great idea Darlene! I have several zip lok containers for our son Ben to take to work with leftovers in but will begin saving these other containers too. Do any of you re-use flats when canning? A friend of mine who cans hundreds of qts a year says that if you boil the used flats you can re-use them and they seal fine. I have not tried it, but may this season as canning supplies are going to be really expensive this year I think. I am a little leary of using these for safety reasons.

thoughts~
Sister Amy

[Tammy]

A mennonite friend of mine told me the same thing, that the flats can be boiled and reused, just as long as it has not been dented or misshapen.

Do be careful, though, how you reuse plastic containers. Many of those were meant to be thrown away after one use, and are made of lower-grade plastic. I would not store food in them for very long, for fear of the chemicals that can be released from the plastic. And if you use a microwave, it might be a good idea to transfer your food to a glass dish for reheating.

...Just some tips I've learned!

[benshelpmeet]

Quote: Do be careful, though, how you reuse plastic containers. Many of those were meant to be thrown away after one use, and are made of lower-grade plastic. I would not store food in them for very long, for fear of the chemicals that can be released from the plastic.

If plastic containers are harmful for food storage and should be thrown away after first use, I would think they would be unsafe for the food that was stored in them from the store as well. Bro Ben said that the Food and Drug Administration would probably not let harmful plastics to be used.

I would not reheat food in them, as it might bring out chemicals.

We pour left over soup, chili (we let our hot liquids and leftovers cool before storing them in plastic.), potato salad, and other left overs in them, then we scoop out into another container to heat if needed and it seems to work well for us.

We met a family who drink out of metal mugs because they say plastic cups are not good for you, I'm not sure what they have read, but I have not heard of anything dangerous as of yet.

I would be interested in information on plastic though.

We save our grated cheese zip lock type bags (these are really nice thick plastic)...we stored left over fried chicken in it the other night, it worked nicely), we save our bread bags, We stored leftover salad in it the other night.

Were doing fencing right now and we are saving our metal Institution size can lids and large coffee can lids to nail on the tops of our posts to keep them from eventually rotting out.

We save these Large metal cans for scooping and measuring out food for our animals. We scoop out the feed and carry it to their feeders.

You can use old water jugs with the top cut off, and the handle left to plant in.

You can use water jugs to water your plants.

Enjoy your Frugal Savings!

Does anyone have any tips to share? Please do!

~ sister Darlene ~

[benshelpmeet]

I thought of another thing we save around here...I save toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes, pizza boxes (Little Cesar) , card board, and dryer lint...these can be used as fire starters. I also crumple and save paper, and junk mail.

Some do not burn wood so this would not be helpful, but you could save all this and take to the recycle bin.

Love, ~ sister Darlene ~

[benshelpmeet]

Sister Tammy,

Here is a few articles on what I think you might have been referring too.

We make sure to never reheat plastic around here, one article said it is in the lining of can goods, also in childrens toys. It's worth reading up on.


www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12640440

www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bpa-study-plastic-chemica

Here is a link the Governments report! Can their report be trusted? They also think saccharine is ok??? But years ago it was taken off the market because it caused cancer in rats, now it's back on the market and used in every toothpaste on the market, except for ''Toms of Main'', and other ''healthy ones'', though...''Toms of Main uses Fluoride', which is in questionable too.

~ sister Darlene ~

www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html

[Sister Penny]

We use the toilet tissue and paper towel rolls, (I get relatives to save theirs for me) you cut the toilet tissue roll in half, and fold in the end, use a bit of glue and voila! You have a nice little container to start seeds in, I get 3 out of the paper towel roll...

Sister Penny

[benshelpmeet]

Thank you sister Penny that is a great way to recycle toilet paper rolls! I really like and will use that idea.

Please pray for my sprouting endeavor.

Love, ~ sister Darlene ~