What can I do with packing peanuts besides throw them away?

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   Victoria Lynnposted 12 years ago

   What can I do with packing peanuts besides throw them away?
   
   I received a package in the mail and now have a ton of those packing peanuts. As a recycler, I hate the thought of throwing those away. What are some useful ways to use them? Thanks!

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   Green Artposted 12 years ago

   Packing peanuts make a great filler in the bottom of garden pots.  When your pots aren't so full of soil they are easier to move from place to place and it helps with drainage. I've done this several years now and have been pleasantly surprised how well it works.

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Great idea! I would never have thought of that!

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      Suelynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Super idea!

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   Julie Fletcherposted 12 years ago

   You can fill home-sewn bean bags. You'll need a ton though you can ask your friends to save them for you.

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      Suelynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Fun!

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   sls450posted 12 years ago

   If you save enough, you can fill a car up with them.  Makes a great senior prank especially if the car is your principle's.  Not that I know this from personal experience.  I'm sure if my principle had found out who did it, we'd still be in detention 10 years later...

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Too funny! Would be a fun thing to do to your boss's car, too!!

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      Suelynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      LOL!  Thanks for the giggle!

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   justateacherposted 12 years ago

   Put an ad on craigslist or something similar to give them away...a woman I work with sells a bunch of stuff on ebay and is always looking for free or inexpensive packing material...

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's true. Someone would take them, I'm sure!

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   Eric Calderwoodposted 12 years ago

   I save them for when I have something to ship.  Just keep dumping them into a large trash bag and take from it as needed.  It really came in handy when I used to sell used books online. Saves on shipping costs by not adding the weight other fillers would add, and saves on supply costs since you are getting them for free.

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe I should save mine, Eric. I used to ship things on ebay from time to time. Thanks!

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      Suelynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Here's a person that's organized!

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   Suelynnposted 12 years ago

   Victoria Lynn, I have had packing peanuts that I stashed away in several different bags.  Eventually I took them all over the to One Stop Mail Shop on the corner and they were glad to have them. 

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   Game Flexposted 12 years ago

   You should recycle them, it's amazing how much CO2 emission you reduce by the smallest amount of recycling.

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good idea, but there's no place around here to recycle those types of things, I don't think.

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   Becky Katzposted 12 years ago

   I have used them to refill beanbags that feel flat. They perk them right up and it is the same kind of material. I have also used them to fill baby stuffed animals that I make. My daughter likes to paint them and glues them around picture frames. She does them in wild colors and gives them to friends for Christmas. She will match them to their bedrooms. They love them.

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      Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Creative idea from your daughter! that's great! The beanbag idea is great, too!

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    fpherj48posted 12 years ago

    Well, Victoria, if you don't have a need to mail out a number of packages, but know someone who does....offer them to him/her.....(like a Grandma such as I, who mails Birthday gifts every other month)
    Anything at all, that you might "pack and store" in your own home, destined for the attic or basement, garage, etc....these are great for preventing breakage. 
    I used a huge box of them by filling small sandwich bags and then stuffing the "poofy" valance above my drapes.....know what I mean? 
    Fill a pillowcase with them (leave movability space) sew up the end tightly.....they make the very BEST "pillow-fight" pillows for kids......no injuries and they're not ruining your good bed pillows......Can you tell I'm an absolute maniac about finding a use for EVERYTHING??    It's the penny-pincher in me.  She's always on alert!!!.    Three words I RARELY say:  "Throw it out."!!!!!
    My whole family makes fun of me (lovingly) and it doesn't bother me in the least!

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       Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Awesome ideas, effer. I LOVE your frugality!

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    teaches12345posted 12 years ago

    When I was a teacher I was always asking for these as they are useful in making childrens' crafts at school. You can ask someone who teaches if they could use it.  One of my favorite resources for doing the alphabet letters.

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       Victoria Lynnposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Alphabet letters? Like cutting up the peanuts into shapes??? Or drawing on them?

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    Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

    Do you have a FedEx, UPS or Mailboxes store near you? Where I live, they take boxes or bags of clean packing peanuts and reuse them for shipping. I think they do so in Utah as well.
    
    It may vary from state to state. You could call and ask.

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    Sheepsquatchposted 12 years ago

    Save them up until you have enough to cover your entire floor. Once you have this many, spread a layer of glue all over your floor. Then, spread the packing peanuts out evenly.

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    pstraubie48posted 12 years ago

    Save them to use when shipping something to someone else
    Save them to use when packing to move.
    Save them for kids to use to create a unique craft.
    Save them to use when children are learning to count.

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