Simple yet Creative Ways on How to Reuse Old Newspapers

Ever wondered what to do with your old piles of newspaper? Don’t just toss it away on your recycle bins! Here are some ways to rescue old newspapers and give it a second life.

Let’s simplify: Less is the new more!

More people are now into “going green” theme and will most likely to recycle anything in any way possible.

Here's the inventive yet straightforward methods to repurpose your old newspapers:

• Wrappers and Covers.

Old newspapers can be one great way to cover books, textbook, notebooks or even magazines. You can then just choose a colourful page or with cool patterns so as to have a more unique output.

This is also an excellent alternative way to wrap simple gifts that does not need a special wrapping paper. Wrappers will be soon ripped off and thrown away. Just make sure you use unique page designs.

• Windows and Floor Paint Protector.

It is very easy to spill paint all over the floor when we paint our walls or any side of the room. Newspapers are the best gadget to handle those spilled paint. Just put the newspaper below the area where you’re going to paint.

For the windows, you don’t need to buy masking tape when painting around the windows. Simply wet several long strips of newspaper and place them on the glass along the side of the wood you will be painting on. Much easier to remove than the tape too!

• Odor Remover.

Newspapers are natural odor absorber; it helps keep the items or things fresher by absorbing the dampness and odor. Stuffed some few sheets of newspapers on smelly shoes or boots or sneakers and let it stay overnight. You can also put this on boxes or containers with unpleasant smell. Use more newspaper if you’re going to deodorize suitcases and trunks. For the kitchen sink, line the pail with few sheets to absorbs spills as well as the bad smell. Put sheets under the pail too.

• Helps Ripen Fruits.

Yes, newspapers can really ripen fruits perfectly (tomatoes, mangoes, pears, etc.). Simply wrap the individual pieces and put it on airtight containers inside a dark cabinet or closet. Check each fruit every three days.

• Compost Pit Recipe.

Newspapers (printed in black ink only; avoid glossy pages) can be shredded and wet and add on the compost pile to reduce odour. This can also be a treat to earthworms.

• Cleaning Material.

Want to have a streak-free glass windows or mirrors? Simply use a wet crumbled wad of newspaper to wipe the windows and mirrors. Shiny, isn’t it?

• Newspaper Pots.

How about using newspapers instead of plastic pots for planting tree/fruit seedlings? Shape it to pots and tape it so as to keep the shape and plant the seeds. When they start to sprout and are big enough to be transferred to the ground, you can then just tear the bottom or take the paper pot then put it on the compost pit.

• Kindling.

Newspapers are crumpled, put under logs and used as a kindling to start fire.

• Fiesta Decors/Banners and Game Ideas.

Have you seen those fiesta banners, which look like little flags hanging on the streets every time there are festivities or other town’s affair? Aside from plastics, you can also use newspaper and shape it to triangles to hang on. Choose colored pages of newspaper or whatever page or designs you desired.

If there’s an affair, there’s always a game. Newspaper dance is one game that everybody can join and have fun. All you need is a piece of newspaper for every participant and they will dance their way up to the last square.

• Wet Shoes Dryer.

Sometime, our shoes get soaked in the rain. To avoid further damage, stuffed the shoe with balled-up newspaper and place it on room temperature for moisture to be absorbed.

• Shape-keeper.

Keep the shape of your things like bags, shoes, sneakers, boots or soft sided luggages by stuffing crumpled newspapers. Keeps the bad odour too!

• Safe Toys, Paper Bags and Trash Box.

Some ideas of safe toys include planes, kites, hats, bracelets and boats. These old things can also be shaped as paper bags and trash boxes by using several pieces to make it sturdy.

• Shipping Packages.

You can wrap the fragile or delicate things individually with several pieces of newspapers. This is better than plastic peanuts or bubble wrap.

• Sleeping Bag's Partner.

Newspapers can keep your sleeping bag dry and free from any stains as well as it can provide you a layer of warmth. Just place several newspapers underneath your sleeping bag.

• Shattered Glass Picker.

Tiny fragments of broken glass can stick to the wet newspaper. It is one of the relatively safe ways to keep tiny pieces of glass from lying around the corner.

• Give it to Recycling Shops.

Shops will pay you for every kilo of newspaper you have. Don’t just simply throw it away on garbage bags and increase consumption of landfills. Save time, save money, save earth! These are just some simple ways to recycle old newspapers. It can save you a lot of money and time. This is also a step to save our environment – saving one tree at a time.