When you clean out cluttered spaces, as I’ve been doing for the last four weeks, inevitably you end up finding items that you haven’t used in a while, or don’t need for their original purpose anymore.

But, instead of spending a ton of money re-buying things you think you need, you might be able to keep more of your money in your pocket by repurposing all the surprising treasures you’ve uncovered. This is where creativity comes into play–it’s an unusual outlet for creativity, I grant you that, but if it saves you money in the long run, why not try a few of these tips?

Step 1: Quick-Evaluate Every Item

While you’re cleaning out, give every item you find a once-over, and mentally answer the following questions:

• Is it warped/broken beyond repair?
• Is it too dirty to ever think of using it again?
• Is it unable to be cleaned/sanitized?

These are “deal-breaker” conditions for repurposing. If it’s too broken or dirty, it may be better to just throw it out instead of wasting time trying to save it. (Trust me, sometimes it’s just not worth the effort…LOL)

However, if you run across an item that doesn’t meet any of this criteria, set it aside (preferably in a different room so you don’t accidentally throw it away) and keep working. Once you’re finished sorting clutter, come back to your gathered items for Step 2.

Step 2: What Could This Item Be?

Now for a little bit more evaluation–this time, you’re studying each item a little more closely. If you no longer want to use it for its original purpose, what could it be instead?

To jump-start your own “thinking-outside-the-box” repurposing process, here’s a couple of repurposing examples from my own cleanout sessions:

Example #1: The Towel Rack Turned Scrunchie Holder

I found this brushed-metal standing fingertip towel rack on clearance at Walmart and bought it, but it sat unused for a while…that is, until I realized I needed a way to display my hair scrunchies without having them strung all over the place.

I needed something to thread them on, something that was sturdy enough to hold them all but didn’t require me to dig through a box to find them. (This pic shows only a small sample of how many scrunchies I have…yes, I’m a child of the ’90s, why do you ask? LOL)

I’m aware that the terrible quality of this pic makes this look like a clown wig gone mad (LOL)…but this is actually how the towel rack looks with all my scrunchies threaded onto it. It works great for organization, looks nifty in the bathroom, and keeps all my scrunchies from getting lost/dirty.

Example #2: The Spice Rack Turned Perfume/Lotion Display

When I redid my bathroom organization, I ended up with a lot of perfume and lotion bottles, and nowhere to store them–or, should I say, no attractive way to store and display them. On a hunch, I went and bought this painted-metal spice rack from Walmart, noting that it had three stacking levels which left a little room for items underneath.

…And here’s the way it functions in my bathroom, holding all the perfume and lotion bottles I own. The graduated levels mean that I’m no longer trying to reach around several bottles to get to one; the bit of storage space underneath serves to tuck away countertop necessities when I need to.

Step 3: Prepare the Item for Its New Life

After you’ve figured out what you want the item to become, clean it up (dust, sanitize, etc.) and make sure it won’t break or come apart when it’s being used for its new purpose. The cleaning/sanitizing part is very important–you don’t want your “new” item making you sick! Also, if it’s got any small pieces that could pop off unexpectedly, check those and make sure those are reinforced. No need for any unpleasant surprises when you’re using your newfound item!

Once you’ve cleaned it up and made sure it’s tough enough to withstand a second life, you’re ready to put your old-new item to work! 😀

Summary

Cleaning and decluttering doesn’t have to mean that you’re throwing away everything. In fact, if you repurpose a few things as you clean and declutter, you can save yourself the trouble of having to re-buy materials in the first place. Always a good thing when you can save money and trouble!