I have mentioned before that we usually use handkerchiefs (I actually cut up soft pieces of flannel for my toddler; it is so much gentler on his little nose than even the softest paper tissue, but I digress). I do, however, keep Kleenex on hand for company so I occasionally have leftover boxes. Before I recycle an item, I like to see if I can repurpose it. Below are a few ways that I have found to reuse tissue boxes:
Cut off the tops and use the tissue boxes to hold colored pencils, markers, and other craft supplies. It is easier for young children to access the items and put them away:
Put an empty tissue box in the laundry room to hold the dryer lint. When the box is full, I put the lint out for the birds to use or add it to my compost pile.
The most creative use for a tissue box that I have seen is in this month’s edition of Family Fun. They used a tissue box to make a Marshmallow Catapult:
Some other uses for tissue boxes:
Use a tissue box to store plastic grocery bags.
Some of the images on tissue boxes are so pretty that they can be used to make gift tags and book marks. Cut out the image, glue a piece of colored paper to the unfinished side, use a hole punch to punch a hole in the top, and insert a ribbon to attach to gift.
You can use a tissue box and paper towel roll to make this tissue box guitar.
Next time I have two empty tissue boxes, I am going to make this tissue box traffic light with Rew.
And of course, you can always just remove the plastic, break them down, and recycle tissue boxes, but that is not nearly as fun as making a Marshmallow Catapult! Do you reuse your tissue boxes? Do you reuse other containers or boxes instead of tossing or recycling them?
More Frugal Fun for Kids:
Frugal Fun Fall Art Projects for Kids
'Becca says
Great ideas! I added a link to this article to my What Do You Reuse? article. Another use for any thin paperboard boxes is making name tags; put them on people with string or pins.
We are handkerchief users too, and we keep some of our smaller hankies (mostly cut-up old T-shirts) in an old tissue box next to the bed.
Nikki says
Lots of fantastic ideas! I'm going to adopt the one for holding dryer lint. And I never ever thought of leaving it for the birds. How thoughtful!
I rarely get the tallish ones. But if I do, I know how I'll repurpose it. Thanks!
The Book Lady Online says
What fun ideas!!
Bonni says
Thanks for commenting on my blog! I love the 'spontaneous vacation' idea!! If your daughter comes up with more sayings like that, she should write a book!
Let'sMakeADifference says
Great ideas! I always feel guilty throwing them out!
rana says
I love these ideas! My youngest is in Scouts and we’ve been talking about reusing things instead of automatically recycling them. He turned an old tissue box into a bank. I like the ways you reused yours for your son
Steady Plodder... says
I love these ideas! My youngest is in Scouts and we've been talking about reusing things instead of automatically recycling them. He turned an old tissue box into a bank. I like the ways you reused yours for your son!
Laura says
I would definitely do the dryer lint holder, except we don't buy tissue any more! I will have to ask my daughter to bring an empty box home from school. Our pretty tissue box cover is now in the kitchen holding plastic bags. I also like the gift tag idea!
Meghan says
I use one to hold plastic grocery bags. I recycle all the surplus boxes.
Sheila says
I love the idea of using it on the dryer to put the lint in. I will start doing that–but love the catapult idea.
Mom2fur says
I think the marshmallow catapult is hilarious! But on a practical note, I love the idea of storing dryer lint in a tissue box. I'll have to give that one a try!
Sherry says
Cool ideas! I usually just put ours out for recycling, but I love these ideas and may have to incorporate for our homeschool.
Thanks for sharing!
Have a great Wednesday!
Sherry
martianne says
We love to repurpose, too. As my little ones are yougn and we are home preschooling them, I tend to keep old tissue boxes around for many purposes – crafts, activities, storage, etc. My youngest loves to play with little things, putting them into and out of containers, so tissue boxes ar eperfect for this. They also work for storing small toys on shelves, such as miniature plastic animal figurines. And, as big construction blocks… Ideas are endless. And, so often, up to a child's imagination more than a Mom's! 🙂