Here are a few of my favorite from the book:
birdbath: Swap birdsong for blooms. Plant flowering succulents in an underused birdbath.
baby powder: Prevent sweat stains on white shirts. Sprinkle powder on the underarms and the collar, then iron. The powder acts as a barrier. (I have lots of whites so I'm gonna try this one!)
bowl: Peel garlic. Place cloves in a bowl, cover it with another bowl to form a sphere, and shake. The papery skins will flake right off.
ketchup bottle: Driplessly parcel out pancake batter. Pour it into a clean bottle, then squeeze onto the pan, whether in plant=size rounds or silver dollars
coffee filter: When snapping a close-up, soften the brightness for a more flattering photo by placing a paper coffee filter over the flash. (I HATE using the flash so I'm going to try this one next time instead of taking photos that are way too dark!)
One of my personal new uses for an old thing is using rubber bands on hangers to keep cami's and other delicates from slipping off. What works best for me though are the thick rubber bands that are used to keep bundles of broccoli and other veggies together.
So how do you get a chance to win? Just leave a comment on this post - and feel free to share your own ideas! On Tuesday Dec. 7th I'll draw a winner at random and announce the lucky reader the next morning.
The book can be purchased on Amazon.
Good luck!
disclosure: I received this book as a sample
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51 comments:
Love this feature from Real Simple!
the coffee filter-camera flash cover is a superb idea! This is a constant source of consternation! What a fabulous giveaway.
Great Giveaway! I really enjoy learning about new uses for everyday things you can find around the house.
oh man i love these kinds of things! one of my favorite tips that i've gotten from Real Simple is to use bbq shish-ba-bob sticks to poke the four corners of your beach towel into the sand so it doesn't move around when you're laying out in the sun.
This book looks fabulous! I would love to read all of them.
Ooooh, count me in on this giveaway, especially since I didn't renew my Real Simple subscription!
I'm definitely going to try the coffee filter one.
One trick I read on a blog that I thought was a good idea was to soak a cotton ball in vanilla extract and put it into a new vacuum bag so when you vacuum, you don't get that stinky smell!
Love Real Simple! And their idea to use half a tennis ball to remove old light bulbs is one of my favorites. I always worry it's going to explode in my hand.
I love giving books as gifts! I would definitely give this one to my MIL!
great book, I love all the other ideas as well!
Very nice! Would love to go greener with ideas from this book!
pallavi
free13spirt at gmail dot com
What a fun book, thanks!
Good ideas! Thanks for the chance to win!
What great ideas... Now I am so intrigued I think I will have to go buy it if I don't win :)
yes, please. I love this section/column typically in Real Simple's mag.
Love Real Simple!
I really like the ketchup bottle idea. And the coffee filter idea sounds really great! I hate using the flash too, so I'm definitely trying that!
http://champagneandmarshmallows.blogspot.com/
nice! i would love this book! i have already thought of something similar to the ketchup bottle idea. i have these star wars pancake molds that i need some kind of squeezie tool to get the batter into all the nooks and crannies. i was thinking a generic condiment bottle, like the ones you see at BBQ restaurants, would work perfectly! a heinz bottle would work too!
I LOVE Real Simple. What a great book to have around for all your upcycling and recycling needs! I've actually used the filter idea myself many times. I would love to have this on my shelf!
Oooh! This is a great book!
I'm such a sucker for good tips!
Love the ideas you shared from the book....great giveaway! Thanks.
my favorite feature in 'real simple' each month. happy to see an entire book dedicated to such great ideas!
Love this giveaway- I've literally picked this book up at the grocery store each week for 3 weeks now and I keep putting it back down - trying to convince myself I don't need it - but I really probably do!
this book looks incredible! ...AND the most perfect gift for my mother :)
-kait
The book looks fantastic!
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com
Sounds awesome! I love things like this. As a college student, I tend to make do with whatever I can find. I use rubber bands for everything, from holding bags of chips close (which actually works better than chip clips) to curtain ties.
I miss my Real Simple subscription! This book features my favorite part of the mag—new uses for old things. Love it!
Oh, that seems like just the book for me :)
what a great giveaway!! i'd love the book!
Hello.
I'm with Chris showing your blog.
I loved it.
Congratulations and good luck with it.
I hope to see you soon in Segovia.
All my best wishes.
Ángeles
What a great give-away. I've often torn out that section from my Real Simple to keep for reference. It would be nice to have them all in one place, especially since I didn't tear all of them out - and can't find them since we moved!
what a fabulous giveaway! i miss getting my real simple in the mail! this would be so handy!!
Love this site, love shabby chic, love love love it.
bettibrke
I've seen wine corks used to create a back splash for a kitchen counter in a basket weave pattern. It was very cool!
Vickie Canham
What a brilliant book! I love repurposing everyday gadgets and am sure this book is full of lovely ideas. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love this - what a great giveaway!
What a great book and a great giveaway!
Also loving the coffee filter idea...I have a flash that's always a little too harsh, and my diffuser blots it out too much.
What a great giveaway! I could use some of this ideas!
I am a HUGE fan of Real Simple and especially their New uses for old things section. I have a tip of my own, don't know if it's in the book because I don't have it (yet?) I slip on a mateless sock and use it as a dusting mitt. sock covered fingers are perfect to get all the nooks and crannies my regular duster can't.
Ah, I do *love* my RS subscription. And the New Uses section is always inspiring!
My New Use - I keep a "Girl Scout Box" in my car. It is a photo box (from a Michael's sale) filled with travel-size packs of pain killers, tissues, baby wipes, and sunscreen, as well as stamps, nail clippers & file, tape measure, mini screwdriver set, etc. I keep another with non-perishable snackies (nuts, granola bars) because I ofen find myself rushing to client appointments without time to stop for food.
real simple = awesome! this book would be great!
this is my favorite feature of Real Simple! I hope I win! JLTRN (Janet)
I knew I kept those elastic bands for a reason!
This would make a great gift for my dad. And then I could borrow it!
This is a commom sense book! Once you see the solutions you go, of course that makes perfect sense to do that. And yet I cannot think of those things. Already with the intro I learned more than I knew before. Would love to win!
I am a huge fan of real simple! Thanks for sharing! :)
I lack the cleverness Real Simple does at using things in different ways. But I'd love the book!
I love these little tricks!
I can't wait to try the coffee filter flash idea! I love Real Simple and would enjoy reading this book -- which would also be the perfect gift!
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