How to reuse cardboard boxes

One of the last steps after moving with interstate movers Iowa is to decide what to do with all the remaining cardboard boxes. You do not even need to have a lot of things to end up with many of them. Even if you move, say, to a modest one-bedroom apartment, you can easily have 60 boxes or more. Most likely, you had to spend some time or money (or both) on collecting boxes, and if you are like most people, you probably don’t want to just throw them away. However, if you want to put them in good use, we will make several suggestions on how to reuse cardboard boxes.

Boxes on a pallet
Boxes can be very convenient, and if you prefer to reuse cardboard boxes instead of recycling, we made a list of interesting ways to do this

Check out these ideas on how to reuse cardboard boxes

  • Cardboard boxes left after cross country movers Kansas are great for upgrading and reorganizing your storage efforts. Consider using some of them for storing Christmas decorations, books, photos, personal documents, clothes, dishes, bedding, art projects of your children, Halloween costumes, keepsakes, or anything else you might think of. Just make sure you clearly mark each box before you close, glue, or fold it.
  • Boxes can come in handy when you need to wrap unusual birthday gifts or holiday gifts.
  • Do you mail a lot during the year? Set aside several boxes for shipping purposes. They are great for packing items for shipping. You can also cut cardboard to protect or secure any photographs or other fragile items you will mail.
  • Are you planning a sale in the yard soon? Hold several boxes to throw items of the same price into or cut and make marks.
  • Collect your extra pantry items and make a few boxes of groceries to donate to a local orphanage or charity. You can also use boxes to collect school supplies for local students or gifts to those in need during public holidays.

Use them for protection

  • Make sure you put some cardboard when you need to paint or spray something on the road or in the garage.
  • Do you change your own oil? Put cardboard under your car before you start. A piece of cardboard can also help you detect and identify any leaks your car may have.
  • If you currently do not have an emergency kit, take a small box and fill it with jumpers, gloves, a flashlight, ponchos, road warning lights, maps, and first aid items and keep the box in the trunk.
  • If you spend some time catching the rays on the porch or in the inner courtyard, reuse cardboard boxes to create a foil tanning shield.
  • Do you garden? A piece of cardboard can serve as an excellent pad to protect the knees from pain, and pants – from dirt. You can also use cardboard to cover and destroy weeds.
  • You can use a cardboard box as a container for composting.
  • Cardboard boxes are great for protecting tables, floors or other surfaces when doing handicrafts. If you work with paint, glue or something dirty, first put the cardboard under.
Easel with painting of a swan
You can make a temporary easel by attaching clothespins to a cardboard box

Be creative

  • Huge boxes can make great playhouses, dollhouses or forts for children. You can also use a large box to make a cool amusement-style shootout game. Just cut the window and make a ledge with scotch or glue. Children can level the objects on the ledge and then use a ball, gum or foam gun to knock them down. That can also be a great way to entertain your children during the move.
  • Are you attending a Halloween party this year? There is a great idea to reuse cardboard boxes to create the perfect retro robot costume.
  • Not a single sleigh ride on a huge grassy mountain is complete without a huge piece of cardboard. You can also use one to slide down the stairs.
  • You probably can’t have a big wooden doghouse in your house, but your dog or cat will certainly appreciate a large cardboard box to take a nap and play.
  • Speaking of cats, if you want them to stop scratching your furniture or carpets, create a few scratching posts or pillows, splashing catnip on several strips of cardboard, and then place the strips around your house.
  • Regardless of whether you frame them or not, you can keep your posters fresh by sticking them to the cardboard.
  • Cardboard is pretty useful for making decorative frames or baskets. You can find tons of examples on Pinterest.
  • Make a few cool storage boxes, decorating a few cardboard boxes with paint, markers or other craft material.
Cats playing with boxes
And when it comes to playing, your cats will find the boxes the most convenient place

Make them useful

  • Do you need a place where you can drop your keys, wallet or phone when you return home? Make the handy desktop organizer.
  • You can turn pieces of cardboard into cool letters out of artificial metal.

Prefer recycling to reusing cardboard boxes?

If you just need to get rid of the boxes, here are some options:

  • Offer them to friends, family members or colleagues who may need them.
  • Perhaps one of your neighbors is planning an upcoming move and can reuse cardboard boxes you don’t need. Place some flyers in your area or apartment building. Perhaps you can leave some boxes in the rental office.
  • You can try to sell them, trade them, or give them away on Craigslist.
  • Do you live near the school? Donate them to the art program.
  • If everything else fails, try going green and giving them to your local recycling center.
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