Summertime New Uses for Old Things

By Real Simple
Updated May 15, 2014
Credit: James Wojcik
Clever new uses for ordinary household items.
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Oven Mitt as BBQ Utensil Holder

Credit: James Wojcik

Slide all the utensils you'll need into an oven mitt and use the fabric loop to hang it on your grill. No more burned steaks because you forgot the meat thermometer inside.

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Drink Carrier as Condiment Kit

Credit: Beatriz da Costa

Cart condiments to a backyard barbecue. Slot flatware, ketchup and mustard in the compartments for easy transport.

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Cocktail Shaker as Iced Coffee Maker

Credit: France Ruffenach

Upgrade your ice coffee by preparing it in a martini shaker. Fill it with coffe, ice, millk, sugar and flavoring and shake for a frothy, evenly blended caffeine fix.

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Clothespin as Napkin Holder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Use a clothespin to keep napkins neatly stacked at a cocktail party—or from blowing away at a picnic.

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Book Cover as a Tourist Disguise

Credit: Kathryn Barnard

A travel guide screams "I’m lost!" but cloaking it in pretty paper or the jacket of a book in the native language will let you blend in with the locals. You'll be more likely to be asked for directions than taken for a ride.

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Ice Cube Tray as Sunburn Soother

Credit: FORMULA Z/S

Freeze cubes of aloe vera for instant sunburn relief when you forget the SPF.

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Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Skip drink umbrellas in favor of this low-effort DIY option. Attach decorative tape to coffee stirrers and drop into signature cocktails. Guests will, well, drink to that!

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Pool Noodle as Blade Guard

Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

To create a protective case for a saw, use the saw to shorten a pool noodle to the length of the blade, then slice a slit to the hollow core.

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Scratched CD as Safety Reflector

Credit: Jens Mortensen

Want drivers to see—not sideswipe—yourmailbox at night? Glue headlight-catching CDs onto its side.

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Ice Cream Scoop as Sand-Castle Tool

Credit: James Wojcik

An ice cream scoop deposits perfect domes for a Taj Mahal (or a yurt).

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Metal Magazine Rack as Towel Holder

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Roll pool towels and store them vertically, so your kids can grab one before taking a swim.

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Cupcake Liners as Candleholders

Credit: Levi Brown

Nothing holds a candle to dining al fresco, unless it’s so dark you can’t see the food in front of you. Place tealights in foil cupcake liners for a little glow at your next outdoor party. They’re cheap enough to use by the dozen, and cleanup is a piece of (cup)cake.

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Muffin Tin as Large Ice Cube Tray

Credit: Levi Brown

The cold, hard truth: Small ice cubes melt fast, leaving a pitcher of lemonade watery. To make long-lasting jumbo cubes, use a muffin tin. Pop them out by running the back of the tin under hot water for 30 seconds.

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Colander as Ice Bucket

Credit: Aya Brackett

Make ice cubes last longer at your next cocktail party: Put them in a colander set into a bowl. As they melt, the water will drain through the holes instead of sitting and turning the ice to slush.

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Bucket as Side Table

Credit: Yunhee Kim

For more serving space (without begging and borrowing from the neighbors) top a bucket with a tray for an instant side table for your lawn chairs. Your guests will have more spots to rest their cocktails.

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Candlestick as Bud Vase

Credit: Yasu + Junko

Cut stems short and add water to keep blooms upright for a night. (Alas, beauty is fleeting.)

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Bundt Pan as Corn Holder

Credit: Aya Brackett

Cut corn from the cob without the mess. Place an ear in the center of a Bundt pan. As you slide the knife down, the corn will fall right into the pan.

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Citrus Peels as Bowls

Credit: Yunhee Kim

Serve sorbet in a memorable way. After juicing (or eating) grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime halves, scoop out and freeze the peels. Cut a small slice off the bottom to create a level surface (without creating a hole), then fill with ice cream.

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Citrus Peel as Firestarter

Credit: Aya Brackett

Kick-start a fire with citrus peels. Leave orange or lemon peels on the counter for several days to dry out. Then use the pretty pieces as kindling in your fire pit or bonfire for a fragrant flame starter.

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Croquet Wickets as Hose Stakes

Credit: Beatriz Da Costa

Make an arched pathway from the waterspout to the flower bed, then feed the hose through the wickets. Now the hose can’t migrate and crush your impatiens.

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Egg Slicer as Strawberry Dicer

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Give this classic tool a permanent spot on your kitchen counter and―presto!―you'll have perfect slivers of your favorite summer foods.

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Kids' Floaties as Wine Bottle Protectors

Credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Buffer breakables in a suitcase by placing delicate items, such as wine bottles and precious trinkets, inside an inflated arm floaty, and it will shield against bumps, bruises, and breaks.

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Beach Towel as Shower Curtain

Credit: David Prince

Make a summery shower curtain by hanging two boldly patterned towels using clip-on drapery rings.

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Cupcake Liner as Ice Cream Bowl

Credit: Mark Lund

Serve ice cream at parties without the drips. Freeze individual scoops in liners the night before.

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Shower Curtain as Picnic Blanket Liner

Credit: Monica Buck

Do dew diligence and layer a liner underneath a picnic blanket to avoid soggy bottoms and grass or mud stains.

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Sunscreen as Shaving Lotion

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

While a bottle of expired sunscreen will no longer protect you from UV rays, it can still protect you from razor burn. Use it when lubing up to keep legs smooth all year long.

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Hose as Bucket Grip

Credit: James Wojcik

For a handle you can comfortably handle: Snip off a section of an old garden hose, make a slit down its length, and put it over a skinny bucket wire.

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Baby Oil as Tar Remover

Credit: Formula Z/S

Bare feet left with a bit of tar after a long day on the beach? Lift it off with a dose of baby oil.

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Basket as Summer Carryall

Credit: Annie Schlechter

When you’re ready to hit the beach, just throw everything in a large handled basket and take off. Or, for backyard barbecues, line it with a plastic garbage bag, then fill it with ice and beverages.

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Ice Cream Cones as Cupcake Holders

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Bake your cupcakes directly in the ice cream cones. Fill 24 flat-bottom cones two-thirds full with cake batter. Place the cones in a high-sided 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake in two batches at 325° F for 30 minutes. Let cool, then frost with two 16-ounce cans of frosting. You can have your cake and eat its holder, too.

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Kazoo as Bubble Machine

Credit: Levi Brown

Blow your little one’s mind with this two-in-one toy. Just dip the big end into soapy water and huff and puff away for a sudsy symphony.

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Mini Cooler as a Side Dish Warmer