What Can I Do With...

If you (or your wife) have a thing for candles, more than likely you have thrown out a few stubs or jars half full of leftover wax.  Next time, save the wax (and the jar) to make your own citronella candles to ward off bugs on your patio!

• Pick up some plain citronella oil - or use the leftovers from your tiki torches – and some new lead-free candlewicks.


• Melt down the old wax (unscented works best) in a double boiler, or a tin can set inside a pot of boiling water.


• Carefully add the citronella to the wax and stir.


• Clean the old candle jars, or re-use jelly jars or coffee tins.


• Measure the wick to be as long as the jar is tall, plus a few inches.


• Tie one end of the wick to the middle of a pencil or stick, and the other end to a washer, bolt, or just tie a large knot.


• Lower the weighted end of the wick into the empty jar, and balance the pencil across the opening so the wick is centered.  If you’re using a large jar, you might want to use more than one wick.


• Slowly pour the hot wax into the jar, being careful not to dislodge your wick.


• Set aside for a day to harden, then trim the wick to ¼”.  Enjoy!

What Can I Do With...? Bread Tabs

The lowly plastic bread tab. They pile up on your counter, in your junk drawer, or if you have a cat, under your furniture. Why do we keep them? What use is there for this little piece of un-recyclable plastic?

• Got your guitar out for a night around the campfire, but can’t find your pick? Grab a couple of bread tabs as a temporary substitute.

• Ew, what is that blob stuck on the counter? Use a bread tab to scrape the gunk off of dishes, counters, appliances and tables.

• Avoid the frustration of finding the end on a roll of clear tape by marking it with a tab.

• Instead of sticky labels, mark your yard sale items with bread tabs.

• Cover a tab with pretty fabric, paper, or a silk flower to make an easy wine glass charm.

• Sort out that mess of wires behind your entertainment system and mark them with bread tabs.