How to Prepare Recyclables for Crafting

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How to Prepare Recyclables for Crafting

Learn how to clean recycleables for your creative endeavors in this full-length tutorial on green crafting.

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How to Prepare Recyclables for Crafting
How to Prepare Recyclables for Crafting

From the Editor: So many of the craft project ideas we offer here on our site are recycled crafts. This type of craft is one of our faves because it allows us to keep the earth happy and healthy while saving our readers oodles and oodles of money. The problem with these types of crafting tutorials, however, is that they do not always show you how to acquire your recycled materials. Toilet paper roll crafts, for example, are crazy popular! Those tutorials never actually tell you how to clean those cardboard tube craft materials. This can be very frustrating and confusing for brand new crafters! With this in mind, we have decided to ask Ann Strecko Koeman, recycling project extraordinaire, to help us out! Below you will find a ton of tips on how to prepare everything from glass jars to cardboard boxes for creative endeavors. 

Being an artist, I am constantly on the lookout for items and products that will fuel my creativity.

My foray into collecting recyclables began in my youth. To gather supplies I was given a huge cardboard boot box, and instructed I could collect odds and ends for my crafting in it, but once the box was full, I had to stop collecting. The idea was to keep clutter under control and not to encourage me becoming a pack rat. I have followed that method of managing and find it efficient. I still collect all sorts of things now, but my box is a lot bigger. 

What Is a Recyclable?

It can be just about anything you want that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin or landfill, and is safe to repurpose.  So, for starters, here is a list of possibilities:

  1. Number one is anything that can hold and contain anything such as bags, bottles, boxes, tins, jars, envelopes and more. They are plastic, wood, glass, metal.

  2. Number two are the recyclables which are anything that can be used to make a new item but does not necessarily have the ability to contain anything such as paper products, pieces of plastic, wood, metal, glass, etc. These can be used as bases for projects or as embellishments.

  3. Finally, number three are the items I categorize as attachments such as rubber bands, bread bag ties, twist ties, string, and more.

How to Clean Glass Jars for Crafting

Let’s start with jars. Glass jars come into our home just as I am sure they come into yours, and they contain some very yummy. Or scented, and delightful, not to forget practical consumables.  

  1. Once my family has consumed the contents of that jar, I rinse and scrape out any residues before I place them in my dishwasher along with my dishes. I do make an exception; I do not recycle jars that held unsafe products that could be toxic or contaminate. I am also careful about what goes down the pipes of our house. I do not want to create a blockage or damage the plumbing or cause some environmental disaster!

  2. After they come out of the dishwasher if the labels have come off quickly and the pots are nice and clean, I am so pleased as most of the work is done. I remember to remove any paper pieces from the bottom of the dishwasher so as not to have a clog. As for the jars with stubborn labels still stuck, I decide whether or not they are worth the effort to remove those pieces of stuck on paper.

  3. If so, I  try soaking the pots in some more hot soapy water and try scraping the label and adhesive off with a plastic scraper, or old plastic cards such as a gift or credit cards.

  4. Another option is to saturate the offending papers with an oily substance like cooking or baby oil. Sometimes that is enough to loosen the label.

  5. Finally, if there is still some stubborn adhesive stuck to the jar, I may use a product such as Goo Gone or Lift Off, which is made to remove adhesives, or some rubbing alcohol and a rag or a scraper.  

  6. Or my very final attempt will usually involve using heat from a craft heat gun or a hair dryer along with a scraping tool. Using heat will assist in softening the very stubborn adhesive, and the scraper will help in the removal of the paper along with the glue.

    Remember heat melts and can burn, so caution is warranted.  If all of this fails and I am still determined to keep that jar, I may just decide to cover and decorate the part that just won't get clean!  

How to Recycle Plastic Containers

While plastic containers require many of the same clean-up techniques as glass jars, plastic comes with its own set of problems. Since plastic can melt and warp, it isn’t the best idea to place it in the dishwasher or use a craft heat gun to remove labels like you can with glass products.Check out these tutorials on how to prepare plastic bottles, containers, and more before making recycled ideas like plastic bottle crafts.

  1. When recycling containers made of plastic such as milk and juice jugs, or plastic boxes from the bakery department of the grocery store I first try to see if I can peel off the labels. Surprisingly more and more companies are using labels with adhesive that peel off. You may have to work a bit at lifting one corner to get started but after that it is easy.

  2. I have also had success by placing the container in the freezer for an hour which can make the adhesive brittle and helps in getting the label off. 

  3. There is also the option of soaking the receptacles and using the same methods as I mentioned for the glass jars. 

  4. Cleaning jugs and such just requires rinsing out the containers with a bit of soap and water.

Preparing Cardboard for Crafting

How about cardboard? There are tubes, reels, rolls, boxes, packaging and more. When it comes to tubes that hold paper products, sometimes we luck out, and as we finish the last sheet on the cylinder, we are left with a clean piece. Other times there are bits of paper still stuck. At this point decide if you want to go through any trouble and how much. 

  1. Personally, I save most tubes by peeling off everything that will come off. After that, I don't mind tearing off some of the cardboard as long as most of the tube remains usable.  

  2. Sometimes there will be a strip of glue left on the cardboard which you can try just rubbing off with your finger. 

  3. Other times you may want to consider if you can still use the tube with some sticky residue left if you intend to cover it.  

  4. Reels from ribbons and those rolls of duct tape are reusable too and require you mainly to use up the product that came rolled around them. I just tear off the remaining stuck on pieces of tape and use those pieces in a collage. I save the rolls and reels for future projects.

Preparing Boxes for Craft Projects

For boxes, once the contents are out you can decide if the box is one that you would reuse. From there take the following steps to clean it out.

  1. Clean out any dust with a brush and perhaps a damp cloth. Make sure there are no sharp staples to get injured. 

  2. If you do find those colossal staples you can try removing them with a pair of pliers.

  3. There may be pieces of tape or labels that you don’t want to stay in your box so just peel those off. Use a pin or a blade to wiggle carefully up a corner of the label or tape and then peel it ofF.

Storing Your Recycled Craft Materials

One final tip I have for you is to have an area in your home or crafting area where you keep your cleaned recyclables and once that box or area is full, stop collecting. Try your best to use up your recyclables as you find them, so if you are short on space, you will not become overwhelmed.

  1. Consider using a plastic container like the one below to keep clutter hidden in-between crafts.

More Crafty Ideas For You

If you enjoy crafting with recyclables, we have some fun and eco-friendly projects for you to try! One idea is to create upcycled planters from tin cans or plastic bottles. You can paint them, add decorative elements, and even personalize them to make unique planters for your home or to give as gifts. Another project you might enjoy is making recycled paper beads. By rolling strips of old magazines or newspapers into beads and sealing them with glue, you can create colorful and stylish jewelry pieces. This project is perfect for jewelry lovers or those looking to add a pop of color to their outfits.

For those who like to work with fabric, consider making reusable fabric gift bags from old scraps of material. These bags are not only sustainable, but they also add a personal touch to gift-giving. You can customize them with different patterns and sizes, making them perfect for any occasion. Plus, they can be used again and again, reducing waste from traditional gift wrapping.

No matter your skill level or preference, there are plenty of exciting possibilities when it comes to crafting with recyclables. Get creative, have fun, and do your part to reduce waste by transforming everyday items into beautiful and useful creations. Happy crafting!

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These are all very great tips for prepping your recycling essentials. I like collecting salsa, jam and wine bottles and I always make sure to start as soon as the contents are over. I found that soaking them in baking soda with warm soapy water. The labels come right off easier than scraping the glass.

I don''t own a dishwasher so I often have to try soaking the glass jar in hot soapy water in the kitchen sink and see if that works - many times it does make the label easier to remove, but the whole process is a lot more labor intensive than letting a machine do most of the work. I've also used leftover cardboard boxes from deliveries the trouble with those is that the labels tend to come off in little bits rather than one or two nice big pieces when I try to peel them. Very useful tip about putting plastic containers into the freezer - I'll have to try that one.

These are really good points about cleaning recyclable materials. I didn't know that tip about freezing the plastic containers. That's good to know!

#BestIdeaEver! So many things go into the garbage because we don't know how to process them for crafting. Thank you for this.

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