When it comes to the most easily thrown away items at home, you may first think of wooden and bamboo chopsticks that have been used for months.
They are damp all year round and tend to grow mold over time, so we generally recommend replacing them every three months.
But here's the question: looking at these chopsticks that are quite new on the surface, isn't it a pity to throw them away?
In fact, there is no need to rush these chopsticks out of the scene completely.
In our daily lives, we can give them a "new life" with a little touch, which can not only continue their value, but also add a little bit of thought to the home.
Today, I will share 8 tips to help you squeeze the last drop of value out of your chopsticks.
1. Homemade Tea Tray: Wooden aesthetic, DIY fun
There are old chopsticks at home, and friends who love to make tea often can easily DIY a wooden tea tray. It's easy to do, and you can enjoy the fun of handmaking while using waste.
The method is also very simple: put several discarded wooden chopsticks side by side, tie them together with a string similar to the color of the chopsticks, and tie them together like a weaving mat to fix the two ends.
You can find a few more chopsticks to cut off and make a base to improve stability.
An eco-friendly and high-end tea tray is thus completed.
Not only is it easy to use when drinking tea, but it also makes this handmade object an elegant addition to your home. Who would have thought that this is a new life "squeezed" from discarded chopsticks!
2. Cup holder DIY: low-cost tea set display rack
A little more creative? Old chopsticks can also be used to make a simple and practical cup holder. The embarrassing situation of "no place to put it" in your favorite teacup can be easily solved by this handmade cup holder.
As long as a few old wooden chopsticks are placed crosswise to form a stable triangle, and the connecting parts are tightly tied with hemp rope, the cup holder is basically formed.
You can hang the teacup for a beautiful and practical appearance, and you can also put it on the freshly made tea tray in front of you to look like a perfect complement.
This solves the problem of cup placement, and the whole table is instantly neat and interesting.
3. Alternative shelves: DIY storage artifacts
If you have a bunch of used wooden chopsticks, bamboo chopsticks, or disposable chopsticks for takeaway, try turning them into a simple shelf.
The eliminated chopsticks are built according to the shape of the shelf, and they are firmly pasted with hot melt adhesive.
When you're done, put it in your home to store small toys, keys, or colored pencils and get tidy up in no time.
This DIY shelf is not only easy to make, but also helps you easily dispose of the clutter at home, killing two birds with one stone!
4. Kitchen storage rack: the "anti-spillage" artifact of spices
In the kitchen, some spice packets are often accidentally spilled because they cannot be placed securely.
Use chopsticks DIY spice storage rack to solve this small problem easily.
You only need to simply combine and fix the old chopsticks, and build them according to the required height to become a "small house" for special spice storage.
Whether it is a variety of seasoning packets or bottles and cans, they can all be placed firmly in the interval made of chopsticks, so you don't have to worry about the chaos in the kitchen, and your appearance can still be played.
Convenience enhances the cleanliness of the kitchen.
5. Thermal Insulation Pad: DIY "non-iron" desktop protection
When drinking soup and eating hot pot, the bottom of the pot is often too hot, and the tablecloth is easy to be burned.
At this time, the wooden chopsticks that have been eliminated at home come in handy.
Old chopsticks are placed in parallel and then fixed with a string of wires crossed, and a practical and inconspicuous thermal insulation mat is born.
Not only does the insulating mat allow you to put hot pots and bowls without any worries, but it also makes the whole table look more artisanal.
It didn't cost a penny, but it solved the actual problem, and it also had quite good visual effects, which made life a little more interesting.
6. Homemade diffuser: low-cost "diffuser artifact"
If you have leftover perfume at home and don't have a special rattan diffuser, you can make a simple diffuser with chopsticks and some non-woven fabric.
Find an old chopstick that doesn't bother and wrap a little cotton thread around the top or plug it directly into a face towel, which will allow the perfume to evaporate slowly, which is more flexible than a special diffuser tool.
If the chopsticks feel easy to pour, you can add a small piece of double-sided tape at the bottom to strengthen the stabilizing effect.
It doesn't take much effort, and the scent easily spreads to every corner of the room in a matter of minutes.
7. Hairpin DIY: The best choice for simple hair accessories
In the transformation of chopsticks into treasure, this is probably the most classical Chinese application.
All you need is a few eliminated chopsticks, a little patience and creativity, and you can make a one-of-a-kind wooden hairpin.
Take a moment to polish an old wooden chopstick, slowly trim it to the right length, and if you're smart, add some trinkets as an embellishment.
A highly personalized eco-friendly hairpin is complete, and the return rate on the street must be high.
It's beautiful and functional, and the unique design makes friends can't help but praise you as a DIY master.
8. Paper drawer box: a practical and eco-friendly little idea
Accumulated too many disposable chopsticks at home? Instead of making them a "garbage dump", DIY a chic paper drawer.
Simple design, pasting combination, paper drawer box was born.
Glue multiple chopsticks into a frame according to the shape of the box, and use hot melt glue to stabilize the corners.
A seemingly ordinary paper drawer box has been transformed into a new look by DIY magic hands, with a unique retro texture and environmental connotation, which is not only practical but also adds a bit of artistic sense.
No more buying meaningless cardboard boxes in the mall.
Brief summary:
These old chopsticks, which are usually discarded, with a little creativity and hands-on operation, can release the last "magic".
Each little trick allows us to experience the joy of DIY and the happiness of saving.
Recycling waste chopsticks can not only avoid the waste of resources, but also invisibly allow us to harvest many handmade surprises.
With these eight tips for "turning chopsticks into treasure", you can start with those old chopsticks that have been eliminated at home and try to practice them one by one.
What should have been thrown away after 3 months of use, but now it has a variety of uses, environmental protection and economy, and even the appearance can still be played, why not?
If you are interested, give it a try! If you have any other tips, you can share them with everyone in the comment area!