What do you do with empty toilet paper rolls?

Aw, now that's not right! Okay, everybody here... make something from your empty toilet paper rolls and send them to LadyMarissa right now!!! That really is a cool idea, Lady, letting the kids make things from them! I'm going to ask around now to see if any churches nearby would like them for the kids! (I've collected so many!!! LOL) Thanks for sharing!!!

I was just kidding about that... you'd be inundated with silly little craft projects! I know... my kids used to come home from school with them and I'd HAVE to display them somewhere or their feelings would get hurt. Also, my sister, who had muscular dystrophy and brain damage, was always making craft projects as well in the nursing home. I have so many things that she's made! I have a hard time getting rid of any of them since she passed away 5 years ago and I'll never get anything new but I still don't know what to do with them all!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I wasn't complaining. I'm sure I don't want what they make. I cannot even imagine what it would be. I think they just put out a box of empty rolls on the table & let the kids use their imagination. My brain cannot think of anything cute to make from them...except your idea of concrete cylinders. I do like that idea!!!

Glad I could help! Think I got it from Helouise

You know, that would be a great thing to keep in your car! There have been times when I wanted or needed a plastic bag in my car but didn't have one. Okay, this is definitely one thing I'm going to use them for... I'll do that today! Keeps the bags nice and tidy, too! I have a plastic bag holder in my kitchen that hangs on the wall but that really is an awesome idea for the car! Doesn't take up much room, either and would fit right in the glove compartment! Thanks!!!

COOL!!! I had never thought of that! I've often wondered if dryer lint could be used for something as well! Awesome!!! I don't have a fireplace () but we do have a firepit! I've actually bought some fire starter sticks. Making FREE fire starters is a MUCH better idea! My son has a fireplace so I'll make some for him. Awesome!!! Thanks so much for this great suggestion!!! Now, I'll work on saving up that lint!

That is a double header. You get to use up two useless products dryer lint and toilet paper rolls and save money to boot.

If it weren't for the fact that I KNOW that these things could be used for something or other, they'd be going in my recycle bag as well. We recycle everything! We don't get fined, but I like the idea of recycling. I've never liked throwing anything away.

I read something similar above. Using them for extension cords. I have a drawer full of cords, all kinds... extension, appliance, computer, etc. and they always get so mixed up! I'm definitely going to use some to clean up that drawer! Thanks so much for your idea!

That's a GREAT idea, Chevee! I never thought of that but it sure makes sense! It would keep the extension cords from getting tangled up with each other! I have a drawer full of cords right now and it's a real pain going through them to find a particular one. I guess you could even mark the toilet paper roll with whatever is in it, how long it is, etc. Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!

I have a cat who likes to play with them, too. He plays with anything that rolls! I guess, as long as the toddlers don't try to chew on them, they'd make great toys!

ha ha ha ha... I am glad that it is helpful to you. Mabbe when you do make them into little containers, you can take a picture to share! I am also interested to see your other works of art with toilet rolls. Can you share some pictures with me?

You know, you have a really great idea there! I make jewelry and have tons of beads, spacers, clasps, etc. I could cut the roll in thirds, maybe, and glue a bunch of them onto a large base to hold everything. Right now, I have each thing in little plastic bags and it's not always easy to get what I need out of them without spilling them sometimes. That's a really good idea and I'm definitely going to make that. Thanks so much, ahgong! GREAT tip!!!

I will try to start recycling them.. We have no recycling around... But, I do plan to recycle on my own.

Those are some pretty good ideas, Sangs! Someone else here mentioned using them as candle molds, too. I used to save the wax from used candles but my son took them to make his own candles. Maybe I should start saving that up again, too! I hate throwing anything away if it can be used for something else. Candles always come in handy every now and then. Thanks for your ideas!

I've put in an order for grandchildren. It's just a matter of being patient now. LOL We have a firepit so I'll probably use some of them in that. Someone else here suggested filling them with dryer lint and use them as fire starters! That's a great idea because you're getting rid of two things but in a useful way instead of just burning them. I'd recycle them if I couldn't think of anything else to do with them because we recycle everything! Even tiny little pill bottles from the pharmacy!

That is a good idea!! I put dryer lint in the fire but doing them together is a great idea!! Now I will not give them all to the grandkid, lol.

Sell them in a junk shop? What in the world would a junk shop buy them for? I'm curious, now. I love the robot idea! I would love to see it. You wouldn't happen to have a picture of it, would you?

the junk shops are the ones responsible for selling them to the companies that recycle things... i also collect and sell other stuffs to the junk shops like old newspapers, plastic bottles and other plastics... instead of just throwing my trash, i could still earn and at the same time, i guess it's one way of helping our mother nature... i would still have to look where i put the photo file of the robot... it was just a simple robot project :)

Ewwwwww! What a thought! I've noticed their little tricks to make you think you're getting more when you really aren't, yep! Sometimes, the paper is rolled so loosely, if you squeezed them they'd actually be half as thick! I stick to a well-known brand name. There are just some things in this world you should never skimp on... toilet paper is one of them!

I do use them to hold the smaller extension cords like some others here. I find it much better than the elastic bands or anything else I have found so far. When the become tattered they can still enter the recycle bin but by that time I have plenty more.

That's really cool, mdesigning! I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses things like this for craftwork! I do all kinds of crafts, too. That's why I wanted ideas for using these rolls. I've been collecting them and have quite a few of them now. Does your mother do any paper quilling? I've just started learning that craft and I love it, but have never used paper as thick as toilet paper rolls... yet.

My mother used to be a kindergarten teacher before she became a social worker. She taught kindergarten for 13 years. I love helping her to grade papers or put together craft projects for her kids! I have had some great suggestions here and I'll be working on quite a lot of them but whatever is left over I'll see if our elementary school would like them. I'll also start saving egg crates! Thanks for the idea!

Oh, that's cool! I've put in an order with my kids for grandchildren so maybe, one of these days... My mother was a teacher for 13 years. She taught kindergarden and I'm sure she could have used them, but that was a long time ago. I could ask as the elementary school nearby, maybe they could use some of them! Thanks for the idea!

You don't recycle paper?

The only kind of mice we have here are the wild kind that come in when it gets cold or rainy outside! Our cat sees to it that they don't stay long. LOL I'll have to ask around but I don't think any of our neighbors have any mice or rodents of any kind. Well, yes, we do have one neighbor with rabbits, but they live outside and can chew on anything they want, including my garden! I'll ask around, though. My sons live not too far away so they might know of someone. Of course, they probably have their own toilet paper rolls and wouldn't want mine. Maybe I'll just make those concrete cylinders. Oh, I do save paper towel rolls, too. Maybe I could just make concrete cylinders of different heights! Thanks for your idea.