40 Incredibly Clever Ways To Re-use Toilet Roll Tubes

You could go to your local garden center and pick up biodegradable pots to start your seeds… or you could just save a few empty toilet paper rolls in the lead-up to spring. Slice each one in half, stand the pieces on a tray, and put some soil inside. Then sow your seeds and, when it comes time to pot them, you can bury them along with their TP container — it’s biodegradable.

No one wants to untangle a pile of thread every time they have to sew or tie something — but you may find yourself doing just that if you aren’t properly organized. All you need is an empty TP roll with a slit cut into either end. Slide one end of the string into one side, then wrap it around the roll. Finish by tucking the other into the opposite slit.

Finding an empty roll of toilet paper in the bathroom is nothing new — that is, unless it’s been repurposed into an air freshener. Decorate the tube on the outside so it coordinates with the decor. Then pour a few drops of essential oil over a cotton ball and stuff the fluff into your roll.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except if you’re the one left to sort out the twinkle lights. Make next year’s different by wrapping the wires around old toilet roll tubes. Then simply tape the lights in place. You can store other festive decorations inside the cylinders, too.

While folding is a neat way to store your clothes, it will inevitably mean more creases! To avoid this, wrap your linens around toilet paper and paper towel rolls so they’re more gently folded. You can also do the same with the things hanging in your closet. Simply wrap the hanger bar in TP rolls, too!

Everyone has a bin or drawer stuffed with a mess of tangled cords. Fix up yours using a handful of toilet rolls. First, separate and coil your cords. Then slide them into a cylinder and label the outside so you know what they are. That way, you can easily pick out the cables and wires you need rather than becoming frustrated and confused.

Your leftover toilet rolls make the perfect kindling in a fireplace. You can simply shred the cylinders into strips that you may use to start a fire. Or you can close off one of the ends and stuff the tube with newspaper or dryer lint before sealing off the open side. The more flammables you can fit in, the more effective your makeshift log will be.

Who doesn’t love to wear a scarf, especially during the winter? But having lots can leave your closet in a mess! You can fix all of that with toilet roll tubes! Pop the cylinders in a drawer and fold and roll up the scarves so they slide inside. With that, you’ll have an organized drawer and a much easier time finding the one you want to wear. Alternatively, you can use the tubes to make ringlets and then attach these to a coat hanger — and have your scarves hanging neatly in a closet.

Everyone loves a snow day. You get to build snowmen, make snow angels, and throw a few snowballs. The only thing that puts a dampener on the joy is wet gloves. Try this hack to dry out your winter gear faster so you can get back to the fun ASAP. Simply stick gloves on TP rolls to dry, as the tubes allow more air into them.

Feeling creative? You can transform a toilet paper roll into the perfect-sized napkin ring with just a pair of scissors. Of course, you don’t want a drab cardboard cylinder on your dining table, so grab some supplies and decorate each ring. You could use ribbons, glitter, and any baubles in your craft box.

Tall boots make a fashion statement, but they don’t reach so high when they’re in your closet. The boot shafts tend to fold and fall over, which can cause your beloved footwear to crease. Sticking a paper towel roll into the boots will help keep them upright and ready for your next wear.

A toilet paper roll makes the perfect base for a backyard bird feeder. All you have to do is slather the outside in peanut butter, then roll the cylinder in birdseed. Run a string through the middle of the tube or just slide it onto a tree. Then watch as your winged neighbors go to town on their new treat.

Finally, your empty toilet paper rolls can help you in the laundry room. Almost all of us struggle to keep sock pairs together after they come out of the dryer. But if you partner them, roll them up, and slide them into a cardboard tube, well, you’ve got an organized drawer. And matching socks, for once.

Summertime often brings bothersome flies, mosquitoes, and other winged pests into the home, but an old toilet paper roll can help you get rid of them. Wrap the cylinder in see-through, two-sided tape and dangle it where the bugs seem to linger. They’ll whizz right into the trap — and leave you alone.

Can anyone cut wrapping paper in a straight line? Sure, the part close to you is easy, but as your arm stretches it becomes harder to slice in a straight line. Use this hack to effortlessly chop up your wrapping paper. Cut a little rectangle out of your TP roll and glue a blade in the little gap. The cutout will guide the paper straight through, and the blade will cut a straight piece of paper perfectly.

A craft project may leave you with scraps of fabric too big to justify throwing them away. So roll up the leftover pieces and slide them into toilet paper rolls. You can clip a bit of the fabric and tape it to the outside, too. That way, you can quickly identify what you’ve got to use in your next creative pursuit!

An extra toilet paper tube can become the shell of a new glasses case. You’ll need some fabric, strong glue, and a few clips to complete the project. Slice the tube vertically before lining the outside of it with glue and applying the fabric. Fold any excess cloth inside the cardboard and stick that down, too. Then fold your case into the desired shape and glue the edges shut. Use binder clips to hold everything in place till it’s dry. Voilà!

All of your neckties can fit on a single hanger, thanks to an old toilet paper roll. First, slice up the tube into rings. Next, glue them onto the hanger, then onto each other in a row. Once the glue is dry, you can hang it in your closet like a normal hanger, looping all of your ties through the cardboard openings.

What do you do when your vacuum’s crevice attachment goes missing? Let that dust pile up? Nuh-uh! You can fashion your own from an old toilet roll tube. Simply slip it around your vacuum’s hose and squeeze it a little at the end to make it small enough to fit into all your corners — then get cleaning.

This project begins with you cutting your TP rolls into rings. It’s all handiwork from there as you weave the loops together in an interlocking woven shape. Finish it off with a coat of Mod Podge to seal the paper and prepare the square for its new life as a coaster. It definitely fits the rustic country house vibes!

When you throw wrapping paper rolls under the bed or into a closet, there's nothing to stop them from unraveling or becoming all crumpled! But there is a way to keep the sheets perfectly contained and rip- and wrinkle-free with a toilet paper roll. Simply slide the cylinder over the gift wrap’s tube, and voilà: the flaps stay in place.

Leftover grocery bags often take up a load of space under our sinks and in random kitchen drawers. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Stuff your loose bags into a toilet paper or paper towel roll, and you’ll have instant order. And if your bags start to overflow again, you can always add more tubes to the mix.

You can’t just toss your jewelry into your suitcase and hope for the best on the other end! All your precious pieces will get tangled, and they may even break. Instead, slice a toilet paper roll lengthwise and slide necklaces through the hole. They’ll stay rolled around the cylinder, knot-free until you reach your destination.

A few toilet paper rolls, a hole-puncher, and spray paint — that’s all you need to transform any run-of-the-mill twinkle lights. Cut the rolls in half, then hole-punch around the edges. Paint the outside black to complete your project: a miniature lampshade for your Christmas lights.

Kids famously enjoy playing in cardboard boxes and, as it turns out, so do cats! You only need a TP roll to entertain your pet, though. Simply snip the edges of the tube so they look like tassels, and watch your cat go crazy for it. Why not pop a few treats inside to really make their day?

It often seems impossible to evenly space your curtain pleats. But you can make your vision a reality with a handful of toilet paper rolls. Put the first eyelet onto the rod, then put a TP roll onto the line. Repeat this process until you have the whole curtain looped in — and exactly evenly spaced.

Storing knives can be tough without a block on your counter — and you certainly don’t want to go digging through a drawer full of blades. If you have some empty TP rolls lying around, though, you’re in luck. Simply flatten the tube and close off one end before sliding your knife in for safe storage.

Imagine you and your friends have gathered for an impromptu party, and your Bluetooth speaker isn’t charged. Don’t worry — you can still blast your favorite tunes if you have a smartphone and an empty TP roll on hand. Cut a notch into the center of the tube, making sure it’s just as wide as your device. Then stick tacks into the four outer corners of the cylinder so it stands on its own. Next, pop your phone inside, and dance the night away to the tunes blaring through the newly created cardboard speaker!

With water whizzing around in your blender, drop some empty toilet rolls into the mix. The cardboard-filled water will turn brown, at which point you can take it out and strain it. The resulting dough-like mixture can be sandwiched between two bowls and dried into a receptacle of its own. Fill it with fruit and display it on your kitchen counter. Recycling to the max!

Your leftover toilet rolls can transform into a countdown calendar for Christmas, birthdays, or any other exciting events in your life. Attach the cardboard cylinders into a grid, then cover each end in brown kraft paper. Next, mark each one with a number to create your countdown. Why not hide little treats behind the paper as well?

An empty toilet paper roll makes a perfect mold for homemade chalk. And you can easily whip up a batch of the sidewalk favorite. You just need eggshells — blended into a powder — along with flour, water, and food coloring. Pour that mixture into a cardboard tube, then leave it to dry into a nice, big piece of chalk.

This certainly isn’t your store-bought plastic bubble-blower. Start by covering one end of your empty TP roll in an old sock. Then drop a few different shades of food coloring onto it. Dip all of that into a bowl of soapy water before lifting the non-sock-covered end of the roll to your lips. Blow and watch the rainbow-colored bubbles fly. Perfect for entertaining the little ones!

With a few smart snips, you can transform your toilet paper roll into a sturdy smartphone stand, perfect for hands-off video calling and recipe reading. Press the tube down so it’s easier to cut diagonally. Then, toward the lower end of the angle, cut two notches on each side big enough to hold your phone. You can take things a step further by covering the exterior of the tube in glue and rolling it in glitter, but it’s up to you how you want to decorate your new, free stand.

This toilet paper roll hack is equal parts useful and visually impressive. Make a notch in one end of the cardboard tube, then feed the ball of yarn through and wrap it around the outside of the tube once. Next, stick one arm of your hand mixer into the middle of the tube and turn it on. Magically, the spinning mechanism will whip the tangled yarn around the tube, creating a usable spool for your next project.

You want to save every little creation your child makes. And now you can organize them all! Simply roll up each drawing or painting and store it in a paper towel or toilet paper roll. You can even label them so that they’re easy to find when you want to show guests or grandparents your future artist’s work!

You can’t just have a pile of pencils, scissors, paper clips, and highlighters on your desk. You need a storage unit to keep them all in order — and you can make one with toilet paper rolls. Cut cylinders into varying sizes, depending on the supplies they’ll hold. Then decorate them and apply them to a sturdy base to create a fun, personalized organizer!

Need a rainy day activity to entertain your kids? Grab three toilet rolls per child and get ready to craft. Use a stapler to connect two of them side by side so that they look like binoculars. Cut the third lengthwise and wrap it over the top of the pair of tubes. Once it’s glued in place, let your kids embellish their eyepieces — and don’t forget to add a string so they can wear them around their necks.

After a long day at the (plastic, miniature) racetrack, your child needs a place to store all of their Matchbox cars. And you can build a garage with a shoebox and a bunch of leftover toilet paper rolls. Start by gluing rolls along the bottom edge of the box, then adhere the next layer in the divots between the already attached cylinders. In the end, you’ll have a circular garage for every set of wheels.

A few pinches of your toilet roll can easily shape the circular ends. You can create a heart, star, lightning bolt… the possibilities are endless. When you have your perfect outline, dip it into paint and stamp with it. And with that, you can design your own custom tote bag.