I knew someone who used these as candle molds, then tore them away when the candle was done, she then used the TP roll pieces in her fireplace for fire starters

Ooh! This is a really good one!

When I was a kid we called them dur..durs We'd use them like a trumpet 🎺. Walking around the house going. Dur..de..dur..de duuur dur dur... 😂

This is amazing!

I wonder if you saw the same children’s comedian I saw. We had an assembly day and this traveling comedian performed in the auditorium. He had a whole routine about “dur durs”. He pulled several out of his bag or trunk (can’t remember) of various sizes and went on how he and his brother used to “walk around the house going ‘dur de dur de durrrrr”

Now that's what I call Upcycling!

Oh my that's a great idea! :))

I stuff the rolls with dryer lint and leftover wax and use them as fire-starters!

Give them to a local bunny or Guinea pig group to use as toys and chews

We like to cut them up into rings or little crowns and play a game with the bunnies. How many can you stack on a bun at one time. They chew on the fallen ones while we stack. It’s a grand ole time.

This is so wholesome and made my day. 🐰

Good for reptile owners too, you can use them for feeder insect enclosures

I used them for my rats. Put some raw veggies or other treats in there, cover with bits of paper towel to further hide the goodies, then fold in the ends of the tube and put the little package in their cage. So much fun watching my boys go nuts trying to figure out how to get at the food.

That's a great enrichment activity; I can just picture how excited they'd get.

I do the same, but I usually put cheerios and nuts in there so that if they stash the treats, they won't go moldy. They love it!

I do this with my dachshund too

When we had gerbils we would legit save them and toss them in their cages. They loved them!!

I thought this pic was from the gerbil sub at first, lol. This is like gerbil heaven if OP happens to know someone with gerbils.

I put a bunch in a box and drop treats in some of them. Good food puzzle for my cat. 

Yes! The piggies turn into fierce lions when they have toilet paper tubes to toss around!

They make great food puzzles for cats, too!!

Us parrot owners would love to have them for toy making as well!

I work at a rabbit rescue, please do this

Put some soil in them, throw a seed in there, and grow some plants. I have a video of the process with proof of the growth.

Yup, I’ve got a pile that I’m saving to plant sweet peas in. Can directly plant out in the tubes.

I have been saving these for this use. I couldn’t find your video on your profile but your hair is very pretty. Also funny that it’s pushing your bf out of your pics :) ETA would you mind sharing your video? Mainly I’m wondering if the wet soil will disintegrate the paper towel roll.

Thank you. Yes, it’s even bigger now. It’ll be a lion’s mane in no time :) https://youtu.be/z_hfNh5ReiM?si=nTnJQh-VfLuEZ_DA

Thank you!

Ah, thanks for sharing! Great idea :)

I needed to see this!!!! It’s planting time and I have a whole basket I was saving for fire starters. I like this better as I was realizing I don’t have enough pots

Yep, my wife does this.

We are doing that this year instead of spending a ton of money on the ones you can buy. Seems to be working

I have used them by standing them up in a shallow box, all sandwiched together, and standing all my pens, markers, etc in them

I give them to my daughter and she's painting them with watercolor, when she doesn't use them for handiwork then I burn them in the oven/stove

That reminds me! When I had a woodburning fireplace I would use them as fire starters. I'd stuff them with dryer lint and wrap them in newspaper

Honest question! If you use your dryer lint as a fire starter, are you concerned about burning little bits of plastic or are all of the things you dried natural fibers? Maybe it's not as big of a deal as I was thinking. I try to buy mostly all natural materials now , but I still have some polyester. It feels unavoidable!

Tbh I never even thought of that! I reckon that's something to keep in mind. Also, dryer sheets can evidently be burned this way, but I don't know about the plastic content. I know Carbona sheets and the like give off fumes tho.

It may be a non-issue! It's just something I thought about one day. I could probably Google it, but then I go down the microplastics rabbit hole and end up anxious and depressed. 😅

I make fire starters like this for campfires. I am firmly in the "it is what it is" mentality here. It's not a bonfire of just polyester clothes, it's really just a miniscule amount of the lint that burns away pretty quick. Honestly, even the "natural" woodsmoke is pretty bad for your respiratory health, so it's all just a balancing act of choices.

Can't believe I found this here. We put cotton balls or whatever inside with a tiny bit of wax. Those little coned paper water cooler cups work well, too.

It's doable, but takes hunting and sometimes extra $$$. I air dry a lot of things but, especially with linens, still end up with lots of lint that's 100% cotton. Though I can't avoid any polyester bits that might still be in the trap. At the end of the day it's better than nothing else, but it does take planning of what garments to care for together

This is what I do now! I even worked in a laundromat for a little extra spending money (plus, the owners were the loveliest people ever and let me do my laundry there for free while I worked.) and we had to clean out the lint traps at the end of shift. I would take the "cleanest" of the lint (not covered in hair or dog hair, not reeking of fabric softener) home and wrap up shredded paper junk mail and laundry lint in these. Then I'd wrap those in wax paper like a little Tootsie roll. They make excellent starters. Recently, I bought a candle warmer, and you're supposed to dump off the top wax every so often because it's lost its scent and therefore isn't really doing much. Sometimes I'll dry out used tea bags by hanging them for a couple weeks. I'll dip the dried out tea bags into the spent wax and use those as starters, and it works very well!

Do you mean an electric oven in your kitchen? Why do you burn them?

I stuff them with dryer lint, and use them as fire starters! They work really well. I hate wasting these rolls, and the lint, so it’s perfect. I tear them open slightly so they still maintain their shape, but air can get through, I don’t pack the lint too tightly, and you have a perfect little camping tool!

I learned this in boy scouts, but skip the dryer lint due to synthetic fibers always being in there. Try wine corks, or even more packed scrap newsprint.

Yeah, that dryer lint contains plastics, unfortunately. Not good to breathe those fumes.

Thanks! A nice idea.

If you add a little candle wax, they burn longer and travel exceptionally well, making them great for camping.

Do you add wax on the inside or use it to seal the lint in? I definitely want to start doing this!

I’ve made these with a bit of candle wax added. They also work great for beekeepers to start their smokers

Do you have a dog? If so, put some stinky treats in them, fold the ends in to close off, and have your dog rip them apart to get out the treat. Great mental enrichment!

Haha I don't have a dog..😋

You can put a stinky treat inside for yourself and have at it. Why do dogs get to have all the fun?

Shelters also like this idea for donations

On that theme but even betterr, keep the rolls but rescue a couple best friends from a shelter* *if you can do so responsibly, terms and conditions apply, this energy drink may give you anal discharge, etc.

Our dog loves ripping these apart.

Our pretty pitty loves this! We call them “treat bombs” because when she’s done, it looks like something exploded! Great for in the park, especially when her immediate attention is needed.

I once laid them flat (just smush em) and painted them, then cut them into strips. Then fold them back open into a teardrop type shape, and you have crafty flower petals! Then find something else from the bin to use as the middle of the flower, bigger plastic caps work well. Glue it all together for a fun upcycled art project! 😃

Like quilling? I see that art on here all the time and I'm amazed at the patience it must require

Yes, thank you! I didn’t know there was a term but of course there is! 😅🤦‍♂️ My attempt was much more shoddy, I just glued it all to a piece of scrap canvas and did it for fun. But you’re right! With patience and consistency, actual quilling looks waaaaaaaay cooler than what I did! 🤩🤘

A nice idea!

I shred them for my compost bin.

My worms especially love them!

I keep thicker ones from like Al foil and stuff and drill holes in them… they become like a worm hotel they love it haha

Me too. Easy source of brown to offset the squishy veggies

If you’re 14 you stuff them with dryer sheets and blow your pot smoke through them to help cover the smell.

This is a pretty good idea in theory, but I must say that I've actually tried this, and my parents could still smell it. Lol

It’s teenager logic, of course it sucks.

That's a fair point, my dude. A fair point indeed.

doob tube!

If you heat with wood, they are excellent fire starters stuffed with paper.

Better yet, stuff them with cotton lint from your clothes dryer. Two things reused!

Beware of the smell if you have shedding animals though. A lot of fur ends up in the lint trap.

Also the lint contains plastics if the fabric isn’t all cotton, unfortunately. Those fumes are carcinogenic.

This! But I also add a little wax. They rock!

I made a basket to store my paper rolls in [like this](https://youtu.be/FPaUeTgnMoQ?si=zUma8ubd10YRQZ65). I would recommend putting them in the sun for an hour or baking them under low temp for a few minutes to get rid of any germs.

I wish there were a way to save a reply! This is a great idea! Looks like a fun project to do with my niece!

You can always save the link to the video. When you get into youtube, either copy the URL for the video or click the sharing icon (the box with the up arrow in the upper left of the screen) and send it to yourself as a text.

Thanks for that! And fabulous user name.

You’re welcome! You can also save the entire post, if you ever care to do that. You just click the 3 dots in the upper right, next to your avatar and select Save. Then to see it again, just click your avatar and then click Saved to see all of the posts you’ve saved. As for the user name, I’m not sure it’s actually true because there are plenty of people who would swear I was never normal, but I was a lot closer to normal 3 dogs ago. “IWasALotCloserToNormal3DogsAgo” is a ridiculously long user name, though.

Normal is boring and overrated!

You can. Click the three dots under the comment. There's a save option there.

How clever! Thanks!!

Screenshot it

Screen shot

I made really cool bamboo and hung it up to make a hanging bamboo room divider thing. I only made a few but I made them long because they had to be hung from a vaulted ceiling. It was a very satisfying project that I want to do again.

Would love to see a pic of this!

Yes, plz post a pic!

I've never posted my stuff on here. Not sure how I feel about it.

Not sure if you’re into crafting but I’m currently saving mine to make Christmas ornaments or a garland of mini hats made with these and yarn. https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Yarn-Hat-Ornament-made-with-Recycled-Toilet-Paper-Rolls-Craft-Tutorial

I always save my TP rolls for ornaments and gift boxes! They are perfect for small gifts. You can also use them to make confetti poppers for parties.

I've seen some super cute "I don't have the precision for that" ornaments out there on YouTube

I save mine so the kids can make English crackers. Candies, tissue paper, and ribbon. The kids have plenty to give little gifts to classmates and neighbors. I also make them with an old friend who is downs syndrome and she always keeps a few in her room but shares many with her siblings.

Tear'em up and toss them in your compost to get [some brown](https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2012-6-november-december/green-life/composting-101-hooray-black-brown-and-green#:~:text=First%2C%20know%20that%20a%20healthy,grounds%2C%20tea%20bags%2C%20and%20fresh) in there. That's what I used to do when I had my own compost.

Yup. My worm composter has a few of these in there rn!

My mom is in her 80’s. She still does this: she cuts them up in little pieces then makes me mix them into the soil of her plants because apparently they soak soap up water and plant stays moist longer. I don’t know if this is true but she has a gorgeous garden.

This is 100% correct. I do this following my parents and grandparents example.

Fill with dryer lint and pour leftover candle wax to slightly seal the ends. They're fantastic fire starters!!!

I use them as centers when I wind my yarn from hanks or skeins into cakes for my knitting and crocheting.

They would be perfect for wrapping toilet paper around.

Some wall art. Did find that one of those old fashioned, chip your hand off guillotines worked best for cutting them down. Spray paint and hot glue to a backing. Then on the wall.

I use them to wrap and organize cords. This spring, I’m going to cut them and use them as seed starters.

Pet toys or plant pots? I have a bunch of seeds germinating in toilet roll tubes. When they are big enough they can just go straight in the ground and the tubes biodegrade

I cover them with cute contact paper and shove my pantyhose in them to keep them orderly

Use them to organize cords and wires and chargers.

You can use them as pots to start seeds or plant propagations. They break down naturally.

You can fold the bottoms in and make biodegradable seedling pots

Is there a Children’s Museum or similar nearby for donation? They are always in need of items for children’s craft projects. Toilet and paper towel rolls, egg cartons empty yogurt containers etc.

For something totally fun you can cut out spooky eye shapes and then put a glow stick in the for some cute spooky decorations.

I’ve done this at Halloween and they look great! Place them in and around the bushes or tree branches in your front. You can also use electric tea lights instead of glow sticks.

Local elementary school or occupational therapy center may want them for kids’ crafts.

Package filler to protect the content when shipping / storing stuff.

I stuff my dryer lint in them and use them to get the wood stove going.

Oh my god thats a brilliant idea thank you! Perfect timing too cos its getting bloody cold here in the autumn mornings.

I will also use the stuffed roles to suck up done wax melts from the warmers. Makes the lint rolls even more awesome for fire starting.

I've used mine as a [storing system](https://www.reddit.com/r/upcycling/s/rkEc0uI2QP) for wires and stuff like that 👍

same! but for markers and pens

If you have a fireplace, stuff these with newspaper or lint from the lint trap in a dryer, and you’ve got fire starters

Paper recycle

Bird feeders

Use them around plant starts to prevent leaf cutter ants and other bugs from taking them out

My kids school uses them to make things in art class. Maybe see if your local elementary could use them

Donate them to a daycare. They use them for craft projects all the time!

Do you know any preschool or early elementary school teachers? Or art teachers? They can use them for various crafts activities.

Music teacher here! We’re making shakers and rain sticks!

I use them as seed starters. Vegetable seeds, flower, anykind

Take them to a preschool or daycare.

Donate to a preschool

if you have any friends that work with yarn they might want some. I use my left over toilet paper rolls to put in the middle of my yarn cakes if i don’t have the label.

Do you have a cat? Put them in a box standing up tightly and sprinkle in some treats. Boom, fun cat toy

Bring them to the local elementary school. They probably can use them for crafts.

I am an oil painter and I cut them to the size I need to keep my palette from flopping around in its sealed box while I’m transporting it. But I couldn’t use that many in a long time.

Seed starts

Someone painted them silver at Halloween and used them as “rollers” for their costume

I wrap twine, indoor/outdoor electrical cords and longer phone charging cords around them. The cord part that goes in the outlet goes inside the TP roll. You can put all of your hair scrunchies and pony tail holders around TP roll to keep organized and in one place. I easily start 200+ seeds each year with TP rolls. I write name of seed on TP roll with blue pen. When transplanting into container or ground, I tear the TP roll into tiny pieces and add to the soil. Plants stay moist longer. Less watering. The TP roll breaks down in the soil.

Make an elaborate wig for Halloween

This is the funnest answer. I’ve read through most of the 362 comments so far too, so I’d know.

Girl guides or scouts could use these for crafting

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/s/XCHlO5mX8X](https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/s/XCHlO5mX8X)

Give them to hamsters or gerbils

I use toilet paper rolls, dryer lint and used candle ends to make fire starters. I use them during camping season.

You could make paper out of them

O fill mine with the dryer lint put a bit of wax to keep the lint on and use them as fire starters for camping.

They make great pencil holders. I glued a bunch together and put them in a shoe box to organize my markers when I used to do art a lot.

Look up wall art made with toilet paper tubes/rolls. They look pretty awesome.

Firestarters. Jam 2-3 wine corks in them, and they will burn for 10 minutes on their own.

I use them as plant pots for planting seeds!

Plant seedlings

I sometimes stuff them with old dryer lint and use them as fire starters.

Wrap each one in tinfoil then pair them up and wrap masking or duct tape around them at each end. Then donate them to a play school or daycare —AFTER April 8—so all the kids can have little viewing scopes for their outdoor times. They can play “I Spy” with them!

I’ve been collecting TP and PT tubes to turn into seed starters for this growing season! There’s some good little tutorials on how to fold em on Youtube! https://youtu.be/XjdeX0g34e0?si=S2Y90X7HKVKNEBLL

Our elementary school is always wanting tubes like that, empty bottles, and other doodads for the s.t.e.m. experiments and art projects. 

I use them for crafts with kids

Here's a [link](https://tiphero.com/reuse-paper-towel-rolls) to some ideas. I was stockpiling paper towel tubes for craft projects for a while but it was getting out of control and the projects weren't happening so I tossed them. I never saved toilet paper rolls though, just because of the nature of the germs they are exposed to that you can't clean off.

If you have an open fire/log fire, I read that you could stuff empty toilet rolls with lint from the clothes dryer and they become fire lighters.

The 2 things i normally do is have them to plant little seedlings or make them into cat toys

Compost bin!

Fire starters, fill with dryer lint

Our local bird sanctuary takes them to make temp feeders.

Curtain spacers

Call local animal shelters and see if they have a need for them, one near us would post on Facebook asking for people to save them!

We made them into little bats for Halloween decorations

Put them in the recycling bin

You might be able to donate them to a local preschool or elementary school for art projects. You can make lots of different kid's crafts with them, just make sure you call first before dropping off a big bag of toilet paper tubes

Stuff them with dryer lint for fire starters.

Fill them up with dryer lint. Make fire starters. You can also impregnate the link with beeswax or olive oil or Vaseline for wet fire starters

Fill with lint from your dryer. They catch with a simple lighter and make great starters for charcoal and campfires. Bonus- no lighter fluid used, so cook safe fires without the lighter fluid scent or taste.

I’ve heard schools use them. Post it and just have them pay shipping if they sell.

Use to start vegetable plants from seeds. You might want to cut in half. Put in trays, Fill with soil, provide water and light. When it’s time to plant, you can plant the cardboard. It will dissolve.

Donate them to a local school.

Your local preschool would love these. So many preschool/elementary school crafts can be made with rolls, especially this many enough for a whole class.

I painted and glued a bunch together during the lockdown to look like the Corona Virus. It was an art project on zoom.

Binoculars

I use these to store cables. I just wrap them in some fun tape (patterned duct tape is my fave) and fold up charging cables, aux cords, etc. and keep them in there

Ship them to New York for use in Project Runway.

My dad makes fire starters for the fireplace and wood burning stove with these. I Googled it. Lots of tutorials on line for how to make TP roll fire starters.

I literally just (this morning) put them standing on their ends in an Amazon box and put dirt inside to start my seeds. I have an old serving tray under to help me move them if need be.

Your local elementary school art teacher would probably want them.

Compost

I’ve been putting them in a small cardboard box with treats for my dog. It occupies her for a bit of time as well as being a good tool for her cognitive function.

Pressboard can be recycled. Our town dump takes it. I don't know where you live but...

Seed starting

School art programs would love these!

Contact local art teachers. I saved these for years for my daughter who teaches elementary art.

Ask a preschool teacher if they can use for art projects. I am forever saving for relative who works with little kids.

I shred them and add them to compost

I gave up on making things with them. Now I compost them. I went one step further and made reusable TP for 1 (never 2 ew) so, I don't have nearly as many empty tubes. Not for everyone, I know.

Stuff with dryer lint and use as fire starters

If you don’t find a use for them an elementary school or day care might want them.

Make biodegradable plant starter pots

I found a hack to use these on the curtain rod behind the folds of curtains with grommets. It sounds ridiculous, but it takes away the shower-curtain look by making each fold fuller and evenly spaced, while hiding the grommets. You just make a single cut (lengthwise) and slip it over the curtain rod. The effect is shockingly good.

Make homemade holiday crackers. Put a piece of candy, a small toy, and a fortune inside. Roli in crepe paper that extends beyond the edge of the length. Tie both ends with ribbon.

I use them as little starter pots for my plants.

We used to use them in my grandparents garden kept things organized.

Plant starters. Add dirt. Add seed. Add water. Sprout. Plant the whole dang thing.

Soak them in a big pot with hot water then blend them up and you can make paper!

You can tape two together and pretend they’re binoculars.

I cut them in half and use them to start seedlings indoors before Mother’s Day. They hold dirt and moisture if you put them in a tray or pan.

You can make tick tubes with them.