[REAL SIMPLE]Real Simple by Real Simple(Author){Real Simple: 869 New Uses for Old Things}Hardcover on 12-Oct-2010

by Real Simple

"New Uses For Old Things" is one of Real Simple's most popular franchises. It showcases how to repurpose everyday items in clever ways. These ideas appeal to readers because they're a) economical, b) green, and c) surprising. Over the past decade, Real Simple has developed 800-plus ideas for all sorts of common items, from accordion files to zippered plastic bags. It seems fitting that in honor of their ten-year anniversary, they'd give readers the opportunity to enjoy these ideas in one convenient place.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Maicie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library because the cover says, “an encyclopedia of innovative ideas for everyday items.” According to the introduction, this is a regular and favorite feature of the magazine “Real Simple.” At the risk of being sent nasty messages from “Real Simple” readers, I have to say the title says it all.

Some of my favorite examples:
*Empty baby food jars: use to put stuff in. (Damn, I wish I had thought of that.)

*Kazoo: dip in soapy water and blow for a sudsy symphony of bubbles. (This might be useful if I owned a kazoo. I do not. I have a wazoo. I might try dipping it in soapy water…never mind.)

Pencil eraser: substitute for a lost earring back. Slice off a new, clean pencil eraser and pop it onto the post until you get home. (Uh huh, no one will notice that.)

Penny: glue coins to the soles of a pair of child’s shoes for a no-commitment tap-dancing tryout. (I actually like this idea. My mom hammered old thumbtacks to the bottom of my shoes. It made a sweet tapping noise but it made dancing painful as hell.)

Vase: store rolls of toilet paper decoratively. Stack them in a tall, clear vase. (I’m sorry but there is no way to store rolls of tp decoratively. You could spray paint the roll with gold leaf and it would still look like the stuff you wipe your butt with.)

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I didn't read every tip. But the format sucks one in and I know that I read more than enough to justify my rating. Bad ideas, pretty book with some pretty photos (pretty is what gets the second star.)

I mean, I just thought, well, I keep throwing away certain things that it seems like I should be able to use for something, like the plastic bubbles in shipping cartons for example, and so maybe this book will give me ideas for some of the stuff I'm accumulating, like fabric salvaged from stained tablecloths or sheets. Um, no.

The weirdest things are assumed to be just hanging around collecting dust. Vodka. A stepstool. A soup tureen. And the same 'problems' get solved over and over again. Check it out if your library has it, but don't buy it, even for a gift.

And when you actually do have a problem, search online for tips to solve it... you'll find plenty.

That said, I did write down six things that I might do. I might use a straw to strengthen a flower stem to make the bouquet taller & less floppy, if there are enough other flowers and greens to hide the straw.

Disclaimer: I have read a couple dozen issues of the magazine over the years, and I do always read the tips page that inspired this book. Once I even saved that page, back when I had extra aluminum foil because Costco-size rolls... but actually, darned if I can remember using any of those tips....

[Jon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fwd; Fwd; Fwd; READ THESE AMAZING TIPS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER!!!

Do you ever think to yourself, "Keeping up with all the forwarded tip emails that grandma sends me on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the occasional Sunday is getting to be way too difficult. I wish someone would compile all those tips into a colorful book that I can put on my shelf and read if I ever end up with a traumatic brain injury."

Yea, me neither, but calling this book "859 Tips That are Marginally Useful to People Who've Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury In The Last 30 Days" might be considered insensitive, even in my book.

There are about 10 real tips in this book. The rest is just repetitive and bad. And also repetitive and bad. Calling this book an encyclopedia is like calling me an author and this review a romp of literal ecstasy.

When they say new uses for old things, I assume "old" means "not useful and about to be thrown away" rather than "invented a long time ago." If my definition were correct, then having a segment on Swiffers (use them to dust...your shoes!) is a bit gross, but having a segment on Q-tips is beyond. But, they probably don't mean use an old q-tip. Use a new one. It's a new tip for a new thing, like use a q-tip to clean things. No one does that. That's a novel idea.

Speaking of novelists, I feel I should add a tip for their sequel. What about, use a rolled up magazine to kill bugs? Or use soap as shampoo when you run out of shampoo? I suppose those will have to be free gifts to the next edition, as this finely crafted review must come to a close.

There are not 869 tips. It is not an encyclopedia. It's not about old things. This is a waste of paper unless of course you've had a brain injury in the last 30 days. In that case, I don't think you'll find much of it useful, but it may help you pass the time. Best of luck and a speedy recovery!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not all entries are eco-friendly, but many of the tips reuse everyday household items. My biggest complaint is that a lot of the suggestions are party-related. I don't entertain that often, and when I do I don't need a lot of things they suggested.

Aluminum foil: Use to scrub food off of a glass pan

Baby powder: Prevent sweat stains on white shirts by sprinkling powder on underarms of shirts then ironing.

Citrus peel: Lightly salt the peel to rub off coffee stains from a mug. Or use vinegar.

Clothespin: Clip a nail with a clothespin to hold it in place when hammering to avoid hurting yourself.

Cooking spray: Coat a grater with it so cheese slides off.

Deodorant: Rub clear stick deodorant on heels before wearing new shoes to prevent blisters.

Lemon juice: Rub on lips to remove wine stains. Rub on cutting board & let sit for 20 minutes to remove stains. Mix with teaspoon of cream of tartar to clean tile grout.

Microwave: Disinfect sponges by microwaving them for 1 minute after soaking them with water mixed with white vinegar or lemon juice.

Rubber bands: Wrap on ends of hanger to keep slippery clothes from falling off.

Soda bottle: Prop up boots by inserting one in each shoe.

Towel rod: Hang in a closet to store spray cleaners on.

Tube socks: Slip onto windshield wipers to prevent them from icing in the winter.

Vase: Use to store kitchen utensils.

Vinegar: Spray on weeds between cracks to kill them.

Wall calendar: Use old ones to wrap presents.

[Ida · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of these suggestions are just silly. I can think of better uses for food than putting it in your hair.
Suggestions for repurposing this book: Doorstop! Cut out the center and use for letterboxing! Shred the pages to line a catbox!

[Laurla2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

-2-3 stars. meh. i wasn't impressed.

some ideas were a bit ridiculous like use a toilet paper tube to stick hair pins in and hair ties around, to store in your in your purse. i'm not putting a toilet paper tube in my purse. it'd get crushed and break into crumbly pieces. or they suggest you stick your extra address labels on your cell phone and camera, which means every time you use them in public everyone can see your name and address.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and useful tips from Real Simple magazine. Surprising what one can do with a variety of household items (vinegar, salt, and baking soda I knew about; a lot of the other ideas, I did not). It did feel as though they were 'reaching' with a number of the suggestions.

[Mh Weyler]

I always enjoy quick tip books. Anything from the many uses for coffee filters to what you can do with saran wrap. Whether or not I apply anything might be another story. Hopefully, it is all rumbling around in my brain for when I need it in the future?

[Duygu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It might rather be thought like “A guide for adulting” and unless you have lots of experience in housework, it’s a good choice as a guide.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say that I learned many ideas that I will use, and some of them are simply outrageous!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some novel ideas and a lot of so-so ones.

A couple of my favorites (hopefully this will help me recall them when needed, too): non stick cooking spray to seal nail polish, banana peel to nourish a rose bush, travel crayons for kids in an altoid can, wash hair brushes and combs in dishwasher (duh to me), empty wine bottles to keep form in tall boots, dental floss to truss a chicken (another duh to me), strong black tea and a couple hour soak to clean rusty garden tools, protect garden tools with nonstick spray after cleaning for easier cleanup next time (we used to use oil on the farm) melt and reform fun crayons in a muffin pan, sharpen a scissors by cutting sandpaper, WD40 to clean crayon from walls

After having written that out, I changed my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. That's quite a lot to learn from one book!

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really glad I did not buy this book. While the book is nicely organized as an encyclopedia of how to reuse stuff you've got hanging around your house, most of the "new uses" have been featured in the magazine Real Simple. I read Real Simple on a pretty regular basis, so the practical ideas featured in this book aren't new to me. If someone read Real Simple on a regular basis, but had a change within their family, like a new baby, then I think this book could be incredibly helpful. You'd be scanning this encyclopedia with a different set of organizational priorities, and probably discovering some great new uses for old things. However, if you read Real Simple on a regular basis, I'd suggest a trip to your local library.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with the other reviewers that said this book was a waste of money. I didn't like the way it was organized. And practically all the hints were either old or not useful.

For example:

Dryer sheets
#1- Loosen caked on food by placing one in a pan with water overnight. Gee Whiz, water along will loosen caked on food when soaked overnight.
#2, #4, #5, #6 - All were different places you could put dryer sheets to help with odors. Wow, such a shocker! Also, couldn't that have been 1 thing and not 4.

And one of my favorite uses for dryer sheets (new or even used) wasn't even mentioned. Use them to clean shower doors -- gets off soap scum easily.

A quick search on the internet will give you more tips than this book does.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be a reference book around the house, though it's organized oddly -- by the thing that you'd use -- rather than by its use. E.g., rubber bands can be used to open a jar or to dye Easter eggs, so they're listed under R for rubber band. The index in the back might list j for jar or e for egg, but I think it would have been better organized by use instead of by the item. Or at least cross-listed. I think people are more likely to ask, "How am I going to open this jar?" than, "I have a lot of extra rubber bands; wonder what could I do with them?"

The photographs are pretty.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has received some low reviews, but I'm so glad I read it anyway. I have been trying to remove some stains in my bathroom using all the available products in the stores. But nothing was working, until I tried the recipe on page 20 using cream of tartar. Wow, I never would have remembered that from chemistry class. It worked miracles.

I took notes from this book for other projects that need attention around the house, and ideas for traveling too like using a pill box for carrying your earrings in your purse. Creatively simple.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept thinking "really" and "wow" while reading this book. Of course, will these things really work is a different story. And I won't remember any of it (except using a bird bath to plant flowers in which I plan to try). I would have to buy this book to really make it useful and I doubt I will do that.

[Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really fun. There's nothing absolutely earth shatteringly new and inventive, but there's a lot of simple things that you don't think of in the moment. And a lot of things that I knew before looking at the book, but I'd forgotten.

I'd really like to own this book. It's common sense, but even common sense needs reminders.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a great gift. But first you gather some the items noted in the book. It's also alot of fun searching for these, like a scavanger hunt. Wrap these up as a gift and give this package first. Your reciepient will be baffled at the odd assortment of junk. Now present the package with the book. Its a great conversation starter. Everyone will be talking and laughing!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book by a gracious accident. It is a book just full of my favorite part of Real Simple Magazine: the new uses for old things. I am glad to have it around. Oh, the ideas are in alphabetical dictionary form, so that is nice.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about practical solutions using simple materials. For example, using empty wine bottles to "preserve the shape of tall leather boots" which I immediately did because I love my boots! This is an awesome home reference book.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good tips.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is neat!!

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handy reference guide, but maybe not one-stop shopping - I'm not sure I'd have it around just for the occasional look-up.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book and a great column idea.

[Jamey · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really useful ideas in here and a few that were.plain ridiculous. All in all, a fun browsable book.

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed it. Meh.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to waste anything and I am always looking for ways to recycle. This book does a great job in giving you ideas on how to do that with a lot of items.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative...

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the concept and love this regular feature of the magazine. It just doesn't work as well in book form. As others have noted, the organization was odd.

[Beckey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! So many clever ideas. I borrowed this from library and now want my own copy for reference.