11 Simple And Effective Household Hacks For Toilet Paper Rolls (Put Those Rolls To Good Use)

Lauren Kirkbride | December 2, 2024 1:00 pm

Everyone owns toilet paper, but many people throw away the remaining rolls and inner tubes. Doing so wastes a household staple. Toilet paper offers far more valuable than a one-time use in the bathroom.

With a little creativity, you can transform toilet paper rolls into cord organizers, phone speakers, and even bird feeders. Once you learn these toilet paper hacks, the options will seem endless. Find out how to use spare toilet paper rolls in a life-changing way.

Neatly Store Your Cords

Toilet paper rolls hold cords.
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Twitter/@StationaryJA

Nothing's more annoying than tangled, messy cords. To store and separate all of your cords neatly, just use old toilet paper rolls. And the best part? You don't have to do any crafting!

Simply roll up your cords and place them in an empty toilet paper roll. This way, all of your electronics will remain separate and won't tangle. If you want to decorate the toilet paper rolls, go for it! They make great crafts as well.

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Keep Your Bathroom Smelling Fresh

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You can keep your bathroom smelling nice with just one toilet paper roll and a bottle of essential oil. Sprinkle a few drops of oil on the inside of the roll before you put it on the holder. Don't get any on the paper itself, since the harsh oils can irritate your skin.

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The essential oil will keep the area around your toilet smelling nice. Whenever the scent disappears, you can spin the roll to "re-activate" it.

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Turn Rolls Into A Desk Organizer

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A YouTuber transforms toilet paper rolls into a desk organizer.
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You don't have to throw out every single toilet paper roll. With a bit of work, you can transform these rolls into a desk organizer! Cut the rolls down to varying heights, and connect them with hot glue.

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To get an easy solid color, spray paint the rolls. Then you can add stickers, beads, bows, or whatever else you'd like to decorate your new organizer. The rolls can hold writing utensils, scissors, tape rolls, flash drives, and more!

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Design A Quick And Easy Phone Speaker

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An illustration shows a toilet paper roll functioning as a phone speaker.
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An old toilet paper roll can become an easy, DIY phone speaker. First, measure how wide your phone is. Cut a rectangle in the roll that's just big enough to hold the phone. Stick four thumbtacks into the roll to create a stand.

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The roll will amplify music from the phone's speakers. Some people add two more toilet paper rolls on the side for louder music, but you only need one to make a difference in the sound.

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Improve Your Vacuum

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A person uses a toilet paper roll as a vacuum extension.
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Some vacuums don't come with extensions that reach narrow places. If this is the case, make your own vacuum extension. Tape a toilet paper roll to the end of a vacuum, and pinch the opposite end.

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The DIY extension can reach difficult areas such as windowsills, car seats, and sliding door tracks. And the best part? It's so easy that you can make a new extension every time you need it, as long as you have a toilet paper roll.

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Prevent Your Pets From Ruining Toilet Paper

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Some pet owners struggle to keep their toilet paper safe. Their pet latches onto the loose toilet paper, paws at it, and suddenly, the entire roll has unraveled. With a simple hack, you can prevent this from happening.

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After using the toilet paper, tuck the loose hanging piece inside the inner roll. Even if your pet does swipe at it, the entire roll won't unravel. It's simple, but it can save a lot of money over time.

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Start Growing Plants

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Toilet paper rolls hold plants.
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You don't have to buy peat pots or pellets to grow new plants. You only need a toilet paper roll to contain the seeds as they sprout. After the plants grow, you can transfer them to a pot.

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On one side of a toilet paper roll, make a series of cuts about an inch apart. Fold the cut sections into the center to create the bottom of your "pot." Place the rolls in a tub, fill them with soil, and plant your seeds.

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Contain Plastic Bags

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If you like to save your plastic bags, you're not alone. But it's hard to organize all those stray plastic bags. For a DIY fix, just shove several plastic bags inside a toilet paper roll. Leave one end out so you can easily pull it out later!

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Save your toilet paper and paper towel rolls to organize your plastic bags. Storing your grovery bags this way saves a lot of space, and now you can keep and reuse them.

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Make A Homemade Eyeglass Case

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A YouTuber pushes eyeglasses into a case made from a toilet paper roll.
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If you don't want to spend money on an extra glasses case, make one. For this simplest method, you just need to flatten a toilet paper roll and duct tape one end shut. It's a last-minute hack that could help if you lose your glasses case.

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For a nicer case, you can wrap the toilet paper in fabric. Cut one side open, wrap the roll in felt, and glue it shut. Then close one end just as before.

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Use The Rolls As A Fire Starter

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Toilet paper rolls are filled with lint to create fire starters.
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If you need a fire starter, don't buy one--make it yourself. Grab a spare toilet paper roll and lint from your dryer. Stuff the lint inside of the paper roll, and you have the easiest fire starter imaginable.

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Some people pack these fires starters for camping. To do so, seal both ends of the roll with melted wax and wrap it in wax paper like it's a tootsie roll. That way, you can carry it to a campsite.

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Melt Old Wax Into A New Candle

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A Redditor made electric candles out of toilet paper molds.
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If you have old candles, don't throw them out! You can melt the extra wax to create a new candle. Save a toilet paper roll to use as a mold, and you'll have a tall pillar candle.

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To start, wrap the bottom of the roll with tin foil and attach it with tape or a rubber band. Stick a pre-tabbed wick inside the roll, and then pour in your melted wax. Remove the toilet paper roll, and you have a new candle!