The finale of the Australian open brings us into National Green Week (from February 1st – 5th). In 2006, the Open used more than 45,000 tennis balls. If you’re an environmentally apathetic individual, that’s a lot of hairy garbage. As the saying goes, however, one man’s trash presents a plethora of opportunities for a savvy Do-IT-Yourselfer (or something like that). So, this seems a perfect time to look at a few ways in which a green-minded individual (pun very much intended) can reuse your old tennis balls. While still not up there with Duct Tape and a Leatherman, aspiring MacGyvers ought to keep a few Wilsons in their problem solving arsenals. Here are 10 not so obvious re-uses for your little, furry friends.
1. Scuff-free chairs – To protect your tile or hardwood floors from chair legs bent on linoleum destruction, simply cut an “X” into four tennis balls with a knife or razor, stick them on the bottom of each chair leg, and voila, you’ll find yourself in possession of a bonafide scuff-free (and squeak-free) chair.
2. Super-duper screwdriver – Can’t seem to get a good grip, or enough torque on a screw? Making a small slit in a tennis ball, and sliding it over the handle of your screwdriver will give you a better grip, and more torque.
3. Hammer lightly – Pop the end of your hammer through an “X” in a tennis ball to create a hitting instrument that is less likely to ding up fragile or expensive wood. It’s also easier on your thumbs.
4. Bottle opener – To avoid unnecessary embarrassment, cut a tennis ball in half, and use one of the sides to open those stubborn pickle jars.
5. Garage wall proximity detector – Hang a tennis ball from the ceiling of your garage to alert you when you’re the perfect distance away from the wall. When the car’s gone, it also scares away invading green spiders.
6. Secret storage – Looking for a place to stash that million dollar microchip while you’re at the gym? Slit a tennis ball and stick it inside! It’s also where I keep the spare keys to my back door. (Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you that.)
7. Dog toy – Pretty obvious.
8. Baby Toy – Not so obvious
9. Free weights – Fill a tennis ball up with something heavy (sand, marbles, pennies, sad poems), lift it up and down several thousand times, and watch in amazement as your muscles rip through your old clothes.
10. Give yourself a back massage – After a hard day’s work, nothing feels better than a nice back rub. But what if no one’s around to give you one? Stuff a long tube sock with a few tennis balls, tie off the end, and swing it across your back. Pull the sock back and forth (as if you were drying off you back.) Bonus: If you tie two tennis-ball filled socks together and drape it around your body, you look like Rambo.
All the money you will save –dear reader – on reusing your old tennis balls should allow you sufficient funds to install in your home energy efficient windows and buy a Prius. You’re welcome.
To find more every day uses for commonly discarded items, feel free to visit www.diylife.com.
