I feel like I am buying diapers every single week. This is discouraging because they really add up! I usually buy Kroger brand and I’ve never had any problems. They’re solid and inexpensive, considering.
A few weeks ago we were at Walmart and needed some, so we bought their brand.
It was a huge mistake! From the small box we purchased, at least three diapers broke. You know, when you’re in a rush to get the sucker on because someone is kicking you in the chest? Then one of the little strappy guys rip off, and since you don’t have any duct tape handy, it’s rendered useless.
Or is it?
After the pain of throwing away empty disposable diapers, and having smaller sizes left over from when the kids were babies (sob), I decided I needed to find some other uses. And while I was at it, I thought I would share what I found.
So, here is a list of 6 alternate uses for disposable diapers.
1. Clean up big messes.
Disposable diapers are designed to absorb a shit ton of liquid. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather wipe up vomit with a sturdy diaper than a paper towel that will potentially fall apart. Or even a regular towel that will forever be known as the ‘vomit’ towel if it doesn’t end up in the trash.
2. Use it for plants.
You can make transporting flowers in a vase easier. You know, for all of those times you need to transport flowers! (Ha!) Put the sodium polyacrylate (the white stuff inside the diaper) in the water and it will turn into a gel. It will help prevent it from sloshing around. And it will keep the flowers in place. Or keep your plants watered when you go out of town. Repot your plant over a diaper. It will help the soil retain some of its moisture.
3. Play with it!
Add water to the sodium polyacrylate and you have play snow! A fantastic sensory activity for the kiddos! Especially if they don’t get to play in real snow, like my kids. Make sure they don’t eat it. And throw it in the trash, not down the drain.
4. Temporary plumber.
If you have a leaky pipe and you’re waiting for the plumber to arrive, wrap the pipe with a diaper. It’s definitely temporary, but it will solve your problem in the short-term.
5. Gigantic band-aid.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are faced with a sizeable wound, wrap it with a disposable diaper until help arrives.
6. Make an ice pack.
Add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, then soak it in water. Put it in a ziplock bag and keep it in the freezer. Use it to reduce inflammation or even put it in your lunch to keep it cold.
There are a few more, but they were a little far fetched, even for me. So next time you have a broken diaper, don’t throw it away! Put it to good use!
Have you used a disposable diaper for anything other than its intended use? Please share in the comments!
29 Comments
Wow…these are brilliant ideas! Btw, my girl is a kicker, too. And now that she’s starting to smile & laugh, she thinks it’s funny to kick mommy. Needless to say, changing her diaper takes longer than expected LOL
January 8, 2016 at 7:20 amThanks!! Why must they kick so hard?! It makes it all so much harder! Lol!
January 8, 2016 at 7:50 amoh, that’s the worst when the snaps break before you get to use them! I like the idea of using those to clean up big spills! So true….no one wants a vomit towel! 🙂
January 8, 2016 at 8:23 amSo frustrating!! I felt like it kept happening so I had to find ways to use them
January 8, 2016 at 8:36 amOh these are so smart! I’ve heard about the planting before, but an ice pack is a good idea. Thanks for sharing!
January 8, 2016 at 8:42 amThank you! No problem!!
January 8, 2016 at 8:44 amSo many great suggestions! I will stick to my KY ice pack though.. THAT was my FAVORITE. 😉
January 8, 2016 at 9:16 amHahaha!!! I use my KY ice pack all the time! 😀
January 11, 2016 at 1:55 pmI like the ice pack idea! I definitely wouldn’t have thought of that!
January 8, 2016 at 11:19 amI’m excited to try it!
January 8, 2016 at 11:20 amAmazing! LOVE the flower water solution. thank you so much, Tarynn!
January 8, 2016 at 11:59 amAmazing! I love the flower water solution! And I do t know why I’ve never thought to clean up vomit with a diaper before… Pure genius. Thank you so much, Tarynn!
January 8, 2016 at 12:02 pmHa! These are very creative. I have one other thing I had to use a diaper for, but I’ll let you guess. Hint…it happens once a month for us women 😉
January 8, 2016 at 8:39 pmAaaaahhhh….yes, that’s pretty brilliant!!
January 8, 2016 at 8:47 pmI had no idea you could make snow out of a diaper, how cool!
January 9, 2016 at 8:09 amHahaha-true story!
January 9, 2016 at 9:25 amI’ve used them in a pinch when we’ve spilt something on the road. I had no idea about anything else though! What cool uses!!! Especially the flowers. And having a diaper break while trying to put one on a two-year-old boy is brutal. Changing X’s diaper is the BANE of my existence because of the kicking and trashing. ARGH!!!!!!
January 10, 2016 at 1:03 pmMe too! I’m ready to be done with the diapers and the kicking!!
January 10, 2016 at 1:06 pmLove these ideas! Who knew you could find such inspiration from a bad diaper! I like the ice pack idea. These are also useful after you finish potty training, because you’re bound to have leftover diapers (I know I do!). Great tips!
January 10, 2016 at 9:56 pmThank you! You’re right, I’ll probably have some leftover after we’re done potty training (hopefully soon…)
January 10, 2016 at 10:18 pmMaking an icepack is such a good idea! I never heard of doing that before! Bookmarking your post for future reference! These are all such great ideas! I remember when I was about 6 or 7, I did a science experiment with a diaper once, I can’t remember exactly what it was now, but I remember thinking it was gross because it was a diaper, lol.
January 11, 2016 at 6:41 pmPlumber, oooh good one!
January 12, 2016 at 12:30 pmHaha-I hope I never have to use it for that though!
January 12, 2016 at 12:46 pmYou’ve made me look at disposable diapers in a while new way!
January 15, 2016 at 4:12 amThese are great ideas! I agree that cleaning vomit will be much easier if using the disposable diapers. They are made to absorb, so why not absorb the liquids spilled of produced by your baby or toddler. I think that it is a brilliant idea and I will use it as soon as I have the opportunity to! Thank you for the interesting post!
January 15, 2016 at 5:01 amKeep a diaper near you in the car for wiping foggy windows 🙂
January 19, 2016 at 9:58 amAh, yes, that is a great idea! Thanks!!
January 19, 2016 at 1:31 pmThis is great! I love the one about making fake snow…I’m going to see if I can design a science experiment around that!
March 18, 2017 at 3:40 pmThanks! Oooooh, let me know how it goes!!
March 18, 2017 at 3:41 pm