Thursday, August 3, 2017

So Long, Bye Bye

What to do?  With those bent, broken, dull needles and pins.  Over the years I have collected them in a variety of decorative containers (and some NOT so decorative!).  Salt/pepper shakers work great for needles and pin with almost no heads (like the one on the left).  Because I use pins with larger glass heads, it was a hassle to unscrew the top each time I had something to insert.  Enter...the cheese shakers with larger holes!  Almost everything will go in.  For traveling:  a small plastic box that pins originally came in.  I carry this in my Featherweight cleaning kit and collect used needles in classes.  


But now those containers are full.  Always remember that these are "sharps"--just like in hospitals, etc.  No one should have to take a chance of being poked.  So here is how I dealt with this situation this week.

I removed the labels from some old prescription bottles (which many people use to collect sharps in and then dispose of them in the same container).  And a cardboard box which I reinforced with duct tape--lots and lots of duct tape!  The needles and pins were transferred to the bottles and the box (I had lots).


Then I sealed all of the bottles and the box with duct tape.  I labeled each container and then put them in my recycling.  


Easy peasy, everyone safe...ahhh, a sigh of relief, and I have empty containers to start collecting again!  This was several years' worth.  In the glass containers they are pretty with the silver and the colored pin heads.  I try to keep a container wherever I sew; no excuses for stray pins and needles.

While you are blog reading, check out Becky Goldsmith's post on washing your fabrics here.  She said it so well that I am not going to repeat it.

That's all I know for tonight.  Please share any ways you have of disposing of used needles and pins--there might be a prize for the best suggestion!

Blissfully,
Sharon

7 comments:

  1. Hello there Miss Sharon - love the cheese shaker idea and not having to take the top off ! Hope all is well. Love from the West coast, Kathleen

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  2. I do pretty much the same thing. They really need to be in a closed container like that.
    Pat B

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  3. Thanks for sharing how to dispose the sharps we use from quilting safely. I also several containers that I put in sharps in around my sewing areas. A good practice for us to use.

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  4. we have a jar under the kitchen sink for sewing pins and needles, as well as used needles (bent in half) from giving various injections to our goats.

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  5. The dollar store here has plastic containers for toothpicks that I use for used pins. The holes are large enough and it has a closable lid so that they don't come back out. I also use old medicine bottles as they travel well. Have a great day! Pat in Brossard

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  6. I use old prescription bottles for my pins and needles. I make a hole in the top. I also use one for my old rotary blades. (no hole).

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  7. You can take the old bottles filled with pins and cover the caps to make pin cushions. How's that for way out recycling???? Pat B

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