8 surprisingly useful ways to reuse old CDs to bring some much needed order to your home

It’s a sad but known truth that, for most of us, CDs and DVDs have been rendered useless. With online streaming services having become the norm for many years now, lots of us find our extensive archives of various discs rather pointless and a waste of space. Or are they?

If you’re finally ready to part with your old CDs and DVDs but want to do so ethically and with as little waste as possible – you have many options. Of course, these plastic discs are incredibly recyclable, with most of your local recycling centres being more than happy to take them. But beyond that, there are a few ways you can give your beloved albums and movies a second chance at life by reusing them around the home.

From honouring them via home decor to using them to keep your garden pest-free, these are the surprisingly useful ways to reuse old CDs to bring back a sense of order to your home.

Coasters

One of the easiest reuses, which requires truly minimal DIY skills, is to turn your old CDs or DVDs into futuristic retro coasters. Simply super-glue two discs together and away you go. If you want that shiny Space Age look, glue them so the reflective sides shine out. Or if you want to honour what once was your favourite movie or album, make the cover art a feature for your coasters by having them face out. Personal, stylish and practical all in one.

Organise cables

Looking at an old plastic CD you may not think of it as a great organising tool, but this hunk of junk could be the perfect tool to finally bring some order to your tangled cables and chargers.

Instead of stuffing charging cables into a drawer, where they inevitably become tangled, wind each cable neatly around an old CD. You can thread one end through the centre hole or secure it with a reusable cable tie, elastic band or small piece of Velcro. It’s an easy way to store everything from phone chargers and laptop cables to HDMI leads, extension cords and even fairy lights, keeping them organised, easy to identify and far less likely to knot together.

Pest deterrents

I recently wrote about how old CDs can be used as a great way to deter pigeons from your home and garden, but the hack is worth repeating as it’s such a handy one. In fact, you can use CDs to deter a whole host of garden pests including squirrels, rabbits and a whole manner of hungry woodland creatures.

Hang the CDs with string or fishing line in trees, near vegetable patches or around fruit bushes – anything you don’t want to be nibbled on. Tie them so they can spin freely in the breeze and move them to new spots every week so the animals don’t get used to them. It works through visual disruption, when rays of sunlight hit the shiny surface and reflect off of it, animals grow confused and spooked by the erratic strobe lighting. They mistake the fast movements for that of a predator and swiftly back off.

Spoon rest

Did you know old CDs and DVDs are pretty good at heat-resistance? Well, they are. Which opens them up to a whole host of handy uses. Thanks to their durable, heat-resistant surface, old CDs make surprisingly effective spoon rests while you’re cooking. Place one beside the hob to hold stirring spoons, spatulas or serving utensils between uses, helping to catch drips and splashes before they reach your worktop. Once you’ve finished cooking, simply wipe the CD clean with warm, soapy water.

Catch candle wax

I’ve been known to get in trouble with parents, flatmates and landlords for my obsession with candles, thanks to the wax drippings that always seem to land on the carpet or furniture. If only I knew all I needed was an old CD or DVD.

Instead of risking wax stains on your furniture, place a pillar or taper candle on top of an old CD before lighting it. The smooth, non-porous surface catches any drips as the candle burns, helping to protect tables, shelves and windowsills from stubborn wax residue. Once the wax has fully hardened, it can usually be peeled away easily, making cleanup quick and fuss-free.

Driveway markers

If you have a long driveway or a tricky parking spot, old CDs can be repurposed into reflective markers to make it easier to navigate after dark. Attach them securely to fence posts, wooden stakes or other fixed points along the edge of your driveway, where their reflective surface will catch the light from your car’s headlights. They’re an inexpensive way to improve visibility and help you judge the edges of the drive, especially on unlit roads or in poor weather.

Organise yarn

Any knitter or crochet fanatic will know what a pain tangled wool and yarn can be. Similarly to organising your wires, use an old CD to bring back some order to your bundle. The flat shape makes them easy to stack in boxes or drawers, while the centre hole is handy for securing the loose end so it doesn’t unravel. You can even write the yarn colour, fibre type or project name directly on to the CD with a permanent marker, making it easier to find what you need for your next craft project.

Paint palette

If you’re getting crafty and looking for a quick makeshift paint palette, don’t run the risk of staining any of your own crockery and use a disc instead. The smooth, non-porous surface of an old CD makes it ideal for mixing small amounts of paint. Whether you’re tackling an arts and crafts project or testing paint colours before decorating, the paint stays on the surface rather than soaking in, making it easy to blend shades. Once you’re finished, simply wipe the CD clean if the paint is still wet or peel away dried acrylic paint ready to use it again.