When you finish using a roll of toilet paper, the automatic reaction is to take the toilet paper roll and throw it in the trash. Before you take that step, it’s important to know that there are a wide variety of ways that you can alternatively use this short tube of cardboard. It actually can be useful in a large number of ways that you may not have ever considered before. Take a look at the alternative ways that you can use this toilet paper roll and see if one of them looks to be a better way to use it rather than putting it into the garbage.
Hair Curlers
Photo Credit: Vocal Point
OK, you would really need to be in a tight spot to resort to this (or looking to give your significant other a good laugh), but some women swear by this. In a pinch, you can use toilet paper rolls secured with bobby pins to give your hair a bit of fullness and curl.
Push-Up Pops
Photo Credit: Whisked Foodie
If you are looking to use toilet paper rolls in a truly unique way and you have a lot of them you need to repurpose, you might want to consider creating homemade push-up pops with them -- seriously ([tutorial](http://whiskedfoodie.com/chefs-rant/eco-chef-toilet-paper-roll-push-up-pops/)) it really isn't as strange as it might first appear. If you remember push-up pops when you were young, they came in cardboard tubes very similar to toilet paper rolls, just with decoration on the outside.
Bird Feeder
Photo Credit: Jenny Gets Crafty
You can turn toilet paper rolls into easy do-it-yourself bird feeders. Making these is a wonderfully fun project for kids. Cover the outside of the toilet paper roll with a thin layer of smooth peanut butter. Once done, roll the peanut butter side in bird seed until it's completely covered. The peanut butter will make the bird seed stick and you have an instant bird feeder that was easy and inexpensive to make.
Cat Tower Toy
Photo Credit: A cat Called Freya
If you have a cat, you can turn your toilet paper cardboard rolls into a fun cat toy. Simply glue them together pyramid style and then place a favorite toy or small snack into the center of one of the tubes. Your cat will have fun reaching in and trying to get out the prize within.
Extension Cord Wrap
If you have unruly cords that always seem to get tangled up, a toilet paper roll can make a wonderful wrap that will keep it nice and neat so it never gets tangled up again. Simply fold the cord end to end and then slip the toilet paper roll over it. Do this with all your cords and then you can place them all into your cord drawer and none of them will get tangled together.
Hair Band Organizer
Photo Credit: Home Savvy A to Z
If you're constantly trying to find hair-bands, a toilet paper cardboard roll may be the perfect solution. You can store and organize all your hairbands by placing them around the cardboard so they are easy to find. If you use bobby pins as well, you can attach? them to the ends for even more convenient organization.
Sidewalk Chalk
Photo Credit: All Parenting
Toilet paper rolls are the perfect container to create your own sidewalk chalk (and save a ton of money compared to purchasing it at the store). The process really isn't all that difficult ([tutorial](http://www.allparenting.com/my-family/articles/965755/make-your-own-sidewalk-chalk)) which will give your kids a lot of chalk to decorate all your open sidewalk space. It's a wonderful craft project to do with kids where they will have a great time using what they have created.
Necktie Storage
Photo Credit: gtuckerkellogg
If you need an inexpensive way to store your neckties while keeping them looking like knew, a toilet paper roll and a plastic baggie can do the trick. This also works great when traveling for suitcase storage. The cardboard roll will prevent the necktie from creasing so that it doesn't get damaged or wrinkled.
Toddler Heart Stamp
Photo Credit: Prudent Baby
If you have a toddler, the toilet paper roll creates a perfect opportunity for you to let your toddler's creative juices shine. With some strategically placed tape, you can turn a toilet paper roll into a heart shape stamp that your toddler will love (and which grandma and grandpa will love getting). Simple [fold and tape](http://prudentbaby.com/2012/02/baby-kid/toilet-paper-roll-heart-stamps/attachment/120124_088/) the toilet paper roll into a heart shape, place a little ink on the edges and let you toddler melt the hearts of your relatives.
Fire Starter
Photo Credit: Tammy's Knitting Nook
Toilet paper rolls can be turned into fantastic fire starters. All you need is the cardboard roll and lint from your dryer. Pack the lint into the cardboard tube (the tighter the more slowly the lint will burn, but don't over-pack it or the fire will smolder out). Light one end with a lighter and you should be able to get the kindling started without a problem. If you want to fancy it up a bit, you can take scrap paper (newspaper works well too) to wrap the toilet paper roll in and tie with strings at both ends.