Simply Green Quick Tip: Make a CD Dumbbell
Do you have a whole collection of unwanted CDs or DVDs gathering dust around the house? Recycle a big collection into a functional dumbbell. Buy a 12-inch threaded rod from the hardware store and four nuts that will fit snug on the rod. Attach two nuts on each end of the rod and twist until they are about 3 inches in. Thread 25 CDs on each side of the rod and then secure with another nut. Use the 5-pound dumbbell when doing crunches; it’s soft enough to rest on your stomach during a sit-up to add just enough resistance to your workout routine.
-Danny Seo
PS-Got another idea how to recycle old CDs? Share your comment here and I just might send you a JCPenney Simply Green tote bag as my way of saying thanks!
Hi and welcome to SimplyGreen.com. I work with JCPenney as their Green Living Partner on a
company-wide designation program we call Simply Green. We've been working hard to offer
affordable and stylish products at JCPenney (and online at 
Good luck and thanks for visiting!
I saw old cd’s used instead of reflective tape to deter birds from foraging in vineyards. Glue two cds together, reflective side out, and string them up to keep birds out of grape arbors, berry patches or gardens.
My husband made me a cool mobile out of CDs. He glued a bunch of pairs together shiny side out, then drilled small holes in them. He used thin metal rods as “bases” for the hanging CDs and fishing line to connect the rods to the CDs - I think it’s got 3 or 4 pairs of CDs that swing freely from each other.
He told me the hardest part was making sure everything was even so it hung straight, but besides that it only took him a day or two to put together once he figured out what materials he needed. It’s really great - I can send you a pic if you’re interested in seeing the final product!
Use them as coasters for drinks.
My daughter stuck them in rows, shiny-side-out, to her bedroom wall to create an interesting mirror effect. They are light-weight so Stikki-wax held them with no problem, and were easy to remove when she moved.
Use them as coasters. Or stick them to the wall (shiny side out). They look pretty neat.
Ditto on using them in your garden to deter birds. My dad used to do this all the time. Just hang ‘em from a short stick or stake with a piece of string. They reflective light and keep the birds away. If only it worked on squirrels…..they like to eat my strawberries…
We’ve been using them as coasters since the time (years ago) we were receiving marketing CDs in the mail.
(Had no idea it had become a common thing to do!)
It always cracks me up to see them hanging from rear-view mirrors. They were popular decor on public buses when I lived in South America.
Being an artist, I often use old CDs to mix my paints. The smooth surface is just as good as paint palettes you buy in art stores and you can even forget about buying wax paper too! Save money!
I use them as Christmas ornaments. I take old photos and trace the CD around the picture.
Cut out the circle, cut a piece of yarn thread it through the hole to hang on the tree then glue the photo onto the CD.
Use them for decoration. glue some lttle trees and littel action dalls on them and make then like little display. they look beautiful. even for wedding on the table. you can glue some flowers on them. with little candle in the middle. I even give them is a gift when I decorate them.
[...] hubiera dicho que con ellos podemos crear aparatos para hacer ejercicio? Como se muestra desde Simply Green, con algunas unidades -depende del peso que se quiera lograr, para que sean 2 kilos son alrededor de [...]