Between online shopping, grocery deliveries, and the occasional big purchase, cardboard boxes pile up quickly. My first instinct is usually to break them down and put them in the recycling, but I’ve realized there are plenty of reasons to hang onto at least a few of the good ones.

Cardboard is one of those materials that’s surprisingly useful. It can organize drawers, protect surfaces, help in the garden, entertain the kids, or simply be passed along to someone who needs it. Before you flatten your next stack of boxes, here are 9 ways to put them to use.

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Line Raised Garden Beds

If you’re preparing a new raised bed, you can place flattened cardboard over existing grass or weeds before adding soil and other organic materials. It gives you another way to use a substantial amount of cardboard without cutting it into tiny pieces.

Remove tape, labels, staples, and other packaging materials beforehand.

Put Cardboard to Work in Your Compost

Plain cardboard is useful both inside and around a compost pile. Tear or shred it into smaller pieces and mix it with wetter “green” materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps or grass clippings to add carbon-rich “brown” material to the pile.

You can also use larger pieces to line the sides of an open or pallet-style compost bin to help contain loose materials. Over time, the cardboard will get wet and break down along with the rest of the compost, so be sure to remove plastic tape, shipping labels, staples, and other non-cardboard materials first.

Give Them Away to Someone Who Can Use Them

If you have more cardboard boxes than you can reasonably reuse, don’t assume the recycling bin is the only option. Post clean, sturdy boxes for free on Facebook, Nextdoor, a Buy Nothing group, or another neighborhood community page, since someone nearby may need them for moving, storage, gardening, or a project.

You can also check with local schools, libraries, art teachers, daycares, or recreation centers, especially if you have large boxes that could be used for crafts, games, or building projects. Gardeners may also be interested in flattened boxes, since cardboard can be used underneath mulch or in no-dig garden beds to help suppress grass and weeds.

Pantry and Cabinet Liners

Cut cardboard into flat pieces and use it to line pantry shelves, under-sink cabinets, or garage shelving. It can catch crumbs, dirt, oil, and small drips, and when it gets dirty, you can simply replace it.

For a slightly more finished version, cover the cardboard with leftover contact paper. This also makes the liner easier to wipe clean and gives you another opportunity to use something you may already have around the house.

DIY Drawer Dividers

You don’t necessarily need to buy organizers for every junk drawer or dresser. Cut strips of sturdy cardboard and arrange them inside drawers to create separate compartments for socks, utensils, office supplies, makeup, or other small items.

You can customize the compartments to exactly what you’re storing rather than trying to make a premade organizer fit. If your needs change later, simply rearrange or replace the cardboard.

Furniture Sliders

Cut small squares of cardboard and slip them underneath furniture legs before carefully moving a table, dresser, or other heavy piece. They can make furniture easier to slide, particularly across carpet.

Paint and DIY Project Shields

I like keeping a few flattened boxes around specifically for messy projects. Spread them underneath something you’re painting, staining, gluing, or repairing to protect the floor or work surface.

You can also hold smaller pieces behind trim, baseboards, or other areas you’re painting to catch stray brush marks or overspray. Once you’re finished, you don’t have another drop cloth to clean.

Make Under-Bed Storage

A shallow cardboard box can become an under-bed organizer without spending anything on another plastic storage container. Use it for lightweight items such as gift wrap, seasonal accessories, children’s artwork, craft supplies, or extra linens.

Use Them as a Garden Weed Barrier

Large pieces of plain cardboard can be laid over grass and weeds before adding mulch or other organic material on top. This can help suppress existing vegetation while the cardboard gradually breaks down.