11 Ways to Upcycle Plastic Containers

If you have extra milk jugs, juice bottles, or other plastic containers, take a beat before tossing them in your curbside recycling bin. Don't get us wrong, recycling is always a great idea, but there are ways to repurpose plastic bottles and turn them into useful household items.

We've listed 11 clever ideas below that put plastic containers to work in a variety of out-of-the-bottle ways. You'll save money, prevent waste, and have an opportunity to show off your DIY side.

Protect seedlings from bad weather and prevent moisture loss with mini greenhouses fashioned from juice and water bottles. Cut off the bottle tops, remove labels, and place containers over your baby plants. When the seedlings outgrow the bottles, either switch to larger containers if they still need protection or leave them in the open air if they're good to grow.

PRO TIP: 

Rinse and dry the containers weekly to prevent mold growth.

Turn a plastic egg carton into a home for new seedlings. Poke holes in the bottom of each egg cup for drainage, fill with potting soil and seeds, close the lid, then place it in a sunny spot on your patio.

These DIY pencil holders keep outdoor eating utensils on hand, carpenter pencils close by in your workshop, or your kids' sidewalk chalk off the floor.

PRO TIP:

To make this craft even more kid-friendly, you can skip the glue gun and opt for heavy-duty magnetic clips that clamp to the lip of the bottle. Keep in mind that using two clips side—by—side—depending on their width—may bend the mouth of the bottle into a thin oval shape, making it hard to fit as many forks, knives, and spoons inside.

If you have little ones who have difficulty reaching over the sink to wash their hands, bring the water to them with this makeshift faucet extender.

Finally use the last bit of spice rub in the jumbo-sized container you bought at Costco? Give that bottle another chance as a shaker for dried herbs, spices, powdered sugar, and other ultrafine ingredients. Simply wash, rinse, and dry the bottle thoroughly, then fill it with any seasoning you choose.

This homemade ice pack will keep your cooler of drinks cold for your next day at the lake. The night before you leave, fill a clean one-gallon (or a half-gallon if you have a small cooler) milk jug half full with water and put it in the freezer.

The next morning, place the frozen container in the cooler and add your beverages. Since the solid hunk of ice in the jug is much larger than loose ice, it will take longer to melt, which will extend the chill time for your libations.

Maybe you saw your parents or grandparents do this with whipped topping containers and margarine tubs back in the day. (They were onto something.)

Once you've used the last of the Greek yogurt for your almond butter protein smoothie, clean the container and save it for the next backyard barbecue at your place. There’s bound to be leftover pulled pork and potato salad, so pack them up in the former yogurt tub and send them home with your college-age kids to ensure they're fed while studying for finals.

Keep a large ice cream tub on your outdoor kitchen counter as a convenient spot to collect fruit and vegetable scraps after prepping your veggie skewers for the grill. Bonus points if it has a handle that simplifies the trip to your compost pile.

PRO TIP:

Make sure the tub has a tight-fitting lid so it doesn’t attract ants, bees, or other critters.

Keep beads, seeds, buttons, and other tiny objects contained in this homemade organizer.

Give small seasonal decorations extra protection by wrapping them in plastic grocery bags and storing them in plastic berry and salad green containers. Not only can you reuse them year after year, but the plastic is also lightweight, which makes storage totes easier to stack up during the off-season.