In terms of making eco-friendly decisions in our lives, we’ve all the time heard that we should always “scale back, reuse, and recycle!” However in my expertise, particularly again after I had all my children at residence, the “scale back” a part of that maxim was the toughest to attain.
My children continuously threatened to eat us out of home and residential (okay, in order that could be a slight exaggeration), so reducing again wasn’t actually an possibility when it got here to sure varieties of containers. So I ended up focusing my vitality on “reuse” as an alternative, and that talent has served me nicely over time.
I’ve found all types of how to reuse and repurpose several types of plastic containers. (I contemplate it a degree of satisfaction, even when it’s not a really marketable talent!) The different day, I used to be reminiscing about a few of my favourite repurposed containers, and I believed to myself, “Why not write a publish about it?”
In order that’s precisely what I did. I’ve put collectively a listing of my high 9 containers to repurpose, together with my favourite methods to make use of them. I additionally included a number of bonus concepts of different issues you are able to do with them to assist encourage your individual repurposing efforts at residence! 🙂
The 9 Best Containers To Preserve And Repurpose
1. Parmesan Cheese Shakers
Whereas the container itself is beneficial sufficient, it’s actually the lid on the Parmesan cheese container that earns it a spot on this record! An previous Parmesan cheese shaker is ideal for storing something you would possibly need to distribute by shaking or sprinkling, corresponding to cornstarch, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, baking soda, and so on.
The different facet of the lid normally has a bigger opening that may additionally turn out to be useful. You should use it to dispense children’ snacks—or your individual snacks for that matter. 😉 (And do you know that the lid from a Parmesan cheese shaker can match onto a daily mouth mason jar? It’s true!)
2. Child Wipes Containers
Child wipes packing containers are an especially versatile container to have readily available, and I take advantage of one to retailer my reusable material softener sheets. The field retains them good and tidy and the lid helps seal within the scent in order that they don’t have to be refreshed fairly as typically.
The one downside I’ve discovered with these containers is that their labels could be downright unimaginable to take away. So if the label bothers you, I’d advocate masking it up some scrapbook paper or washi tape moderately than making an attempt to take away it.
3. Giant Yogurt Containers
Whether or not they have been initially crammed with yogurt, bitter cream, cottage cheese, or one thing else, plastic tubs are nice for repurposing! My favourite means to make use of them for gifting home made ice cream to family and friends, however I normally take the time to take away the ink print from the surface of the container first to make it look a bit nicer.
To take away the ink, simply pour some rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover onto a cotton ball and wipe the printed areas. Chances are you’ll want to make use of a number of cotton balls to get all of the ink off, however fairly quickly you’ll have a clear container! Wash it with soapy water and it’ll be prepared to make use of.
4. Ice Cream Pails
I discover it just about unimaginable to throw these versatile plastic buckets away! They’re actually helpful for corralling collections of things like seasonal cookies cutters and small toys. You may as well fill them with soapy water when tackling cleansing jobs round the home.
However I’d be remiss if I didn’t additionally point out that these buckets have confirmed extremely helpful as vomit receptacles. When my children have been a lot youthful and way more vomit-prone, I’d carry one alongside on each automobile journey and I stored one below my children’ beds for these unpredictable late-night episodes. These pails saved me a whole lot of unlucky cleanup throughout these years!
5. Gum/Mint Containers
There are such a lot of nice makes use of for gum and mint containers. Gum containers are a bit greater, in order that they’re nice for storing craft provides, snacks, and even unfastened change.
Smaller mint containers are helpful for corralling paper clips, emergency stitching provides, or notoriously easy-to-lose hair equipment like bobby pins! The prospects are virtually infinite.
6. Tin Cans
No respectable record about repurposed containers might exclude the nice previous tin can! You should use them as pencil holders, small vases for flowers, watering cans to your houseplants, or you can also make a type of old skool “telephones” by threading a size of string or yarn by the underside of two cans.
In case you intend to your can to be out on a desk or desk someplace, you may gown up the surface with washi tape or scrapbook paper.
7. Plastic Milk Jugs
Plastic milk jugs all the time turn out to be useful as a watering can in a pinch, however my favourite solution to repurpose them is as a large ice pack. Simply fill a milk jug with water till it’s almost full, however not fairly. (The additional house will accommodate the enlargement of the water because it freezes.)
Screw the cap on and throw the milk jug within the freezer till it’s frozen stable. The milk jug “ice pack” is nice for tenting, picnics, and extra! I typically use one for journeys to Costco, because the closest Costco to us is 30 minutes away. So I carry a cooler and my milk jug “ice pack” to maintain the chilly/frozen meals chilly till we get again residence.
8. Stackable Sort out Field Jars
I really like discovering new makes use of for strange issues you’ll find in any grocery retailer. 🙂 I discovered these stackable sort out field jars within the tenting and fishing aisle fairly accidentally, and I simply love them! They’re nice for storing small quantities of issues in your purse or automobile, like ointment, tablets, or lotion.
9. Juice Bottles
Empty juice bottles are my container of selection for storing my home made liquid laundry detergent. They’re the right measurement, and it’s good to have the ability to reuse such a giant container as an alternative of simply throwing it out. You’ll be able to learn to make my home made liquid laundry detergent right here.
What’s your favourite kind of container to reuse, and what do you employ it for?
