To organize cleaning tools, gardening tools, and small household tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.), clean out an old plastic laundry detergent bottle. With a utility knife, cut off the top of the bottle even with the bottom of the handle, leaving handle intact. This allows full open access for storage. I just grab the handle and go.
By Kay from West Babylon, NY
If it has a handle:
1. Turn it on its side and cut a slit on top. Put empty thread spools on bottom and cut triangles for ears. Bang, you have a piggy bank.
2. Cut it an angle. Bang, you have a scoop or mini-shovel.
3. Cut a square or large circle. Bang, you got a bird feeder.
4. Fill one for extra gas in your vehicle.
5. Cut a big hole in the side. Bang, you got a clothespin holder.
6. Put water in it for auto or vehicle.
7. Challenge your kids to make something, winners get pizzas.
8. If you have a boat, fill it with sand for an extra anchor.
9. Latch serveral together by the necks and you have a small water float.
10. If they are long (like soda bottles) paint them white. You have 10 and a ball. Bang, you got bowling.
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I always hated to toss the empty plastic containers for softeners, laundry soap and other similar products. I decided that the lid could be used for different craft projects.
Rock Salt, used to melt ice on pavement, is very harsh to the skin. For an easy, and safe dispenser, I empty the bag of salt into a old laundry detergent bottle.
First cut the top in a scoop fashion from a Tide laundry soap container. Use the 100 fluid ounce size, leaving the handle on.
I wash out the empty bottles. Rinse them thoroughly. Cut the top off of the bottle including the top of the handle. You still have the handle left for holding it and you can use it for a scoop for birdseed.
This past week I volunteered at my daughters' Girl Scout day camp. They had taken empty liquid Tide laundry detergent containers, the big ones with the spouts, and cleaned them out and refilled them with water.
Need a large scoop say for bird feed or or something else? Save those laundry detergent jugs. Just wash out the empty container and be sure to keep the lid.
I peel off the labels and reuse them for other liquids I buy in bulk or make. I used the Arm & Hammer yellow containers because I like yellow and I labeled them with my PTouch.
Uses for Gallon Detergent Bottles and Inserts. I finally figured a way to recycle those gallon detergent no-drip inserts that were driving me nuts, since I have so many. . .
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Has anyone successfully removed the fragrance from liquid laundry detergent bottles so that they can be used as drinking water containers? (And if you are going to tell me not to do this because it is dangerous please cite your source - they are high density polyethylene which is what tons of food containers are made from.)
By John W.
Does anybody have any *unique* ideas for those liquid laundry detergent jugs and their measuring cup type lids? They are very sturdy and surely
I have used the plastic liquid laundry containers for flower vases taking them to hospital and nursing home patients. Cut the top portion off so you have a handle to carry them ... Put your flowers in and add a large bow.
Laundry measuring caps that screw on the jug are good for making individual party favors, flower arrangement, glue handles on for basket effect, use them in craft projects at nursing homes ... put Styrofoam in the cap and let residents design their own bouquet for their room. Great size because space is limited.
This is not 'crafty', but I cut out and widen the area around the pourspout of laundry containers. I then use the container to sort nails, bolts, etc. in my husbands shop. I also use these for food scrap container, and containers to put paint in while I paint.
Something that I reuse the liquid laundry bottles for is, rock salt in the winter. I fill the container & then it's ready to just sprinkle out from the spout.
This is not craft oriented either or adult oriented. I teach preschool(3year old class) and I use the lids to hold crayons and scissors.
Cut the opposite end from the hand into the shape of a scoop and use to scoop dog food, pellets for pets and other feeds etc. The soap bottles are more stronger types to use then bleach bottles.
I just remembered that we've stuffed spray paint tops with batting, left a puff of it on top, covered with fabric and leftover bits of trim. This makes pretty pincushions. We got some at a craft fair that were made out of soda bottle tops, they had punched holes in the bottom and put beads on elastic cord to make a ring.
They are very cute and convenient. I don't see why it wouldn't work with with the tops off detergent bottles. I also use them and paint tops on top of posts in the yard so I can see them better and on the legs of wood lawn furniture to keep them off the ground. I use a hammer and a nail to punch drainage hole in them.
My friend Judi makes fabric covered baskets out of cut off bleach and vinegar bottles. Maybe I'll make a basket out of my next detergent bottle I did make a hanging planter out of a cut off bleach bottle. I just punched a few holes in the top edge and crocheted straps with a simple chain stitch, then tied a knot near the top. I used rug yarn and it lasted quite a long time.
- Linne Dodds
Use your lids from just about anything to make drawer fresheners. I take a lid and place a cotton ball inside that I have sprayed with my favorite scent. Then take a piece of old pantyhose and wrap around lid. I usually just tie the end in a knot. I am sure using glue would look nicer. Place lid in drawers, closets, etc.
I have washed this laundry detergent bottle so many times, I have lost count. Sadly, it continues to smell like laundry detergent. Is it safe to use as a jug to water the birds?
My personal opinion: No, they are not safe.
This is a controversial subject, but it seems there are more nays than yeas.
If you clean the bottles as suggested, some say they are safe, but if you drink water from the jug, and it tastes very good to you, then it may be safe for birds.
However, birds are very small and even a tiny amount of contamination could be a danger to them.
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Soap jugs??
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Clean as suggested and then
"Let your conscience be your guide."
There are a lot of articles and literature that say that plastic holding detergent are not safe to reuse for anyone because the molecules bond to the plastic and leach out into whatever liquid is in them next.
One piece of literature I read said they do that because it helps with the recycling process (which I found hard to believe).
Also they shed BPA molecules which are also not healthy for living beings. BPA (bisphenol A) is the chemical used to make the plastics and can cause a lot of issues in people--like infertility, cancers, brain damage, and other bad stuff if there is too much in our systems.
The smell in this case is proof it is still there.
My vote would be no. If your community recycles, just recycle it. I would find a pretty light weight glass container to carry water for birds or other animals...but that is just me. Keep it immaculately clean so no residues of cleaning supplies get into the water system. That is much easier to do with glass than plastics.
What are some frugal uses for liquid detergent bottles?
By Tina
Before the German Unification things were hard to come by in Eastern Germany (then German Democratic Republic), so people went long ways to make their own. Lace makers would use plastic bottles of any kind like those used for liquid detergent to make tatting shuttles from. They cut out pieces out of the round parts to get the shells, used wood or cork as a center and glued or screwed the whole thing together. They sanded down the edges, and voila, a tatting shuttle. Another way to make a tatting shuttle would be to use flat parts of those bottles, cut a longish oval out, punch holes with a standard hole punch in the ends and then cut a slit up to the whole.
DO you live in an area that gets snow and ice in the winter? A well-washed and thoroughly dried detergent bottle is a great way to shake salt onto your sidewalks! The handle makes it easy to grasp, even with gloved hands. Just use a funnel (I usually make a temporary one from the spout of a soda bottle) to fill the shaker as needed. Then pour with a shaking motion and the salt comes out the spout.
Becki in Logansport, IN
Most detergent bottles come in a shape, ie. similar to the human figure. Add clothing and a head (styrofoam balls decorated like a head or something you make yourself). This would be a cute idea for decorating a child's room, or if you get really fancy, set them around your living room as conversation pieces.
Easter is coming up and my grandmother had a great idea for used plastic bottles. Easter Baskets. My Grandmother would cut out the bottoms of the bottles and decorate them. She used wire pipe stems for the handles and filled them with Easter grass and candy. This is a great idea for Grandmothers to give there grandkids an inexpensive gift for Easter.
I have used detergent bottles to make purses for little girls. Cut the bottle at the desired height and punch holes around the cut edge. Then crochet as many rows as you like. End off and thread a drawstring through the top. I used to take the dishwashing detergent bottles and cut them off about 2 inches high and make baby cradle purses from them. When they were closed, they were a cute drawstring purse or the top pulled down to reveal a baby cradle with a baby doll and blanket inside.
we make "pooper scoopers" out of our bottles...works great and their disposable. Use the handle portion for the scoop. Just use your imagination for the 'how to'. The bottom portion can be used for transporting the poop to the garbage.
There are a lot of great ideas for reusing the plastic soap containers, but how do you get the sudsy soap, like liquid laundry soap, rinsed out completely from the plastic container? I have tried hot and cold water and did this several times and there is always still suds especially if the container is plastic and not glass.
By Lisa
Has anyone come up with uses for the large pour spouts inside plastic jugs of laundry detergent? I discovered they are easily removed with a thumb and that two jugs of "empty" detergent jugs release a whole single load-size of left-over liquid laundry soap when the drip spout is removed. I also began to save them and search for uses for the thick spouts. Temporary wheels come to mind, but for what? Anything else? They're a creative design by the manufacture so I hope we can recycle them some way other than with the jugs.
This is a page about how to make a detergent bottle watering can. Yet another use for an empty detergent bottle; make a watering can.
This is a page about crafts using laundry detergent bottles. Save your empty detergent bottles for use in a wide variety of crafts from seasonal decorations to toys.
This page is about uses for laundry scoops. With a new scoop in every bucket or box of detergent, you can end up with extras that can be helpful for many other things.
This is a page about uses for laundry detergent caps. When you finish a bottle of laundry detergent, consider saving the cap. Those durable plastic caps can be put to use in many different ways.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Uses for liquid laundry detergent bottles. Post your ideas.
After I've finished using a liquid detergent bottle, I think the washed-out bottle could be used to store important items of some kind.
I have made many useful "scoops" and funnels in various sizes to fit the job its needed for. I save plastic detergent bottles, also bleach bottles and fabric softener bottles.
