Cut the spigot top off of 2 gallon square water containers, cutting straight across. Do not cut into the handle. Under the handle, you can write names or labels with magic marker, if you like. Put these up on closet shelves, bookcases, or under beds. They are perfect to put underwear, bras, socks, etc. in for extra "drawer" space. They are also good for small toys, crayolas, and coloring books too. Use them for mop buckets, outside buckets and especially in the garage on shelves. Great for families with lots of kids.
By Bebe from Aztec
This page contains the following solutions.
This is for people who buy spring/drinking water. I like to keep water bottles on hand for convenience, but do not like spending the money to buy the individual bottles all the time.
I try not to purchase bottled water but sometimes I forget my water mug. I wondered about what I could do with them since the apartment building I live in doesn't have recycling bins and and I have no room to store them.
I keep small recycled bottles like the ones Sunny D comes in and freeze water in them for when my neck or knees act up. Yesterday, I ran out of ice and couldn't get my fresh brewed tea cold.
I have been taking the soda bottles, the little ones, and removing the cap, squeezing them down, and cutting across the top. Then I smooth out the top by cutting it again.
I was looking on the internet at this farming site, I forget what it was, and someone had cut the end off a water bottle and put holes all up and down on the bottle.
I like to use the water from my fridge that comes from the filter system outside the door. If you use a small funnel, you'll have no spills.
You can crush your empty water bottles and place them in a large pot for drainage. I found this to work wonderfully for all my planted pots and is much lighter than using rocks.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I hear that plastic bottles are not safe if you use them over and over again as a water bottle. If this is so, then what type of bottle would be best for drinking water out of throughout the day?
There are a number of glass containers that are used in place of plastic bottles. Crate and Barrel has 2 neat glass beverage containers that even look like plastic bottles, they are in their eco-friendly section. If you search online for glass water bottles there are a few other companies carrying glass alternatives too.
Every plastic bottle has an expiration stamped somewhere on it. I use plastic and when it nears that date. I toss it and get a new plastic bottle.
I like stainless bottles myself, I have gotten several from http://www.lazerdesigns.com - they customize them for free too.
I use a stainless thermos and pour into a cup. Half the trouble with plastic bottles is not being able to scrub out bacteria, so you need a widemouth, and half the problem is the bisPhenol A exuding from the walls, can't help you with that. Why use disposables to fill up landfills?
I use glass; however, I did not buy the expensive ones. Instead I bought bottles of Sobe which come in glass bottles and have a screw-on cap; one that has a lot of threads, unlike the one twist kind, so they don't leak.
www.snopes.com/
Simply not true. Just wash them out with hot soapy water. Read article in website above.
Thanks for the info about Crate and Barrel's glass bottles. I've been using canning jars with plastic lids (to keep bugs and dirt out) while working in the garden but like the idea of glass water bottles instead.
I think what is worse is to keep using a plastic water bottle and not clean it properly. They can harbor germs. Also it's not good to leave one of those bottles in your hot car and keep using as the heat will break down the plastic.
I was concerned about this so I saved a glass bottle from Snapple lemonade and just re-use that. I'll admit it isn't as convenient or lightweight as plastic but I can easily wash it over and over in the dishwasher. The lid doesn't screw on as nicely or as tightly as I'd like but works fine for taking in my van with me and keeping in the cup holder.
There are plenty of glass alternatives that you get from products you buy and can recycle rather than having to buy something.
We have filtered water and ice in the door of our frig so I really can't see buying bottled water; however I do occasionally if I have a coupon and buy it for traveling. It's also easy to just fill up an insulated jug with water and take along some cups.
Plastic bottles are fine. Wash them with hot soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher just like anything else.
Check out the Snopes link in the guest post.
I use stainless bottles that I bought at Walmart.
They are easy to clean, hold about 16 oz. of water
and can be recycled so they are environmentally friendly.
Use glass bottles.
Not that this source necessarily has all or even the right answers, but it is a good place to begin: environment.about.com/
I am looking for any ideas that I can make using 8oz plastic water bottles. Any Christmas ideas?
Sylvia from Hammond, LA
Those are all great ideas. Here is another--make ornaments.
You can do this by cutting out a long oval in the front. Leave some plastic on the sides, top and bottom. Now turn the bottle on it's side (it will be an ornament scene.) Spray paint the bottle any color you like (white, sky blue, red, green, gold, silver, etc.) Add cotton or fake snow to the bottom, put a mini holiday decorations inside and create a mini Christmas scene...use a mini tree, elf, reindeer, etc. and then keep on decorating. You can paste fun decorative scenes in the background that you find in magazines (ads are a great to find cartoon-like holiday backgrounds.) Use ribbon or yarn to frame the oval where you cut it out.
You can also cut out pictures of family or pets and make cute cut out scenes.
Have fun....
From www.FreeStuffandSamples.com.
fill with sand and use as weights when exercising, or as doorstops.
FreeStuffandSamples.com
fill with sand and use as weights when exercising, or as doorstops.
FreeStuffandSamples.com
They make really good packages for birthday presents or Christmas presents. Slice a hole in the back about 3 inches and then make like shutters so you can get your stuff inside. You can put tissue paper and streamers, confetti, etc. After you get all your goodies inside, tape the hole shut.
I use 2 liter bottles for this all the time.
You can even mail these without putting them inside another box. Just put your return address, mailing address, and postage.
Can be used for storage containers, nails, screw, bolt, nut, small items. Nail or screw the cap to the bottom of a board overhead, then you can unscrew the bottle or screw it on and fill it up as needed, if you tear off the label, you have a great visual on what's inside, great organizing, nail many bottles side by side.
How do you keep the 5 gal. refillable water bottles clean? If you suggest using vinegar, what is the recipe?
I use a little bit of bleach (take a straw, dip it in the bleach, cap it with my finger) and some hot water, put the lid back on and shake it around. Rinse a few times and then dry in my dishwasher while it's open.
Vodka.. I use it to clean out my milk jugs...I feel safer with this rather than bleach or vinegar..I also use it when I re-use my water bottles...
Fill any empty recycled plastic bottle with water and upend it in a potted plant. This is a great way to keep your indoor plants hydrated during the summer or a vacation.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Do not reuse plastic spring water bottles for a long time. A substance in the plastic breaks down into the water.
