Discover five clever and practical ways to reuse plastic bottles at home, helping you save money while reducing household plastic waste sustainably.
Every week, my recycling bin would be jammed with water bottles and soda bottles. It bugged me because these things only got used once before I chucked them. Yeah, recycling is good and all, but couldn’t they be useful for something else first? I started messing around with different ideas from Reddit and YouTube over a few weeks.
It turns out plastic bottles solve a bunch of annoying problems around my house. There’s a camping trick that saved me from buying a $20 gadget, an activity that keeps my kids occupied long enough for me to finish work calls, and some free garage storage. These projects are quick—nothing takes more than five minutes, and you’ve already got the stuff you need.
Turn a dish soap cap into a pressurized water system
Why this works better than expensive camping gear
We always keep water bottles stocked in our fridge, and try to use them sparingly. However, when I saw this trick on Reddit right before a camping trip, I needed to try it out. It turns out that dish soap caps screw right onto most water bottles—Smartwater bottles fit perfectly. The cap’s tiny hole shoots out a focused stream instead of the usual glug-glug pour you get from a regular bottle opening. It uses way less water, too.
Last time I went camping, this thing was a lifesaver. I could actually rinse dishes without dumping half my water supply everywhere. It worked great for washing hands and brushing teeth, too. I’d been eyeing those fancy camping water dispensers that run $15–$20, but this free version honestly works better.
The real advantage is the control. Instead of dumping water everywhere or struggling with a regular bottle cap, you get a controlled stream similar to a faucet. I keep one setup permanently in my camping bin now, and it’s become essential gear. The only trick is making sure the dish soap cap is completely clean before threading it onto your water bottle.
Create an airtight bag sealer with bottle tops
Stop wasting money on chip clips and bag sealers
Stale chips were killing me. Every time I’d grab a bag from the pantry, it’d be soft and gross. I bought those chip clips over and over, but they never held tight enough to actually keep air out, and I didn’t really want to eat a whole bag at once.
Here’s what I do now: grab scissors, cut the top two inches off a water bottle, take the cap off, push the open bag through the bottle neck, fold the bag edges over the threads, and screw the cap back on. This takes 30 seconds, maybe less.
I’ve got six of these scattered around my pantry for different bag sizes. They replaced all my chip clips. The clear plastic lets me see what’s in each bag without opening it. My pantry looks way better, and I’m not throwing away stale food all the time anymore.
You’ll want to rinse them occasionally if you’re using them for different types of food. Just do a quick wash under the faucet.
Make a simple fine motor skills activity for toddlers
This keeps them busy for ages
I was trying to answer emails while my four-year-old and two-year-old were bouncing off the walls and flipping our smart lights on and off. I came across this bottle activity online and figured I’d give it a try. I grabbed an empty water bottle and dumped out some plastic beads. Both kids immediately started dropping beads into the bottle and shaking it to hear the noise.
They’re still into it weeks later.
The setup is stupid simple—give them a clean bottle and a bowl with stuff to drop inside. Plastic beads, dried pasta, pom-poms, buttons, silly worms, or cut-up yarn. They’ll sit there for 20 or 30 minutes filling the bottle, shaking it around, dumping it all out, then starting over.
I’ve learned to vary the bottle opening sizes. Regular water bottles work great for my older son, while my two-year-old does better with wider-mouth bottles like Gatorade or juice containers. The smaller openings are more challenging and frustrating for little hands still developing coordination.
The cleanup is dead simple compared to most activities. Everything stays contained in the bottle until they dump it out, and I just pour it all back into the storage bowl when they’re done. We keep three or four bottles ready with different items nearby for when they need something to do while I’m cooking dinner or on work calls. It’s much better than just letting them play with a tablet.
Make a perfect-sized scoop for pet food and bulk items
Save money and counter space with this 30-second hack
I used to buy those plastic scoops for my dog’s food, birdseed, and bulk pantry items. They’d crack, get lost, or never fit properly in the containers. Empty laundry detergent bottles with handles turned out to be way better scoops—and they’re “free”.
Cut off the bottom third, and keep the handle attached. The curved shape scoops into bags easily, and the handle makes pouring comfortable. I’ve made different-sized scoops by cutting at different heights.
My favorite is using a gallon milk jug for my 40-pound dog’s food bin. I marked the inside with her daily portion amount, so I don’t need to measure anymore. The large opening scoops easily, and the handle prevents the awkward fumbling I dealt with using cups or small scoops.
I use these for way more than pet food now—birdseed, garden soil, potting mix, garage screws, and bolts. They hold up to rough use, too. If one cracks, I just grab another from my recycling bin.
Transform large water jugs into workshop storage bins
Organize your garage without spending money on plastic bins
My garage workshop was a disaster of small parts, tools, and hardware scattered everywhere. I considered buying those expensive plastic storage bins, but I couldn’t justify spending $80–$100 to organize items that cost less than the bins themselves. Those big three-gallon water jugs do the same thing for free.
Grab a utility knife and cut out a big chunk from the front of the jug. Leave the handle and bottom alone. You end up with a sturdy, clear bin you can see through and carry around easily. The handles make pulling bins off shelves simple, and the openings are wide enough to grab stuff quickly.
I’ve organized my power tool accessories, extension cords, painting supplies, and automotive parts into about eight of these converted jugs. They stack efficiently on garage shelves, and because they’re clear, I can instantly see what’s inside without labeling (though I labeled them anyway).
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