Back when our growing kids were constantly threatening to eat us out of house and home, I focused most of my efforts on the “reuse” aspect of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” when it came to disposable food containers. Lucky for me, that skill has served me well over time!
I’ve discovered all sorts of ways to repurpose different types of containers. As I’ve reflected on the containers I’ve found most useful, I thought, “Why not write a post about them?” So I did!
Below, you’ll find a list of my top 9 containers to repurpose around the house, along with suggestions for ways to use them. (You may also find my tips on removing stickers helpful if you prefer to remove labels from containers before reusing them!)
Look for the video at the end of this post to see step-by-step instructions in action!
9 Versatile Containers You Can Reuse Around the House
1. Parmesan Cheese Shakers
While the container itself is useful enough, it’s the lid on the Parmesan cheese container that earns it a place on this list! An old Parmesan cheese shaker is perfect for storing anything you might want to distribute by shaking or sprinkling, such as cornstarch, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, baking soda, etc.
The other side of the lid usually has a larger opening that can also come in handy. You can use it to dispense kids’ snacks—or your own snacks, for that matter. (Did you know that the lid from a Parmesan cheese shaker can fit onto a regular mouth mason jar? It’s true!)
2. Baby Wipes Boxes
Baby wipes boxes are an extremely versatile container to have on hand, and I use one to store my reusable fabric softener sheets. The box keeps them nice and tidy and the lid helps seal in the scent so they don’t need to be refreshed quite as often.
The one drawback I’ve found with these containers is that their labels can be downright impossible to remove. So if the label bothers you, I’d recommend covering it up with some scrapbook paper or washi tape rather than trying to remove it.
3. Large Yogurt Containers
Whether they were originally filled with yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, or something else, plastic tubs are great for repurposing! I use them to freeze a variety of veggies and fruits, but my favorite way to use them is to gift homemade ice cream to friends and family. I usually take the time to remove the ink print from the outside of the container first to make it look a bit nicer.
To remove the ink, just pour some rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover onto a cotton ball and wipe the printed areas. You may need to use a few cotton balls to get all the ink off, but pretty soon you’ll have a clean container! Wash it with soapy water and it’ll be ready to use.
4. Ice Cream Pails
I find it virtually impossible to throw these versatile plastic buckets away! They’re handy for corralling collections of items like seasonal cookie cutters and small toys. You can also fill them with soapy water when tackling cleaning jobs around the house.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention that these buckets have proven highly useful as vomit receptacles. When my kids were much younger and much more vomit-prone, I would bring one along on every car ride and I kept one under my kids’ beds for those unpredictable late-night episodes. These pails saved me a lot of unfortunate cleanup during those years!
5. Gum/Mint Containers
There are so many great uses for gum and mint containers. Gum containers are a bit bigger, so they’re great for storing craft supplies, snacks, or even loose change.
Smaller mint containers are handy for corralling paper clips, emergency sewing supplies, or notoriously easy-to-lose hair accessories like bobby pins! The possibilities are practically endless.
6. Tin Cans
No decent list of repurposed containers could exclude the good old tin can! You can use them as pencil holders, small vases for flowers, watering cans for your houseplants, or you can make one of those old-school “telephones” by threading a length of string or yarn through the bottom of two cans.
More Ideas You'll Love
If you intend for your can to be out on a desk or table somewhere, you can upcycle a can by dressing up the outside with paint, fabric, washi tape, or scrapbook paper.
7. Plastic Milk Jugs
Plastic milk jugs always come in handy as a watering can in a pinch, but my favorite way to repurpose them is as a giant ice pack. Just fill a milk jug with water until it is nearly full, but not quite. (The extra space will accommodate the expansion of the water as it freezes.)
Screw the cap on and throw the milk jug in the freezer until it’s frozen solid. The milk jug “ice pack” is great for camping, picnics, and more! I often use one for trips to Costco, since the closest Costco to us is 30 minutes away. So I bring a cooler and my milk jug “ice pack” to keep the cold/frozen foods cold until we get back home.
8. Stackable Tackle Box Jars
I love finding new uses for ordinary things you can find in any grocery store. :-) I found these stackable tackle box jars in the camping and fishing aisle quite by accident, and I just love them! They are great for storing small amounts of things in your purse or car, like ointment, pills, or lotion.
9. Juice Bottles
Empty juice bottles are my container of choice for storing my homemade liquid laundry detergent. They’re the perfect size, and it’s nice to be able to reuse such a big container instead of just throwing it out. You can learn how to make my homemade liquid laundry detergent here.
Click here to see these tips in action!
More Repurposing Tips & Tricks
What’s your favorite way to reuse containers?
NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?
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Liquid creamer bottles are great to reuse for other liquids or powders. I make my own cold brew coffee and store it in the creamer bottles. I buy the large tub of oxyclean and put some in a creamer bottle so it’s easier to use in the laundry. I also put “ice melt salt” in the creamer bottles and leave one by each outside door. Last year I even took several to our Meals on Wheels recipients who had icy front steps. I have smaller creamer bottles with flour and sugar in them for when I just need a tablespoon-full for a recipe. Easier than getting out the big jar of flour or sugar.
On another subject. On the “letter puzzle” at the end of each article, no matter what word I type, it tells me I’m correct. Even if I put “mdxpvuz” it says I’m right!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.After 68 years in Southern California I now live on a farm in South East Tennessee. We have a septic tank and this is all new to me. Nothing goes down the kitchen drain. I save all sizes of tin cans to put food waste in, meat fat, bacon grease, oils, etc. I usually then place in a ziplock bag in case it gets spilled. Then it goes to the city dump. No curb side trash pickup here either. Farm life is fabulous.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The big ice cream containers are also great for if you have a garden – bringing ripe vegetables inside. My parents make peanut clusters every year for the holidays. We started sending a batch to one of my brothers family every year because they love them. Now both of my out of the area brothers get a batch shipped from my parents.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The senior meals and Meals on Wheels always come with two small containers, plastic, with a plastic lid, holding about 1/3 cup. There are kind of like the ketchup containers at a fast food place, but much sturdier and larger. Absolutely indispensable for storing leftovers. After I slide a tomato I put the remaining tomato in one of these. Saves space in the fridge, no large bowls or tupperware needed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is a fun, pretty thing to make with large coffee cans. I saved up several of them and in the winter I fill them with coloured water (food colouring) and either freeze them in the freezer or outside. (I’m in Canada; it gets cold!) When the main part is solid, I add a little more water and when it’s almost set, I wedge in a little cup, which I later remove. These coloured blocks of ice look pretty along the walkway to my front door, each with a little candle in it to light the way for our guests.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Protein powder containers are perfect for storing ingredients that I usually purchase in larger quantities. Brown sugar, white sugar, chocolate chips, bran, specialty flours, raisins, premixed pancake ingredients….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the lil Gatorade bottles for summer bc my hubby works outside & it’s alot cheaper to buy the big powdered Gatorade & mix up a gallon of it at home & just refill his bottles every night then they work good in the top of dishwasher when he gets home for quick cleaning. I usually freeze them after filling for the majority of em maybe leave 1-3 in fridge but that way they stay cold all day long & he stays hydrated in the heat. We repurpose lots of containers & I hate to throw em away.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like your ideas, Jillee, thanks! The recycled item I especially like to use is glass pimento jars. I use fabric dyes in small amounts in my airbrush. The small pimento jars are perfect to mix the dyes up in, store them, and I can put a label on them to put my color mix ‘formula’ on so I can duplicate it if I run out. They are better than baby food jars, they reseal easily. Love all your tips and hints, Thanks and Blessings to you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like your ideas, Jillee, thanks! One recycled item I especially like to use is glass pimento jars. I use fabric dyes in small amounts in my airbrush to paint life-like flowers I create from cold porcelain. The small pimento jars are perfect to mix the dyes up in, store them, and I can put a label on them to put my color mix ‘formula’ on so I can duplicate it if I run out. They are better than baby food jars, they reseal easily. Love all your tips and hints,
I use old squeeze mustard containers with the small hole to squeeze out, to refill with ketchup. They are perfect for picnics, as they’re small and easy to pack. They are also great to put smaller amounts of salad dressing in. If they end up getting warm, I’m not tossing a full bottle of dressing away.
Cornstarch tubs are wonderful for packing cookies in and they are food safe. Years ago I found a pattern for turning tubs with plastic lids into ‘snowmen’ or ‘Santa’ punching holes around the top and crocheting the head…Amazing gift containers for family and friends, neighbors. (I use a lot of cornstarch in my flowers, lol, but any plastic topped container, think Pringles, baking powder, cocoa powder) would work also.
Peanut butter jars are perfect for leftovers in the fridge. You can see what’s inside, so nothing gets forgotten about.
Old baked bean cans are the right size for making your own Boston Brown Bread…I use a safety cutter to take off the lid, and they can be used many times over.
If you need a cookie cutter, tuna cans with the bottom cut out also, will work nicely in a pinch. You can also use it to form patties or sausage, to get them all the same size and shape.
I was able to get some food services 2.5 gallon detergent bottles for a commercial dishwasher. I brought them home and filled them with water, I keep them under the stairs and I have plenty of water for flushing the toilet when our power goes out…in rural Maine, it’s several times per year.
I use leftover winter Window Kit plastic scraps to make shrink wrappings for homemade gifts.
I save individual juice bottles to store ‘aquafaba’ (the juice from canned chick peas) to freeze for later use. Aquafaba can be used like egg whites in many recipes. We don’t always use the aquafaba as the same time as the chickpeas.
I use the cups from individual puddings, applesauce, fruit, with some craft materials to make ‘baskets’ for holding flowers for May baskets or small flower arrangements that I sell in my Facebook store. Covers from shampoo, spray paint, laundry soap and more can also be turned into a basket…you’d be amazed. :)
Laundry soap bottles, buckets, many other containers can be punched about every half inch around the top, and crocheted or sewn on tops added to make a tote for wet swimming wear and sand toys, or to hold your sewing or knitting, etc.
Tin cans can be stuffed with fiber fill or other materials, covered in cloth and used for pincushions. I have one that looks like a ‘throne’ my mom made back in the early 1960’s. The can cover wasn’t completely cut off, letting you fold it up and giving a sturdy back to the throne…
Well, that’s enough for now, lol. I am grateful for your hints and tips, Jillee. Thank you for sharing them with all of us. Blessings and health to you and yours. (from a fan that believes in recycling!)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One of my favorites is the plastic instant coffee container with the flip-top lid. The largest ones (avail in 8,12 and16oz) have an opening that allows me to use a scoop without having to unscrew the lids. (I have average-sized hands). These are great for storing all kinds of things,.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I save ice cream tubs and the containers dishwasher pods come in for storage, but also as vomit buckets. We have one under each bed and one on the main floor. I’m disabled so preventing mess is super important as I run out of energy to clean big messes completely.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I save my large peanut butter jars & fill them with candy like M&M’s, Mike & Ikes, Tootsie Rolls, etc. More organized than several open bags.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use old milk jugs to take homemade iced tea to picnics and other gatherings. I also use them to take filtered water with me on road trips so I can fill my family’s reusable cups and water bottles.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wish I had seen the tip about cleaning the foaming pump dispensers – before. I just replaced one because it was starting to show dirt around the pump. I usually try and keep a spare – if one of our other pumps decides to quit on us. I usually refill them with the liquid dish soap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I sometimes use a tiny squirt of WD-40 in the mechanism of re-purposed pumps and sprayers when they get sticky, and work it a bit. It seems to help them last a bit longer. An old toothbrush is good for cleaning out the exterior gunk.
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