Reusing Plastic Milk Jug Ideas
Today’s feature is from Frugal Dad with 12 Household Uses for Used Plastic Containers, plus a few more tips listed below:
In a very small way, we are doing our part to reduce waste and find new uses to extend the useful life of everyday products. It is my hope that this post inspires you to look around the house for ways to recycle or reuse items you normally add to the trash collection. Perhaps if we would all make these small environmental contributions we could make a big impact on our planet for future generations. Besides, it is the frugal thing to do!
Ideas include:
- Make A Scooper (for dog food, etc.)
- Refrigerator Organizer (cut down to size)
- Ice Blocks For Coolers (also see Quick & Easy Homemade Ice Packs)
More Ideas:
- Use them to hold big batches of homemade window cleaners and other favorite homemade cleaning recipes.
- Kitchen compost bucket (store scraps in the jug until you can take them out to the compost bin).
- Keep a stack of jugs on hand in the garden shed. Use them to cover tender bedding plants in the spring (for frost warnings), press the bottom down in the dirt a bit to keep them firmly in place. Cut the bottoms out and keep the caps screwed on.
Also see this list on DIY Life that has more ideas. One of the tips in the comments mentioned something that I’ve seen works perfectly when berry picking:
- Make sure to keep the handle intact, but cut off an area at the top of the jug. Take the jugs berry picking and use them to hold the berries, they make a nice sturdy container (with handles).
Check out Frugal Dad for the full list of tips (and some great Frugal tips and discussion). More ideas for reusing things: 20 Things You Can Use Twice Before Tossing.
Clarification: No one is suggesting each and every plastic jug be saved, reused and stored around the house for all eternity. No worries about anyone finding a packed attic full of empty milk jugs when you die–these are just suggestions to look at something differently and reuse it in a purposeful way if you like.
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Posted in Household Tips | 
( 5 )
07 May 2008 at 1:20 pm
Thanks for the mention. And thanks for the clarification - a house full of cut-in-half milk jugs does not make for an orderly home! However, it is surprising how useful things like this can be if we get creative.
07 May 2008 at 7:13 pm
When I was a kid, my dad taught me to overhaul my transmission in my old Plymouth. I remember that the transmission screws were stripped, so we used small strips of plastic milk jug to tighten up the screws. Just another suggestion to add to the mix…
07 May 2008 at 8:01 pm
I use the milk jugs in the garden. I have 6 and fill them w/ water then when I want to water the plant and not the leaves (as in hose spraying which can burn the leaves on a hot, sunny day) I pour the water on the well around the plant. If you make a well around the plant the water stays where needed not going all over the dirt. You can also put a little compost or manure and make manure tea when you water the plant the enriched water goes directly where needed. 3 TBSP for a gallon jug should not be that strong. If some of the manure goes w/ the watering, all the better, just put more manure in the jug and add more water.
I also cut off the bottom of the jug about 1-1 1/2″ and use it on the sink to hold my sponges, sink scouring pad and sos pad. If I have room in the d/w and the holder is dirty I just empty it and throw it in to wash. comes clean. Saves making another unless it’s to far gone.
08 May 2008 at 2:57 am
I cut them up into small strips to use as plant labels. Write on them with a permanent marker and you’re all set.
08 May 2008 at 11:16 am
My mother in law uses them for sweet tea. They’re great for any homemade beverage. They’re also good for homemade laundry detergent.