I ventured into the bathroom to find my husband
had cleaned out his part of the medicine cabinet
and lo and behold I had an entire basket of empty
pill bottles! No wonder his shelf had looked so
cluttered. Actually, I looked at them as a way to
do some organizing, so I thought I'd share some
tips on using to recycle empty pill bottles.
The first step is to peel off all of the label that you
can then soak them in hot soapy water to remove
the remainder of the sticker and any residue that
may be left from the pills. Rinse and dry before
using. Some people are a little hesitant to use the
bottles if they have kids because they want them
to know they are off limits. I think it's more important
to teach the kids to never touch or eat ANYTHING
without asking when they are small, no matter where
they find it. To be sure though, I don't put candy or
snacks in the pill bottles. Cut pieces of masking tape
to place around the bottle or lengthwise and write
the contents on this.
Store thumb tacks, paperclips, toothpicks, small
nails and picture hangers-basically anything loose
that never seems to have a place.
Store spices and dried herbs (remember to
keep them away from heat sources like the
heater or oven). Use bottles for mayonnaise,
ketchup or mustard for lunches or picnics.
Always label the bottles with stickers or self-stick
labels.
Great storage for nails, screws, nuts and bolts.
The larger pill bottles will fit even larger items.
This is a fun surprise for Dad on Father's Day.
Have the kids decorate the bottles and sort
through all the odds and ends around the garage
and house!
Fishing organization: they work great for hooks,
lures, bobbers---any of the small loose items.
Craft supplies: sequins, wiggle eyes, needles,
tiny ribbon roses, straight pins, safety pins,
and beads. Use them for mixing paint when
you need custom colors, and keep it on hand
til your sure the project is completed.
Kits: The larger pill bottles work great for little
first aid kits or sewing kits.
Camping organization: matches, salt, pepper or
another spices you'll need for grilling. Use them
for shampoo, conditioner, dish soap etc. (This is
the first place mine are going!)
Gardening uses: seed storage, fertilizer stakes,
plant markers (the long bottles will hold larger
markers)
Shakers: Fill the bottles with beans or other noisy
items. Wrap paper around the bottle and tape well.
Let the kid's decorate the bottle (you can even do
this before you glue the paper to the bottle). The
tops can be painted or you can attach a fun sticker.
These were favorites of my kids, and because they
were childproof, I didn't have to worry about them
taking the shaker apart!
One of our subscribers Mara, also suggests
donating
them to your pet's vet. "Our vet said this helps him keep
costs down as he has to purchase them.", said Mara.
About the Author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife, mom to three kids and a freelance
writer. She is the editor/owner of Old Fashioned Living and sends out
two free email newsletters. You can sign up for them HERE
