We’re all trying our best to break away from the bad habits of growing up in a throw-away culture. We recycle whenever possible, and most of us probably even reuse our empty food containers a time or two before we do. However, there’s a lot more that those empty containers are good for than just storing food.

In fact, with the right tools and a little imagination, there’s not a whole lot that you can’t do with your old containers. Of course, recycling is great and all, but you’re carving away a huge portion of your carbon footprint if you upcycle them instead.

In a day and age where we’re literally being told to stay home and away from the stores as much as possible, having a few ideas about how to repurpose what you already have can really come in handy. Not only will it help you pass the time, but you will also craft something of function that you can actually use.

Trust us when we tell you, there is nothing sweeter than being able to rely on yourself and increase your independence from the stores, even if only slightly. Here are 12 clever and effective ways to repurpose your empty food containers.

1. Grow your greens in them

Or your peppers, tomatoes, and herbs. Whatever your fancy, just know that if you’ve got a sizable empty container around with a clear lid, you’ve got a mini greenhouse in your midst. Check out Homesteading Downsized’s tutorial on how to upcycle your old salad container into a small salad garden bed.

2. Make a game

If you’re locked down in quarantine with some little ones, chances are you’re drowning in plastic snack containers right now. It’s also likely that you’ve already burned through every board game in the house. If that’s the case and you’re looking for a boredom cure, you can repurpose those empty containers into an awesome game for your fam to play. Get the game details over at the Mom In Me blog.

3. Repurpose them for ribbons

You might find yourself doing a lot of sewing and crafting these days. Especially if you’re one of the kind souls who are volunteering to sew masks and mask covers for “essential workers” and health care professionals right now. A good way to simplify your crafting closet is by repurposing your old empty bottles into thread, ribbon, and string dispensers. Find out how over at The Scrap Shoppe.

4. Feed the birds

For the first time in a long time, some of us are getting to enjoy just simply watching the birds. If you want to see lots of them, attract them by building them a custom bird feeder out of an empty peanut butter or mayo jar. It couldn’t get any simpler. Just clean them out, dry them off, cut out a feeding hole and a tiny hole to snugly fit a perch and you’re pretty much done. Get the full tutorial at Naomi Marcus.

5. Make a thumb-controlled watering jug

If you haven’t noticed lately, watering cans have become quite an expensive item, considering their purpose. Even a basic plastic one can gouge you for upwards of $20 these days. Better to save that money for the seeds and craft your own out of an empty plastic jug.

It really doesn’t get any simpler than this. Poke a decent size hole in the lid that you can easily cover with your thumb. Then, poke between 15-20 slightly smaller holes in the bottom, depending on the size of your jug. Then dip the whole thing into a bucket of water, cover the hole in the lid tightly with your thumb. Carry the watering jug to your plants and then simply release your thumb and watch the water flow. When you’re done, cover the hole back up with your thumb and move on to the next plant.

6. Store your bulk foods

If you’re like many people, chances are you’ve got a lot of bulk foods overflowing your pantry and cupboards right now…and maybe even a few other areas. The good news is you can keep your cupboards looking tidy and make those foods easy-access by repurposing your old coffee creamer jars. The flip-top lids and their small capacity make all that food a lot more convenient to use.

7. Make a lightweight shovel

Spring is definitely upon us, and that means it’s time to start popping seeds into containers. If you are in need of a small garden trowel, you can make a perfect substitute with a plastic jug. Get the tutorial here.

8. From caps to candle holders

Let’s be honest folks. One can never have too many candles and that means they can also never have enough candle holders. Thankfully, you can have the best of both worlds with some empty wine caps, wicks, wax, and a little know-how.

9. Pacifier containers

Don’t toss those fast-food condiment containers out just yet. Yes, we know they’re thin and flimsy. They also happen to be perfect little containers for housing pacifiers. Far better than letting them roll around on the counter or, worse, the floor, and free to do. Even if you don’t have a baby in the house, you likely know someone who does, so hang onto them.

10. Keep outdoor cords dry

While it’s true that some cords are made for use outside and, thus, are water-resistant, you can never be too cautious. This is particularly true when it comes to dealing with electricity. A safe, cheap, and easy way to protect your outdoor cords is to repurpose a plastic piece of tupperware for the job. According to Family Handyman, it’s as simple as cutting out a slit on two sides of the container that the cord can fit into. Then just place the lid on it and you’re good to go.

11. The perfect biscuit/cookie cutter

Chances are you’re also getting in your fair share of baking as of late. If that’s the case, you might find a biscuit and cookie cutter to come in pretty handy. If you don’t already have one, you can make one pretty easily with nothing more than a can of tomato paste and a can opener. Get the details from Real Simple.

12. Seedling Cloche

Last but not least, another fantastic way to reuse your milk jugs is to use them as a garden cloche. This is just a fancy way of saying you can use it to put over your young seedlings to protect them from the weather and from roaming plant munchers. Simply cut the bottom off and cover your seedling. On hotter days, you can remove the lid for some airflow.

Hopefully, you’ve found these ideas and tips helpful and they’ll keep you busy for a while. Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

H/T: Home Hacks