To organize cleaning tools, gardening tools, and small household tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.), clean out an old plastic laundry detergent bottle. With a utility knife, cut off the top of the bottle even with the bottom of the handle, leaving handle intact. This allows full open access for storage. I just grab the handle and go.
By Kay from West Babylon, NY
If it has a handle:
1. Turn it on its side and cut a slit on top. Put empty thread spools on bottom and cut triangles for ears. Bang, you have a piggy bank.
2. Cut it an angle. Bang, you have a scoop or mini-shovel.
3. Cut a square or large circle. Bang, you got a bird feeder.
4. Fill one for extra gas in your vehicle.
5. Cut a big hole in the side. Bang, you got a clothespin holder.
6. Put water in it for auto or vehicle.
7. Challenge your kids to make something, winners get pizzas.
8. If you have a boat, fill it with sand for an extra anchor.
9. Latch serveral together by the necks and you have a small water float.
10. If they are long (like soda bottles) paint them white. You have 10 and a ball. Bang, you got bowling.
I have washed this laundry detergent bottle so many times, I have lost count. Sadly, it continues to smell like laundry detergent. Is it safe to use as a jug to water the birds?
My personal opinion: No, they are not safe.
This is a controversial subject, but it seems there are more nays than yeas.
If you clean the bottles as suggested, some say they are safe, but if you drink water from the jug, and it tastes very good to you, then it may be safe for birds.
speedqueen.com/
Soap jugs??
www.freshpure.com/
Clean as suggested and then
"Let your conscience be your guide."
There are a lot of articles and literature that say that plastic holding detergent are not safe to reuse for anyone because the molecules bond to the plastic and leach out into whatever liquid is in them next.
One piece of literature I read said they do that because it helps with the recycling process (which I found hard to believe).
Also they shed BPA molecules which are also not healthy for living beings. BPA (bisphenol A) is the chemical used to make the plastics and can cause a lot of issues in people--like infertility, cancers, brain damage, and other bad stuff if there is too much in our systems.
The smell in this case is proof it is still there.
My vote would be no. If your community recycles, just recycle it. I would find a pretty light weight glass container to carry water for birds or other animals...but that is just me. Keep it immaculately clean so no residues of cleaning supplies get into the water system. That is much easier to do with glass than plastics.
I always hated to toss the empty plastic containers for softeners, laundry soap and other similar products. I decided that the lid could be used for different craft projects.
Rock Salt, used to melt ice on pavement, is very harsh to the skin. For an easy, and safe dispenser, I empty the bag of salt into a old laundry detergent bottle.
Has anyone successfully removed the fragrance from liquid laundry detergent bottles so that they can be used as drinking water containers? (And if you are going to tell me not to do this because it is dangerous please cite your source - they are high density polyethylene which is what tons of food containers are made from.)
By John W.
Have tried as we boondock camp alot and need sturdy water bottles. No luck-still yucky!
The bottle has BPA in it and phthalates. I wouldn't think you'd want to do this. They aren't food safe.
First cut the top in a scoop fashion from a Tide laundry soap container. Use the 100 fluid ounce size, leaving the handle on.
Does anybody have any *unique* ideas for those liquid laundry detergent jugs and their measuring cup type lids? They are very sturdy and surely
I have used the plastic liquid laundry containers for flower vases taking them to hospital and nursing home patients. Cut the top portion off so you have a handle to carry them ... Put your flowers in and add a large bow.
Laundry measuring caps that screw on the jug are good for making individual party favors, flower arrangement, glue handles on for basket effect, use them in craft projects at nursing homes ... put Styrofoam in the cap and let residents design their own bouquet for their room. Great size because space is limited.
This is not 'crafty', but I cut out and widen the area around the pourspout of laundry containers. I then use the container to sort nails, bolts, etc. in my husbands shop. I also use these for food scrap container, and containers to put paint in while I paint.
Something that I reuse the liquid laundry bottles for is, rock salt in the winter. I fill the container & then it's ready to just sprinkle out from the spout.
This is not craft oriented either or adult oriented. I teach preschool(3year old class) and I use the lids to hold crayons and scissors.
I wash out the empty bottles. Rinse them thoroughly. Cut the top off of the bottle including the top of the handle.
This past week I volunteered at my daughters' Girl Scout day camp. They had taken empty liquid Tide laundry detergent containers, the big ones with the spouts, and cleaned them out and refilled them with water.
Need a large scoop say for bird feed or or something else? Save those laundry detergent jugs. Just wash out the empty container and be sure to keep the lid.
