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.
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.
This is a page about how to make a detergent bottle watering can. Yet another use for an empty detergent bottle; make a watering can.
Uses for Gallon Detergent Bottles and Inserts. I finally figured a way to recycle those gallon detergent no-drip inserts that were driving me nuts, since I have so many. . .
This is a page about crafts using laundry detergent bottles. Save your empty detergent bottles for use in a wide variety of crafts from seasonal decorations to toys.
This page is about uses for laundry scoops. With a new scoop in every bucket or box of detergent, you can end up with extras that can be helpful for many other things.
This is a page about uses for laundry detergent caps. When you finish a bottle of laundry detergent, consider saving the cap.
After I've finished using a liquid detergent bottle, I think the washed-out bottle could be used to store important items of some kind.
I have made many useful "scoops" and funnels in various sizes to fit the job its needed for. I save plastic detergent bottles, also bleach bottles and fabric softener bottles.
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.
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.
I peel off the labels and reuse them for other liquids I buy in bulk or make. I used the Arm & Hammer yellow containers because I like yellow and I labeled them with my PTouch. I love the way the bottles dispense and I can buy either in bulk or on sale...
Uses for liquid laundry detergent bottles. Post your ideas.
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.
