40 Uses for Plastic Milk Jugs

Plastic milk jugs / milk containers have many uses after their primary function of holding milk is over.  As milk container week comes to a close (it actually ended yesterday, but I had to get this list in!), we’re left to recap the many creative uses for milk containers!

1.  Utensil holders in the kitchen (cut off the tops to make a wide opening).

2.  Storing drinking water in your pantry for emergency preparedness.

3.  Bird feeder (Google “milk jug bird feeder” for tons of variations/directions).

4. Tray under house plants to catch over-watering (cut, using only the bottom 3” of the jug).

5. Dustpan (cut bottom off at an angle, leave the handle attached and voila!).

6. Swimming floats for kids to play in the water with (just screw the lids on tight to empty containers!).

7. Grocery bag holder/dispenser.

8.  Dried milk (mix up your Milkman or other dried milk in an empty jug, refrigerate, and your kids will never know the difference!)

9.  Juice container: Why buy separate pitchers when you can use containers you already have? Plus, you don’t have to dirty a spoon to mix it up: just put on the lid and shake! You won’t care if your kids take this jug of juice out to the porch with them for refills while they’re playing outside.

10.  Storage for grains, rice, oats, beans, popcorn.

11. Piggy bank: cut a slit if you want or just use the hole in the top.

12. Jack o Lantern: a little orange paint, some help from mom or dad to cut out a face, and a small flashlight inside makes for a lasting Jack o Lantern!

13. Berry holder (cut off the top at an angle, and you can loop your belt through the handle).

14. Watering can (poke tiny holes in the bottom, fill 2/3 full with water, screw on lid, store upside down standing on the lid).

15. Scoop for sand, soil, kitty litter, ice melter, salt, bird seed, fertilizer (follow directions in #7).

16. Toilet brush holder (cut off top).

17. Funnel (cut off bottom).

18. Luminaries - Lights for the sides of your walkway (use sand inside to hold mini LED lights, flashlights or candles).

19. Holder for clothespins outside.

20. Holder for buttons at your sewing table.

21. Use the bottoms as trays to hold small items on shelves.

22. Holder for paint brushes and paint water.

23. Rubber band dispenser.

24. Dog biscuit dispenser.

25. Dog food / cat food holder.

26. Scoop for kids playing catch (cut at an angle and leave the handle attached).

27. Fill with water and put in the freezer to fill the gaps between foods. This will help your freezer cool the food more efficiently by limiting empty space, and you have all that water stored for emergency drinking water if you need it!

28. Megaphone! (Just cut off the bottom and let the kids have fun!)

29. Fill smaller jugs with water and freeze. Pack frozen jugs with your food for cookouts/picnics and into coolers for an alternative to buying bagged ice.

30. A catch all while mowing your lawn. Cut off the top at an angle, leaving the handle. Attach to the mower handle with a zip tie and use it for trash, rocks, etc. while you’re mowing.

31. Fill with water and use as weights outdoors to hold down the corners of plastic sheeting/tarps.

32. Leaf scooper to clean out your gutters (use a half gallon size and cut like a scoop).

33. Bee traps(we use this one a lot).

34. Cover for tomato plants at night (cut the bottom away and only use the top).

35. Hand weights – just fill with water (remember that 1 gallon of water=8 pounds).

36. Maracas – fill with a few rocks or beans and give to the kids for some noisy fun!

37. Make a Halloween skeleton. Awesome!

38. Turn your toilet into a low-flow. Fill a jug with water or sand, and place in the tank to take up space.

39. Baby bottle brush holder – Use a half gallon jug to keep your bottle brush clean and upright next to the sink!

40. Lego storage (cut a hole just big enough to reach in without getting stuck).

Photo courtesy Flickr’s LFL.

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1. The House That Milk Jugs Built
2. Milk Jug Uses In My Kitchen