Recycling Tips: Pill Bottle Uses

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Recycling Tips: Pill Bottle UsesBy Brenda Hyde 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 rs 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.

 

Diana Gonzalez

 

 

 

 

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