Browse   Newsletters   Contests   Ask   Share   Account   About

Uses for Milk Cartons

Uses for Milk CartonsThere are many ways to reuse milk containers around the home. This guide is about uses for milk cartons.
     

Solutions: Uses for Milk Cartons

Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up".

Storing Fish and Seafood in Milk Cartons

My dad frequently went fishing and shrimping at the beach, so our freezer was always full of scrumptious, fresh tasting seafood. His secret was to re-use waxed cardboard milk cartons, cleaned and with the top completely opened up.

My mother would put in the fish or shrimp and fill the carton with water, leaving room at the top to fold it closed, and staple it shut. Into the freezer it went, where it was solidly frozen to make the trip home in a cooler. My parents have both passed away, but I haven't forgotten the "fresh" seafood that my mother cooked for us year round.

By Sandy from Elon, NC

11 0SharePrintFollow3 Feedbacks

Hot Dog in a Milk Carton

Fun way to cook hot dogs while camping. Kids love doing this.

Ingredients:

  • 1 hot dog
  • 1 hot dog bun
  • Empty, washed and dried half-gallon milk carton
  • Foil

Directions:

Put the hot dog in the bun and wrap in foil. Place in milk carton, close top. Put in cool fire pit on its side and light the carton at the bottom. When the carton is burned down, you will have a cooked hot dog in a lightly toasted bun.

Source: Memories of my scouting days

By indianamyst from IN

4 1SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Handy Box from Recycled Plastic Milk Containers

Recycle plastic milk containers into handy little boxes by cutting the square sections apart then joining the two squares together. The trick in making the square sections of milk containers fit together is simply to squeeze the top and sides at the same time.

By Loppyinventor from England

3 0SharePrintFollow1 Feedback

Milk Carton Candles

Recycle used chunky candles by making your own. Melt down your leftovers double boiler style (never leave during this process), then dip the end of a new taper candle into this melted wax. Immediately place it into a clean wax-type half gallon milk carton and let it harden, making sure to keep it centered. Take other used tapers and break them into pieces, then place into the carton around the taper. Pour your melted wax in next and let it harden, then cut a slit in the top of the carton and tear it off. The result is a beautiful new candle that cost very little.

By Patricia from Imperial, NE

3 0SharePrintFollow7 Feedbacks

Craft Project: Milk Carton Basket

This is a cute little recycled basket made from a milk or juice paper carton.

Editor's Note: This would make a good kid's craft for gift giving.

Approximate Time: 30 minutes

Supplies:

  • 1 juice or milk paper carton, cut in half
  • tape
  • fabric
  • stapler
  • handles, any kind, of your choice

Instructions:

  1. Once you have a cut down your carton take your fabric and staple it on the outside and inside of carton box. Make sure it still looks like a box.
  2. Tape handles to the sides of box.
  3. Place a strip of colorful tape around the handles and edge of box. Wrap around entire edge.
  4. Staple tape down well to box.
  5. Add more tape around box covering staples.
  6. Place pens, paper clips, or lil' knick knacks in box and place on your desk.

By Rocketrider2011 from IA Milk Carton Basket

2 0SharePrintFollow2 Feedbacks

Uses For 4 Liter Milk Containers

Tips for reusing 4 liter milk containers. Post your ideas.
0 0SharePrintFollow4 Feedbacks

Uses for Cardboard Milk Cartons

Prevent scratches on your floor with cardbaord milk cartons. Cut off the top part of the milk carton and slip the lower part on furniture legs. Then you can slide heavy furniture without fear of scratching your floor.

Do you have any milk carton ideas? Please post them below.
0 0SharePrintFollow8 Feedbacks
Share Your Feedback: Once you try any of the above solutions, be sure to come back and give a "thumbs up" to the solution that worked the best for you. Do you have a better solution? Click "Share a Solution" above!

Questions

Here are questions related to Uses for Milk Cartons.
Milk Bottle (or Carton) Christmas Candles

I have heard about people on Christmas Eve surrounding their house with candles in milk bottles or cartons. I would like to hear from anyone who can give me details on how this is done. Is it plastic bottles or cartoons used? Are they painted and do they have sand in them? Or is there anything else about them you can tell me so I can make them next year?

Lyn Morley From Australia

SharePrintFollow7 Feedbacks

Most Recent Answer

By adriarobi10/16/2009

I use the half gallon wax cartons that come with juice etc, or the 1qt size (like hold EggNog). I crack ice cubes with the rounded part of the spoon. You want the chunks of ice about the size of 1/6 or a little smaller. You don't want them too big or too small. They form the holes in the candle.

Pour a little wax at the bottom of the carton so you have a solid bottom for the candle. Put the taper (contrasting color is pretty) in the middle, and load up the wax carton. Pour the rest of the melted wax in the carton. Let the ice melt.

When you think the ice is melted, get rid of the water (probably not in your drains, there is wax in it. I pour it outside someplace.).

Carefully peel the wax carton back/off your candle. It will be beautiful and like Swiss cheese. The colored center taper will melt the wax down through the tunnels and holes in the candle. Kids love it. We have some that were decorated 10 years ago, and get out again every year. You can wrap with fabric ribbon, hot glue acorns/pinecones/gold or silver baubles. Very pretty.

Craft Ideas Using Half Pint Milk Cartons

Does anyone have any craft ideas using those half pint milk cartons?

Theresa from Hibbing, MN

SharePrintFollow5 Feedbacks

Most Recent Answer

By Syd (Guest Post)09/29/2007

I used them in a project at the nursing home.

I prepared a great deal of the add ons and had the
residents paste to the milk carton and had cute little
bird houses.

How Do I Make a Swan or Duck Out of a Gallon Milk Container?

I saw a duck or swan made out of a plastic gallon milk contain. How can I get instructions?

By Sara from Valdosta, GA

SharePrintFollow2 Feedbacks

Most Recent Answer

By Jackie122604/29/2011

You might want to look at this link and look all the way down the page.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/junk/msg0314474430335.html?91

Archives

Storing Fish in Milk Cartons

While growing up in an area with lakes and rivers all around, my family did a lot of fishing. All my family would save all their empty 1/2 gallon milk cartons. Wash them and put them up to dry, and then give them to the fishermen of the family. When the fresh catches of the day were scaled, cleaned and ready for the refrigerator or freezer. The fish were put in a clean, dry milk carton with some salt water.

The top of the carton closed as you would if it had milk in it, then folded down. This way the fish smell didn't go into the refrigerator with all the other foods. If put in the freezer, you put enough salt water in to cover the fish but also enough room to allow the carton to expand. By using the milk cartons, it freed up other freezer containers for garden produce or leftovers.

By Terri


RE: Storing Fish in Milk Cartons

I believe this is the coated cardboard milk containers, not the plastic milk jugs. (06/16/2005)

By Diamondee

Follow ThriftyFun