There are many ways to reuse milk containers around the home. This guide is about uses for 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
Fun way to cook hot dogs while camping. Kids love doing this.
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
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
Tips for reusing 4 liter milk containers. Post your ideas.
I really didn't know where to put this tip, it covers so many aspects! Instead of lugging home a bottle/packet of commercial plant fertilizer, try this quick and easy tip. When you finish a carton of milk, fill the carton with water and use it to water your plants. Your plants will flourish, your wallet will flourish and the land fill will have one less carton to worry about as you didn't have to buy a special product to do the job! And there is one more plus, as you finish the milk carton you stand a better chance of remembering to water that poor house plant in the corner!
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.
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
By adriarobi
10/16/2009
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.
Does anyone have any craft ideas using those half pint milk cartons?
Theresa from Hibbing, MN
I saw a duck or swan made out of a plastic gallon milk contain. How can I get instructions?
By Sara from Valdosta, GA
By Jackie1226
04/29/2011
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
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
By Diamondee
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