Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles

RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Jeff (Guest Post) (09/17/2008) What I just did was rinse it out really well with water, scrubbing with a bottle washer scrub brush. Occasionally, I would take a sip to gauge the amount of soap left in it and rinsed 2-3 more times after I could no longer taste the soap. I then filled it up and stuck it in my freezer with the cap off. Once it freezes, the freezer will run more efficiently (freezers run better when full), and if you ever lose power or water for some reason, the frozen jug will help keep things cool until it thaws completely after which you have a supply of potable water. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Jen (Guest Post) (08/22/2008) If you cut the bottom off and turn over, it makes a good funnel for changing the oil in your car. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Rumi (Guest Post) (04/29/2008) I want to use old laundry detergent barrels as rain barrels to water my plants. Is this safe if I scrub and clean the barrels well? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Alicia (Guest Post) (01/01/2008) I buy the very big bags of cat and dog food-with 4 puppies and 6 cats, we really go through it. I put the food into a well washed and dried laundry container. It keeps it fresh and I don't have to worry about the animals biting into the bags, or it spilling when the kids decide to feed the pets. It stores easier too! My husband and sister thought I was nuts when I told them I wanted to do this, but it has made life easier. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By FREDA COOPER (Guest Post) (09/10/2007) Thanks for all your ideas, I'm going to make them into some beautiful colors and use them in many ways. I like the idea of using the pin cushion. Using all color lids and put a bulb in them and make a decorative xmas tree lit up. You can use cans also to do them. Light them up for xmas . Thanks and good luck to all of you mamafefe AT alol.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Jeanne Whipple (Guest Post) (07/27/2007) I use my detergent bottles to make wind spinners for my yard. I just cut the top and bottom of the bottle off, then cut down the seam lengthways. You now have enough to make two wind spinners. Carefully cut off the rounded sides of the bottle, leaving the flat area that is the front and back of the bottle. With a marker start in the center of one of the sides and make an ever growing circle until you get to the outside edge. Now with sharp scissors cut on your line. When finished hold up your bottle part, make a small hole at the outside tip, hang with fishing line. You can use a fishing swivel if you have one. Tip: If you have two alike they will look different but match if you use the backside for one and the front side for the other. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By reikicara (Guest Post) (03/24/2007) The bottles are good for disposing of insulin and other needles. After the bottle is full, replace lid, and tape lid on. Check for local regulations to make sure you can do disposal this way. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Freda Cooper (Guest Post) (11/16/2006) i want idea to reuse my laundry bottles,& caps for what ever i just think i would like to make some crafts thanks mamafefe AT aol.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post by scruggle (28) | (06/07/2006) Profile | Contact I got this idea from familyfun.com: you can cut the plastic to different shapes to make personalized tags for things like backpacks, luggage, etc. I also thought of trying the die cut machine. Some people have them that do scrapbooking but we have one free to the public at one of the schools. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Sha. (Guest Post) (08/04/2005) My uncle used all his old jugs as scoops for grain. He left the caps on and cut the bottle into a scoop. At my sisters I made one for the dog and cat food, shich she kept in a large container. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By terry (Guest Post) (06/08/2005) I teach third grade. I used the lids as bells for our Christmas tree. I spray painted them gold and added a bell inside with a hole in the center to also add a handing loop using gold rope. They turned out great. With the containers, I cut out flower petals to create a flower for a pot. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post by Marie2005 (9) | (06/03/2005) Contact We use the gallon milk jugs in the back yard for bird feeders. We cut out one side, leaving the handle, and then hang them from the tree by the handle on a string or wire. Fill the bottom with bird seed. It allows the birds to fly directly into the jug and feed, but since it is hanging and swinging, keeps the squirrels out. (Although the squirrels have been known to chew thru the string and make the entire jug fall so they could get to it in the past. The wire works better.) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By gator10tx (Guest Post) (05/06/2005) The lids make good measuring cups. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By c. shore (Guest Post) (01/05/2005) We wash them out really well and then fill the dog and cat water bowls that are out side ! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Chris (Guest Post) (01/05/2005) Use the large detergent bottles (300 oz). Fill it with water and use in a garage or shed where water isn't readily available to wash hands and such. The spicket makes it easy to get the water out and it fits easily on a shelf or table. Report Spam or Abuse Reusing Detergent Jugs Post by ThriftyFun (3740) | (01/05/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact Those plastic jugs with handles that laundry detergent comes in are PERFECT to apply salt to icy sidewalks in the wintertime! Just rinse them out and dry THOROUGHLY, then fill with salt and cap tightly. When the storm hits, you can hold it by the handle and sprinkle away! By Becki in Indiana Report Spam or Abuse Recycle Downy Softener and Detergent Bottles Post by ThriftyFun (3740) | (12/12/2004) Profile | Blog! | Contact These bottles make a nice CHEAP flower vase for hospital or nursing home patients. Cut the bottle at the shoulders making a suitable opening. Easy to carry! Add a big bow to the arrangement. By Syd Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By melissa (Guest Post) (10/04/2004) I cut the bottom off about 1/2 inch up and turned up side down. covered with cute fabric and fill with those plastic bags you get from the grocery store. i keep one in the kitchen, and one in each bedroom and bath for the small garbage cans. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Barbara Reynolds (Guest Post) (10/03/2004) I refill them with homemade laundry detergent! I figured it out to be between .01-.02 per load. This was calculated using Fels Naptha. I made some the other day using 4 small bars from a hotel. Tightwad Laundry Detergent (aka Tightwad Snot) 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated 1/2 C. Borax 1/2 C. Washing Soda (not baking soda) 5 gallon bucket In 2 qt. pot, put grated Fels Naptha soap, Borax, Washing Soda and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring occasionally until the Fels Naptha is dissolved. Continue on a low boil for 20 min. Add 6 cups cold water, mix with a wisk until solution is blended. Pour mixture into an old, clean, bucket. Add 22 cups of water to the bucket. (at this point, I mark the side of the bucket with a Sharpie so I don't have to measure the water again) Mix with a wisk until blended. (the texture will look like snot..... lol). If you like, you can add some essential oils, or just leave as is. Mix with the wisk every so often for 24 hours. (I did this the first 2x I made the detergent. Now I just mix well with the cold water and pour into 2 large containers). Pour into empty laundry bottles. Use 1/2 to 1 C. per load. Stains can be treated with moist Fels Naptha lightly rubbed onto stain. For extra heavy duty loads, add 1/4-1/2 cup of Borax. Cost per load... .01-.02 Cost: Fels Naptha Soap..... .99 (1/3 bar = .33) Borax......................2.79 (1/2 cup ~ .10) Washing Soda.........2.59 (1/2 cup ~ .10) Cost per 2 gallon of detergent .53 Cost per load ~.01--.02 Pretty good savings considering the cost of other detergents exceed .20 per load! Any questions, feel free to email me ShoreShihTzuNurs@aol.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post by Smilez28 (11) | (10/03/2004) Contact If its a round jug you can use it as a little dish for your plants. Cut the top and handle off. From the bottom leave about 2-3 inches. Put a potted plant inside. Then add water to the bottom of the jug. That way your plant can get water. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By dsbaby14 (Guest Post) (09/29/2004) As for the lid to the bottle, not just for paper clips, but, also for diaper pins, safety pins, needles, pins, hair clips, bobby pins, Report Spam or Abuse Make a Paper Clip Holder Post by ThriftyFun (3740) | (09/27/2004) Profile | Blog! | Contact To reuse the detergent lids of liquid detergent bottles. Attach a strip of magnet (can be found at a craft or fabric shop) around the inside top edge of container. Works great holding paper clips. By Tammy C Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Nanatimethree (Guest Post) (08/03/2004) I use gal milk jugs and/or large detergent bottles for toy storage. Leaving the handle I cut an oval from the just under the spout down to about four or five inches from the bottom to ward the other side. This makes a great storage unit for crayons markers small blocks legos etc. The children can easily see the items the want. They are easy to carry and put away. I have been doing this for about 20 years. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Becki in Logansport, IN (Guest Post) (04/15/2004) If you live in an area that gets ice & snow, wash the empty detergent jug well and allow it to air dry for a LONG time -- you want it completely dry on the inside. Then fill it with ice-melter salt. Next winter when you need to put ice on your steps, driveway, etc, you can just hold tha jug by the handle and sprinkle out the salt. It's a lot easier than trying to dump the salt out of the bag while wearing mittens! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By syd (Guest Post) (04/08/2004) They make a nice easy-to-carry vase for hospital & nursing home patients. Cut the top off above the handle and fill with flowers & greens ... add a poofy florist type bow. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Linne (Guest Post) (04/07/2004) Cut them off at a flat level.They make great bins & or plant pots. I use the pretty tops as small catchall for all sorts of whatnots & also use them & aerosol can tops [like from paint,pam & hairspray] as Post toppers & to Outline plant beds. You can also make a pincushion out of a scrap of fabric,stuffed with lots of nylon net fabric or meshe fruit & veggie bags from the supermarket squished into a ball. Sew it shut & smush it into the cap. These are very handy & can be trimmed with bits of this-n-that & the jugs themselves, tops & all & or any parts you can't use can be recycled in lots of areas. I have even cut off strips & used them to Mark things like posts. I made a cut up plastic milk jug into a Neck Brace for an old much loved stuffed donkey who has seen better days. I cut off the top down to a flat level.Then I cut off the bottom & cut straight up one side. I punched holes on both sides of the cut, put it around the donkeys neck, laced it up & Bingo! Donkey looks like it has whip lash but I still have it. I've cut of the bottoms of milk jugs for plant saucers & pet dishes. Use the tall top to protect plants from the cold. Or cut the top off shorter for a great scoop or funnel & use the taller bottom for a plant pot, bin, disposable paint can, what ever. Phew! That should keep you busy. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By B.Thom (Guest Post) (04/06/2004) If it has a handle-- 1. Turn it on its side--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 birdfeeder 4. Fill one for extra gas in your vehicle 5. Cut a big hole-in the side--Bang you got a clothes pin holder 6. Put water in it for auto or vechile 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. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Reusing Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles Post By Diane (Guest Post) (04/04/2004) Well, what I do is refill mine. I buy big jugs at Warehouse stores and refill the smaller jugs which are easier for me to handle. Then I just recycle the big jugs. I bet you could clean them out, soak the label off and use them to water plants. Or cut the upper part off, leaving the handle on, and use it to carry around small gardening tools. They actually have some nice bright colors so it would be easy to spot. Report Spam or Abuse