16 Clever Ways To Repurpose Empty Soap Bottles Around The House
Over the past few years, many consumers have grown more conscious of their plastic consumption, often opting for more environmentally friendly, reusable, and sustainable options. Despite these changes in the public consciousness, however, there's not much change occurring globally. According to Minderoo Foundation's 2023 Plastic Waste Index, there is more plastic waste now than ever, and the global greenhouse gas emissions from single-use plastics in 2021 were greater than those produced by the entire United Kingdom. While a lot of the responsibility of cutting down these numbers depends on large corporations and manufacturers, you can help do your part by upcycling plastic items in your home that would otherwise be single-use, like soap bottles.
Soap bottles come in various designs and styles depending on the kind of soap they contain, but they all have one thing in common: their usefulness. They are designed to be durable, resistant to liquid, and easy to use to dispense your favorite products, so they can find a surprising number of secondary uses in your space. With a bit of creativity, you can cut down your waste, reduce your negative environmental impact, and find a solution to an existing problem that doesn't require you to waste your money on unnecessary purchases.
1. Dispense syrups
Whether you're a fan of flavored coffee drinks, Italian sodas, or even sweeter cocktails, having a collection of flavored syrups is essential to take your beverages to the next level. With something so concentrated, however, it can be easy to go a bit overboard when dispensing them. To solve this issue and standardize pours, many coffee shops add a pump on the top of the bottle, but if you hand-make your syrups or buy smaller bottles, you likely don't have this luxury. As a solution, try putting your syrups in cleaned-out hand soap bottles for a similar look and level of control.
2. Mix paints
Even though there are a wide variety of paints available on the market, sometimes, you just can't seem to find the perfect color. Mixing paints on a palette until you achieve the perfect hue is a great solution if you only need a small quantity of a hue, but if you're coating an entire canvas, wall, or piece of furniture, this mix needs to be scaled up. For a mess-free mixing process, try pouring your paints into an old soap bottle and then shaking to combine them. After it's all mixed, you can squeeze the bottle or use the pump to deliver your new shade directly to a surface.
3. Display flowers
The idea of using glass bottles as vases is fairly common nowadays, but have you ever considered giving your plastic bottles the same treatment? Just about any soap bottle can be transformed into an upcycled vase with a bit of TLC. Remove the lid or dispenser so you're left with a wider mouth to fit the stems, then completely clean out the bottle so there's not any soap residue left. Remove the sticky label, ensure you get all the residue, then give it a fresh coat of paint or draw on a design to make your vase more decorative.
4. Charging station
Certain outlets around the house aren't close to a convenient table or chair where you can rest your phone after plugging it in. Still, this holder can help to solve that issue and create a specially designated charging station for your electronics. Instead of placing your phone on the floor where it can get kicked or stepped on, take an old plastic soap bottle and remove the label. Cut most of the way around the center until you've created the beginnings of a cup shape. Finally, cut out a handle on the back section that can fit on a hook or over your charging block to hang your holder.
5. Pen holder
Pen holders are the best way to ensure your desk isn't littered with writing utensils, but there's no reason to buy something you can so easily DIY. Repurposing an old coffee mug is one of the most common ways to make your own pen holder, but if you're unwilling to part with any of your collection or want something less prone to breaking, try making one out of a soap bottle. The mouth on most soap bottles will be too narrow to hold more than a couple pens, but this can easily be solved by cutting around the top and sanding down the edges.
6. Sunglass case
As it turns out, most shampoo and dish soap bottles are the perfect size to act as the base for an upcycled hard-sided sunglasses case. Soft cases and simple drawstring bags can certainly help to protect your glasses from scratches and damage, but a hard plastic case is much more helpful if you're worried about them getting crushed. All you need to do is fully clean your soap bottle and cut off the end. Place your glasses inside, then cover the open end with a fabric and a rubber band or a repurposed mismatched sock to ensure they don't slip out.
7. Faucet extender
If you have younger kids, faucet extenders are necessary to allow them to reach the flow of water to wash their hands, brush their teeth, or rinse their faces, but it can seem silly to invest in something that you'll only need temporarily. Instead, try making your own with the help of an old soap bottle. The design of a faucet extender is incredibly simple — it's basically just a slide that allows the water to flow a few more inches — so it's also super easy to make yourself. With a couple of clever cuts, you'll have a functional extender for free.
8. Mini baskets
Whether you plan to use them to organize a drawer, as a part of a gift, or to separate your crafting supplies, having a few small organizational baskets is a great idea. Instead of spending money on something so simple, however, it's best to use what you already have. Soap bottles might not help much with organization in their normal state, but, if you cut the bottoms off, these cups can have plenty of different uses. Keep them as-is if you need something to cut down clutter, or cover them in paint, contact paper, or ribbon for a more decorative final product.
9. Lotion dispenser
Packaging is oftentimes just as important as the product itself, but, unfortunately, sometimes our favorite items don't exactly align with our decorative aesthetic. If this is the case, and you have an old soap dispenser with a pump lying around, you can transfer your product into the old bottle for a more customizable look. Keep the soap dispenser as-is if you like the look, or decorate it to match your taste better. This works well with lotions and body oils, but you could also replace one soap with another if you want to spruce up your hand soap, shampoo, or body wash.
10. Zippered pouch
Plastic bottles might help with organization in your drawers, but they can also help you compartmentalize your bags better. This zippered pouch DIY is perfect for holding onto small items that might otherwise get lost at the bottom of a purse or backpack, like pens, hair ties, and even makeup. To make it yourself, you'll need an old soap bottle, a zipper, and some fabric to cover everything if desired. Cut down your soap bottle and glue the zipper to the opening. After it's dried and secured, you can use it as a protective alternative to a simple fabric pouch.
11. Sponge holder
Sitting a sponge directly on the counter is a recipe for unsightly puddles and the formation of mold and mildew, so having something to elevate it can be helpful both organizationally and functionally. This simple caddy is perfect for the job, and all it takes is an empty soap bottle, a couple of cuts, and either a hook or a suction cup to keep it secured to the wall. Cut your bottle into a cup shape with a back panel, then, once you're satisfied with the shape, punch a few holes in the bottom to ensure your sponge can properly drain when stored.
12. Seed starting station
There are plenty of different seed-starting hacks floating around the internet, but one of the most simple involves repurposing plastic waste as a place to start seeds, rather than relying on something store-bought. Because soap bottles are made to withstand constant exposure to liquid, they make a perfect candidate for this project. Simply cut the top off of your soap bottles, then fill them with soil and plant your seeds inside. If you need more drainage, poke holes in the bottom, and if you need to trap more moisture, save the top of your bottle to place over the top of your mini planter like a lid.
13. Decorative planter
Even if you're not into starting your plants from seed, a plastic soap bottle can still serve a purpose in your home gardening projects. Medium- and large-sized soap bottles can be transformed into permanent planters with a few simple snips, and the fact that plastic is so easy to cut through means you can explore a wide variety of different shapes and designs. Cut straight across your bottle to make a simple plant pot, trim it in a wavy or zigzag pattern for more interest, or even try turning your scrap bottles into whimsical animal planters with more complex designs.
14. Bird feeder
Bird feeders come in a wide variety of different shapes, sizes, and designs, but, at their core, they're actually incredibly easy to make. Essentially, all you need is a bottle, scissors, a string, and tape. Cut a hole in the side of your soap bottle so the birds can access the seeds, then add some tape around the edges to soften the sharp plastic. From there, cut a hole in the top of the bottle and thread a string through to suspend it from a branch. This feeder might be simple in design, but your backyard birds should enjoy it just as much as a store-bought option.
15. Watering can
Watering cans might not be necessary for every gardening setup, but if you have many houseplants or several different planters that can't be easily reached with a hose, having a designated way to deliver water can seriously streamline your routine. For a super-simple approach, if you only have a couple of smaller pots needing watering, you can fill a dish soap bottle with water and use the existing hole to deliver water to your plants. For situations where you need more water, however, try poking a few holes in the lid of a detergent bottle to act as a pour spout.
16. Wall organizer
One of the best ways to help cut down clutter is to think more about how you're utilizing your available space. We often reserve our walls for decorative items, but we fail to take advantage of the vertical space that can be used for organization and storage. This simple shelf can help you do just that. All you need to do is cut the side out of a soap bottle, then add a small hole in the back to attach it to a hook on the wall. The resulting shelf is great for storing crafting supplies, nail polishes, or even spices.