Don't Throw Out Empty Laundry Detergent Bottles Without Trying These 20 Genius DIYs

Laundry detergent is one of those household items that seems to always find its way onto the shopping list. You may use more detergent at some times than others, such as when trying to remove stubborn grass stains during sports season or if your home has hard water. However, if you're not reusing your empty detergent bottles and just tossing them out into the recycling bin, they might end up sitting in a landfill. These types of bottles can take hundreds of years to break down, and during that process, they can leach chemicals into the soil. Make your contribution to a more eco-friendly environment by not throwing out your detergent bottles. Instead, try creating some handy DIYs around the house to help with things from storage to organization.

Before diving into any DIY project with an empty detergent bottle, you should take the time to thoroughly clean the interior and exterior. This is an incredibly important step if you plan to upcycle the bottle into something that will come into contact with food or prep surfaces. You should start by rinsing as much of the soap out as possible, using hot water. Next, try shaking a mixture of hot water and vinegar inside the bottle and rinsing thoroughly. Let it dry completely for at least 10 minutes before using it in your project.

Whether you're dealing with a messy office space or too many items building up on your kitchen countertops, clutter is something that feels inevitable. One way to tackle this overwhelming issue is to not throw away those detergent bottles and instead cut them into convenient hanging storage buckets using sharp scissors. Once completed, use a renter-friendly option like the Command Small Wire Toggle Hooks to hang them wherever needed to keep small items from taking up valuable space.

There are plenty of phone stands available to purchase, but this DIY means you get one for free. With a few simple modifications, you can use the cap from a laundry detergent bottle as a phone stand. This hack is ideal for the caps that have a built-in pour spout, as this is where the phone will sit for hands-free use. You'll also need a sharp utility blade to cut away a portion of the cap to create the holder.

Soap bars need a dedicated place to sit in the shower to prevent them from becoming a soggy mess. Soap dishes may lack drainage and can take up valuable shelf space in your shower. Instead, a hanging soap holder made from a detergent bottle is a great way to keep bars of soap off your bathroom surfaces. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut out the bottom portion of a detergent bottle and create a hanging hook shape at the top. Use a drill or screwdriver to create drainage holes.

Having a dedicated drying rack is incredibly helpful when it comes to air-drying dishes, but what if there were a way to customize your dish rack as a way to organize your countertops? Cut off the base of an empty detergent bottle and flip it upside down. Hot glue some wooden spoons onto it to create the legs and support for the rack. The size and design are open to your preferences. One idea is to decorate it with sticky-back vinyl in colors that match your decor.

Book lovers with minimal storage know how difficult it can be to keep things cohesive without having large shelves to display everything. One method to organize books and magazines while also creating a storage solution is to DIY a detergent bottle into a holder that can slide into the storage space. The compact design of this bookholder is ideal for those working with small spaces and is a handy way to keep things organized without having to run out and purchase additional items. 

A watering can is a key item to have on hand for anyone tending to a garden or keeping houseplants, but you don't have to run out to the store and purchase one to get started. You'll need to clean the detergent bottle, but you won't need to change much of the structure itself. Instead, drill small holes into the cap to control the water flow, and you'll be able to use this DIY watering can for numerous seasons.

Another garden hack that repurposes a household item into a DIY planter is using an old laundry detergent bottle as the main base. This project does require having a utility knife or a sharp pair of scissors to cut the top portion of the jug off, but it is relatively beginner-friendly overall. You can even take the extra steps to customize the outside of the jug with paint or cut it into fun shapes to create a more polished final look.

Buying home decor for every season can get pricey and only adds to the stress of finding somewhere to store it during the rest of the year. Instead, combine both decor and storage by making a storage basket from an old detergent bottle. An added perk? You're able to customize the embellishments on the basket to match the different seasons or holidays while also displaying fun items like candy for guests. When changing out decor, store these baskets inside one another to help save on space.

Crafters who enjoy repurposing items and keeping them out of landfills will appreciate this eco-friendly DIY for old detergent bottles. This project creates a handy wand for hand-washing dishes from the handle portion of the detergent bottle. You can secure a scouring pad to the front using a zip tie, making this a reusable tool. The unique shape of the bottle handle makes it perfect for holding a sponge or pad and helps keep your hands from having to touch dirty dishes.

Another DIY hack designed to keep your bar soap from turning into a mess all over your countertops is to create your own dish. The trick to this dish is using the cap as a way to create drainage for the excess water, preventing it from accumulating around the bar. Not a fan of the color of your detergent bottle cap? Try painting and sealing it before putting it to use as a way to help it blend in with the existing decor.

There are some tasks around the kitchen and pantry that your average dinner spoon is just too small to tackle. Getting pet food out of the bag and portioning out dry goods like beans or coffee requires something handy, like a scoop, but many of these products do not provide one. Don't throw out a few laundry detergent bottles, and you can make your very own pantry scoop that's reusable and easy to keep on hand. However, you'll need to make sure to clean the bottle thoroughly if it comes into contact with food.

No matter the season or celebration, there's sure to be expensive home decor lining shelves at all the big box stores. These items might be cute, but what's better than creating your very own and getting to choose all of the design elements? To start, don't throw out those detergent bottles and use them as the body of a seasonal gnome. You'll need to add some extra embellishments, but this is a simple project perfect for beginners.

Are you tired of having to lug your watering can back and forth from your spigot to the garden during every watering session? Take those old laundry detergent tubs with push dispenser valves and upcycle them into your very own watering station. You can position it wherever is most convenient in your yard and make the process of maintaining the space easier. Just fill a clean detergent dispenser bottle with water and use as needed.

Do you love displaying faux flowers? Don't throw away those detergent bottles, and you've got the perfect household item to repurpose into a flower vase. One major perk of using an old bottle for faux flowers is that you can customize the bottle without having to worry about it holding water. For example, cut a fun pattern into the bottle in the shape of flowers or stars before painting it in a bright color. Once dry, you've got a completely DIYed vase with a touch of your own personal design flair.

Looking for a way to make your home decor truly one of a kind? An empty laundry detergent bottle is a great way to have a blank slate that can be turned into any kind of decor you like. If you like a coastal look, try using some thick twine or rope to cover the bottle. You can use different additives to change up the look of this tabletop piece and even add fun patterns to help your creation stand out.

While laundry bottles are designed to help keep the materials contained and in order, you don't have to use them for just detergent. Don't throw out your empty vessels, and once they are clean, try filling them with other liquid cleaning products like vinegar. You can even add a label to the exterior to boost your laundry room organization game.

There are countless uses for tarps around the garden, ranging from helping cover plants from bad weather to protecting equipment left out during a long-term project. You can opt for commercial tarp weights to keep your materials in place, or you can DIY an old laundry detergent bottle into this important component. All you have to do is fill the jug with something like sand or water before securing to the tarp.

Another home area that's prone to becoming jumbled and disorganized is the kitchen, specifically the utensil drawer. If you don't plan on throwing away that stash of old detergent bottles taking up space, you can DIY your own utensil organizer to help keep your space clean. This project does require a sharp blade to cut through the bottle once it's clean, but the customization elements are completely up to you.

While it seems like everyone just adopted the unspoken practice of keeping all of their upcycled plastic bags stored in one giant bag, there is a more practical way to approach this scenario. This DIY is also creative and sure to be a hit for both kids and adults. Use a utility knife to cut out the shape of a frog (or your favorite animal), using the bottom portion of the bottle as the dispenser. You can hang this anywhere you need to keep bags handy or want to add a playful touch to the decor.

Making a DIY night light out of a plastic detergent bottle may seem like a recipe for disaster. This might be true when it comes to traditional light bulbs, but battery-operated fairy lights are the perfect way to minimize fire risk when crafting. Take your clear or light-colored detergent bottle and cut designs into the material. You can also use dark crafting paper to make your visual. Put the fairy lights inside and watch your new creation glow in a dark room.