Don't Throw Away Plastic Bottles: Use Them For Clever Shoe Storage

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Think of all the plastic containers in our lives; edibles and drinkables only make up a fraction of them. Besides water, soda, and milk, large plastic bottles and jugs hold the detergents, windshield washer fluid, and other bulk liquids that get us through our daily routines. It all adds up to a lot of waste, and sadly, there's some pretty strong evidence that much — maybe even most — of these plastic items we sort into our bins never makes it to a second life. The good news, though, is the sturdy construction of plastic bottles and jugs presents us plenty of opportunities to reincarnate them into something useful ourselves.

Group large plastic bottles to make easy and practical shoe storage cubbies. This can be a perfect DIY for empty laundry detergent bottles; containers that sit flat atop a washing machine, nozzle dispenser at the ready, are ideal. They're made of thick-walled plastic and designed to last a long time and not move. Slice away the top to make an opening for the shoes. Team up a clutch of them, and they become smart vertical shoe storage that will stay put. A couple of them may provide enough space for a large pair of boots. Meanwhile, even smaller containers like two-liter soda bottles can join forces to become a stacked-cell shoe holder.

Create a two- or three-level stack of bottles made up of an even, equal number of cut bottles turned on their sides. Put two containers side by side, drill a hole through the sides connecting them, and link them with zip ties sent through holes. Epoxy is also a strong glue that packs a punch when bonding plastic. Amass bottles in an array of shapes and sizes, or collect a uniform group of bottles for a cohesive unit.

Getting used bottles ready for upcycling can be as simple as removing a label and washing it, but for some bottles, you may need more serious tools. Then, there's the conundrum of how to cut them. Soda bottles are among the easiest to prep for reuse; their labels are usually attached at one point, and a utility knife is all it takes to cut through the thin material. A rotary tool or hacksaw might be a better fit for thick jugs.

You can loosen stubborn stickers with an ingredient you probably have on hand, like hydrogen peroxide or coconut oil. If these options aren't tough enough, try a product like Goo Gone and a label peeler. The size you trim each bottle to should depend on the size and type of shoe that will live in it. Wash the cut bottles, both inside and out, and use an iron on the hottest setting to smooth the bottles' cut edges. Press the cut area firmly against the hot metal for about 5 to 10 seconds until the edges round (the plastic shouldn't stick to your iron).

Lay out rows of bottles that will make up each level of the storage rack (six bottles is a good even number), and connect them where they touch with epoxy or zip ties. Poke holes in the bottles for the ties with a heated nail. After you've assembled each separate level, stack them and attach them where the bottles touch each other. Set the unit on a closet floor, and let it hold your footwear in eco-friendly style.