Save These 7 Plastic Items To DIY Handy Sponge Holders

The kitchen, while the heart of the home, is also the epicenter of household hygiene issues. While we commonly use sponges to clean this space or the items within it, these nifty washing-up tools can harbor harmful bacteria without us even knowing. This is exactly why a sponge holder is necessary. Holders keep sponges off the counter, inside the sink, or other potentially contaminated surfaces and improve airflow. All of this helps the sponge stay drier and therefore fresher for longer. Plus, you can DIY a one. From plastic juice cartons to regular old water bottles and deli meat containers to spare storage trays, your plastic waste can be transformed into a sponge holder.

We live in a world of single-use plastic containers, but some of these throwaway items are surprisingly durable. Reusing them can help transform trash into an organizational treasure. In other words, you don't have to go out and purchase yet another product to keep your kitchen sponge contained. Keep your money in your wallet — there are plenty of ways you can DIY a nifty sponge holder with plastic items that you may otherwise have just thrown in the recycling bin or, worse, the trash can. Whether you decorate your DIYed sponge holder or keep it unadorned and utilitarian, you can give these plastic items a whole new life with a simple upcycle.

A clever way to repurpose an empty vinegar bottle is to turn it into a caddy for a sponge and bar of soap. This trick is best suited to a double sink. First, cut a large hole in the front and sides of the bottle — the top and bottom of the bottle should still be attached via a strap of plastic. Apply some gentle heat to the back and bend the bottle backward. Punch some holes in the base of each pocket for drainage, and then drape the caddy over the sink's center divider.

Empty shampoo bottles are an everyday bathroom item you can repurpose in other areas of your home — one example is, of course, turning one into a DIY sponge holder. Remove any labels from the bottle and cut it in half. Keep the top half, with the bottle neck and cap, and discard the rest. Cut a hole in the back of the bottle and hook it over your faucet, with the cap facing down. Then, sit your sponge inside your new holder. The open neck helps drain moisture from the sponge, keeping it fresh.

Instead of using a deli meat container as a sponge holder, use it as a mold for a waterproof hot glue gun basket. Spread baby oil all over a large sheet of foil, then wrap the foil around the deli meat container. The oiled side faces out, leaving the inside of the container unwrapped. Flip the container over and cover it in strands of hot glue in a basket-like pattern with a handle. Once the glue has hardened, remove the container, take off the foil, and loop your new sponge holder over the kitchen sink faucet.

This brilliant DIY is equal parts sponge holder and soap dispenser. Cut the top off a plastic water bottle at the shoulder, and glue the funnel-like form to a kitchen sponge. Fill the bottle top with liquid dish soap, then screw the cap on. When washing your dishes, grip and squeeze the bottle top to dispense soap. When not using the sponge, lean it bottle-side down to drain. No need for a clunky holder or bottle of dish soap on the countertop. It's a great way to declutter your countertop by removing these eyesores from your sink.

DIYing a soap holder does not have to be a craft project. In fact, it can be as easy as repurposing an existing plastic organizer, tray, or basket you don't have any other use for. However, rather than just sit the tray on the countertop next to your sink, consider jazzing it up a bit. You could add a modern farmhouse-style cleaning-themed sign to the back of the tray or paint the tray in a color that matches your existing décor palette.

You can repurpose orange juice or yogurt cartons into nifty draining sponge holders. This trick works best with cartons that have a hollow handle. Cut the carton lengthwise so that the handle and the part of the bottle surrounding the handle detach in one piece. Cut the curved part of the handle off — what you're left with should resemble a spade or scoop with a spout. Cut the bottom off your bottle, place the scoop with spout inside, and plop your sponge in. Watch as the excess liquid from the sponge drains out of the funnel.

The plastic containers that house your take-out order are generally quite sturdy; it seems a shame to throw them out. Rather than hoard all of these containers for future food storage, repurpose at least one into a DIY sponge holder. Punch holes into the bottom and sides of the container. Run a couple of zip ties through the side holes to attach the container to your faucet. Pull the zip ties tight, and voilà! You have a sponge holder with drainage holes and space for your sponge — and possibly your dish soap, too.