Don't Toss Plastic Solo Cups. Turn Them Into Simple Hanging Bird Feeders

Birdwatching is one of the greatest pleasures of having a backyard, and there are plenty of cheap, easy hacks to attract more birds to your garden. One great option is to DIY bird feeders and baths from old plastic bottles, containers, and cups instead of throwing them out. Indeed, regardless of age or crafting level, one of the simplest ways to make a hanging bird feeder is to use Solo cups. All this beginner-friendly project requires is a plastic cup, a hole punch, and some string.

Start with an unused Solo cup or thoroughly wash and dry those pulled from your recycling bin. Next, cut the top off with sharp scissors, leaving about 3 inches of the bottom behind — this portion will become your bird feeder. Punch four equally spaced holes around the perimeter at the top and loop a piece of string, twine, or fishing line through each of the holes. If you don't have a hole punch handy, you can use a nail or a craft knife to get the job done. Finally, tie the four ends of string together to create a loop, fill the cup with bird seed, and hang it on your favorite branch. Alternatively, you can make a few tweaks to further customize this DIY.

Rather than heading out to the store and spending money, you can easily DIY a bird feeder with household objects you already have, including plastic cups. However, it's important to always make the birds' safety your top priority. Birds can scratch or cut themselves on feeders' sharp edges, so it's imperative not to leave any pointy bits of plastic protruding from your Solo cup. Sanding the rim after cutting off the top to make it perfectly flat is also a good idea.

Alternatively, the Solo company recommends using the entire cup for your project. While this version of the DIY will make the feeder deeper and require more seed to fill it up, you can make it more comfy for your feathered visitors by adding a perch. Punch two holes near the upper rim opposite each other and push a straw or wooden dowel rod through, so equal amounts stick out on each side, creating a place to sit. Add a second bar below, on a diagonal, then add a touch of whimsy by painting the cups in bright patterns or colors.

As always, remember to regularly and properly clean your backyard bird feeder with a mix of 10 parts water to one part bleach. Also be sure to dump out feed and clean the cup after rainfalls, as bird seed should never sit in any type of moist environment to avoid mold growth.