Don't Throw Away Detergent Containers: Use Them For Cute DIY Baskets

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If you still use laundry or dish detergent that comes in plastic containers, give one of them a squeeze. From the thickness and durability of these bottles and tubs, you'd never know they weren't meant to hold up against years of use. So, once that last plastic bottle is empty and you move to something like eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets, transform it into a charming basket that you can use for nearly anything. With a built-in plastic handle or two and any patterning you want to add, your detergent bottle basket will give back long after you've given up on unnecessary plastic packaging.

Crafty Instagrammer @mutlu_etkinlik_oyun showed us another reason why we shouldn't throw out empty laundry detergent bottles. They converted a multicolored trio of detergent containers into adorable handled baskets with nothing more than a ruler, a marker, and a utility blade. Not only is this project friendly to the earth and the bank account, but it also doesn't require a lot of skill or time. The container's base becomes the basket's body, and cutouts on its sides serve as handles. Other types of plastic containers are also eligible for this upgrade, like bottles from bulk vinegar, windshield wiper fluid, or yard care products.

The best kinds of containers for this project have handles at the top of the bottle; ones with side handles are usable, but they will make pretty shallow baskets. Pod containers that have no handle are a great option, too. A ruler and a permanent marker are a must for this project. If you don't have a hot knife tool, a standard utility knife will work.

Eyeball your container before you proceed. Do you want to make the best use of as much material as possible, or do you have a particular design in mind? What kind of handles will the container allow you to make? If you have a handle-less container for pods, you could cut two handles, one on each side of the upper part of the container. If your bottle has a handle at the top, you can plan one central basket handle that takes advantage of the continuous material that runs under the bottle's handle. Whatever your choice is, consider including as much of the plastic sides as possible in the handle. Our inspirational crafter designed their basket handles to come off the basket body at an angle, giving the connecting point between the handle and the basket a lot more material and strength.

Although the basic form of this bottle-turned-basket is simple, the project is infinitely customizable. Make it simply utilitarian or as cute as your imagination can manage. No matter your chosen design, draw out all of your planned cuts before picking up the knife.

Use the ruler to mark out where you'll cut the handle, the top edge of the basket, and any detailing. Measure out where you'll cut any patterns for even distribution. You can trace shapes like hearts, ovals, or latticework-look with a stencil. Just keep in mind that the more material you keep intact on the basket's handle and sides, the stronger it will be.

Before you get blade-happy, cut any detailing while the detergent bottle is fully intact to take advantage of the container's strength. (If you cut out the main basket form before cutting details, the sides will be less rigid and harder to cut into.) Once you've taken care of precision cuts, finish cutting out the main form of the basket.

After cutting, you'll have stray Sharpie marks on the container and a few jagged edges you'll need to clean up. Start with the marker spots first, using either a Magic Eraser or one of these ways to get rid of permanent marker stains. Then, you can buff down burrs with an emery board or sandpaper. Running an iron on medium heat over the edges also works. Keeping the iron moving at all times, rub the hot surface directly on the plastic for a few seconds until the area is smooth.

Lastly, there are some lovely crayon-colored detergent bottles out there, but you might not want to keep looking at the shamrock green of a Gain bottle or the red-orange of a Tide one. A paint that's formulated for plastic can solve this problem. Granted, if you plan on handling the basket, the paint might not hold up. A highly rated paint that might be the most durable option is VHT Duplicolor ESP820007. For baskets that will see light use or be used for storage or display, you can probably get away with a lower-quality paint at a lower price.