Use A Plastic Bottle To Keep Garbage Bags Organized

If you're interested in bringing a little more order to your home, it's easy to get swept up with influencer content encouraging you to buy the next greatest product. Many times, however, there are affordable alternatives right under your nose. For those wanting a better way to keep their garbage bags organized, there's a hack that can turn a plastic water bottle into a sleek storage solution and it's basically free.

Inspiration for this DIY comes courtesy of Mana Creative Corner on YouTube. To get started, you'll want to gather the supplies: a plastic bottle, some masking tape, heavy-duty double sided tape, a ruler, a marker, and a box cutter. Using the ruler to make straight lines with the marker, draw a narrow rectangle onto the length of the bottle. The next step is to carefully use the box cutter to cut out the rectangle as well as to remove the bottom of the bottle. Use steady pressure when cutting so you don't lose control of the blade. Take a few strips of masking tape and cover the sharp edges of the bottle completely before applying a generously sized piece of double sided tape just above the slit.

Slide a roll of trash bags into the bottle, then firmly press the bottle onto whatever surface you'd like. It bears noting that you'll need to gently tear the bag with your hands to prevent the dispenser from being yanked off. This easy way to repurpose your plastic water bottle around the house will not only save it from the landfill but will also tidy up your space a bit.

This DIY is functional, but it's also pretty straightforward. If you don't love the way it looks once it's completed, you can absolutely change the aesthetic. Spray painting the bottle white or gray, for example, will help you forget it's made out of recycled materials. Always do any spray painting outside to ensure proper ventilation. You could also stencil a design on the bottle once it's painted in a solid color to enhance its visual appeal even further.

Another option is to personalize the size of this plastic bag dispenser. While the video shows a clear bottle with very thin plastic being used, you could also use a larger bottle — like a more durable, 2-liter soda bottle — for larger rolls of plastic bags. Just remember to secure it with tape that is able to support the weight if you're filling it with bigger trash bags.

The options for where to use this DIY abound. Place one in your bathroom cabinet under the sink so that you'll always have a fresh trash can liner when you need one. Or situate one in the kitchen, which can make a lot of sense for under-the-sink trash cans since it allows for space-saving vertical storage. There's no reason you couldn't also use this storage resource in your garage; mounting the plastic bottle to the side of a work bench could prove helpful. If you're feeling inspired to make the most of recyclables, here are 12 ways to repurpose old drink containers for optimal home organization.