10 Ingenious Ways to Reuse Old Plastic Pots Around the House
Before tossing those empty plastic plant pots, give them another job. They’re lightweight, washable, and often have useful drainage holes.
Organize cleaning supplies — Use a pot to corral sponges, scrub brushes, and cloths under the sink.
Make a desk organizer — Decorate a clean pot and use it for pens, pencils, scissors, or paintbrushes.
Create a kitchen-scrap holder — A small pot can temporarily hold vegetable peels or other scraps while you’re cooking.
Store small toys — Use several pots to separate building blocks, toy cars, dolls’ accessories, or craft pieces.
Make a bathroom organizer — Keep combs, hairbrushes, or other small toiletries together.
Protect delicate items — Turn a pot upside down over small outdoor objects to protect them from dirt or light weather.
Use as a scoop — A sturdy plastic pot can become a simple scoop for potting soil, birdseed, pet food, or gardening materials.
Organize craft supplies — Sort buttons, beads, yarn scraps, ribbons, and other small materials into separate pots.
Create a mini storage station — Attach or place several pots together to organize nuts, bolts, screws, clips, and other hardware.
Start seedlings or cuttings — If the pot is clean and has drainage holes, it’s ready for another round of gardening.
Quick safety tip: Don’t reuse an old pot for food storage unless the plastic is specifically intended for food contact. And if a pot has become brittle, cracked, or badly degraded by sunlight, recycling it is usually the better option.
