12 Clever Ways to Reuse Empty Pill Bottles at Home
Old medication bottles can be surprisingly useful, but remove or completely cover personal information on the label before reusing them. Also, don’t reuse bottles for food, drinks, or anything that could be mistaken for medicine.
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Store small craft supplies — buttons, beads, sequins, or sewing notions.
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Organize screws and nails — useful for small hardware in a workshop.
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Keep spare keys — label the bottle clearly so it isn’t mistaken for medication.
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Store rubber bands — a simple way to keep them together.
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Hold pushpins or paper clips — particularly useful for a desk or home office.
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Organize small electronic components — such as connectors, fuses, or adapters.
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Store small pieces of jewelry — handy for travel or keeping individual pieces separated.
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Make a tiny emergency sewing kit — add a needle, thread, and a few buttons.
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Keep hair accessories — bobby pins, small clips, and hair ties fit well.
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Organize plant seeds — use only when the bottle is completely clean and dry, and label the contents clearly.
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Store small tools or accessories — such as drill bits, O-rings, or replacement parts.
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Create a travel container for non-food items — for example, cotton swabs or small personal-care accessories.
A few safety precautions
Don’t use old pill bottles to store food, water, chemicals, or anything intended for consumption. Keep reused containers away from children and pets, and never store a substance in a bottle that could be confused with medication.
For unused or expired medicines, don’t simply repurpose the bottle while medication remains inside. Dispose of the medicine through an appropriate pharmacy or medication take-back/disposal program where available.
