Absolutely—an old pill organizer can be useful for small-item organization, but it’s best not to reuse it for medicines if you’re no longer using it for that purpose. Some medicines specifically need their original packaging because of moisture, light, or other storage requirements.
12 smart ways to reuse an old pill box
- Sewing kit 🧵 — Store needles, buttons, thread, and safety pins.
- Jewelry organizer 💍 — Separate earrings, rings, and small pieces for travel.
- Craft supplies 🎨 — Keep beads, sequins, buttons, and small embellishments sorted.
- Fishing tackle 🎣 — Use compartments for hooks, swivels, and small lures.
- Desk organizer 📎 — Store paper clips, pushpins, staples, and rubber bands.
- Electronic accessories 🔌 — Keep tiny adapters, memory cards, SIM-card tools, or cable connectors together.
- Travel emergency kit 🩹 — Hold bandages, safety pins, and other tiny non-medication supplies.
- Art supplies ✏️ — Separate pencil leads, erasers, sharpeners, or small colored items.
- Hardware organizer 🔩 — Sort screws, nuts, washers, and other tiny pieces.
- Garden seed holder 🌱 — Keep different types of seeds separated and labeled. Make sure they’re completely dry before storing them.
- Hair-accessory box 🎀 — Store hair ties, small clips, bobby pins, and beads.
- Coin/change sorter 🪙 — Keep different denominations separated when traveling or organizing loose change.
One important caution
Don’t assume every pill organizer is suitable for storing medication. FDA guidance says medicines should generally remain in their original containers unless the particular medicine’s instructions allow another container; some medications specifically must be protected from moisture or light.
So for an old organizer, crafts, hardware, jewelry, seeds, and other small objects are much safer reuse ideas than putting medicines back into it.
