Things to Do With Milk Jugs

• Repurposing milk jugs reduces waste. Walker and Walker/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Recycling is more important than ever. More businesses and towns are setting up recycling systems while homeowners strive to reuse items in the home. Not only does this reduce waste, it saves you money. By repurposing milk jugs into household items, you avoid having to purchase these items at all.

Funnel or Scoop

• Milk jugs are perfectly shaped for making large funnels and scoops for transferring beverages between containers or scooping large amounts of dry goods or dog food. Slice off the bottom 2 or 3 inches of the milk jug to create either one of these tools. Remove the cap for use as a funnel and leave it on when using the jug as a scoop. You can also use it for both if funneling liquid or grains from a large container into a small one.

Garden Uses

• Milk jugs make practical, inexpensive greenhouses and self-watering systems for your garden. To make mini-greenhouses, cut off the bottom 3 inches of the milk jug, fill it with soil and plant your seeds or seedlings in it. Slide the sides of the top of the jug into the bottom and remove the cap. The jug will trap heat and moisture while still providing your seedlings with diffused light.

  Water fully grown plants by drilling 8 to 10 holes in the bottom of a milk jug. Set the jug about 4 inches from the base of your plant and fill it with water. The water drips into the soil, keeping it constantly moist.

Storage

• Clean, dry milk jugs are perfect for storing loose items. In the kitchen, fill them with sugar, salt, flour, rice, dried beans and peas, oatmeal, spices, dried pasta and homemade dry soup mix. In your children's room, fill them with Legos, puzzles, toy cars, small dolls, beads and sealed bags of play dough. You can also fill them with homemade cleaning solutions, paint left over from remodeling projects, water and cleansers for easy cleanup after your projects.