101 uses for plastic milk cartons

[Chocobed]

1. Cut base at an angle from just below handle thus making a scoop with handle.
2. Rinse and take to site store.mine reuse for tomato liquid feed etc.
3. Cut window in front and use hung from washing line as bird feeder.
4. Cut top of just below handle and use as short term pot.

[Shirley]

I can't believe we've not done this one before - and I love your suggestion for no 4.

5. lie on it's back, with the handle facing upwards... cut a section on either side of the middle bit to make a handle to a depth of about half way... to make a basket for eggs

[Ranter]

6. almost fill with water & place in fridge & freezer to fill gaps. Less energy to chill/ freeze the water than to keep the air sufficiently cold.

[Chocobed]

6. almost fill with water & place in fridge & freezer to fill gaps. Less energy to chill/ freeze the water than to keep the air sufficiently cold.

I think Elfcurry hit on this on 101...2 litre bottles
"The idea of filling your freezer (if it's the upright type) is to reduce the volume of cold air which can "fall out" and get replaced by warm air each time you open the door. Opening introduces more moisture in the new warm air which you have to use energy freeze this new layer and requires defrosting. It also reduces efficiency as ice is a poor conductor.

Empty bottles will stop the air exchange occuring and still occupy the volume but without wasting energy. For a chest freezer you don't need to bother because it's like a tank of cold air and opening it doesn't cause an air change."
I haven't looked into it so I remain neutral!

[Thomzo]

Ok I know this is an old thread but here are a few more ideas:

Cut them up to make:

name labels for the garden. They can be easily written on with a permanent marker.

labels for Christmas and birthday presents.

labels for all your bottled produce.

spreaders for glue

Cut pretty shapes out of them as Christmas decorations. Again colour with permanent ink or stamping ink.

They are great for freezing liquids as they have wide necks and can be easily refilled. Don't just freeze plain water. Use the water out of your boiled veg instead to make vegetable stock. Or freeze soup, sauces etc in them.

Can be filled with dry stuff as well. Again the wide neck makes them easier to fill than standard bottles. Pet/bird food pellets for instance keep well in them as they are opaque so reduce the light.

[glenniedragon]

If you cut off and split the handles they can slip into the handles of the plastic bags your reusing to make them more comfy to carry multiples in one hand.

kind thoughts
Deb

[maggie144]

cut a large hole just under the handle and use it to put you pegs in
you can thread a piece of wire though the handle and attact in to the washing line

[maggie144]

i have another use for plastic milk bottles or mineral water bottles.
wash them out and let them drain dry, then i fill mine with all my dried pulses, seeds, cous cous etc you can put labels on the fronts and they look good,

saves on buying loads of storage jars.

if this has been said before then i apologise, but i really love this idea.
and thought i would share.

maggie

[Jarmara]

wash out and dry then fill 1/4 with seeds so out of date they could never grow or split peas or somthing similar put the lid back on tape down and give to child to shake now comes the clever bit then send them to the veg patch to play child is entertained and is scaring birds at the same time a 2 for 1 deal :)!

[thefriarandme]

Couldn't the gallon milk cartons be used as demijohns?

[vixnpips]

they're great for cutting out a variety of different flexibility plectrums!

[Cornelian]

Back to the cartons - you can use them as tube stock for growing on plants. when the seedling is ready to go into garden you can plant it carton and all, thus removing any transplant shock - roots just grow through the carton ... so long as you in the UK have those papery cartons and not something plasticy.

[the.fee.fairy]

Back to the cartons - you can use them as tube stock for growing on plants. when the seedling is ready to go into garden you can plant it carton and all, thus removing any transplant shock - roots just grow through the carton ... so long as you in the UK have those papery cartons and not something plasticy.

We have plastic bottles, and those tetrapak type cartons.

[Super.Niki]

the little pint milk bottles can be used as a watering can for plants... if you're REALLY clever you could even poke holes in the lid, screw it back on and it even sprinkles the plants! clever!

[mrsflibble]

make some Art:



edited cos pic was huge.






(don't ask, I was a drunken student.)