My friend has a condition that requires her to take quite a lot of medicine; when I was at her house the other day I discovered a rather shocking stash of empty pill bottles.
I was glad that she hadn’t simply tossed them, contributing to the plastic problem we have, but my-oh-my was there a lot of them!
She knew that there was some way that she could upcycle or repurpose all her bottles but never really got far enough to do anything with them.
So I decided to make it my mission to find some helpful new uses for her stash, and I’d just love to share my findings with the rest of you.
What to do with empty pill bottles
Jump to:
- What to do with empty pill bottles
- Hide-a-Key
- Candle Holder
- Makeup Organizer
- Love Prescription
- Jewelry Holder
- Piping Tip Organizer
- Fire Starter
- Travel-Sized Shampoo
- Cotton Swab Container
- Rainbow Crayons
- Portable Sewing Kit
- Bobby Pin Storage
- Survival Kit
- “Bamboo” Vase
- Center-Pull Yarn Ball
- Snowman
- Vitamin Packs
- Light Garland
- Nail Polish Removal
- Coin Holder
- Child-Proof Container
- Tooth Holder
- Handbag Trash Can
- Earphone Container
- Jewelry
- Seed Storage
- Grow Magnet
- Interesting Lamp
- Single Flower Vase
- Cat Toy
Hide-a-Key
Hiding a key in your mailbox or under the welcome mat is way too obvious – those are the first places potential robbers would look. If you really are worried about accidentally locking yourself out (guilty!), hide a spare one in a pill bottle with a rock glued to the top of the lid. No one will be the wiser. Just make sure you remember which rock to look for!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ZakkaLife
Candle Holder
You can make a fantastic candle holder by painting and gluing together a few bottles of different heights and shapes. It makes a fabulous centerpiece with tealight candles; no one would ever guess what you made it from!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Allthatscrap
Makeup Organizer
You’ll find the size of prescription pill bottles make them perfect for your beauty products and tools, like your brushes, eyeliners and mascara. Keep your dresser nice and tidy with this little trick.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – LauraThoughts
Love Prescription
This is a cute and cheesy idea for Valentine’s Day or whenever you just want to cheer up your other half or a close friend. Fill the bottle with their favorite candy and write a funny little prescription for them.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – CookBake&Decorate
Jewelry Holder
If you’re going traveling or even just staying over at a friend’s place, keep you small rings and earrings safe in one of these containers. I like to be prepared, so I always end up lugging too much jewelry around; maybe this will help!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBeautyBlog
Piping Tip Organizer
Here’s on for all you bakers. Since piping tips aren’t all that cheap, you need to keep them both safe and organized. I absolutely love this idea since you can number then on the lids so that you know exactly what’s what.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBearfootBaker
Fire Starter
Some petroleum-jelly-soaked cotton balls stuffed in an empty pill bottle will make an excellent firestarter when you or your kids go off camping or hiking in the woods. Make sure not to actually burn the pill bottle – burning plastic is not good for the environment.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – MomWithAPrep
Travel-Sized Shampoo
You don’t want to take massive bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion when travelling or camping, so save some space in your bag by filling up your empty pill bottles. Genius!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBeautyBlog
Cotton Swab Container
Q-tips, or cotton swabs, fit perfectly into a regular-sized prescription pill bottle; it seems like such an obvious match! This is great for traveling, or even just keeping around the house in each of the bathrooms.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBeautyBlog
Rainbow Crayons
If you have a little kid then you’re sure to have a bunch of broken crayons – the thin shape seems to be just too easy for toddlers to snap.
Instead of wasting those broken pieces, melt them into a pill box to make these awesome rainbow crayons; the bigger size will suit your little tots so much better.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Momtastic
Portable Sewing Kit
I have been saved on more than one occasion thanks to my friend keeping a mini sewing kit in her handbag. I actually used to make fun of her for it, but now I’m thinking I should make one to keep in the glove compartment of my car. You never know when you’ll need some thread, needles, pins, safety pins and buttons!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ClipWithPurpose and FromGlitterToGumdrops
Bobby Pin Storage
Like most women, I’ve probably bought a million bobby pins in my life, and, like most women, I probably only have about 10 in my house right now. Keep them from going missing by keeping them in your empty bottle – it’s also great for keeping in your handbag.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBeautyBlog
Survival Kit
You never want to think that you’ll be in a position where you’re lost in the woods, but if you’re a regular outdoors(wo)man, then this handy little kit could very well save your life, or at the very least, save you some pain or infection. I’m truly amazed at just how much can fit into that small bottle!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – SurvivalAtHome
“Bamboo” Vase
I love this project because it reminds me of just how creative people can be; who would’ve thought that stacking empty pill bottles could result in this cool bamboo-looking vase?
I’d suggest giving it a paint job to make it look more realistic.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – MichLInLA
Center-Pull Yarn Ball
Here’s a way to save all you knitters and crocheters from buying an expensive ball winder. Wrapping your yarn around your empty pill bottle will help create that center gap. It’s a real lifesaver!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – IAlwaysPickTheThimble
Snowman
Turn your empty bottles into cute little snowmen for Christmas! This is a great craft for the kids to get involved; you can set them on your mantelpiece, in the kids’ rooms or even hang them from the tree.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – CraftingAGreenWorld
Vitamin Packs
Personally, I’m not a fan of taking too many vitamins and supplements, but I know many people who swear by it. If you’re going away, don’t lug all those big bottles around with you, just use your empty pill bottles for their intended purposes: carrying pills! Seems pretty obvious, right?
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – TheBeautyBlog
Light Garland
If you’ve got quite a few empties you can give your LED string lights more of a subtle amber glow by using the orange pill bottles and mini lamp shades. If it looks a bit too obvious for your liking and you want to hide what they really are, take off the lids and cover with something like little craft flowers, butterflies etc.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – CraftingAGreenWorld
Nail Polish Removal
Need to get that chipped nail polish off in a hurry before you head off to work? Turn your old pill bottle into a handy helper by stuffing some cotton balls soaked in nail polish remover. You just need to dip each finger in and twist.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – WhoKnew?Tips
Coin Holder
When it comes to coins I don’t know how much money I’ve lost in my life, but I’ll bet it’s a rather sizable amount that I could’ve spent on something incredible. So instead of losing coins in that black hole of a handbag, in the couch, under the car seats or wherever else coins disappear to, make use of a perfectly-sized empty pill bottle.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – WDWPrepSchool
Child-Proof Container
Since these bottles have that handy child-proof feature, it makes them the perfect storage containers for anything that you wouldn’t want the kids to get their hands on, like sharp pins, beads or any other small items that could be swallowed.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ThriftyFun
Tooth Holder
This one’s really cute if you’re a mommy with children who still believe in the tooth fairy. Slipping into their room and trying to sneak out the tooth from under their pillow is actually quite a task, so why not make this cute little holder instead? It’s easier on the “tooth fairy”, and she can leave her financial trade in there.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – AboutHome
Handbag Trash Can
A woman’s handbag can easily turn into a bottomless pit of useless trash, making it so much harder to find the actual useful stuff. So this little idea is so damn handy and clever: use an empty pill bottle to store all the candy wrappers, receipts and who knows what else until you get to a trash can. It’s just big enough to hold it all, yet not too big that it takes up too much space.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ModPodgeRocks
Earphone Container
One of those small but significant frustrations in life is broken on tangled earphones – I know this from experience since I usually just toss them carelessly into my bag. Save yourself the irritation by keeping yours safe in an empty pill bottle!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Pinterest
Jewelry
I would honestly never have thought of cutting up the plastic bottle to make jewelry, and I’d also never expect it to actually come out looking pretty instead of tacky! Once you get started and let the creative juices flow, I’ll be there’s a lot of pretty pieces to be made.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – LilacPop
Seed Storage
If you’re need to keep your seeds safe during the wintertime, an empty pill bottle should be just the right size to store them until it’s time to get planting.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – SlightlySteady
Grow Magnet
This is a fun one for the kids—almost a bit of an experiment—because they’ll be able to watch the roots and plant grow through the transparent pill bottle. Once the plant has outgrown its little container you can also show the kids how to transplant it to a bigger pot.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – AboutHome
Interesting Lamp
This is a cool little project because it seems so random and out of the ordinary – a modern-looking lamp made from reused pill bottles (the larger size will work best). This would look great simply hanging on a wall as an interesting feature.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – Instructables
Single Flower Vase
I love this idea because not only is it really easy, but the simple elegance of it is what’s so attractive. You can make a whole bunch of these and scatter them across a mantelpiece or group them together as a table centerpiece.
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – ForTheLove
Cat Toy
Some beans or dry rice and jingle bell in an empty pill bottle can make the best DIY toy for your kitty.
You can even knit a little cover for it so that your beloved cat can claw at it all day long. I’d suggest hiding it at night if you’re a light sleeper!
DIY Instructions and Project Credit – AboutHome
Sandy
I have the opportunity to travel a great deal and will many times pick up small momentos such as shells or pretty stones. I put them in separate bottles with a short note about where I was.
Midori
Still waiting for @Lee Herbert's comment...lol
Anonymous
Thanks everyone- LOTS of Great ideas!!!!
Cheri
This article is genius. Thank you for sharing so many ideas on how to repurpose pill bottles. I came here seeking humor and discovered inspiration.
Yiona
Don't worry be happy ☺☺
Lorry
You can also use glass bottles for storing insect repellant, glass bottles provide just the right amount of storage space required to store liquids such as insect repellent and its UV protection mechanism helps in keeping the protect sealed, protected and fresh inside.
Pearl
You could also collect these for a third world country clinic!
Find an organization like Haiti Arise which has a medical clinic! And send the empty pill containers to them! They have A office in USA as well as Canada
Nikki Fine
I love these, they are such creative ideas. I've got two bags full of bottles that I have accumulated over time, and I'm gonna try to make some of these. To each their own, live and let live and ignore negativity.
... Nikki Fine
Patty
I’m sure you will do an awesome job.
Heather
I put mints, gum, TUMS, and/or cough drops (unwrapped) in separate, labeled containers in my purse so they don't make so much noise during a meeting or church service when needed. I can get to them quietly as opposed to unwrapping crinkly paper or trying to get out of some noisy mint containers. I also put special little snacks (ie jelly beans, etc) or even salad dressing in the kid's lunch boxes for dipping carrots using them.
Thanks for the ideas as I've been saving them as #5 containers are not recyclable any more in our area.
Cronewiddershins
Love the line: When used responsibly kids can be all matter of fun: LOL. I liked the garland idea, I’ve not seen red pill bottles but I get green from the vets office..when my girls were little they liked to collect things when we went for walks, so they each got a bottle to fill. As they got older they then had to identify what they picked up . I understand about the “person “ who thinks this is a waste of time but we are just fueling the “fire” by engaging him by commenting ourselves. I also have done this but try not to as much as possible. Thanks for reading and HAPPY CRAFTING AND THANKS FOR SHARING!!
grace
This is amazing,thankyou for sharing.
Karen
I use an old pill bottle to hold the leftover birthday candles and throw it in that junk drawer. They are the perfect size and keep those thin little candles from getting broken
Naomi
So smart—thanks for mentioning this!!!
Vrolph
Agreed. Great idea and appreciate the share.
Linda Thornell
how do you get the labels off? The glue left behind is so sticky
Nancy
After I pull the label off I use the sticky side to daub the glue left behind and it pulls it right off. It’s sort of like when you use tape to remove lint from your clothes.
Sherry
Finger nail polish remover-acetone
Gary
Ur correct abt the nail polish remover, but you can purchase a product called: "Goo-gone". It's larger in quantity for larger labels.
Mags
I use oil and old sock bio oil or olive oil or any kind of cooking oil, just massage on to the sticky surface and wipe off with old sock
Jen
Linda, I use a homemade paste made from baking soda and cooking oil. Let it sit on the bottle overnight or until the oil saturates the label.
Merry says
Depends on the adhesive used. I try cotton ball and alcohol, nail polish remover, baby oil, most recent Goof Off.
Jen
These are great ideas! If your medicine bottles are #5 plastic (most are), you can also mail them to the Preserve Gimme 5 program. They will use them to create new products, such as toothbrushes, bowls, cutting boards, etc.
Mike
Great info! Thanks
Jackie
How dp you know if the bottles are made from #5 plastic or ñot
Alex
Gosh, when I saw "candle holder" in the preview on Google I was pretty horrified at the idea, but it actually looks pretty neat! I think I'm not the only who's used to seeing recycling crafts that look, well, hideous? But these were all pretty cool. A couple I wouldn't personally use, but they all looked nice.
Unfortunately my pill bottles are a different kind, they're more like the kind of bottles that Aleve comes in, so some of these crafts just won't work right (especially the "watch it grow" thing - the bottle is opaque; I think the lights won't really work either) for me, but I like that the ideas aren't all just the same "put (random household item) in them!" tips.
Lorna Barnett
I think I'll ask my 9 year old grandson to go through the basement and put screws, nails and other tiny things in bottles. We can label them together.
Kim
Great holder for toothpicks too!
Cinthia Riel Bateman
I like a lot of these idea's and I think I'm going to try making some of them. I'm also going to paint some with chalk paint so that I can label thing's. I already made a little flower holder with one of them. This Sweet little girl gave me some little flowers that she picked and I told her I would make a little flower holder for them. So I wrapped the bottle with colorful tissue paper and colored the lid with a marker and then I had my husband drill a hole in the lid. I then put water in the bottle, put the lid on the bottle and put the flowers in the hole. It made a cute little flower holder and the little girl loved the pictures of it that I sent her Grandma to show her.
Dori
As for the cat toy idea... you can also poke a few small holes around the bottle and fill loosely with catnip. Make sure you crochet or knit a cover with a Drawstring. As the smell wears down, pull out the poll bottle, toss out the old catnip and refresh it with new.
Lisa Horton
I use these bottles for many things such as toothpicks ,nuts and bolts, any small items like earring backs, sewing needles, bobbins and other sewing items.I use them for small quantities of items when traveling. My husband even uses them in his shop to store small screws and nails. A bottle never goes to waste at our house.
Marie
I use the ones I have to hold money…the ones I have (Green) hold $9.00 worth of quarters.
Earlyne
Love all the uses for these pill bottles. I have been throwing them in the recycling bin but not any more. Thanks everyone for the great tips!
Misty
I agree these are the best ideas I've seen in a long time
Tracy
Perfect ideas! I counted 10 of them that I will definitely use. Thanks so much!
Jamie
Great ideas for ways to reuse my empty pill bottles. Love the candies in bottle with medical details on bottle. And the cat toy. So many simple things to make . Thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays!!
Rhiannon
So many unique fun ways that I would’ve never thought about! Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 🎄⭐️☃️
Rose
Hi, I sew toys and all kinds of things for tiny dogs when I’m in the mood. I save all the bottles and sew squishy round balls and square ball, with stuffing and crinkle noisy stuff..dogs love..I insert the bottle in the middle with dried beans or bells etc. inside with the lid glued and secured..I also add some cute ribbon loops on some of the seams cause little dogs grab and toss. They enjoy the noise inside. No problem if you know fur baby is not distructive.
Linda
How did you get the labels. Off the bottles?
Laura
Freeze them and levels pull right off
Tina
If you heat them with a hair dryer for a few minutes, the labels peel right off. Same goes for stickers on cars.
Karen Schluckbier
Iss I'm lucky--- my Walmart pharmacy puts the labels on so that all I have to do is grab one side of the label and peel back--- they come right off, with no sticky residue left behind!
But I've also heard that nail polish remover works well...
Terri Tavares
Or donate them to a small local veterinarian office. That way they don't have to splurge on a big box of 250-500. Ask first though.
Carol
Use them to put toothpicks in.
Chelsey
I use the big bottles for most of the bottle caps
Charlene Creasman
All of these ideas are awesome! There were lots of them that I never thought of before. I will definitely start saving all my empty pill bottles instead of putting them in the recycle bin. Thanks so much.
Lisa
You can also donate them to veterinary offices or humane societies. They will reuse them for pet meds.
cindy lou
i like your ideas. i use my empties for seeds from plants that we grow for the next season. i also use them to save one dollar bills. i have a habit of putting 20 $1 bills in a bottle and storing them, you can use them for just about anything. my dogs like to play with them after i fill them with a treat.
B Khalil
Love these ideas. We use one to keep in the glove box in the car in which we place the Valet key. It is clearly marked and no more taking the car apart to find the valet key!
Joyce
I take mine to the vet. She can use them for pet medicines.
Robin Arthurs
My husband and I use them when we go fishing. Some times we are sitting to far from each other to use one tackle box. He will put me a few extra hooks and lead in a pill bottle so I can replaced
Linda
A idea similar to the earphones idea I have a couple decorated with NHL duct tape in my Hubby's favorite team one in his travel shaving kit for his hearing aids they stay safe a we have a couple of the silicone dry packs in there to keep moisture from damaging them. I have one on my purse just incase they have to come out we aren't home
Patti
I use them for spice bottles when we go camping.. I label them & they take up less space & keep them nice & dry..
Rita
They also work great for keeping matches dry when you're camping...
Liz
You can also bring them to your near animal rescue or shelter or call them to see it they use them to distribute medicine issued to the animals people care for.
louise
i do this also when o go away in mexico for the winter !
Sue
I do that too ☺️
Sue
I use my larger pill bottle for a "sharps" container...old needles and pins that are no longer sharp enough, bent, whatever!
Sa
Thank you for sharing. That’s a great idea!
Mari
I also have a pharmacy going on at my house. I would have never thought to do anything with them but toss them out.
Rae Pond
There are some truly amazing ideas in this list of projects. One time saving tip I'd like to add is in order to get those sticky labels off the bottles, saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover and the label will come right off. Just use caution and be in a well ventilated work space and protect the workspace and your hands, face & body appropriately.
Anonymous
Or if you want another idea for getting the glue residue off. Mix equal parts vegetable oil and baking soda into a paste and coat the glue spots, let set for a few minutes then rub off.
April
I have tried everything to get sticky glue off a number of things. This is by far the best method out there.
Lelia Crispen
You can also utilize hair dryer to remove labels
Anonymous
You can also put the bottle in freezer for an hour or so, label will come right off!
Gena
I used some to make rattles for my daughter.
Tina
I store triple a and double a batteries in the larger pull bottles. Is helpful.