We all have that one corner, or shelf in the house, overflowing with empty plastic bottles we feel a little guilty about discarding.But it is not necessary to throw them all away, as they can be turned into useful household tools with just some simple steps and creativity using a utility knife, string roll, and a few minutes.According to the United Nations Environment Programme, over 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year, so why not help the environment instead of adding more to the pile?Here are five simple ways to change plastic bottles into genius household tools
Build a self-watering planter
Overwatering and forgetting to water are the two most common reasons why houseplants die. A two-litre bottle fixes both. Cut it in half horizontally, invert the top so the cap faces down, and nest it inside the bottom. Thread a thick cotton string through the mouth as a wick, fill the top with soil and your plant, and pour water into the reservoir below; this helps with easy watering and preventing waste.
Make multipurpose utility scoops
Buying scoops for pet food, garden soil, or ice melt layers up quickly. A hard plastic bottle helps make use of it for free. To make a scoop, cut away the bottom at a diagonal angle, keeping the mouth intact, and you are left with a useful scoop that lasts longer than the flimsy store-bought plastic ones and that too on zero cost.
Set up slow-drip garden irrigation
Watering from above often evaporates before it reaches deep roots. Burying a bottle solves that. Poke small holes around the lower half using drill or spoke, bury it beside a plant that requires regular watering like a tomato, and leave only the cap above the soil.
Organize tangled cords and cables
Cable clutter behind desks and entertainment units is nearly universal. A smooth-sided bottle can fix it. Cut off the top and bottom to leave a plastic cylinder, then cut it out into a continuous spiral strip using scissors.It can then be wrapped around bundled cables to keep them from getting tangled and in place.
Make your bottle into an instant funnel
Funnels are one of those tools you never own until you desperately need one. Bottles are naturally tapered on the top, which makes them a near-perfect substitute.Cut off the top third of a normal plastic bottle and remove the cap. This turns the bottle into a funnel, helping you pour anything from motor oil to bulk grains, while also leaving the leftover bottom half as a disposable mixing cup for paint or epoxy.
