What can I use empty plastic cat liter containers for .

Diana Gerber
by Diana Gerber
I was thinking of cutting off the top and making a container like a waistebasket, do you have any photos of any you did, or any easy ideas, would it work for large plants?
  15 answers
  • Kimberly Barney Kimberly Barney on Apr 18, 2013
    It would work for plants as long as you drilled holes in the bottom. They make good containers for bird seed and potting soil as well.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Apr 18, 2013
    mop bucket, planter, storage. flip it up side down and it can be small steep stool. I use drywall buckets for this.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Apr 18, 2013
    Rock Salt storage, Gardening bucket, carry tools,trash bags and gardening gloves. Paint bucket, when you're using a couple of gallons, combine them all in case they happen to have been tinted a little different, this way all wall will look the same. Tool bucket when you're working on a project, only bring the tools you need instead of your whole tool box. Carry picnic items, paper plates, utensils, napkins and other dry goods.
  • Z Z on Apr 18, 2013
    We use them for storing all sorts of tools and supplies in ours. I only wish there was a way to remove the painted on label. I also use one to hold stains for whatever project I'm working on the time and that container also gets used to set on when working on lower parts of the piece to save me from kneeling on the floor. They'd also be great as storage bins for toys. Just spray paint them to match the child's room and label them with photos and words to help the child learn to put away their own toys. If you made a cushion for the top they could double as a seat for the child too.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Apr 18, 2013
    @Z I've used contact paper to cover the outside of my litter buckets.
  • Diana Gerber Diana Gerber on Apr 18, 2013
    Lots of good ideas, thank you for helping me.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Apr 18, 2013
    Cold drink buckets if your not having a big crowd, one for soda, one for bottled water and one for beer or wine or both :) Small recycle bucket in the kitchen, just take it to the big container when it get filled. Rag bucket, weed bucket when you're doing the gardening. @Z I like your idea of putting a cushion on top. You can wrap fabric around the bottom, cut a piece of foam to fit the lid and cover that with fabric, it will be a tight fit with the fabric so you may need a rubber mallet to secure it.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Apr 19, 2013
    @Diana Gerber there are lots of ideas here. Somewhere on HT there is a post where the person used krylon acrylic paint to paint them. You don't have to cut the top off - if you do it would be wise to heat and fold the end over as the cut plastic is very sharp. If not cutting you could use some of those edges for detail - paint or tape in a different colour. If you paint and flip it over and secure a table top to it and use it as a side table - or you could leave it right side up and fill bucket with some sand to more stability. Do let us know what you do and post pics. Thanks for posting.
  • Roxene Roxene on Apr 20, 2013
    I use a clean one to store cat food in and have also used them to plant my patio veggies, i.e. tomatoes, peppers, etc.
  • Cheryl Grolle Cheryl Grolle on Jul 10, 2015
    I use them to fill with water & hide near each of my bird baths. Then they are always handy when I notice the birdbaths are dry, rather than having to drag out the hose. Do the same for bird feeders...
  • Dee Dee on Jul 12, 2015
    Use them to store yarn in. If you are working a project that calls for multiple colors you can store all of them in one tub so they are not all over the place. As far as the painted on label is concerned, get a can of plastic paint in the color you want the bucket to be and spray paint it.
    • Z Z on Jul 17, 2015
      @Dee, that's a great idea for storing yarn you are using on a project. I have an idea that will make it even handier for that. Drill holes through the top for each yarn color to be pulled through. That way as you crochet or knit the yarn will feed through it without having to stop to pull on the skein.
  • Yvonne Buckley Yvonne Buckley on Jul 17, 2015
    I needed some shelf space in the garage and I screwed he empty plastic containers to the wall. They look as though they are stacked on one another holding paint rollers, and various items and you can keep the lids on too. Worked great.
  • Dee Dee on Jul 17, 2015
    Becky, drilling holes in the tops to pull yarn thru is great. Just make sure the edge of the hole is smooth so the yarn doesn't get snagged. Maybe put on a grommet after drilling the holes?
    • Z Z on Jul 17, 2015
      @Good point Dee! A round file should smooth them out quite well.
  • Shirley Shaw Shirley Shaw on Sep 23, 2015
    I have two. One I use to store my clean rags and use the other to store my dirty rags. I have them marked.
  • Jeannette Hickson Jeannette Hickson on Jan 25, 2016
    I use the big square 27# or 35# Tidy Cat litter and when I empty one I wash it good with bleach water and let it dry completely. I also buy groceries in bulk. When I get home, I use these litter containers to store my bulk dry goods in. Beans, Egg noodles, sugar, flour, etc. They fit nicely on my old metal shelves in my pantry and keep the food well. If you have an aversion to using litter buckets, they could be painted cute and labeled. I just labeled mine with a grease pencil.