Is there anything I can do with these old wash bins and pots?

Amy
by Amy
I surely would appreciate any suggestions on what I could possibly do with these old washing bins and pots, if anything. Thank you!
  37 answers
  • Linda Hopper Linda Hopper on Sep 19, 2014
    Give them to me....LOL! Those are great! I love enamelware! I have a few that I have hanging on the wall above my washer and dryer. They just make me happy to see them.
  • Hannah V Hannah V on Sep 19, 2014
    Planters!
  • Desiree Desiree on Sep 19, 2014
    I second the planters idea! you could do an herb garden to keep with the kitchen theme.
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Sep 19, 2014
    @Amy planters so many options succulents are easy,so are herbs as desiree said you don't have to plant them all just plant let say one big one and stack the rest so they don't take up a ton of room...i love all of them xx
  • JD McCulley JD McCulley on Sep 19, 2014
    give them to me they would finish the set I have been collecting.
  • Lorraine McCullough Lorraine McCullough on Sep 19, 2014
    Paint them in shades of silver, black, gold and white, and make a three tier cupcake, cake or serving holder add some bling either use them or ive them as gifts!
  • Pamela Pamela on Sep 19, 2014
    My husband & I make wind chimes out of the smaller ones. The larger pans I would use to plant herbs in...you could stack them...
  • Amy Amy on Sep 19, 2014
    Thank you all for your ideas, thinking I'll go with planters and I washtub hung in my laundry room. I've been going through my husbands shed, much to his dislike but I'm finding so many hidden treasures and I need some help! I just came across Hometalk the other day and I love it, mainly because you can ask questions and get so many helpful answers, you can bet I'll be asking alot more! Thanks again everyone, you've been most helpful, have a wonderful weekend!
    • See 3 previous
    • Linda T Linda T on Jan 22, 2015
      Forgot to mention. Though it's 'Gnomesview', the common brown toads come to catch mosquitoes in the evening, sitting on the stones next to the water, well camoflaged as they are the same colour. Very cute and sort of 'tame'.
  • Garrett Garrett on Sep 19, 2014
    I grew up with these items.
  • Robin Norris Robin Norris on Sep 19, 2014
    My first thought was using them to make a vintage looking water feature for your patio, going from the small to larger and then largest with one of the water pumps you buy at the hardware store. You have them spilling into each other, and other used as planters around the base.
  • Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. on Sep 19, 2014
    They do make really great planters and miniature gardens. And the red is especially pretty filled with greens and winter décor!
  • Lee Cunningham Green Lee Cunningham Green on Sep 19, 2014
    I love them as well, I would make chimes with them also, I would even incorporate the bigger ones It would be ridiculously large but would make me very happy when I saw it dancing in the garden.
  • Sherry Sherry on Sep 19, 2014
    you can turn the largest one into a sink. I have seen them they are so nice. Light fixtures comes to mind but also a fountain. Good luck!!!
  • Mary Tobey Mary Tobey on Sep 19, 2014
    You could make a small fountain for your garden
  • Carole Carole on Sep 19, 2014
    Link together to make a rain chain, smallest at top and bigger as they go down the chain. You would need to make a hole through the bottom of each to thread the chain through. If you use them as planters you will need to drill a hole in each for drainage or your plants will flood in heavy rains and could rot and die. Especially succulents need very good drainage or they tend to rot and die.
  • Desirae Cardenas Desirae Cardenas on Sep 19, 2014
    I have seen people make small water fountains with them
  • Barbara Barbara on Sep 19, 2014
    A wind chime would be great
  • AvonelleRed AvonelleRed on Sep 19, 2014
    I love enamelware. It's collectible, so if you don't end up repurposing it, you could always sell it to someone who is a collector. I don't collect it myself, but it's lovely.
  • Joedean Small Joedean Small on Sep 19, 2014
    put them in your kitchen,i would love to have them to decorate wth.
  • Amy Amy on Sep 19, 2014
    Killer suggestions everybody, I am so excited about all the possibilites that I'll have to find more pans, lol!
  • Linda Hopper Linda Hopper on Sep 20, 2014
    I use one of my dishpans as a scrap bowl while I'm cooking. It makes it handy when I carry the scraps to my goats...I tried the compost thing but my goats love kitchen scraps...the vegetable scraps, not cooked items.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 20, 2014
    I agree with Linda Hooper, use them. Use one of the large pans in your sink with warm soapy water in it as you cook for wipe up. (You can purchase a sink protector at Walmart for $1.97! I just bought 2 for my new sink) and use the second one as a spice holder...I just bought a small red plastic dishpan to sit on my island because I am tired of digging for the spices I use so often! I would LOVE one of these pans! That taller little pot in the back would make a great spoon/utensil holder! Hang the 3 small ones with handles on hooks nearby to use if you need that extra water at the stove! That small one in front would be great to hold clips for closing up chips and other opened packets. (Hubs bought me different sizes of Acco black metal clips from the office supply store that are WONDERFUL..they are strong, easy to store, cheap and wash up quickly...AND THEY NEVER BREAK!)
  • Barbara P Barbara P on Sep 20, 2014
    I agree....use them and the older stuff Now!!! So many ideas.....water project, windchimes ,etct; THanks for getting my brain working!!!
  • Amy Amy on Sep 20, 2014
    Funny you say that, I have goats!
  • SusanC SusanC on Sep 20, 2014
    I hang mine on my kitchen wall as decorations
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Sep 21, 2014
    Think drilling holes would destroy them. I like the idea of actually using them in the kitchen. You could hang the ones with handles to display them or use them for cooking.
  • Rebecca Corley Bailey Rebecca Corley Bailey on Sep 21, 2014
    The one with the handles makes a great utensil holder in your kitchen!
  • Lynette Tate Lynette Tate on Sep 21, 2014
    In my area this enamelware is cherished as a collectible. I have mine hanging on a pot rack in my kitchen. Less desirable pieces would be great for some of the projects mentioned in others comments.
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Sep 21, 2014
    We use an old pot for water for the feral cats that we feed. B/f we got a bird bath we also used a large frying pan for water near the bird feeder. The larger ones--w/out handles--could be used to hold rolled towels in a bathroom (on the floor); the deep one could be used to hold facecloths & soaps on a vanity/sink area for guests or for the family.
  • Sharon Bryars Sharon Bryars on Sep 21, 2014
    Plaint a green indoor plant in it or plant herbs you can use for cooking.
  • Judith Judith on Sep 21, 2014
    make a water fountain out of some of them
  • Joan Fuchs Joan Fuchs on Sep 21, 2014
    You can use them to plant flowers in your yard for a nice arrangement. Make a birdbath out of the larger one. Hang them on a kitchen wall or even outside on the house or garage.
  • 562395 562395 on Sep 22, 2014
    The small round pot in the bigger pot. Fill both with some soil and plant some succulents. Would make a great centre piece.
  • Ruheena Ruheena on Jan 18, 2015
    If you can spray paint them then the large round ones can be used for planting herbs. The ones with handles can be hung as decorations. The small round ones can be used to store small things or trinket stuff. The large round ones can also be used to soak and wash small items that cannot be washed in a machine. God luck. U.K.
  • Flora Parkhurst Flora Parkhurst on Jan 18, 2015
    Flora, SpringfieldTN. Best idea........sell the lot to me!!! I USE USE USE my collection anytime I need to carry food....and in the south, as you know, we are constantly feeding folks. even if the pots have chipped enamel, often a piece of foil in the bottom & up the sides will cover the chips & food travels well when you add the lid and tie it up w/ a vintage dish towel, like I remember my mom & grandmother doing at family reunions. I take food to church pot lucks, funeral home, sick neighbor.......the large dishpans are great to use for canning, making pickles, boiling jars & lids on the stove etc. Also the large pans are great for icing down drinks at a cook out. Or fill with ice and set large bowl of potato salad, deviled eggs or fruit for cook out or potluck. Oh by the way, did I say I'd LOVE to purchase these from you? I am your neighbor in Springfield, TN, less than 50 miles from Lebanon. Call me. 6one59four8four6five7.
    • Amy Amy on Jan 19, 2015
      @@Flora Parkhurst, I sure do appreciate your helpful ideas but I just can't part with them at this time. I'm sorry neighbor but I've decided to hang on to them the way they are so I can use them when we buy a farm and I finally get my farmhouse kitchen! You my friend will be greatly rewarded in heaven for all of your wonderfully good deeds!
  • Christina Lieurance Christina Lieurance on Mar 02, 2015
    I tell you if you are ever interested in selling shoot me a price.
  • Garrett Garrett on Mar 13, 2015
    When I was young at my GrandParent's There was the bucket of for water, a wash basin, water dipper, dishwashing pan, and cookware. I would love the pots for the memories. But thank you for those memories, and never give yours up. garrett