Can you help me find a fun use for these tubs? Creative challenge :)

I can't throw these yogurt tubs away and really want to use them for something creative or useful. I would love some ideas!!! Thanks!
  31 answers
  • Tina Kilgore Anchondo Tina Kilgore Anchondo on Nov 04, 2014
    Maggie have you thought about making bird feeders with them?
  • Tina Kilgore Anchondo Tina Kilgore Anchondo on Nov 04, 2014
    Use 2-3 cups wild bird seed, thread through cup. Then mix together 1/2 cup flour , 1/2 cup hot water 2tsp geletin. Mix together with bird seed poor in cups let dry over night and hang out in the trees !
  • Janet Janet on Nov 05, 2014
    Paint the containers and use for fower pots. The lids are good to put under small pot. I have done both.
  • Tonya Tonya on Nov 05, 2014
    I'm sure an Art Center or Pre-School would love these for numerous ideasy, like painted/decopage plant pots, piggy banks, jewelry keepers, gift boxes, toiletries, Good Will,.etc.
  • Raquel Raquel on Nov 05, 2014
    Hi! I am huge on giving to those in need! You could gather friends and family for donations to fill these tubs with goodies for kids (we like to give to foster kids). Or fill them with just daily needed items such as deodorant, soap, etc. for families in need now or at Christmas. Another idea....fill them with dog and cat toys and donate them to shelters and rescues.....the dogs and cats usually don't get anything. There are all kinds of things you could do. Take them to your church and ask for donations to fill them. There are always people in need who are grateful for any little bit of kindness. Plus there is no better feeling for you to have then to know you gave to someone less fortunate!
  • Ann Marie Caldon Ann Marie Caldon on Nov 05, 2014
    Start your garden seeds in them. Punch hole in bottom and use lid for drips.
  • Sharon Sharon on Nov 05, 2014
    I reuse them to hold paint for small jobs.
  • Donna Shepherd Donna Shepherd on Nov 05, 2014
    How about decorating them & using them for mini gift baskets. You can make them as simple or spectacular as you want. Pack them with mini candy bars, etc. wrap up in shrink wrap or cellophane. Give them to a assisted living facility, nursing home, hospital, kids school Christmas party or little favors for your party/dinner guests. This could be a fun project for kids or teens to do & take to a nursing home to brighten some patients day.
  • Lisa Kaplan Gordon Lisa Kaplan Gordon on Nov 05, 2014
    They will make great plant starters. Just drill a hole in the bottom for drainage and fill with potting soil. Start your seeds 6-8 weeks before transplanting.
  • Lori Lori on Nov 05, 2014
    WHAT KIND OF PAINT WOULD SOMEONE RECOMMEND for painting the tubs? (would want them to look pretty nice). THANKS!
    • AvonelleRed AvonelleRed on Nov 05, 2014
      @Lori I would use spray paint made especially for plastics. I would first remove the ink that's already on the containers. You can do that pretty easily.
  • Sherri Sherri on Nov 05, 2014
    I'm also a Trader Joe's Greek yogurt fan! I'm using mine to make a dozen self watering planters. I use them with holes cut into them for the "wick." http://youtu.be/5bhW5hf09ak
  • Brenda Webster Brenda Webster on Nov 05, 2014
    You should ask your local elementary or middle school if they want them. They could be used for all kinds of crafts and science experiments. You might also keep some of them to make your own frozen yogurt. I found a recipe on ehow.com and it looks pretty easy. http://www.ehow.com/how_4829351_frozen-yogurt-machine.html Hope this helps!
  • Mary Mary on Nov 05, 2014
    We live on a farm and I save my marjorine, cottage cheese and yogurt containers to freeze water for the guy's water jugs while working in the field. When it's 100 degrees, and the extra heat from the tractor make it even hotter, those nice, cold water jugs sure are appreciated by my weary workers. I also pack clean hand towels in with their lunches so they can wet them down with that cold water and put around their necks. They love it! Also they are great to send leftovers with my dinner guests; don't have to worry about returning a dish! I poke holes in the bottom and start plants in them in our greenhouse. So many uses; never throw away a good container!
  • Judy Judy on Nov 05, 2014
    I save my plastic containers with lids for storage of leftovers in the fridge, buttons, rubber bands, paper clips, bits of ribbon or craft items, etc. Label them with a strip of freezer tape & write on it with marker pen. I recycle whatever I can't find a use for.
  • Sandra Withers Sandra Withers on Nov 05, 2014
    Just plain acrylic paint on the outside only and not for food. All sorts of sorting small things, beads, legos, tiny toy parts, button, collections of things, anything that fits.
  • Chris T Chris T on Nov 05, 2014
    I most often use these larger containers to hold leftover soup or stews in my freezer. I use a black sharpie to label the container with the date and contents. Cottage cheese containers are usually one bowl of soup where as these are maybe 2 and when I am the only one eating this stuff I like to make more than just a serving or two so I have quick lunches or dinners for myself. Hubby doesn't like these things but I make them for myself anyway. It's really hard to make a "small" pot of soup or stew.
    • HappyNanaSTLMO HappyNanaSTLMO on Nov 09, 2014
      @Chris T I like to do this, too, Chris - they're so handy for that! I would add one cautionary tidbit, though, that I don't think it's a good idea to use them for reheating in the microwave, because (1) they might have BPA, and (2) even if they don't have BPA, the thin plastic is likely not microwave safe, and when it melts and warps (which it typically does), who knows what carcinogens could be leaking out and transferred to the food. If I want to go straight from the freezer to the microwave, I will run it under hot water for a minute or two in order to loosen up the sides, and then dump the contents into a microwave-safe bowl or into a pot on the stove. I also make sure that whatever I'm putting into them to store in the freezer or fridge is cool before storing, for the same reason - the heat from the food could melt some of the plastic and cause leakage/transfer of "whatever." But these containers add up so quickly, and it's a great way to stock up on free storage aids, especially for those of us who love to fill up the fridge and freezer with homemade goodies!
  • Bruce Dees Bruce Dees on Nov 05, 2014
    Why not freeze homemade soup in for one serving for anyone to eat when home alone? You could plant spices or seeds for starters and transplant them into pots or the ground when big enough.
  • Angela Oravetz Angela Oravetz on Nov 05, 2014
    Yogurt containers actually do really well in the dishwasher. So after sanitizing them, I use them to make puddings, Jellos, or fruit cups for lunches. I've also used them to pour in puréed fruit, put in a Popsicle stick or plastic spoon, and make frozen Popsicles.
  • Maggie May's Gifts Maggie May's Gifts on Nov 05, 2014
    Thank you all so much!! So many great ideas!
  • Sheila Sheila on Nov 05, 2014
    Get the lids and donate them to your local food bank. They will reuse them
  • Faye Faye on Nov 05, 2014
    I use them in the freezer ,for painting I let grandkids have them to play in dirt,the possibilities are endless.They are great for to go food after a family gathering.
  • Dixie Roll Dixie Roll on Nov 05, 2014
    Cut a hole in the lid. Wrap basewith contact paper. Put yarn in or ribbon thread thru lid keeps all clean for crafters.
    • HappyNanaSTLMO HappyNanaSTLMO on Nov 09, 2014
      @Dixie Roll What a clever idea! I've tried keeping my yarn in a basket, but then I feel like I'm tethered to the basket. This gives a lot more mobility to just let the yarn roll on the floor. Thanks for sharing!
  • Gyp577533 Gyp577533 on Nov 06, 2014
    Make cookies and decorate outside give as gifts !
  • Pat Pat on Nov 06, 2014
    Most of the yogurt tubs are # 5. Whole Foods Grocery will recycle those tub to make toothbrushes. You might want to check your local stores to see if you can find one that will take these tubs.
  • Marlena Marlena on Nov 06, 2014
    Donate them to your local art teacher! I am an art teacher and appreciate all donations like this.
  • Angela Oravetz Angela Oravetz on Nov 07, 2014
    They make great containers for mini-craft kits!
  • Trish Smith Trish Smith on Nov 07, 2014
    Cover them in fabric and embellishments and use them as gift basket/buckets
  • Jan Goodin Jan Goodin on Nov 08, 2014
    Paint them on the outside, punch holes in the bottoms, put in potting soil and plants. Use them at home and or give as gifts. The tops can be the saucers to catch water.
  • Lori Lori on Nov 09, 2014
    IF, you were to reuse PLASTIC BOWL CONTAINERS for decorating and making cookies to put in them for "GIFT GIVING", WHAT KIND OF PAINT should you use on the outside of the container (to decorate the bowl)? FOOD/PAINT......JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED. I LOVE THE IDEA of reusing the containers for "goodies", to give friends and family. Just don't want to use a paint that may potentially be harmful. THANK YOU FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Maggie May's Gifts Maggie May's Gifts on Nov 09, 2014
      @Lori Good point, i think if you're using it for food, I would just wrap it instead of paint it. You could use double sided tape to hold wrapping or decorative paper and tie a bow around it to secure it. Since it's a gift, the decorative container can be a one-time use thing so it doesn't have to be super permanent like paint. Just my two cents :) I'm loving all these suggestions!! You all are great!
  • Christina Packard Christina Packard on Nov 10, 2014
    You could always donate them to your nearest grade school. The art teacher could use them, and/or the general education classes will find uses for them.
  • Dolores Dolores on Nov 12, 2014
    @In summer with a glut of tomatoes, I make tomato puree and use the tubs for freezing, easy when you need, just defrost, I also use the 1 lt tubs for freezing soups, stews etc, I use the 1kg margarine tubs for freezing green beans slices and ready for cooking, there are 100;s of uses.