need ideas for uses for plastic coffee cans!

[Britesea]

@eagrbeavr gave me an idea: I knit, and I hate it when the ball of yarn flips out of my knitting bag and starts rolling around the floor. I could do the same thing to hold my yarn in place! I've seen commercial yarn holders, but my thrify scot and stingy french ancestors won't let me spend the money, lol.

 

[goatgurl]

@Britesea, i crochet and have a plastic coffee can setting on the table beside my loveseat right now. i use a hot nail to burn a hole in the center of the lid. makes the hole smooth so the yarn pulls through easily. give it a try, you'll like it.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

We use one to hang our hose on. We nailed it to the wall, snapped the cover on just to keep wasps out, and looped the hose over it. Could be used for electrical cords, binder twine or any other long string you want to hang neatly.

We also flipped one upside down, put a hole through the bottom, and hung it upside down over the top of our chicken feeder to keep rain out.

It's also great for clothespins.

I'm thinking it'd be simple to help kids turn this into a cute birdhouse. The lid would make it easy to clean out at the end of the year. Let them decorate, cut small hole of appropriate size in the side, add a perch (or not). Attach to tree (if you use a screw to attach it, you could easily get your screwdriver through the front hole for the bird to reach the screw.)

Use one in each vehicle and in the boat or on the tractor or in the barn to hold first aid supplies (I very rarely need a bandaid when I am in my bathroom...)

Use them to store small Christmas light strings or ornaments.

Keep one in each rain barrel as a water scoop.

When I worked in a daycare, I used a bunch of these as simple lightweight building blocks for the kids. They could pile them quickly to make a wall or a tower, and no one got hurt if they fell.

I've also used them to store small toys like Legos, hot wheel cars, doll clothes, magnets, marbles, plastic animals, toy people, blocks. I took pictures of the contents and taped it to the front with wide clear shipping tape. The picture made it easy for even little kids to help organize.

I've also used the same process to label and store things for Alzheimer's and dementia clients I worked with. Adding pictures makes it easy to identify and is much easier for dementia clients than words are.

Store puzzles. Cut out the picture and use clear shipping tape to tape it to the outside. They stack easily, and won't get damp.

I also used some in the basement, attic, and cellar to hold charcoal. Keep the lids off and the charcoal will absorb moisture. It keeps the cellar from getting musty. When the charcoal gets grey, they have absorbed the moisture. Dump in the compost pile, add more fresh charcoal, and repeat. (A piece of charcoal in a tool box will also help keep moisture and rust away from your tools.) Waaaaay cheaper than Damp Rid!

Store chalk so it stays dry.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

I've also used them to keep ice-melt by the doors, and salt/sand mixtures (and kitty litter) in my vehicles in the winter for extra icy days.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Great ideas!

 

[Steveca]

plant seedlings or intermediate transplant pot. Or spitoon.

 

[BarredBuff]

You could use them to store dry goods in. Keep left over food in. Dip flour, sugar etc from the pantry. Many uses...

 

[the funny farm6]

they have a very strong coffee smell, and i was worried that the food i stored in them would smell and taist like coffee. i have aired them out and after i thought the smell was gone- i put the lid back on and the coffee smell came back.

i didnt think of starting plants in them, but wouldnt i have to cut them to take the plants out?

 

[Denim Deb]

I use them for kitchen waste. Then, when it gets full, I take it out and dump it in the composter. W/the lid on, it keeps bugs out and keeps it from stinking. And, if it starts to smell too bad, I dump some baking soda in to control the odor.

 

[the funny farm6]

just found this on the internet...

lol. i think i will nail these on a couple trees in the woods.
but it would be a good idea for camping.

p.s. this is what i have the most of. some are the bigger size. and some are blue with a handle.