Do you like to hold on to glass jars you get from buying certain types of items at the grocery store but are not sure how to possibly reuse them all? There are many great ideas for reusing glass jars at home, making them a must-have for anyone who’s going green and looking to save money at the same time.
Because let’s be honest, stuff can be expensive, so reusing a technically free jar instead of buying something to do the same job is an awesome feeling.
What’s practical is that certain types of food like pasta sauces and condiments can come in glass jars, and if you’re like me, you’ve got a cupboard full of empty jars waiting to be given a new purpose. Or maybe you like to pick up old jars from thrift stores and now you have quite the collection going.
Removing labels from jars before reusing
Most jars come with sticky labels that may be a pain to remove. I can usually remove the labels and most of the glue by just soaking the jars for a couple of hours in hot soapy water.
If the glue is still stubborn after a good soak, try adding olive or vegetable oil to the jar for a couple of minutes, wipe it off and then give the jar a good wash,
Upcycling Ideas Using Glass Jars
These creative ways to repurpose glass jars work well with mason jars or canning jars too if you’ve got plenty of those laying around and want to do more than just use them for preserving food.
From storage to organization to crafting, here are some practical ways that you can reuse glass jars at home.
Organize Pantry with Jars
Jars are the perfect addition to a pantry in any zero-waste kitchen. Reuse large jars to store any type of dry goods such as beans, pasta, and rice that you pick up at bulk bins. Large pickle jars can be great for this!
Additionally, use glass jars as spice jars, to organize snacks, hold tea leaves, or anything you can think of!
Reuse Jars as Drinking Glasses
You can reuse glass jars to drink water, juice, iced coffee and smoothies out of. Cover it and put it back in the fridge if you don’t finish it. It’s a lot better than putting a regular cup back in the refrigerator that risks getting knocked over and spilling.
I also like to store leftover coffee from the morning in glass jars and then I make myself an iced coffee later in the day.
Store Leftovers in Jars
Storing food in jars isn’t limited to your pantry. You can also reuse glass jars to store food in the fridge. Use glass jars to store leftovers in your refrigerator such as sauces, soups, and salads.
Marinate Meat in Jars
Instead of using single-use plastic baggies to marinate your meat, use glass jars instead. It will help you use less plastic at home since you can simply wash and reuse the jars when you’re done.
READ MORE: Single-use plastics to avoid and their zero-waste alternatives.
Reuse Glass Jars as Vases
Another great use for empty glass jars, especially vintage jars, is for aesthetics! A glass jar flower vase is a great way to repurpose an old jar as part of your home decor.
Add flowers, plants or succulents to a plain glass jar to keep it minimal, or you can decorate the jar with accessories or paint it. Chalk paint works really for painting directly on glass.
Make a Herb Garden with Jars
Reuse glass jars to create a garden of fresh herbs in your kitchen for easy access when cooking. Add your soil, plant your seeds, and wait for your herbs to grow.
Additionally, dry these herbs out for spices and store them in jars.
Want more ideas for upcycling items into planters? Check out this list of easy DIY repurposed planters from household items.
Reuse Jars to Make Candles
If you like to make your own candles, making them in repurposed glass jars is a great way to give them a new life. Once the candle is finished, clean it and repeat!
Organize Office Supplies with Jars
Repurpose a jar into an office organizer for your pens, pencils, scissors, etc. and keep it on your desk.
Wide-mouth jars make it easy to store various office essentials with ease. Smaller jars like baby food jars are great for small items like paper clips, push pins, etc.
Make a Jar Terrarium
Another idea for reusing glass jars is to make your own little terrarium! Creating your own terrarium is a neat little project that looks great too.
Make Glass Jar Candle Holders
For a simple candle holder, add tea light candles to jars. You can even make a handle out of twine if you plan to move the candle around while it’s burning since the glass may be hot to the touch.
Use Jars to Organize Bathroom Supplies
Upcycle a glass jar to store bathroom supplies such as toothbrushes, beauty supplies, makeup brushes, etc.
Glass jars are also perfect for small bathroom supplies such as hair ties, makeup, nail clippers, etc. since you can see what’s in the bottle at a glance.
Reuse Glass Jars for Rooting Plants
Use glass jars filled with water to start rooting plants for propagating. You’ll easily be able to keep track of the rooting progress since the jars are see-through.
Use Jars for Painting Supplies
Reuse wide jars to store painting supplies like your paintbrushes. Smaller jars are perfect for storing paint so that it doesn’t dry out, helping you waste less paint.
Glass jars are also good for holding water to rinse your brushes between colors, instead of using a drinking glass.
Make a Glass Jar Sewing Kit
Store your sewing supplies inside a glass jar for easy organization and add a pincushion on the lid. This is a great way to use small jars.
Store Vacation Souvenirs in Jars
Have vacation souvenirs that you want on display? Use jars to store souvenirs. The best types of glass jars for this are ones with decorative covers, which help keep the dust out of your souvenirs.
Reuse Jars as Gift Holders
Another way to reuse glass jars is to use them as gift holders. Insert gifts such as baked goods, jams or soaps, and decorate with a bow. This is just one of many different eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas that you can try out!
Final Thoughts on Reusing Old Glass Jars
Reusing store-bought jars is an easy and technically free way to get other things done around your home. It gives jars a new purpose and allows you to live a more sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle.
So whatever you do, don’t ever throw away jars you get from buying food, candles, etc! These creative ideas will help you put those old glass bottles and jars to good use.
And if you have a glass jar or bottle that isn’t suitable for repurposing, don’t feel bad about recycling it! Glass is one of the easiest materials that can be recycled since it can be recycled over and over again.
Want more tips for creating a home that’s mindful of the environment? Check out my post going green: 30 tips for an eco-friendly home.
I’m currently addicted to using jars as vases, and it just looks perfect. Beautiful and helpful blog by the way!