Ideas for Repurposing Jars
1. Keep Berries Fresh
When you get a pack of blueberries, don’t keep them in that plastic container. Remove them, but don’t wash them and then transfer them to a glass jar. Wash them when you are ready to use. You will be so surprised how much longer they last! (Thanks to my dear friend Melody’s mom, Linda for this awesome tip!)
2. Vase
These are perfect for cut flowers from your garden or I like to splurge sometimes and pick up Manager’s Special flowers for myself. 😉 Try using a variety of shapes and sizes for a thrifty chic look. Or use washi tape to coordinate with your decor or event.
3. Nuts, Bolts and Nails
Jars (glass or plastic) are perfect for organizing your workshop or garage. This is one handed down by both of our dads. (my dad built a cool rack that the lids are all attached to, and it spins!)
4. Leftover Paint
When you are done with a room painting project you often have just enough paint left over for touch ups. Instead of keeping an entire can for a few cups, use a jar! Be sure to write the details on the jar – color name, room used in, date of use.
5. Pantry Food Items
Often you open a package of food but don’t use it all in one shot. Being able to tightly seal a jar makes them great for keeping food fresh- oatmeal, chocolate chips, bread crumbs, goldfish… more! Also the clear jars make it easy to spot what you need. (Great for homemade items too, like my granola!)
6. Tea Light Holder
Whether it’s a real flame to one of those light bulb variety, a table setting with several different sized, shaped jars would be so adorable!
7. Gifts in Jars
Mason Jar DIY gift ideas are all the rage right now (thanks to Pinterest). I have made a couple that are really cute, super easy and thrifty too. Both come with a free printable gift tag too. Check out my Bouquet and Bangle, Pedi in a Jar, Ombre Candy Jars and Rainbow Candy Jar DIY gift ideas!
8. Loose Change
I keep a jar on my washing machine, hubs always seems to have a few coins in his pockets.
9. Crafting Supplies
Baby food jars are great for small pins and buttons. And the clear jars are great for ribbons and other crafting what nots since you can easily see what’s inside.
10. Consequence/Reward Tokens
As a parent, you try all kinds of way to teach your kids “right behavior” and many parents have resorted to some kind of consequence or reward token system. Repurposed jars are perfect for this. Tape a note to the outside to help your child visualize what the tokens are for (pictured is our “consequences” jar for poor choices. We also have a “happy” jar that we would move the tokens between according to their actions. However, I curiously could not find it to take the pic!)
11. Commission Jars
Reader Marcie shared a great way she repurposed candle jars for her son’s Give, Spend, Save Commission Jars
12. Desktop Organizer
Store pens, pencils, scissors, markers, letter openers…you get the picture!
I am sure there are 12 times more ways to repurpose jars. What are your ideas?
Looking for ways to Accessorize those Repurposed Jars? There are tons of fun products to help spruce up an old jar. Here are a few of my top picks:
See more Ideas for Accessorizing Repurposed Jars Here.
post first published in April 2013
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I don’t buy many items in glass jars but I have a LOT of glass Ball jars on hand now that I don’t do any canning. They come in handy in dozens of ways, especially since I discovered the more convenient plastic lids you can buy to replace the two piece metal lids that come with the jars. I will definitely try the berry storage tip — thanks!!
Those lids found great. I’ll add them to the list! Thanks.
Oh, and thanks SO MUCH for the tips on storing berries. My raspberries ALWAYS go bad before we eat them. That picture was what got me to click on the Pinterest link.
My pleasure! (And yay for Pic on Pinterest!)
I also save them to drain grease when cooking. When the jar is full, just put the lid on and toss in the trash. No worrying about liquid grease making a mess in the garbage can.
That’s a great tip!
We are not allowed in the UK to put glass jars in the dustbin we have to recycle them, I used to out my old fat etc that I couldn’t use in a tin wait
it for it to harden then put in bin but we have to recycle them as well now
Thanks for stopping by to comment Pam. I actually have a jar that I use for bacon drippings too.
Love your ideas for reusing jars. Just wondering if the berries need to be refrigerated in the jars?
I have never tried them not in the refrigerator. I would assume they need to be refrigerated.
Me too…..I’ve had a jar in my laundry room for 50 years. It’s for the change and sometimes bills (yay!) that’s found after washing my husband’s clothes. It’s kinda like a secret “thank you” to me to spend on more fun things like yarn/beads. I call it my “Tip Jar.”
Another great jar idea: My dad made a suspended turn-table in his woodworking shop that he attached same-size jar lids to. Jars were then screwed into their corresponding lids. He used the see-thru jars for nails, screws, etc.
I love the “tip jar”! 🙂 And YES!! my dad also has a very similar turntable with baby food jar in his workshop. I think repurposing has become a bit of a lost art, past generations certainly did it well!
hi i love these ideas, ive been saving up old jars to make chutney,but never get around to it!! they have been sitting in a box for 3 years never being used,so now i will use them instead of buying zip lock bags and save myself some pounds,i especially like the paint idea that will save alot of space thanx
I didn’t know that berries would last longer if you saved them in jars! I will definitely be trying that out! I never seem to get through all of them before they go bad!
I love jars for the sake of them. Their shapes can be be beautiful. So I keep them to reuse them and enjoy them. When my kids were teens, I would pick them up after school/work, and use the screw-top Smuckers jam jars to bring milk. Easy to drink from with the 45* neck. Also, I use jars to store spices (think bay leaves, etc). I also make my own salad dressing. Add ingredients, shake, store/use as needed. I could go on and on….
I give them to my son-in-law and he fills them up with salsa and fresh made jellies and jams. A win win situation for me.
NICE! Definitely a WIN-WIN!
These are all great ideas and yours was one of our top three clicked posts at Share The Wealth Sunday! Thanks so much for joining us!
Thanks for letting me know Lisa! Love your linkup.
I have a jar in the laundry room also. Kids and husbands pockets are a great source of cash. I call it “Laundry Lottery”
LOVE this idea! We call it “magic money” 😉
My mom saved glass food jars and used them like folks use Tupperware. Don’t get me wrong, we had Tupperware, but the glass jars were our go-to food storage for some reason. Fast forward to now that we’ve learned that plastic has ingredients that can cause cancer and I find myself saving and reaching for glass jars, too. I also love that they’re free. Thanks for sharing such a great article.
YES Anne! I am using the glass jars more and more like this too. Thanks for dropping by to comment!
I take candle jars with the lids that have a tight seal and wash them out when the candle is finished and use for vaties things. Also the candle jars with just a plastic top can be used for things likr Q tips , cotton balls etc. Recycleing is good for the enviorment.
Yes! Love those candle jars with lids- so many great uses!
I use plastic peanut butter jars to store paint for touch ups
Us too! Not only a way to repurpose the jar- but also to save space on the shelf. (get rid of a big can). We write the name of the room on the lid too- just in case we can’t remember which color goes where.
I love re-using jars. I tinted some and added some chalkboard paint and will be using your idea as desk organizers. You have so many other ideas for them too. Thanks for sharing!
I need to try tinting some too.
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I’m quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Great ideas! But you don’t have my favorite one: Storing leftover cooked food. You don’t have to worry about chemicals from plastic containers. Glass is easy to clean and safe for reheating in the microwave. I especially like to use pint salsa jars for leftover soup; it’s just the right amount for my lunch at work. Here are my favorite ways to use glass jars.
That is a great idea too Becca! Soooo many uses that don’t include throwing them away! 🙂
Great ideas especially because recycled jars can easily be decorated to match decor if you want to get fancy with it!
YES! I just bought some washi tape and think it will be perfect on some of those jars!
I use a lot canning jars to store things, but this is a great reminder that jars come in all shapes and sizes!
Thanks for all of the ways that I can re-purpose jars. I hate to just recycle when I can re-use and save on other purchases. Your ideas were so new and unique.
The jar with the nuts and bolts reminds me of the garage when I was growing up. My dad used to store things that way. Great list of ideas. Thanks!
KC
Both my dad and my FIL are the same way. In fact my dad has and elaborate set up he created. The jar lids are affixed to a rotating bar. Interesting how many of us had the example set for us… we just have to follow through!