Growing up, it seemed like my mom never threw away a perfectly good butter tub. As soon as it was empty, she washed it, stacked it with the others under the sink, and somehow found a new use for it before long.

At the time, I thought she was just saving containers because that’s what moms did. Looking back, she was saving money, reducing waste, and staying organized without buying expensive storage bins. If you have a few empty butter tubs sitting around, here are some clever ways to reuse them.

butter tubs cans — Image Credit: Countrycrock.com

Start Garden Seedlings

Poke a few drainage holes in the bottom, add potting soil, and you’ve got an inexpensive planter for herbs or vegetable seedlings. They’re also great for rooting plant cuttings before moving them into larger pots.

Store Leftovers

Butter tubs make excellent leftover containers for soups, casseroles, pasta, and side dishes. Their snap-on lids help keep food fresh while making it easy to stack containers neatly in the refrigerator.

Freeze Homemade Meals

If you like meal prepping, butter tubs are perfect for freezing individual portions. Just label each container with the meal and date so you can grab an easy homemade dinner on busy nights.

Organize Small Hardware

My mom always had one filled with nails, another with screws, and another for random bolts. It kept everything from rolling around in the toolbox and made finding the right piece much easier.

Corral Craft Supplies

Buttons, beads, googly eyes, ribbon, and sewing supplies all fit neatly inside butter tubs. Label the lids so you can quickly find what you need without digging through drawers.

Use as Paint Containers

Instead of dirtying expensive paint trays, pour small amounts of paint into a butter tub for touch-up projects. When you’re finished, simply snap the lid back on to keep leftover paint from drying out right away.

Pack Snacks for the Road

Butter tubs are just the right size for crackers, grapes, pretzels, popcorn, or sliced fruit. They’re reusable, sturdy, and much more environmentally friendly than disposable plastic bags.

Store Pet Treats

Keep dog treats, cat treats, or birdseed in labeled butter tubs inside your pantry. The lids help keep everything together while making it easy to grab a container before heading outside.

Keep Hair Accessories Organized

Hair ties, barrettes, bobby pins, and clips seem to disappear constantly. A small butter tub keeps them all in one place, whether it’s in the bathroom, bedroom, or even the center console of your car.

Make a Simple Planter

One of my favorite ideas came from a friend who painted an old butter tub and turned it into a colorful planter for succulents. Once you drill a few drainage holes, it’s a fun way to give both the container and your plants a fresh new look.

Store Homemade Scrubs or Body Butter

If you enjoy making homemade sugar scrubs or whipped body butter, clean butter tubs work well for storing small batches. They’re easy to scoop from and seal tightly between uses.

Organize Kids’ Treasures

Every child seems to collect rocks, tiny toys, shells, stickers, and mysterious “treasures.” Giving each child their own butter tub helps keep those collections contained instead of scattered throughout the house.

Create a Car Organization Kit

Keep one in your glove box or center console filled with spare change, hand sanitizer, lip balm, hair ties, charging cables, or first-aid supplies. Everything stays together instead of rolling around every time you make a turn.

Store Garden Seeds

Butter tubs work well for storing seed packets between planting seasons. Keeping everything together in one labeled container makes planning next year’s garden much easier.