Most of us finish a bottle of laundry detergent, rinse it out, and toss the lid without giving it much thought. But those plastic lids are sturdy, easy to clean, and just the right size for a bunch of small jobs around the house.

The next time you have an empty detergent bottle, save the lid before it goes into the recycling bin. You might be surprised by how often you find a use for it.

Laundry Detergent Lid — Image Credit: Pexels

Use Them in a Junk Drawer

Junk drawers have a way of collecting everything from loose batteries to coins and rubber bands. Before long, you’re digging through a pile of little things every time you need something.

Laundry detergent lids can act as small containers for separating those odds and ends. Use one for coins, another for rubber bands, and another for thumbtacks or batteries. You can arrange several lids inside the drawer so everything has its own spot.

Start Seeds for Your Garden

If you like starting plants from seed, you don’t need to buy a bunch of small containers. A clean laundry detergent lid can work as a tiny seed-starting container.

Add a few small drainage holes to the bottom, fill it with seed-starting mix, and plant your seeds. They can work well for small herbs, flowers, and other plants that will eventually be moved into larger pots or the garden.

Just make sure the lid is thoroughly washed before using it for plants, and give seedlings enough room to grow before transplanting them.

Organize Small Items Around the House

Small things are among the easiest to lose. Screws roll around drawers, buttons disappear into boxes, and paper clips somehow end up everywhere.

A few detergent lids can give those little items a temporary home. Keep one on your desk for paper clips, one in your craft area for beads or buttons, or one in the garage for small screws and hardware.

They’re especially handy for projects where you need to keep several types of small pieces separate.

Make a Water Propagation Station

If you grow houseplants, you’ve probably tried rooting a cutting in water. Instead of searching for another glass or small container, a clean detergent lid can work for very small cuttings.

Place the cutting so the stem can sit in a little water without submerging the leaves. Pothos, philodendrons, spider plants, and other plants that root easily in water can work well for this.

Keep an eye on the water level and change it regularly. Once the roots are long enough, you can move the cutting into soil or a larger container.

Use Them for Paint and Craft Projects

Laundry detergent lids can save you from having to grab a kitchen bowl every time you need a small container for a craft project. They’re handy for holding small amounts of paint, glue, beads, glitter, or other craft supplies.

Kids can also use clean lids with Play-Doh, modeling clay, or kinetic sand. The lid can serve as a little work surface, a container for small pieces, or a simple shape for pressing into soft materials.

When the project is over, you can wash the lid and save it for the next one instead of buying another tray or palette.

Keep Jewelry From Getting Lost

If you tend to take off your rings or earrings at the end of the day and leave them wherever there’s an empty spot, a detergent lid can make a handy little catchall.

Keep one on your nightstand or dresser for the jewelry you wear most often. The raised edge helps keep small pieces from rolling away, and you can easily move the lid when it’s time to clean.

It may not be the prettiest jewelry dish you’ve ever seen, but it costs nothing and gives those tiny pieces a place to stay.