10 Ways to Reuse Prescription Pill Bottles

If you seem to have a collection of prescription pill bottles lurking in your medicine cabinet that are empty or nearly empty, here are a few ideas of ways to recycle or reuse them.

1. Use them to keep spare change for parking meters, toll booths and vending machines in your car or truck.

2. Use them to store seeds for future planting. Be sure to label the container with the date and type of seeds you are storing. If you are concerned about moisture ruining your seeds, add a packet of silica gel to the prescription pill bottle to keep it moisture-free.

3. Make a small sewing kit for travel or office using a prescription pill bottle. A few buttons, needles, and thread (wind several different colors onto a small piece of cardboard that will fit inside the bottle) should do the trick.

4. Use them to store dried herbs or other seasonings. Prescription pill bottles work especially well for this in small RV kitchens or at a campsite.

5. Pill bottles are excellent for storing beads and other jewelry making components such as bails, jump rings and beading needles.

6. Use them to keep sharp items like thumbtacks, pushpins, staples or toothpicks out of reach for small children.

7. Think crafty. There are some very clever items that have been created using prescription pill bottles, from lamps to painted snowmen. Use a search engine online to find instructions for craft ideas that are suitable for a variety of age groups.

8. Create a toy for a pet. Add dried peas or beans to a pill bottle and be sure the lid is secure. Cats in particular love swatting these recycled toys around on kitchen or hardwood floors.

9. Use them to store barrettes, bobby pins or other hair accessories in your bathroom drawer.

10. Store emergency cash. Pill bottles can be a great place to stash a roll of dollar bills in a sock of lingerie drawer, or with an emergency/survival kit.

Tips:
Be sure to remove prescription labels prior to use. Use a labeler or permanent marker to mark the reuse contents.

To wash and sanitize pill bottles before using, add them to the utensils basket in your dishwasher.

Warnings:
Never use prescription pill bottles (or OTC medication bottles) to store candy in for children.

Never store food or topical use items (lotions, creams, etc.) in a pill bottle that has not been thoroughly cleaned. There is a possibility of medication residue causing adverse reactions or side effects.