Household Uses for 2-liter Soda Pop Bottles

Here are 7 ways to use 2-liter soda pop bottles before sending them to the recycling bin.

1. Bowling Pins for Toddlers

Set up the 2-liter bottles in a pyramid, square or other shape and give a toddler a ball and go bowling inside. I did that tonight in our home near Pasadena while the rain continued saturating the ground. The bottles don't even need decoration.

Here are some ideas to simulate safe, bowling pins for toddlers. Get clean sand from the hardware store and fill just enough sand on the bottom to increase the force needed to bowl over the bottles.

Paint the 2-liter soda bottles or wrap them in construction paper, glue and glitter to add some color.

Bowling for a 3-year-old doesn't take much space. I did it in an area that was about 3-feet wide and 5-feet deep.

Our 3-year-old was cranky and impatiently wanting dinner. But when I set them up, she got excited and was more than happy to spend about 10-minutes with me bowling.

2. Puppet-type characters

The 2-liter bottles can have a ping-pong ball on the opening to simulate a head. Paint little eyes and mouth on the ball. Cut out arms from construction paper or popsicle sticks to attach on the side using glue.

Wrap a neutral color construction paper around the bottle and decorate one with a "suit" and another with a "dress." Teachers can use them to make characters that resemble stories in a history lesson and have the students use the soda bottle puppets to act out the story.

3. Fly Catcher

Put water and Karo syrup in the bottle and leave it outside in an area where there are flies. Eventually, they'll crawl in to the bottle. We did this on our patio-picnic area last summer and it worked effectively.

4. Piggy Bank

Keep the cap on, cut a slit near the top that's just wide enough to deposit quarters, pennies, dimes and nickels. Watch the savings add up, or use the 2-liter soda pop bottle as a way to save up loose change for either family entertainment or to give to a favorite charity.

5. Ice Holder

Fill up the bottle with water and freeze it then use the bottle in a cooler during summer picnics.

6. Funnel

Measure about six inches from the neck and cut to use as a cheap funnel for pouring liquids through into small openings. I've done it successfully for pouring oil in to my car on occasion. Wipe clean, or if the oil builds up then discard properly.

7. Sand Art

Make an artistic display using sand in three inch layers and then alternating with different color rocks.

Most of the uses don't take long. Using soda pop bottles around the house also shows just how fun it is, yet inexpensive it is, to make use of everyday items.