Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle shampoo bottles?

By: Nicole Lysnkey

Nicole Lysnkey — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:50:17 +0000

I was really sad to hear from my local coop that while I can buy in bulk from them, the manufacter does not actually take their bottles back.

Which to me seems like a whole lot of effort on my part without much gain. I like the solid shampoo idea.

By: Quick Recycling Tip: How to Recycle Plastic Shampoo Bottles | Recycling Tip: How to Recycle Empty Shampoo Bottles | Easy Ways to Go Green

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:28:08 +0000

[...] article on Recycle This UK talks about some clever ways to get a second use out of shampoo bottles, including a cup holder for [...]

By: HuntingWabbits

HuntingWabbits — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:12:35 +0000

Amen! Imagine if we could just go to the store and trade in our bottles for full ones at a cheaper price? Now that would be cool!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:49:50 +0000

These would work good in craft projects. Some shampoo bottles are perfect shapes for doll bodies.
Also when my kids were small I would rinse them out very good so no soap remained and fill them with water. Not only would they use them in the bathtub to squirt each other but they also used them as water guns outdoors.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Another idea: Reject packaging and demmand BULK. Shampoo bottles last forever. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just refill them from bulk despensers at stores? We use gas cans over and over to transport and store fuel. Let’s apply this concept everything from shampoo to sunscreen to dish soap to motor oil. BULK EVERYTHING. Stop paying for marketing and empty bottles. Demand bulk by sending you empty bottles back to the distributer with polite note indicating you prefer to buy bulk and you believe they should be responsible for the disposal of the empty bottles they needlessly sell. Rapid change is possible when everyone in your town, city and country sends one bottle back to the producer instead of the landfill. They’ll get the message quickly. We need to remind the packaging industry that REDUCE and REUSE come before recycle.

By: Jess Jones

Jess Jones — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:45:34 +0000

I love solid shampoo, just wanted to hint all you people to a new store in the UK, http://www.thesoapcauldron.co.uk
I was recommended their by some friends about a month ago & haven’t turned back since!
Why?
Because they are natural & also green but the best bit is that they do not hurt your pennies as much lol…
Kisses,
Jess

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:34:36 +0000

The lids can be used for doll’s hats, the bottles to make doll’s couches or luggage.

By: Shorty

Shorty — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:18:44 +0000

Maybe make your own, and use those bottles? I saw on that show with those people with like 18 kids or something that they make their own detergent, and about a bar of Dial soap made around a bucket of detergent. Too lazy to look for it though. ;D

By: Gulia

Gulia — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:15:27 +0000

Remove labels. Keep in them homemade liquid detergent.

By: anna

anna — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:23:39 +0000

Big round bottles can be made pots for plants.
Small hotel size bottles are best kept, at least the pretty ones. Then just refill from the bigger ones.

By: teresa

teresa — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:19:06 +0000

Buy in bulk! Refill the bottle with a new shampoo.

Or, like glitterpixie said, use Lush’s bar soap! it totally kicks ass, especially if you travel.

Also, it’s true. You don’t really need to shampoo that often.

By: glitterpixie

glitterpixie — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:37:01 +0000

i solved this problem for myself by buying solid shampoo. i’m totally against liquid washing detergent and always buy powder (as basically, liquid detergent is just the poweder mixed with water. so we’re paying for water to be trasported etc! madness) sam goes for shampoo. buy solid shampoo bars, most have no packaging whatsoever, and any that do, it will be recycled and recyclable again. it’s soo silly to pay for water when you can just buy the concentrated item, and NO packaging either! solved!

try http://www.lush.co.uk/categories/Bars_72.aspx

or make your own:
http://www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk/solid_shampoo_recipe.htm

By: Petya

Petya — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:39:31 +0000

Remove the cover and the labels, cut the screw top, put something heavy inside and use it as a vase. Same can be used for a desktop pencil/pen organizer (use other cut shampoo bottles to divide into sections).

By: renee

renee — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:54:05 +0000

make a string and plastic curtain out of cut out bits and pieces.

if you are into scrap-booking you can use them to make the diecut shapes.

I use them as part of pendants, action figure accesories (makes great wings and capes)

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:20:56 +0000

Shampoo bottles can make absolutely lovely bracelets/necklaces. Just Cut circles out of them, put a hole in the middle and thread them onto string! Obviously looks better with coloured shampoo bottles but clear ones can still be used.

By: Shabnam

Shabnam — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:35:15 +0000

I posted a blurb on my blog about Rebecca Crawford (Spacefruit)who collected shampoo bottles washed up on her beach and made great necklaces out of them. The photo of one of her creations is posted. It’s really a great idea.
http://vertes-et-mures.blogspot.com/2007/07/des-dchets-pour-des-bijoux.html

By: Anteater

Anteater — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:02:30 +0000

I’ve not tried it, but apparently you can do without shampoo. You do something with baking soda and apple cider vinegar instead. Google “go no poo” for more information.

By: Amanda Kerik

Amanda Kerik — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:41:57 +0000

Cut off the bottom and punch holes all over. Push into soil and fill with water.

By: matchbookhymnal

matchbookhymnal — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 11:47:49 +0000

Sometimes you get down to either start making your own (Better Basics for the Home has good recipes) or just recycling the bottles. There may be a few applications for these, but not as many projects as you are going to generate bottles.

You can cut off the top and screw them onto your bike as bottle holders, though. Or cut them in half lengthwise for DIY-looking bike fenders.

By: bev

bev — Wed, 10 May 2006 14:24:19 +0000

If you don’t already have something like a brick in there, you could fill them with water and put them in your toilet cistern. I realise that’s only a one (or two) off thing though – but at least it’s a start!