If you buy eggs in cardboard containers, chances are that you end up recycling those cartons every week or so. Though it's great that the cartons are being recycled instead of ending up in landfills, there are also ways to re-purpose them as handy household items. This is just a short list of 10 things you can do with your empty cartons: I've no doubt that your imagination could inspire you to come up with many of your own ideas as well.
You can either widen the holes at the bottom of the cups for root growth and then plant them directly into the earth outside, or you can use a spoon to gently lift out each seedling and plant them individually.
Just be sure to label the bulbs carefully by adding tags to the string you've used to close the container: writing directly onto the carton isn't recommended because any dampness will make the ink run.
Cut the carton cups apart so they're free-standing, and use them to measure out up to 1/4 cup of dry ingredients, such as herbs, spices, baking powder, etc. Just don't use them for very runny liquid ingredients, as the cups are absorbent and will throw off your measures. Thicker wet ingredients like cream, yoghurt, etc. are okay.
As a side note, you can also hang onto the eggshells themselves: they're also great for starting herb seedlings in, and if they're a bit mangled and crunchy, you can grind them up and toss them into your garden as a calcium supplement for the soil.
1. Seed Starter
Photo by HDC
You've likely seen this one a thousand times before, but it really is a spectacular way to start seedlings in the spring. Poke a hole at the bottom of each cup so that excess moisture can drain, and then add in the potting/starting soil of your preference. Dampen the soil with water, poke a couple of holes in each section with the tip of a pencil or chopstick, and drop 1 or 2 of seeds into each hole. Sprinkle a bit more soil over them and put them in a sunny spot, ensuring that you keep the soil damp. You'll soon have wee seedlings popping up, and once they're about 4 inches tall, you can transfer them into your garden.You can either widen the holes at the bottom of the cups for root growth and then plant them directly into the earth outside, or you can use a spoon to gently lift out each seedling and plant them individually.
2. Bulb Storage
Just be sure to label the bulbs carefully by adding tags to the string you've used to close the container: writing directly onto the carton isn't recommended because any dampness will make the ink run.
3. Fire Starter Pellets
Photo by Flitzy Phoebie
Keep the butt ends of candles that have burned down, and then melt them all together in an old can or pot. Mix together sawdust, wood chips, and shredded paper, fill the egg cups halfway with the mixture, and then pour the melted wax into each egg cup. Once they've cooled and solidified, you can break them apart as individual fire-starters for campfires and fireplaces—just light one of the edges and the cup in your hearth, close to the kindling.4. Floral Lights
5. Worm Food
Photo by amymyou
Do you vermicompost yet? Keeping a batch of red wiggler worms under your sink to compost your household veggie scraps is a great idea, and they do like to break down paper and cardboard. Tearing up your egg cartons and tossing them to your worm-friends to turn into compost takes care of waste while creating nourishing food for your garden.6. Shoe Rack Near the Door
7. Mise en Place Cups
Cut the carton cups apart so they're free-standing, and use them to measure out up to 1/4 cup of dry ingredients, such as herbs, spices, baking powder, etc. Just don't use them for very runny liquid ingredients, as the cups are absorbent and will throw off your measures. Thicker wet ingredients like cream, yoghurt, etc. are okay.
8. Craft Supply Sorting
Photo by quadrapop
This is great for crafty folks of all ages: those tidy little egg cups are perfect for keeping craft materials sorted as you work on a project. Sort your beads into different sections if you're working on a necklace; keep your stamps and ribbons handy if you're scrapbooking; make sure your gems don't roll away if you're bedazzling the hell out of a denim jacket. Whatever your means of creative expression, a carton can be your best friend.9. Paint Palette for Kids
Photo by Jenn Mau
These cardboard cartons are ideal for holding childrens' tempera paints. Just pour a different colour into each cup, give the kid some brushes and large sheets of paper, and let them express their creative genius. Smocks are probably a good idea, as are drop-cloths. And plastic sheeting on the furniture.
As a side note, you can also hang onto the eggshells themselves: they're also great for starting herb seedlings in, and if they're a bit mangled and crunchy, you can grind them up and toss them into your garden as a calcium supplement for the soil.
10. Jewellery Organizer
