Top 5 uses for old plastic bottles

"You're drinking far too many fizzy drinks - you really should cut down!" they say.

 But, "ah," you say, "I use the bottles for other things."

"Like what," says they.

" Like these 5 things." says you.

 And that is how you win that discussion.

5. Vase

4. Ice block

3. Funnel

2. Skittles

1. Money box

5. Vase

An oldie but a goodie. Simply pop the flower through the neck of the bottle and you have an instant vase - and if there's more than one flower you just cut the neck off at a point where it's wide enough. Just add water.

4. Ice block

This was covered in my (ways to cool off) tip section but it is a genuine use so I am re-stating it here. Fill the empty bottle with drinking water - not too full because water expands as it freezes - and then stick it in the freezer. There you have a free ice block - and unlike those little blue ones you can buy, you can actually drink the lovely cold water once it defrosts. Double whammy!

3. Funnel

I generally associate this tip with cars as that's how I use it - so that's how I'll describe it's use. If you find yourself in need of topping up your oil it can be a messy old business. Just cut the top off an old bottle and invert it and hey-presto! You've just made yourself a very useful funnel.

2. Skittles

Take 10 empty bottles, put dirt or something similar in them to way them down - be careful if you have kids who're likely to try and drink from them though - and paint in lovely colours. Then throw a ball at them. But remember, the heavier the ball, the better it is to do this outside.

1.Money box

A useful device for collecting small change or as a means of collecting specific change necessary for pool tables or other such entertainments. 

It obviously helps if the opening is big enough for coins but otherwise cutting a slot in the top helps. If you need easy access to the coins then cutting the whole top off may be the only option.

But most people want to save coins without spending, so a slot may suffice - and painting your bottle with lovely designs, such as a diorama of the life of a yak, helps mask how much is in there and avoid the temptation to raid it.