Everyone has pill bottles tucked in a drawer somewhere — but why let them pile up? Even worse, why toss them? These tiny containers are kidproof, waterproof, and that bright orange color makes them almost impossible to lose. See where this is headed?
Before you throw the next one away, take a second look. These little bottles can be repurposed in surprisingly clever ways to organize the small stuff that usually gets lost. After this list, you might start saving every single one. Take a look — and tell us which idea you’ll try first.
1. Jewelry holderHeading out of town? Slip rings, earrings, or delicate necklaces into a clean pill bottle and screw the lid on tight. No more tangled chains rolling around your bag or tiny studs disappearing into the lining of your suitcase.
The sturdy plastic protects fragile pieces from getting crushed, and that bright orange color makes it easy to spot in a purse or carry-on. It’s one of those simple travel hacks that feels almost too obvious — but works every time.
2. Shower bottlesWhy spend money on travel-size shampoo, conditioner, or body wash when you already have the perfect tiny container at home? A clean pill bottle is leak-resistant, compact, and easy to toss into a gym bag or carry-on.
They’re especially handy for short trips or overnight stays when you only need a small amount. Just label the lid with a marker so you don’t mix things up — and you’ve got a free, no-fuss travel solution that works just as well as the store-bought versions.
3. Make a portable sewing kitIf you’re constantly snagging a sleeve or popping off a button at the worst possible moment, this one’s a lifesaver. Tuck a small spool of thread, a couple of needles, and an extra button into a pill bottle and keep it in your purse, car, or desk drawer.
It takes up almost no space, but it can save you from an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. When the (inevitable) moment happens, you’ll be surprisingly glad you planned ahead.
4. Hide a key
Need a good hiding spot? Instead of searching around for one, glue a rock to the top of an old pill bottle and place it in the garden or a pot. This one is sure to go unnoticed by burglars.
5. Survival kitNo, we're not talking about the camping kind. This little survival kit is perfect to keep in your purse, gym bag or even at the office in your desk. Instead, you should fill it up with bandaids, antacids, ibuprofen, sewing needle and thread, an extra button and everything else you can fit in there. If something happens, you're sure to have it close by.
6. Nail polish remover Nowadays you can buy those handy but expensive nail polish remover pods. You stick your finger in the remover, wiggle it around a little, and before you know it all your polish is off. Well, you can make one out of an old pill bottle by filling it with cotton balls and remover -- that's it!
7. Center pull for your yarn
There's no need to go out and buy an expensive center pull for wrapping your own yarn. Instead, you can stick the start of the yarn in the pill bottle, put the cap on, then start wrapping. It creates the natural gap you need and it's totally free!
8. Makeup holder
Paint the pill bottles a pretty color and fill it up with makeup brushes, Q-tips, whatever else will fit. You can also make yours magnetic and stick it to a board to keep organized.
9. Purse trash canOkay ladies, this is just about as genius as it gets. Decorate an old pill bottle then tossed it in her purse to collect things like old receipts, wrappers, and anything else that tends to just end up floating around. Cleaning your purse is going to be so much easier next time.
10. Earbud containerOne thing we can all agree on, without a doubt, is how annoying it is to untangle earbuds. Losing them in a tangled mess at the bottom of your bag comes at a close second. Instead, knot them up and throw them in a pill bottle. The chords stay neat, and you'll always be able to find them.
11. A love Rx
This is just a cute little way to cheer someone up or show them how you feel. Create adorable little instructions section on yours. So sweet!
12. MatchboxWell, more like match-cylinder. Simply fill the pill bottle with matches and tape a strike to the outside (or stick it with the strike facing outwards inside the bottle). Doing this makes a waterproof and kidproof match container. Perfect for camping or to keep in the car in case of emergency.
13. Coin holderTired of loose change rattling around in your car cup holder or getting lost at the bottom of your purse? A clean pill bottle is the perfect little bank for coins. It keeps everything contained, easy to grab, and simple to stash in your glove compartment or center console.
You can even roll up a few emergency dollar bills and tuck them inside for parking meters, vending machines, or tolls. It’s a small switch, but it keeps the clutter down — and makes sure you always have backup cash when you need it most.
