Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Simple Spruce-Ups: DIY Dispensers from Glass Bottles

Did you know that the screw-on plastic dispenser tops from store-bought soaps, shampoos, and lotions will often fit on glass bottles? Finding the right bottle may require a bit of experimentation, but once you find a bottle the right size, you can create a unique, eco-friendly DIY soap or lotion dispenser in seconds!

This pump top from a bottle of Trader Joe's hand soap fits perfectly atop a bottle that previously held lime juice. The "straw" inside is even the perfect length.To refill it, I like to use the handwash refill pouch from Method, which purportedly has an 83% smaller carbon footprint than a hard plastic bottle:This sparkling cider bottle pairs perfectly with a top from a bottle of liquid dish soap: The soap needs to be "shaken" out because the bottle can't be squeezed. An alternative option would be to use a spigot top designed for dispensing olive oil.

I can imagine lots of other potential applications for this idea. Classy possibilities would include using frosted glass bottles or antique bottles. If "campy" is more your style, how about making a beer bottle soap dispenser for your favorite beer-swigging hooligan hubby? Any bottle with ridges at the neck is a candidate for this easy DIY project. The only limit is your imagination!

This post has been linked to: DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land, Metamorphosis Monday At Between Naps on The Porch, Finding Fabulous, Thrifty Thursday and The Thrifty Home