Don't Throw Out Old Shower Curtain Rings. Here's How To Repurpose Them Instead

Shower curtain rings are common to find on just about any shower that doesn't have a door, and for good reason. They're a convenient way to hang your shower curtain and switch it out as needed, but, sometimes, you find yourself with extras floating around after changing your setup or installing a curtain with fewer holes along the top. Instead of stowing them away in the junk drawer, these little plastic or metal rings can find plenty of other uses around the house thanks to their simplistic design and convenient size.

According to data from Statista, only 21% of people surveyed said they frequently upcycle goods rather than throwing them out. Upcycling, even with something as small as a few shower curtain rings, can help you reduce your negative environmental impact, decrease the amount of waste your household produces, and even save money on unnecessary purchases. With some creativity, it's easy to transform items that would have otherwise ended up as trash or clutter, like extra shower curtain rings, into something that you and your family will use, even if you don't have previous experience with DIYs or involved crafting projects.

Storing purses on a shelf works well, but, if you're more of a fan of canvas totes or slouchier silhouettes, it's better to hang your bags to ensure the contents don't spill out. Unfortunately, however, many closets are only designed with hanging clothes in mind, so you're left having to install hooks or awkwardly put your bags on a hanger and hope they stay in place. Thankfully, shower curtain rings can offer a solution. Clip them over the rod in your closet, then use them to hook on the handle of your bags for a low-profile storage system.

Before we enjoy eating a meal, we also eat with our eyes. Napkin rings are a great way to create a fun tablescape for your next event, and shower curtain rings are the perfect size and shape to act as a base for a DIY. Wrap your rings in ribbon, glue on some florals, or simply hit them with a coat of paint to act as an accent and enhance your guests' experience before dinner. If you stick with more temporary changes, you can also reuse the same base ring again and again.

If you have long hair, hair elastics are an essential item to have handy. Unfortunately, however, their small size means they're quite easy to lose. Tossing them in the bathroom drawer will keep them all in one place, but then you're left to dig through a bunch of random items every time you want to put your hair in a ponytail. Instead, consider using a shower curtain ring as a convenient storage method. Click them on the ring and toss it in your drawer, or hang it on a hook for an even more convenient storage solution.

Belts are a notoriously difficult-to-store item, especially when you have a large collection, but a few shower curtain rings can make stowing them away much easier. Instead of having to wrap up your belts every time you put them away or simply shoving them in a drawer and hoping for the best, a shower curtain ring can allow you to hang them flat, leaving them accessible and less prone to damage. Simply thread the ring through the belt buckle and connect it to the rod in your closet. 

Multi-tier hangers are incredibly helpful if you are limited on horizontal space in your closet. Thankfully, you don't have to buy any new items to create something that will allow you to accomplish this task. Instead, take two regular hangers and a shower curtain ring. Place the ring over the hook of the first hanger, then hook the second hanger through the ring. You can stop here if you want, or keep adding on rings and additional hangers in the same pattern if you're feeling pressed for space in your existing closet setup.

Necklaces are notorious for tangling up and getting tied in knots, no matter how careful you are, but shower curtain rings can help to prevent this issue and allow you to accessorize without having to solve a puzzle. Find a horizontal rod, whether it's a towel rod, a hanger, or a clothing rod in the closet, and add on a few shower curtain rings along the length of it. Clip one necklace to each of these rings to keep them separated and untangled while still being able to sort through them and see your entire jewelry collection.

Bath toys are a great way to keep kids entertained, but they can easily create a mess. To make your own hanging organizer, however, all you need is a plastic basket and a couple shower curtain rings. Weave the rings through the holes on the basket, then hook it on the shower curtain rod to keep the toys accessible but still out of the way. When choosing a basket, it's also a good idea to choose something with drainage at the bottom to ensure the toys can properly dry and not become covered in mold or mildew.

Floral arrangements are a fantastic way to bring freshness and seasonal flair to your space, but, sometimes, displaying them doesn't quite go as planned. If you have a bouquet that is sagging or too tall for the vase, consider using a shower curtain ring to keep all of the stems together. Simply fit whichever stems you can through the curtain ring before placing them in your vase. This will essentially perform the same function as the tapered top on a lot of popular vase styles. To disguise the ring, fit some stems around the outside, too.

Because of their small size and tendency to get lost among your other clothes, scarves can get a bit difficult to store. With some shower curtain rings, however, you can create a simple organizational system by attaching your ring to the bar in your closet or a hanger, then pulling your scarf through the hoop to allow it to hang. If you're hanging something silkier that you're afraid will fall, you can also fold the scarf in half, feed the folded end through the loop, then pull the ends through the loop you created to better secure it.

The best way to transport posters is in their original cardboard tube, but most people throw these away soon after hanging up or framing their new print. The alternative is rolling them up, securing them with a rubber band, and treating them as fragile items during the moving process. The problem, however, is that rubber bands are often too tight to secure the poster without creasing or damaging it. A shower curtain ring can be just as functional without constricting to fit the rolled paper, meaning you'll be able to keep everything together without worry.

For a fun holiday DIY, consider using your shower curtain rings as mini wreath forms. Simply wrap them in ribbon, tinsel, or faux foliage, then accessorize as you please. Add on a loop of ribbon along the top or stick them straight on the tree if you're planning on using them as a Christmas ornament, or stick with more springy theming and use them as additional décor for an Easter or St. Patrick's Day party. If you don't glue anything to the ring directly, you can reuse the base again throughout the year and for different projects.

If you frequently host events, you know that finding your own glass when guests are moving around and chatting can be a challenge, especially if all of your drinks look similar. Glass markers can present a solution to this problem as well as a fun opportunity for customization. Decorate your shower curtain hooks with ribbon, paint, and charms, making sure that you're still able to click it open and closed. Once you're done, snap the ring over the stem of your glass to allow you and your guests to more quickly identify whose drink is whose.

Whether you prefer to use reusable grocery bags or stick with plastic, storing them can get frustrating. A shower curtain ring can allow you to keep all of your bags in one place, organized, and easily accessible. Open up your shower curtain ring, loop the handles of your bags through, and stow them away. If you use reusable bags, toss the ring in the back of your car so you're never caught without them at the store. If you're storing plastic bags, consider installing a hook on the inside of your cabinet door to hang the ring.

A shower curtain ring might seem too big to hold keys at first glance, but it's a good option if you have a large number for different properties. Loop each key onto a smaller metal ring, then connect them all to the larger plastic shower curtain ring. This larger ring will keep them all together and give you a convenient carrying point, but it will also allow you to easily take off individual keys without having to pry open a stubborn metal ring every single time you need to separate your collection.

Towels need to completely dry out after use to avoid a musty, mildewy fate, but it can be tempting to just leave them in a pile if you don't have any convenient places to hang them up. To prevent this issue and remind yourself, consider attaching a shower curtain ring to the towel, either using the tag or creating a small hole in one of the corners. Use this ring to hang the towel on drawer pulls, fridge handles, or hooks without having to worry about them falling off at the slightest sign of movement.

Keeping cleaning essentials like scrub brushes and squeegees in your shower can help you keep up a consistent and low-effort cleaning routine, but these tools can take up quite a bit of valuable storage space. If your cleaning essentials have a hole somewhere on the handle, however, you can easily suspend them from a hook, your door handle, a towel rod, or even the shower curtain rod using a shower curtain rod ring. Thread the ring through the hole and you'll find that hanging your squeegee or scrub brush will instantly become much easier.

If you find that your outfit needs a pop of color, consider making your own chunky bracelets using shower curtain rings as a base. Give them a coat of durable spray paint for a vibrant opaque finish, or wrap them with ribbon, decorative tape, or yarn for something with more texture. Most shower curtain rings can unhook to fit onto your wrist, but sizes can vary. If the rings you have are still too small for adult hands, this DIY could also make a great craft and dress-up accessory for creative kids.

Baseball caps' simple construction means they can be prone to losing their shape when tossed in a drawer or shoved in the back of the closet. To protect them and keep them accessible, consider hanging them up using shower curtain rings. Unlike most hats, baseball caps typically include a hole in the back and an adjustable strap that allows you to tighten the hat to your head. Thread the shower curtain ring through this hole, and you'll be able to hang your hats on a hanger or directly on the rod in your closet.

Faux candles are a great option if you're worried about having an open flame, but most options available on the market aren't the most realistic looking. To bypass this issue and create a piece of décor you'll be proud of, consider using shower curtain rings to make a candle holder. Stack a few rings on top of one another, add on a bottom made of cardboard or scrap wood, glue them together, then hit everything with a coat of spray paint. This little creation could also double as a vase for dry flowers.