Repurpose An Old Coffee Can To Organize Plastic Bag Clutter

Certain things around the home tend to suddenly balloon into a mountain of clutter. Things like old charger cables, junk mail, and, of course, plastic bags. While having an odd plastic bag here or there can sometimes come in handy, you want to save them in a way that makes them accessible, useful, and hopefully out of the way so they don't just add to the mess. While there are specialized plastic bag holders you can purchase for the home, you might be surprised to find that there is an easy way to keep those bags organized using another unassuming item in your kitchen. YouTuber Chris Notap demonstrated how you can make a simple plastic bag holder from a humble coffee can in their super helpful DIY project.

Proving there are lots of creative ways to repurpose old items in your home, Notap uses a coffee can with a plastic lid for this project. Using scissors, he pokes a hold in the lid and cuts slits radiating out from the center so it makes it easy to pull just one shopping bag at a time. He finishes the project by poking holes at the end of each slit near the rim of the can lid to make it more pliable. Once the lid is prepared, all you need to do is stuff the can with your plastic bags and pop the lid back on. Store it anywhere convenient so you always have old bags to reuse around the home.

Besides making a handy plastic bag holder, there are lots of ways to reuse coffee cans around the house and in your yard. Many DIYers use old large cans and coffee cans for DIY planters to give a cute, rustic touch on the window sill or in the garden. Just note that many metal coffee cans will eventually rust if they are exposed to water, so you can stave off that process by protecting the can with enamel, paint, or a spray-on coating. To ensure proper drainage, it's also important to drill holes in the bottom of the can before planting. Similarly, you can use coffee cans as a vase to make flower arrangements, which will also require a protective treatment from rust.

Other DIYers have found ways to reuse cans for storage for things such as toilet plungers, like TikToker @redeux_style, or coverings for tissues. Another option is to get some essential oils, wax, and cotton or wooden wick to make DIY candles inside a coffee can. You can also use coffee cans as part of your holiday decorations, like TikToker @blessedcolette, who used coffee cans to make an adorable fall scarecrow. Of course, a metal coffee can could make great storage for lots of odds and ends around the home, including arts and craft supplies, small toys, or things like nails, screws, bolts, or other useful items that would otherwise get lost or clutter up a drawer. Plastic coffee containers can also be useful in the same ways.