The Easy DIY That Uses Old Egg Cartons To Keep A Room Neat & Tidy

There are things to consider when picking out a trash can for your home, including how it fits the current decor, cost, and environmental impact. One way to maintain control over all three of these elements is to make it yourself. A waste can DIY might sound like a tall order. Fortunately, there are plenty of precedents to follow online, like YouTuber Thaitrick, who made a garbage can using egg carton flats.

In this easy room-organizing craft, you'll upcycle four egg cartons by wrapping them vertically around a square of high-density fiberboard. Add some wheels for mobility, and you've got yourself an eco-friendly, rolling trash receptacle on a budget. One of the best strategies for decluttering your home is to have a spot for every item, and to remove garbage quickly, which is much easier when you have a waste basket in every room. Check out how to make a funky homemade trash bin to keep your rooms organized.

This DIY trash bin is one of the most simple cleaning hacks to keep your home tidy. To start recreating this hack, you'll need four egg carton flats; these hold 30 eggs. If you don't have any at home, you can even ask your local grocer if they have any extras. You'll also need zip ties, like the HDX 8-inch ties that Home Depot sells for $3.31 — along with a saw, a drill, and a screwdriver. You'll also need to get a square of high-density fiberboard (HDF) to fit the length of your cartons. Tempered Hardboard is available at The Home Depot for $6.99. Finally, you'll need wheels and hardware — Amazon sells FixtureDisplays 2-inch caster wheels for $1.75 each. 

With your supplies assembled, it's time to build your bin. Start by forming four walls with the egg trays using zip ties. If you need to, grab the screwdriver to poke holes through the cartons to add more zipties for support. Next, cut the fiberboard into a 29.8-inch by 29.8-inch base. Some lumber stores will actually cut the wood to a designated size for you in shop. Once the board is the correct size, attach the wheels to the bottom with screws, and drill holes around the edges to thread zip ties through. Secure the cardboard flats to the base with the ties. You can simply slide a bag in and use it as is, or further customize it beyond that.

One way to upgrade your egg carton project is to make it more durable. Try adding a waterproofing agent like Rust-Oleum Never Wet spray from Amazon for $9.99. You can also reinforce the seal along the edges of the cardboard with hot glue. While the wheels on the bottom of this project are useful in some instances, most trash cans don't roll, so you may not even need them. You can ditch the caster wheels and sit the bin flat on the ground, or use hot glue to apply small wood legs, like the Crafter's Square Wood Dice from Dollar Tree for $1.25. There are also many ways to update the look to better suit your home décor.

To personalize the garbage can and make it your own, you could spray paint the finished product after assembling it. You can also apply whimsical touches like glitter, gemstones, or stickers if it's going into a child's room. For a rustic touch, you can add glue sisal or jute cord around the top of the wastebasket as trim. Keep in mind that this won't be the most durable trash receptacle; especially if you use it to throw out any wet waste or food, it may not hold up long. That said, however you customize it, you'll have a one-of-a-kind and eco-friendly trash bin to keep your rooms tidy.