Before You Toss Old Contact Lens Cases, Check Out These 12 Fun Ways To Repurpose Them

When it comes to a household where someone uses contact lenses, one thing is clear: There will be contact lens cases, and probably a lot of them. A contact lens case should be disposed of at least once a month because they can harbor germs that can lead to serious eye infections, according to the American Optometric Association, a Missouri-based professional organization. Before you toss them, you must see these 12 fun ways to repurpose a contact lens case. It's a common household item you can turn into an adorable planter, will become one of the best ways to get rid of ants, and will serve all kinds of other uses in the home.

Thoroughly wash a contact lens case before any upcycle. Use soap and water. While you won't be using it for lenses anymore, you might consider wiping the case with a disinfecting or multipurpose contact lens solution to eliminate any traces of bacteria that have been left behind. Finally, place the top and bottom of the case face down on a clean paper towel or cloth and let air dry.

If you're a maker, repurposing contact lens cases for crafting supplies can save a lot of money on buying plastic organizers. Contact lens cases are particularly useful for those who make jewelry, since they're the perfect size for small, hard-to-corral items such as beads, bails, and clasps. Of course, you can paint and glitter cases for a decorative touch and write the name of the contents on the outside. Remove the raised "L" and "R" from the case tops with a nail file if you want a level surface.

This is a great rainy day project, or for when you're snowed in. You can turn contact lens cases into checkers, and then play the game! In this upcycle, you'll create your checkerboard, which has unlimited potential in terms of color and design choices. The buttons for left and right on the tops of the cases will become the checkers, which can also be painted and decorated in boundless ways. If you leave the tops as they are, use 12 L tops and 12 R tops to distinguish between the pieces.

If you're obsessed with plants, this will make a fun project and a bit of an experiment. Use contact lens cases as mini-planters. Fill the wells of the case with soil and add greenery, such as tiny pieces of cactus that you might find at a garden center display (make sure to ask if you can take home the bits). You might also try starting seeds in a contact lens case, although the bounty will surely be small. Imagine how adorable a grouping of these little planters would be in a window ledge garden.

So many earbuds die unnecessary deaths from pulling and prodding to untangle their cords. A contact lens case can not only protect the earbuds, but also prevent twists and knots. The reuse involves cutting a slot into each bowl for the earbud handles. The ear pieces are placed into each bowl, with the handles cradled in the slots. The covers are then twisted back on, holding the earbuds in place as the cord is neatly wrapped along the center indentation of the case. It's recommended loosely wrapping at first. Done tightly, it can damage the cords.

With the cost of food rising, you may be putting extra effort into packing lunch for work or school. You can spice up the dreaded chore at home by including some spices. Contact lens cases make the perfect receptacle. By filling the wells with spices and using them as seasoning later, the food will be fresher, preventing garlic and onion powder, for instance, from getting wet and soggy in a salad. Cases are also great for salt and pepper.

There might be lipsticks all around your home (makeup bags, drawers, shelves, the bottom of handbags), some half broken or some with very little left in the tube. Before throwing them away, transfer the last of the lipstick into a contact lens case, using either a knife or spoon handle to scoop out the remnants from the tube. For an upcycle of this upcycle, you might want to experiment by combining leftover lipstick with coconut oil or petroleum jelly to create a lip balm that you can also store in a case.

If you have the time and you're organized, you can use a contact lens case to store doses of medication and vitamins. The case would replace those sometimes hard-to-open plastic pill organizers (as well as save money buying one). This is a trick for daily doses, refilling after each use for the next day, or multiple days. The day of the week can be written on the front of each case. Some will use the "L" well to take "later" and the "R" well to take "right now."

You know the scenario. You're painting, and you've got leftovers. Maybe there's paint you'll need to bring the project to completion; maybe there's paint you've carefully mixed with multiple colors that you love and want to use for another project. For small amounts, store in contact lens cases, which can be easily labeled with the color, project description, date, and other important details. Check bottle or tube labels or talk to your art supply store for advice on how long the paint will keep in a case.

There are natural ways to repel ants in the home. And you can use a contact lens case as the vessel. Some suggest using sugar, jelly, or another sweet substance with borax, one of the genius tips for using the white powder at home. Combine into a goo to attract the pests, filling the wells of a contact lens case and putting it out. Garlic cloves and cinnamon sticks, mint, or black pepper are also said to stop ants in their tiny tracks. Small amounts of these materials placed inside a case might do the trick.

The mad rush for a trip will often turn the house upside down, especially when a flight is on the agenda (and, worse, an international flight). Contact lens cases are cheap and easy solutions for adhering to important Transportation Security Administration rules while also wrangling the very important and easy-to-lose things travelers need. Contact lens cases can hold small items of jewelry such as rings and earrings, as well as tiny portions of creams, moisturizers, balms, must-have makeup like foundation, and got-to-take-it prescribed pills and daily vitamins.

Beauty companies say you can reuse false eyelashes up to 20 times with proper care. Depending on their material, they must be cleaned, sanitized, and dried properly. All glue must be removed. While they can be stored in their original box or in plastic bead organizer boxes, false lashes can be preserved in contact lens cases in between uses. Wells marking left and right makes this a particularly practical solution. Cases should be stored in a spot that is cool and dry, with the lids screwed on tightly to keep away dust or dirt.

Contact lens cases can be used to make a memory game that you can craft with children and then play. One added bonus? You can place small items inside each case for matching. They could be beads, dried beans, pebbles, paper clips, or just about anything small in or about the house. Another bonus? This can be played over and over. Take the time to decorate each case with paint, stickers, glitter, or any craft supply. Twisting the caps on and off in the game will help develop motor skills.