Tidy up with creative recycling: use tin cans to organize your working areas

by Mark Bennett

September 25, 2023

Last updated: May 17, 2024

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There are some everyday objects that we can easily recycle in creative ways, like empty tin cans. Most of the time, we just throw tin cans out. But empty tin cans can be very useful as (recycled) containers, embellished with handmade decorations, and then used to keep our things in order.

All you need to do is to wash them out properly, dull down any sharp edges, and then they will be ready for you to customize as you wish. Check out the ideas below:

Organize the kitchen with tin cans

Large tins are ideal for tidying up ladles, spatulas and kitchen brushes, preventing us from rummaging through drawers for ages searching for these utensils.

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On the dining table, or outdoors: ideas for recycling cans

It is easy to fix the cans to a wooden support with a useful handle, and create a cutlery holder we can carry around with us to wherever we decide to dine!

Another popular idea is to join the cans together, gluing them and tying them together with strings, belts, ribbons of various kinds and making a salt, pepper or oil holders for the center of the dining table.

From tin cans to wonderful pen holders

As handy containers, they also help a lot sorting out desks: they can be decorated in a thousand ways and then filled with desktop stationery.

Their outsides can be painted, covered with fabric or cork or wrapped with string. There are no wrong ideas, no matter your taste!

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A sewing can

Tutorial via sewverycrafty.com

If you love sewing, "dressing up" a tin can like the one shown here (with pockets too!) will be a very handy tool for you.

Storage, table or kitchen organizer: ideas for recycling tin cans

The cutlery holder idea (see above), actually also works for any type of item, not just cutlery.

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And the cans can also be fixed to hanging panels, secured to the walls instead of placed on shelves.

Another space-saving idea is an object holder made with cans mounted on a revolving tray: you can store all your knick-knacks and they will be easy to find later.

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More ideas for decorating your recycled cans

Whatever type of project you have in mind, the cans will almost certainly need to be decorated. Usually, they are covered/clad: you can use colored fabrics, paper, felt or EVA rubber, or any other material you think can work.

And you can even make crocheted "coats" for them!

Do you recycled tin cans at home?

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