26 Ways To Reuse Empty Glass Jars (Creative & Easy)

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I buy a lot of food in jars, so I have a full drawer with empty glass jars. If you are like me, and you wonder what to do with empty glass jars, keep reading to find creative & perhaps unexpected ways to reuse empty glass jars!

26 Creative Ways To Reuse Empty Glass Jars:

1. Meal prep – Empty glass jars are easy to carry and are ideal for food storage, meal prep, and portioning. You can meal prep things like overnight oats, chia pudding, soups, smoothies, salads, etc.
2. Storage for cloth napkins – Cloth napkins are great, quick cleaning options for dust or spills. They are also a much more sustainable option than paper towels. You can store the clean cloth napkins in a jar and use them when needed.
3. Milk “bottle” – Have you ever tried to make homemade plant milk? It is easy, fast, cheap! When I make mine, I usually store it in a glass jar or bottle.
4. Spice storage – I bet you’ve seen tons of organized pantries with spices in jars. It is a cool way to repurpose smaller glass jars. 
5. Legumes/grains storage – If you buy things in bulk, you can use bigger jars to store dry food, like beans, lentils, rice, oats, flour, cornflakes, pasta, nuts & seeds, etc.
6. Piggybank – Instead of getting a piggybank, you can collect coins in a glass jar. You can seal up the top and make a hole in the lid, so you avoid taking the money out too soon.
7. Toothbrush holder – A jar can be a perfect toothbrush holder.
8. Utensil holder – You can separate and organize your utensils in glass jars. 
9. Paintbrush holder – If you like to paint, you can use empty glass jars for painting & holding your paintbrushes.  
10. Reusable facial rounds – You can make your DIY facial rounds from an older cotton towel by cutting rounds or squares. Then you can store them in a jar.
11. A water “bottle” – Instead of buying a glass bottle, you can use an empty glass jar or bottle.
12. Flower vase – Use a glass jar for flowers instead of a vase. It is cute and economical.
13. Collecting small items – It is a great way to organize small items, like buttons, pins, and hairbands.
14. Store DIY products – If you DIY things, you can use glass jars to keep different homemade goods, such as toothpaste, toothpowder, DIY mouthwash, DIY body butter, DIY deodorant, DIY dry shampoo, DIY coffee scrub, etc.
15. DIY glass jar lamps – Glass jar lamps can be a fun DIY project. WikiHow has a great guide on making glass jar lamps.
16. Positivity jar – I saw this somewhere and thought it was a cute idea. Fill up a jar with positive notes. Take a note every day or every time you feel a bit down. The jar can help you to keep a grateful and positive mindset. It is also a sweet gift idea. 
17. Sand and seashell souvenir gift – An easy and cute souvenir that you can use for decoration or as a gift. Collect a bit of sand or rocks and a bunch of small seashells. You can add anything that you have to make it more unique.
18. Cookie dough mixes /or bath salt mixes/ – Take a clean & Dry jar and start layering the dry ingredients. It is a fun and easy-to-make gift idea. If you want to make it for someone, you can add a note with instructions. You can follow my recipe for DIY chocolate chip cookies here.
19. Advent calendar – A quick and easy craft idea that can be ideal for holiday celebrations like Christmas. Place a number on each of them and get creative with the decoration. You can put a small treat in each of them, like homemade cookies, a note, or a riddle. It will be more thoughtful and less wasteful than the ones they sell in the supermarkets.
20. Herb garden – Add small rocks & pebbles, so the water can drain under the soil, and the roots won’t rot. Then, fill the jars about halfway with soil and add the herbs. 
21. Terrariums – They are easy to make, require low maintenance & are cute. To do it, fill the bottom of the jar with small pebbles & add charcoal after to reduce bacteria, fungi, and odors. Then, addd the soil and the plants. Decorate with pebbles, moss, and other natural decorations.
22. Candle holder – You can place some candles or Christmas lights and make a cozy atmosphere.
23. Leftovers – Jars are ideal for leftovers, even if you are eating outside. It can come in handy and help reduce food waste.
24. Growing sprouts – Sprouts are healthy & flavorful additions to your meals. To make it, add 1-2 tablespoons of the sprouting seeds in a jar. Cover with 2 inches of warm water & let it sit overnight. The next day, use the cheesecloth to drain the water. Add water to the jar to rinse the seeds, and drain again. Repeat this twice a day, every day, until your sprouts get a bigger size. It will take between 3 to 7 days, depending on the type of sprout you’re growing. 
25. Coffee ‘cup’ to-go – Instead of using single-use paper cups, you can bring a jar and use it as a ‘cup’ on the go.
26. Root house plants to make new ones – Cut a root node from a plant you have and then place it in a mason jar filled with clean water. Change the water every couple of days and watch the tiny roots grow. Place the jar close to the window with bright indirect sunlight.

Did I miss something? If you have more ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below.