5 Practical Ways to Reuse Glass Jars at Home

Annabel Okeya

I use upcycled glass jars and bottles for a variety of things including food storage, plant propagation, office supply storage, meal prepping, bathroom storage, and more. Whether you’re just starting out on your low waste living journey or have been at the game for a while, there’s no use throwing out things you already own or going to the store to buy a ton of items to “start living eco-friendly, low waste” lifestyles. It’s the most affordable and eco-friendly way to make use of the resources we already have at our disposal.

Removing labels from jars before reusing

Most jars come with sticky labels that may be difficult to remove. I usually remove the labels and most of the glue off with just soaking the jars for a couple of hours in hot soapy water or holding the side of the jars with label under hot water and peeling off gradually. If the glue is still stubborn after a good soak, try adding olive or vegetable oil to the jar for a couple of minutes and then wipe off.

Here's how I repurpose my glass jars around the house:

To organize the Pantry

Jars are the perfect addition to a pantry in any kitchen. After washing your glass jars, use them to store any type of dried goods such as beans, pasta, flour and rice that you pick up at bulk bins. Additionally, use glass jars to organize snacks, hold spices, tea leaves, anything you can think of! Really, the possibilities are endless.

For Cold Drinks in the Summer

You can reuse glass jars to drink water, juice, iced coffee and smoothies out of. I clean out Seventh & Oak jars and use them for my morning iced coffee or matcha.

For meal prepping or storing leftovers 

Storing food in jars isn’t limited to your pantry. You can also reuse glass jars to store food in the fridge. Use glass jars to store leftovers in your refrigerator such as sauces, soups, and salads. Additionally, you could meal prep things like oatmeal and parfait.

To Store Cotton Rounds

Another practical way I use finished candle jars is for cotton rounds. I have one jar filled with cotton rounds in my washroom for my daily skin care routine.

For Propagating plants

I love using empty tomato sauce jars to propagate new plants before transferring them to soil. I also reuse glass jars to create a mini herb garden in my kitchen for things like basil, cilantro and rosemary. I simply add soil, plant the seeds, and wait for those beautiful herbs to grow.