About Reusable Water Bottles
Answers
Answer:
While putting away dishes, cups, and other kitchen items, I noticed that I was accumulating water bottles. Some have been purchased outright, a couple were gifts, and some were acquired as a result of participating in athletic events. My family’s collection includes:
Plastic sports water bottles
Camping water bottles acquired for a backpacking trip
Stainless steel water bottles
Most are used on hiking and camping trips or for bike rides and spin classes. The more we have, the more we use them, and the more I have considered additional purposes. Here are a few ideas for using your water bottles. (See also: The Best Eco-Friendly Water Bottles)
1. Measure Liquid
Our camping bottles have printed measurements indicating ounces and millimeters. Use these to measure water, broth, milk, or other liquids when cooking.
2. Make Tea
You can make a cool glass of tea by placing a tea bag in a water bottle, adding filtered water or tap water, and waiting about 30 minutes. During this time, the tea should steep naturally. Add some sweetener and/or ice for iced tea. For flavored tea, add a splash of fruit drink or a bit of powdered drink mix.
3. Carry Dry Food Mixes
Campers can fill up extra water bottles with dry goods that require only water (carried in a separate container). On a camping trip with another family, a friend made pancakes using a dry mix he prepared for the trip. His pancake mix would fit well in a water bottle. At the campsite, add water to the mix, shake, and pour in 1/4 cup increments on a hot skillet to prepare. Similarly, bring potato soup mix and add boiling water to make hot soup.
4. Mix Up a Drink Without a Spoon or Stirrer
If you are mixing a drink (I’m thinking of a sports-type drink, but other types of drinks could work as well), use a water bottle alone instead of a glass with a stirrer or iced tea spoon. Pour water in the bottle, add the right portion of the powdered drink mix, close the lid securely, and shake.
5. Split a Drink
On a somewhat regular basis, I would like to share a drink — but not germs — with someone. Having a water bottle at hand makes it easy to split a cold drink, like a soda, tea, or even bottled water. Buy your drink, pour a portion in the water bottle (being careful not to touch the drink lid to the bottle opening), and give the other person the remainder in the original container. This approach saves some money and cuts down on waste.
6. Refill Water Bowls for Your Pets
Designate a water bottle for your cat or dog, label the bottle with a permanent marker, and use it to fill your pet’s water bowl.
7. Water Plants
Just as Paul suggested as a new purpose of used detergent bottles, a water bottle can be useful for transporting water from the kitchen sink or spigot to your plants, inside and outside the house. For a smaller version of the drip irrigation method, fill a sports bottle (with a pull top) and turn upside down to water your plants.
8. Hold Fresh-Cut Flowers or Greenery
It's quirky but functional — your water bottle can serve as a vase when transporting fresh-cut flowers or as a centerpiece on your dining room table. Fill the bottom of the bottle with water and add the flowers.
9. Hold Household Stuff
Clear bottles with wide mouths are especially useful as holders of certain household items, like paper clips, nuts and bolts, or pens and pencils. If you are fond of a commemorative water bottle, then repurposing will let you keep it without it gathering dust or clogging up your kitchen cabinet.
10. Hold Coin Change
Toss coin change in a water bottle and keep the bottle in one of your cup holders in your car or on your dresser in your dorm room. This way, you’ll have quick access to spare change. Or you can easily take a filled-up bottle to your bank or credit union and trade for cash.
11. Clean Wounds
On a few occasions, I have reached for an extra water bottle to clean a wound after a minor accident. Though not sterile, the water was clean enough as it came from a reliable source (my home's water supply) and had been placed in an uncontaminated bottle.
The water can help wash out debris such as small stones or dirt until you have time to get sterile water, antibiotic cream, and bandages.
12. Substitute for a Sippy Cup
You could use a water bottle to serve a similar purpose as a kid’s sippy cup — give your kids something to drink without fear that they’ll accidentally spill the entire contents on the dining room table or living room floor within a few seconds. These wouldn’t work well for younger kids, but for those who have mostly graduated to regular cups, having a water bottle available to help avoid drink-related catastrophes could be handy at times.
13. Freeze Liquids
Just as you might freeze small quantities of soup stock in ice cube trays, use your water bottle to contain leftover liquid for future use.
14. Help Keep Other Stuff Cold
A frozen water bottle can serve as an ice pack when placed in a cooler with food and drinks.
Explanation:
A water bottle is usually made of plastic, glass, or metal. ... Water bottles can be either disposable or reusable. Reusable water bottles can also be used for liquids such as juice, iced tea, alcoholic beverages, or soft drinks. Reusable water bottles reduce plastic waste and contribute to saving environment.