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A Good Housekeeping report describes seven ways to reuse old mugs around the home and garden, including as organizers, small planters, and a bird feeder. The suggestions are practical ideas, not evidence that each mug is suitable for every use; the report does not provide detailed safety or care instructions.
Good Housekeeping has outlined seven ways to repurpose old mugs, suggesting they can serve as desk and bathroom organizers, small vases, planters, gift-basket containers, a DIY candle vessel, or a bird feeder. The ideas offer households ways to reuse mugs that are no longer part of a regular drinkware rotation, though the report does not set out safety guidance for every project.
Several suggestions make use of a mug as a ready-made container. The report recommends keeping pens, pencils, markers, paintbrushes, scissors, and other craft supplies in a mug to reduce desk clutter. In a bathroom, mugs can hold toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, cotton balls, cotton rounds, or swabs. A mug can also serve as a compact vase for flowers, with its low profile leaving sightlines across a table more open than a taller arrangement might.
For growing plants, the article suggests using mugs for herbs, microgreens, seedlings, or cuttings. Designer Janette Ewen proposes grouping mismatched mugs of herbs inside a shallow wooden box or vintage crate to make an indoor garden. The report does not describe drainage modifications, so people considering this use should account for how excess water will be managed.
Two of the ideas call for a little more preparation. A mug can be filled with candle wax to make a DIY candle; Ewen says craft stores sell both microwavable wax melts and wax intended for traditional double boilers, and says she prefers the microwavable option. A mug can also be filled with birdseed and secured sideways to a sturdy surface or hung by its handle in a sheltered location. The remaining suggestion is to include a mug in a comfort-focused gift basket with items such as cocoa, tea, a strainer, snacks, or a mug cozy.
Practical Uses for Spare Drinkware
The ideas address a familiar household problem: mugs can accumulate, while some remain meaningful because they recall a place or a person. Reusing them as containers gives them a role without requiring owners to part with them, and may help avoid buying a separate holder for small supplies or a small vase for a table.
The suggestions vary in effort. Desk and bathroom storage require little beyond choosing a mug and deciding what to keep in it, while candles and bird feeders need more care in their setup. These are options rather than tested instructions for every kind of mug. Readers should judge each item’s condition and suitability before using it for a purpose beyond serving drinks.
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From Drinkware to Household Storage
The source article frames the ideas as upcycling options for a mug collection that has already been thinned but still contains pieces an owner wants to keep. It notes that mugs can carry sentimental associations with travel and loved ones, which may make reuse more appealing than disposal.
Good Housekeeping credits lifestyle journalist Wendy Rose Gould with the report and cites designer Janette Ewen for advice on candle wax and grouping mug planters. The source presents a list of household ideas; it does not report a product launch, new study, or formal assessment of the environmental effects of reusing mugs.
““I love the microwavable option.””
— Designer Janette Ewen, as quoted by Good Housekeeping
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Project Details the Report Leaves Open
The source does not specify whether a mug should be heat-resistant, food-safe, or free of cracks for candle-making, nor does it give step-by-step wax handling instructions. It also does not explain how to secure a bird feeder safely, how to protect the mug from weather, or how to keep seeds dry. Those details may depend on the mug, materials, and location.
For planter use, the article does not address drainage or watering practices. It also makes no measurements or claims about cost savings, waste reduction, or how long these projects will last. The suggestions are presented as creative uses, not as a guarantee that every mug will work for every purpose.
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Choose a Mug and a Use
The report does not announce a follow-up or a scheduled next step. Readers can start by checking which mugs are intact and selecting a use that fits their needs: storage, flowers, plants, gifting, candle-making, or feeding birds. Before undertaking a candle or feeder project, they will need to determine the suitable materials and setup for the specific mug and intended location.
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Key Questions
What are the seven ways to reuse an old mug?
The report suggests using a mug to store desk supplies, make a candle, display flowers, build a gift basket, grow plants, feed birds, or organize bathroom essentials.
Can an old mug be used as a planter?
Yes. Good Housekeeping suggests using mugs for herbs, microgreens, seedlings, or plant cuttings. The report does not explain drainage, so that issue needs to be considered for the particular plant and mug.
How does the article suggest making a mug bird feeder?
It suggests filling a mug with birdseed and securing it sideways to a sturdy surface, or hanging it by the handle in a sheltered spot where birds can perch. It does not provide fastening instructions.
What supplies could go in a mug gift basket?
Suggested additions include hot cocoa or loose-leaf tea and a strainer, along with snacks, a mug cozy, candles, and other comforting items.
Source: rss
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