Upcycling with Milk Cartons – Turning Old into New!

If you've ever thought that far too much is thrown away, now's your chance to make a difference! Many items can be wonderfully repurposed for your balcony, patio, and garden.

And if you're thinking it'll still look like junk: far from it! With just a few simple steps, seemingly useless packaging can be transformed into fantastic ideas for your outdoor spaces. This not only saves you money but is also great for the environment.

Milk cartons are actually ideal for repurposing as planters. Because they're designed to hold liquid, they're waterproof and won't disintegrate when a plant inside is watered. However, this also unfortunately means that milk cartons don't decompose in the environment, leading to more pollution. That's why milk cartons are only good for the environment if they are recycled—specifically, as small planting containers! Milk cartons come in square or rectangular shapes, so it never gets boring. And of course, you can paint them too!

To transform milk cartons into homes for small plants, you'll need to do a little repurposing. Depending on how tall you want your new plant containers to be, cut off the top part of the milk carton with a utility knife. Then, make sure to rinse the milk cartons thoroughly and wash them with dish soap to prevent any future odors or mold.

Next, gently press the milk cartons until they are slightly malleable. If you plan to paint the milk cartons, you can carefully peel off the first layer of paper along the seam. Finally, fold down the edges to create a rolled-down look.

To move your plants in, simply fill the milk cartons with soil and plant your chosen greenery. Their small size makes them perfect for an urban gardening project on your balcony.

Here's a little tip: use a pointed object to poke holes in the milk cartons, then thread a string through them. This quickly transforms your standing milk carton planters into hanging baskets for your balcony. However, since the outside of milk cartons can be susceptible to moisture, they should be placed or hung in a covered area.