Comments on: Ten Frugal Things To Do With An Empty Vitamin Water (Or Other Plastic Beverage) Container http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: soothsayer http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-64847 soothsayer Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:11:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-64847 Yvie: What about the original contents of the bottle? What if a plastic bottle of Coke had been sitting on a store shelf for months, would it then be toxic to drink the contents?

Yes. Even if water sits in a bottle for weeks or months you can smell and taste the plastic in the liquid. Coke and other carbonated, acidic beverages sitting inside bottles are even more problematic because they react with the plastic.

This is not urban legend. There’s an article in the Sept/Oct 2007 Mother Jones, with research citations, which concludes that certain plastics #3 PVC, #6 Polystyrene and #7 Polycarbonate are linked to birth defects and diseases. They contain chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol-A, which have been found in significant quantities in the urine of the majority of Americans tested– even newborn babies.

Please visit my blog to read more.

]]> By: Jenners http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-52038 Jenners Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:57:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-52038 Take the top half of the one you cut in half for a plant, and you also have a nice funnel…

]]> By: crazypumpkin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51825 crazypumpkin Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:25:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51825 The issue isn’t leeching chemicals as others have said. But what everyone has missed is cleaning. These bottles are very hard to clean appropriately, and things can and do grow in them. One reuse, two reuses, you’re usually ok, but throwing them out after that is highly advisable. You can’t get into all the little nooks and crannies to clean it thoroughly.
The university I work for has an interesting addition to the standard recycling logo. Our recycling boxes say “RETHINK, reduce, reuse, recycle”. I think rethinking even buying these bottles is more important. I have two liter bottles and one half litter bottle and always have water in one of them with me.

]]> By: Joe Tyron http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51813 Joe Tyron Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:44:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51813 Great! What are your suggestions for popsicle sticks?

]]> By: coral http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51802 coral Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:18:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51802 I use these hard platic drink bottles to dispose of diabetic/insulin needles. You shouldn’t use soft plastic (like plastic milk jugs) because the needles can easily poke through. Make sure you replace the cap before throwing them away, though.

]]> By: Rob W http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51799 Rob W Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:58:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51799 Some good ideas, plus (in comments) the excellent idea to simply avoid buying the plastic bottles wherever possible.

A few calls to “just recycle it”, which seems fine at first blush, but isn’t at all the same thing. Think about it – buying bottled water means you’re paying for the creation of the (basically indestructible forever and ever) plastic, plus for the fuel burned in filling and getting that bottle to you. When you recycle it, you’re paying for *more* energy spent in transportation and processing (since you pay indirectly for the recycling costs), the plastic is reused possibly once, then it ends up in a landfill anyway.

All that, when the other option is to simply drink the water that’s already available *in your home* at no additional cost, perfectly safe, and just as tasty (possibly after you add a filter).

Just some food for thought.

]]> By: Lisa Knight http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51792 Lisa Knight Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:36:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51792 DIY network is running a “Tip” that if you wrap the threads of the bottle (or jar) with plumber’s tape the paint will last longer.

I reuse water bottles all the time, if you are really concerned about the “reuse” issues (report I watched was e coli & other bacteria not chemicals) just disinfect them with bleach (capfull into a sink of water & soak for a minute). If it’s good enough to pass Health Department codes for restaurants it should be good enough for home.

]]> By: melanie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51740 melanie Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:08:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51740 These bottles are great for infant toys. Fill each one with something different-
- colored water + oil
- beads/buttons (make a great noise maker)
- water + glitter
- sand + shells
- just about anything

Make sure to glue the top on for safety. These are often played with more than “real” toys.

]]> By: taoofcash http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51702 taoofcash Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:32:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51702 36oz plastic bottles are readily available here in Iraq for many things. One is cutting the bottle in half and storing individual drink packets (Crystal Light, etc), on a desk as a pen holder, or as a small toothbrushing station. They have proven themselves as excellent barbecue sauce dispensers as well.

]]> By: Tubaman-Z http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51619 Tubaman-Z Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:11:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51619 Of course the U.S. has notably one of the safest water supplies in the world…and we buy the most bottled water of any nation (total gallons that is. Italy actually leads the world in per capita consumption – 2006 data, see http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update51.htm)

For a frugal suggestion, invest in a Nalgene bottle of the appropriate size to fit the cup holder in your car and refill from your tap. If you live in an area with a lot of chlorine in the water (or sulfur if you have well water), use a filter.

]]> By: Cheap Like Me http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51617 Cheap Like Me Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:59:57 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51617 Or be really frugal (and eco-friendly) and don’t buy it in the first place!

]]> By: Jakob http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51574 Jakob Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:29:12 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51574 This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article

]]> By: Bones http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51568 Bones Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:04:15 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51568 One thing I never ever throw away are those little plastic tubes used for camera film. I have never owned a traditional camera, I started digital, but I ot these from my father and I continue using them to store little things. There is nothing so useful!

On the very least you can use them to store the various memory cards of your digital camera ;)

]]> By: Kristi http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51562 Kristi Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:26:50 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51562 Used bottles are wonderful for organizing small items in a garage. You can have bottles for different sized nails, thumbtacks, screws, washers, bolts, etc.

There are also several children’s craft ideas that you can do with used bottles. You can make bottle characters. If you have a program like PrintShop, it’s easy to design faces and clothes that you can just print out and then cut out. Then just buy some craft pipe cleaners for arms and legs and you’re set.

There are so many items around the house that we can still use. For example, old film rolls or old spice containers are excellent sizes for squirting shampoo into and having an instant travel shampoo bottle. (Of course, the kind with the screw on lid are the best here).

For those of you who recycle – that’s great! I find these uses for things though because my community does not have any recycling services. They set up recycling at Wal-Mart or at the library a couple times a year, that’s it. Sad huh?

]]> By: Danielle http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51549 Danielle Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:51:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51549 http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/petbottles.asp

According to snopes.com they say that urban legend is false. Plastic bottles will not leach chemicals….

]]> By: Brian http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51519 Brian Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:43:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51519 The idea that you can’t reuse these bottles is an urban legend. There is nothing that’s going to leech into the new water that you put in it that would not have leeched into the old beverage that it came with. As for leeching toxins, there are some people who would argue that the polycarbonate in Nalgene-style water bottles is a significantly higher leeching risk that the lower PET number in Vitamin Water bottles. Whether or not that’s true, the idea that you can only use a bottle once is wasteful. Just make sure you wash it well between uses.

]]> By: David http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51518 David Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:38:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51518 Great Article. I do this all the time all my change is in Snapple bottles, and I refill my water bottles all the time it saves a ton of money. It is great when you can think of other uses for products that would normally go to waste. You are also saving the EARTH! :-)

]]> By: crankywench http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51509 crankywench Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:06:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51509 Ditto on taking care re-using the bottles for food or beverage. I would especially avoid using vinegar or oil in the bottles. The vinegar is an acid, and the oil will eventually leach through the bottle. With regards to the oil, for example: ever had a plastic bottle of cooking oil feel gummy on the outside after a few months? That’s not just from oil dripping on the outside when you use it, it’s also the oil leaching through the bottle. Yeccccch….

]]> By: Engineer http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51498 Engineer Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:23:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51498 I refill mine with tap water. A lot of the bottled water you buy in the store is tap water anyway.

Sometimes I freeze it so I have cold water on a trip. But when I freeze water in it, I don’t fill it completely, and squeeze it in the middle before sealing so as to allow room for expansion as it freezes.

]]> By: Zachary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51489 Zachary Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:12:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/29/ten-frugal-things-to-do-with-an-empty-vitamin-water-or-other-plastic-beverage-container/#comment-51489 Recycle it and take the cash.

]]>