8 Interesting Uses for Milk Crates
When looking at an object it is important to think outside the box, or in the case of milk crates, look within the box. A milk crate may look like a simple device; however the simplicity of the design offers some very practical and fun uses. Here are some great uses for the common milk crate.
Pet Beds
Pet supplies can and do run into a great deal of money. Food, treats, and toys can cost a small fortune depending how much you are willing to invest in your dog. Bedding is one place that the use of a milk crate can save you a significant amount of money.
Some pet beds, depending on the style and support desired, can cost hundreds, but a milk crate can be used to make a very comfortable place for a dog to sleep. Turn it to the side, place blankets inside, and maybe even one on the top for added privacy. Your dog will enjoy it. Even if your dog will not fit in a standard sized milk crate we have larger rectangular milk crates of the standard square variety.
Planters
Upon first inspection of a milk crate thinking of making a planter out of it seems like a terrible idea because of the holes, but I can assure you that the use is perfect. Simply line the milk crate with plastic to cover the holes. Fill it with soil and plant anything you desire.
It makes a better planter than others because the crate itself is light, so the application makes the planter very portable. The milk crate can even be attached to a window for the perfect herb garden. The use of a milk crate is far more inexpensive than standard planters.
Football Training Goal
When thinking of football we often think of large goals, but training for accuracy with a kick is the primary goal for any football player. Training with a smaller target goal such as a milk crate will give you greater accuracy for the real thing.
Storing Produce
Storing onions and potatoes can be tricky. They require a dark cool place to be stored properly. Most people put them on the bottom shelf in their pantry or in a dark cabinet. There is a problem with this storage. Should any of the potatoes or onions ruin, you may not see the ruined produce until there is already a leaky stinking mess on the shelf. The solution to this problem is to place newspaper in the bottom of a milk crate before placing the produce inside. Then the crate can be stored on the floor of the pantry rather than taking up valuable shelf space.
Bench with Storage
We have all used milk crates for storage at one time or another, but rather than simply throwing your stuff in an open crate place a few side by side and attach a piece of wood to the top with hinges.
This will create a lid for your stored things and act as a great bench. Some have even attached the milk crates to the wall to make the bench taller and make it easier to clean under.
Beverage Cooler
This idea is similar to the planter earlier. Line the crate with heavy duty plastic to contain the ice. You can use multiple crates in a variety of different colours to make the party more festive. They can also be placed all around for convenience for the guests instead of them having to line up and get drinks from one place.
Tool Storage
I am not talking about storing tools by simply placing them in the crate and throwing the crate in a storage building. Milk crates have a great many holes that can be utilized to hold tools very effectively.
One of the most frustrating things about having an abundance of tools is the fact that they can be difficult to organize. By attaching a milk crate to the wall in a workshop you can hang all of your tools where they can be easily seen and used at any time.
Room Divider
It never fails when you have children sharing a room that eventually they complain and want their own space. The problem is that adding a room onto an existing structure is very expensive or impossible if you live in a rented space. Adding storage as well as room separation will require a lot of milk crates, but buying in bulk will save you a significant amount of money and is definitely cheaper than adding a room. Stack the milk crates on their sides and tie them together with zip ties or something of the sort. You may want to attach the base of the milk crate structure to the floor for added stability. Make sure you turn the open side alternating to both sides of the room so each kid gets ample amount of storage.
The uses for milk crates are endless. They are durable and will last a lifetime. I hope this gave you a few ideas that you can expand on and let your imagination run wild with more and more uses for these versatile little devices.