Five-gallon buckets are great. They are utilitarian in purpose, lending themselves to a variety of purposes outside of holding things. And even when they hold things, the wide selection of materials they can hold are almost endless. Best of all, their small size and ability to stack make them easy to store away once you no longer need them.
If you have some extra five-gallon buckets lying around, here are some genius ways to reuse them.
Tomato Planter
One great use for a five-gallon bucket is to use it to grow tomatoes. Cut a 3- to 4-inch hole in the bottom and you can hang the bucket up in the air and grow the tomatoes upside down. Visit Gardening Know How for more information on this simple project.
Umbrella Stand
Another great use for an empty five-gallon bucket is as an umbrella stand. Simply stick a 2-1/2 inch pipe cut to 20 inches long into the bucket and fill it 3/4 full with concrete. For more info on this project, go to HubPages.
DIY Plastic Bag Dispenser
Another great use for an empty five-gallon bucket is as a plastic bag dispenser. A five gallon bucket plastic bag dispenser is tidier and can hold way more plastic bags than a regular kitchen drawer. Check out the tutorial above for more on this helpful hack.
Rain Catcher
While many people get their water directly from their faucet, a rainwater harvester provides a perfect way to conserve water for use in the garden, for drinking (in extreme emergencies), and for use around the home. Check out Urban Survival Site for more on how to complete this helpful project.
Camping Shower
When camping, you usually don’t have access to amenities such as a shower. Fortunately, you can make a five-gallon bucket shower to take with you on your next camping trip. The video above shows you how to make a five-gallon bucket camping shower.
Rice Planter
This five-gallon bucket idea from One Green Planet allows you to grow rice right in your own home. Rice growing is a long process, taking about six months from planting to harvesting, so plan ahead and have other food staples ready to eat while you wait for the plants to mature.
Solar-Powered Air Cooler
If you are looking for an alternate way to cool your home, or simply want to stay cool while camping, then a solar powered air cooler might be your answer. All you need is a five-gallon bucket, a fan, cooling pad, and a solar panel. Visit Survival Life for more on this awesome project.
Garden Plant Protector
You can use a five-gallon bucket and some mesh netting to make a protector for the plants in your garden. This protector should keep away vermin, deer, and other pests that might eat your plants. The previous video shows more on how to complete this helpful project.
Camping Toilet
For this project, all you need is a five-gallon bucket, a section of pool noodle, and a trash bag. Place the trash bag in the bucket and then place the pool noodle around the edge of the bucket, leaving a small gap in the front. You can find out more on this project by visiting Budget101.
Birdhouse
If you have birds in your backyard, then make them a birdhouse using a five-gallon bucket. After you cut the holes, paint the bucket with the color that you want and attach to a post in the backyard. Find out more about this fun project at Blue Roof Cabin.
Art Studio Storage Bucket
If you have an abundance of art supplies, then repurpose a five-gallon bucket to act as a storage area. Simply place a portable tool belt called a Bucket Boss onto the bucket and place your art supplies inside. To find out more about this storage solution, visit One Orange Giraffe.
Drip Irrigation System
For an easy watering solution for your garden, use five-gallon buckets to create a drip irrigation system. Simply stick a pipe into the side of the bottom of the bucket and run hoses to the plants in your garden, fill the buckets and leave. Check out the video above for more on this project.
Patio Table
For a beautiful table for your patio, turn a five-gallon bucket upside down. Attach a few boards around the outside with a nail gun and attach a microwave plate to the top. Make sure to decorate the surface of the plate with glass gems and silicone caulk. Find out more at Hometalk.
Aquaponics System
If you don’t have access to land for a garden, you can use aquaponics system instead. This idea from Instructables allows you to make an aquaponics system using a five-gallon bucket, a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a and a Styrofoam cup. Once together, add some gravel and plants.
Bucket Swing
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Another great project that is fun for the kids is to turn a five-gallon bucket into a swim. For this project, you need a bucket, some rope, a drill, a jig-saw, and somewhere safe to hang the swing. Check out Instructables for more on this amazing DIY project.
