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A Good Housekeeping article presents seven household uses for old mugs, including organizing small items, displaying flowers, growing plants and assembling gifts. The suggestions are practical upcycling ideas; the source does not provide testing, safety guidance for candle-making, or evidence comparing their environmental impact.
Good Housekeeping has outlined seven ways to repurpose old mugs, suggesting they can serve as desk and bathroom organizers, small vases, planters, a bird feeder, gift-basket containers or vessels for homemade candles. The ideas offer readers options for keeping mugs that are no longer in regular use rather than discarding them.
The most straightforward suggestions turn mugs into containers. Good Housekeeping recommends using them to hold pens, pencils, markers, paintbrushes and other craft supplies, or to keep bathroom items such as toothbrushes, floss, cotton balls and swabs together. A mug can also hold a small bouquet or a few flowers as a compact vase.
For plants, the article suggests using mugs for herbs, microgreens, seedlings or cuttings. Designer Janette Ewen recommends grouping mismatched mugs of herbs in a shallow wooden box or vintage crate to make an indoor garden. The source does not specify how to prepare mugs for planting or address drainage.
Two suggestions involve making or assembling something: filling an old mug with wax to create a candle, and using it as the centerpiece of a cozy gift basket with items such as cocoa, tea, snacks or a mug cozy. For outdoor use, the article proposes filling a mug with birdseed and securing it sideways to a sturdy surface or hanging it by its handle in a sheltered spot.
Practical Uses for Unwanted Mugs
The list gives readers low-effort ways to reuse household items that might otherwise sit unused in a cupboard. Several ideas require little beyond placing items in the mug, while the planter, candle and feeder suggestions involve converting it for a different purpose.
These are home and craft suggestions, not a measured environmental assessment. The source does not quantify waste avoided or compare reuse with recycling or disposal. Their value for an individual household depends on the mug’s condition, the materials available and whether the proposed use suits the space.
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From Drinkware to Home Storage
The Good Housekeeping report frames the ideas around the sentimental and practical reasons people keep mugs: they may recall places, people or experiences, while collections can accumulate over time. It presents the seven uses as options for readers who have already reduced their collections but still have mugs they want to keep.
The article attributes two of its suggestions to designer Janette Ewen: using a microwaveable wax product for a candle and arranging mug planters in a box or crate. Ewen is also quoted recommending mugs as bathroom storage. The source offers no broader expert review, product testing or step-by-step instructions.
“I love the microwavable option.”
— Designer Janette Ewen, quoted by Good Housekeeping
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Details the Article Leaves Open
The source does not provide a publication date in the supplied material, nor does it say whether the ideas were tested. It also gives limited practical detail: the bird-feeder suggestion does not specify a mounting method or cleaning schedule, and the planter section does not explain drainage or watering.
The candle idea comes with a brief reference to wax products, but the source does not set out a full procedure or safety instructions. Readers should follow the wax and equipment makers’ directions and avoid using a damaged or unsuitable mug. The report also does not establish whether every mug is safe for every proposed use.
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Choosing a Mug’s Second Use
The article does not announce a follow-up, product launch or scheduled next development. Readers can choose among the seven ideas based on the mug’s condition and what they need at home: storage, a small display, a plant container, a gift vessel, a feeder or a candle project.
Before using a mug for a new purpose, check for cracks or sharp damage and consider whether it can be cleaned and safely handled in that role. For projects involving wax or outdoor placement, consult relevant product instructions and choose a stable location. The source provides ideas rather than detailed project plans, so additional guidance may be needed for those conversions.
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Key Questions
What are the seven suggested uses for old mugs?
Good Housekeeping suggests using mugs for desk supplies, candles, flowers, gift baskets, plants, birdseed and bathroom essentials.
Can an old mug be used as a planter?
The article suggests mugs for herbs, microgreens, seedlings and cuttings. It does not explain drainage, so readers may need to account for water management before planting.
What does the article suggest for a mug bird feeder?
It suggests filling the mug with birdseed and securing it sideways to a sturdy surface or hanging it by the handle in a sheltered spot. The report does not give detailed installation or maintenance instructions.
Does Good Housekeeping provide complete candle-making instructions?
No. The article mentions wax melts, including microwaveable options, and quotes designer Janette Ewen saying she likes that option. It does not provide a full procedure or safety guide.
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