8 Incredibly Useful Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

old plastic bottles

Discarded plastic bottles are a reality just about anywhere people have trekked.

Fortunately, if you are in a survival situation and find one, you have a survival multi-tool at your disposal!

Boiling Water

Most people do not realize that you can boil water in a plastic bottle. The key to this process is that the temperature of the water keeps the plastic from melting all the way through. Simply build a fire and then construct a tripod above the fire. Then suspend the plastic bottle of water to where the flames barely lick the bottom of the bottle. It is best to do this with the lid off so steam can escape from the bottle. After a few minutes of boiling, the water is purified and ready to drink or ready to add elements to make tea.

UV Purification

While not the most consistent way to purify water, this method does kill most of the pathogens that can make you sick. Simply fill the clear plastic bottle with clean, preferably filtered water and cap it. Remove any label and lay the bottle in direct sunlight for at least six hours. This should kill most of the pathogens so that the water is safer to drink.

Water Filter

With a large plastic bottle, you can build your own water filter. You need to cut off the bottom and layer gravel, sand, and charcoal. You also need to put a layer of cloth at some point to remove debris. The charcoal will draw out toxins and pathogens. As the water passes through this filter, you will be left with drinkable water.

Lantern

You likely will have a flashlight with you in your bug out bag, but you may not have a lantern. If you want to light a room, you will want more than just a flashlight. By filling a plastic bottle with water and shining your flashlight into the bottle, you will radiate light in every direction.

Fish Trap

You can use any plastic bottle to trap fish. Cut the top off of the bottle just below the taper. Then invert the top so the spout faces inward. Punch holes and use cordage to secure the top. Then add bait to the inside of your trap and add a few stones to weigh it down. Drop it in a pond or stream and come back later for your catch.

Solar Still

If you have a two Liter bottle, you can use it as a solar still. Cut off the bottom, stuff the inside with green plants or place it over a water source. Be sure that the sun is beating down on the bottle. Fold the bottom of the bottle back inside itself so that water running down the inside will catch at the fold. Then come back periodically to collect your water.

Foot Protection

If you somehow find yourself stuck in the wild with no shoes, you will start to tear up your feet quickly. With a couple two Liter bottles, you can quickly make a pair of makeshift sandals.

Flatten out the bottles and poke holes so you can fish cordage through the plastic. Stand on the plastic and run the cordage around your toes, heel, and ankle to secure them in place. You should be good to travel.

Warm Shower or Hand Wash

Find a plastic bottle of any size and paint it black. You can also coat the outside with mud if that is your only option. Fill it with water, cap it, and set it out in the sun for several hours. You can test the warmth by putting your hand on the outside of the bottle. Use cordage to suspend the bottle above you with the cap facing downwards. Then just open the cap enough to get a trickle of water. This should leave your hands free to wash up in the warm water that trickles down.

There are many survival uses for the plastic bottle; that list is just a snapshot of all the ways you can use a plastic bottle to your advantage in a survival situation.

Plus, if you do use a discarded plastic bottle you find in the wilderness, it is one less to detract from the natural beauty around you!

To see other uses for the plastic bottle, check out Modern Survival Online.


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