Reusing Ice Cream Tubs as Drawer Organisers at Home

Reusing ice cream tubs as drawer organisers is an easy way to give a second life to something that would usually end up in the bin. Drawing on Japanese-inspired habits that aim to reduce waste, this approach shows how an everyday kitchen item can become a genuinely helpful household solution, keeping your home neat and your drawers under control.

How do you prepare ice cream tubs to become organisers?

Before you start turning tubs into organisers, it’s worth taking time to prepare them properly. Cleaning them thoroughly prevents lingering smells and residue, making the finished organiser suitable for drawers with clothing, cutlery or more delicate items-very much in keeping with the idea of respecting belongings that are still useful.

Once they’re clean, plan any trimming by measuring the internal height of the drawer so the tubs sit securely while remaining easy to access. Use sturdy scissors or a sharp craft knife carefully; the plastic is usually straightforward to cut and can be adjusted to suit the space you have.

1. Wash thoroughly: remove labels, food remnants and grease using warm water and mild washing-up liquid.
2. Dry completely: place the tubs upside down on a draining rack until there’s no moisture left, helping to prevent mould inside the drawer.
3. Remove odours: if needed, leave them for a few minutes with water and a little bicarbonate of soda, then rinse well.
4. Check for cracks: throw away any tubs that are split or have sharp edges that could snag fabrics or scratch the drawer itself.

How do you use ice cream tubs as drawer dividers?

A practical way to reuse ice cream tubs is to turn them into drawer dividers for cutlery, kitchen tools or office bits and pieces. With this setup, spoons, forks, pens and small accessories stop getting mixed up and become much easier to find.

To make everyday use simpler, you can tweak the height and shape and even personalise the inside of each tub. The steps below help you build a made-to-measure system for your specific drawer:

1. Measure the drawer: check the width and depth to work out how many tubs will fit side by side.
2. Trim the height: cut the rims down so the tubs sit slightly lower than the drawer sides, making them easier to handle.
3. Adjust the shape: if necessary, cut one side so two tubs can sit snugly together like blocks, without wasted gaps.
4. Personalise the inside: stick a piece of sticky-back plastic or a thin fabric to the base for a softer, more discreet finish.
5. Organise by category: dedicate one tub to each type of cutlery or utensil, keeping similar items together.

• Variation: the same idea works well in an office drawer, separating pens, paper clips and notepads.
• Care: avoid overloading each tub so they don’t warp under the weight or from daily use.

How can you create shallow trays for underwear and socks?

Another option is to convert the tubs into shallow trays for drawers holding underwear, socks or scarves. When items are arranged side by side in low layers, you can see everything at a glance and avoid untidy stacks.

For this kind of reuse, you can also use fabric offcuts, felt or paper you already have at home. As well as making the inside look nicer, lining the base helps protect more delicate fabrics from rubbing against the plastic.

1. Cut off the top section: remove most of the tub’s side walls, leaving only a low rim so it functions like a tray.
2. Round off the edges: lightly sand the cut corners to remove any burrs that could catch and pull threads.
3. Line the base: use fabric scraps, felt or paper to cover the inside, gluing it down carefully.
4. Arrange in the drawer: place the trays in neat rows, creating sections for socks, knickers, pants or folded bras.
5. Separate by use: assign each tray to a type of item or how often it’s worn, speeding up getting dressed.

How do you assemble modular boxes for multi-purpose drawers?

For drawers that end up holding a mix of cables, remote controls, small electronics, medicines and other odds and ends, ice cream tubs can be repurposed as modular boxes. Each tub acts as a “block” that can be moved around or regrouped as your needs change.

By keeping close to the original height and adding simple labels to the sides, the tubs become small containers with clearly defined categories. That way, instead of rummaging through the entire drawer, you just pull out the right tub-maintaining order with minimal effort while extending the life of something that would otherwise be thrown away.