Modular Water Jug Storage Bins by randofo
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Around here I have more odds and ends than I know what to do with. I used to keep it in piles strewn about our tiny apartment until my fed up girlfriend came up with a solution to make the room a little more organized.

It basically involved drinking a lot of bottled water and using the jugs the water came in to store stuff. Using her method, not only do you get a $2 rugged modular plastic storage bin, but you also get 2 gallons worth of drinkable water for free. I highly advocate such a storage system. Especially if you are overrun by small parts.
 
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Step 1: Drink water

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Before you can even consider starting to store stuff in the plastic water jugs, you have to drink the water they're holding. It's recommended that you drink 8 full glasses of water a day. However, drinking a little more than that will not hurt you and may, in fact, be beneficial. If there are two people drinking water from the container, you should be able to go through one in about two to three days.
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sabbott says: Apr 11, 2011. 2:52 PM
This reminds me of some knock-down furniture book ideas I found in the late 70's. Here is a link to one of the best books ever on the topic.
http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/039470228X - Nomadic Furniture by James Hennesy and Victor Papanek
Your waterjug idea is great (except it's better not to use bottled water if the local stuff is safe to drink, right? Unless of course you need the bottles for storage.)
makalove says: Feb 1, 2012. 8:04 AM
i checked those books out from the library on Fort Sill when my ex-husband was in the Army. i loved them so much that later, when the web became a real thing, i bought copies from someone on eBay. :) i still use ideas from them in my home.
Jaci says: Apr 10, 2011. 9:35 AM
I'm seeing cheap and easy shoe storage! Thanks for the post.
Quills says: Aug 30, 2011. 11:22 PM
:D Same here! We don't have those water jugs but our cat litter comes in a similar shaped container. Sturdy plastic too! My shoes will have homes now lol.
Dragonbone says: Apr 28, 2011. 4:18 PM
I like the idea of using magnets between them but that might not be strong enough, if they are cheap enough magnets. However you could slot a wooden bar through the handles and stack the rows, or hang each row from ordinary shelf brackets - or even the ceiling. I think these containers are polypropylene, which doesn't glue very easily.
synchronousmosfet says: Apr 14, 2011. 1:26 PM
Hmmm, I wonder if these could be welded together. The string idea is elegant, no doubt about that, but I've used those hot-air plastic welding guns, and it might be that this sort of plastic is a weldable sort. You just cut strips from the part you cut out for the hole and use the strips as welding rod.
mtbpilot43 says: Apr 10, 2011. 6:05 PM
Why not take the spout off and cut the opening out on the back side. That would look a lot neater.
criggie says: Apr 10, 2011. 2:16 PM
How about a nut and bolt between each bottle, horizontally and vertically?
Or a pop-rivet with a couple of spreader washers?

These water bottles are not common here, we can drink our tap water.
kchapmans says: Apr 10, 2011. 10:39 AM
Cool idea. I have those jugs myself, and I have just decided what I'll do with mine using YOUR idea: KITTY CONDO! :) I have a feeling they are gonna love it....only it will be a smaller version of what you created (4 on the bottom row, 3 on the next, two above that and then a single on the top. Pyramid-shaped, in other words, that is "stepped" on the sides so the cats can run up and down.) It will be outside and I will tie it to my porch posts for stability. Thanks for the idea!
suzyqhoo says: Mar 31, 2008. 2:49 PM
Love it! And to think I have been recycling my water jugs! NO MORE! Storage bins shall be made!
dagordon says: Mar 20, 2011. 9:27 AM
Same here. No more trips to the recycle center for those large water jugs.
beackmaniax says: Mar 18, 2011. 6:31 PM
aweasome instructable, bery clever !!!!
hannahheartsyou says: Apr 26, 2008. 4:27 PM
couldn't you just super glue it? it would help more and it would stick together longer and stronger.
MrsHill says: Jan 30, 2011. 7:11 PM
i just tried super gluing them and it didnt work. the glue just gummed up... :(
randofo (author) says: Apr 26, 2008. 11:53 PM
You could... but aside from seeing the glues spots, this way I can easily swap, rearrange, replace, redesign and move the entire unit.
C.DirtBag says: Jan 20, 2009. 1:41 AM
I have been amazed lately with all the creative ways people are re-using plastic bottles and food containers - of all descriptions. Great idea. I like the modular aspect.
hannahheartsyou says: Apr 27, 2008. 8:29 PM
good point (i are stupedo)
Grey_Wolfe says: Jun 17, 2008. 1:54 PM
Superglue is also rather fragile. Likes to crack and chip over time. If you were going to glue, maybe epoxy or hot spot would be better. Though I prefer the modular nature as well. Perhaps snap rivets (if you don't mind seeing the spots) so you could pop them together. Wouldn't be too cheap though. But just a long term idea.
rbeck1 says: Apr 11, 2011. 10:00 AM
Goop would do the trick. It's a nice all purpose flexible adhesive.
hannahheartsyou says: Jun 19, 2008. 6:03 AM
it's still a real cool instructable :)
Grey_Wolfe says: Jul 16, 2008. 12:05 AM
I totally agree, if I didn't give that impression, it was unintentional.
RefStone says: Oct 19, 2010. 2:09 PM
Find similar containers in apartment recycling bins (or personal bins on pick-up day).
lobo_pal says: Feb 15, 2009. 8:23 PM
Too much water can kill you.
weasel999 says: Sep 21, 2009. 6:47 AM
only if u drown
SydneyTripp says: Apr 9, 2010. 10:19 AM
No, to much water makes you 'whiz' out all your nutrients. Do it enough and you'll die like an anorexic person. Mal-nutrition and Starvation!
lobo_pal says: Apr 10, 2010. 9:35 AM
Actually water has no effect on the nutrients. It's a common misconception, but if you urine collor simply indicates how much of the nutrients your body doesn't use.
The extra water is similar to dehydration, because it removes the salt from your body, similar to what happens when you sweat and don't get electrolytes.
lobo_pal says: Sep 21, 2009. 8:16 AM
It's not the water that kills you, it's running out of air. (like the falling one)
Coodude26 says: Feb 19, 2009. 10:43 PM
Yes, about 8 gallons in five minutes will kill you. Even if you drank one entire jug of water, nothing bad would happen, besides frequent visits to the bathroom. BTW, ANYTHING can kill you.
lobo_pal says: Feb 20, 2009. 5:46 AM
I read up on it after the lady died, I think it's actually closer to 15-20 in an hour.
Oblivitus says: May 23, 2009. 1:49 PM
Wow, I know that it only takes like a gallon to kill a baby.
Coodude26 says: Feb 20, 2009. 2:34 PM
These guys are barely drinking one every 3 days, so there's no cause for worry...
lobo_pal says: Feb 20, 2009. 10:04 PM
I'm just saying, don't to try to get all these containers in one day.
mrshawklady says: May 16, 2009. 7:17 AM
Yo'all are just being silly now. Course you dont drink it all at once. lol.
Coodude26 says: Feb 21, 2009. 12:49 PM
haha. Yea, I hope most people have THAT much sense.
lobo_pal says: Feb 21, 2009. 3:11 PM
I don't know, did you hear about the death during the radio contest? She died after drinking 20 gal of water. Stupid people.
Bernyk says: Jan 4, 2010. 2:37 AM
stupid? Cmon now there was a valuable Wii at stake there!! haha
lobo_pal says: Jan 5, 2010. 10:56 PM
I hope she didn't say "I could just die for a wii" right before.
Coodude26 says: Jan 4, 2010. 3:29 AM
dude you're about 10 months late on the joke, bud
lobo_pal says: Jan 5, 2010. 10:56 PM
That why they have the dates.
bassclarinet23 says: Apr 4, 2009. 8:00 AM
People are morons
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