I go through spices fast enough that I always have a few empty jars piling up in my recycling bin. At some point I started washing them out instead of tossing them, and now I can’t stop finding new uses.
Those little glass jars with the shaker lids are genuinely one of the handiest containers you already own — perfectly sized, airtight, and way too useful to waste. Here are eight ways I’ve put mine to work around the house.
1. Mix Your Own Custom Spice Blends
This is the obvious one, and it’s obvious for a reason. Empty spice jars are the exact right size for small-batch seasoning blends you make at home — stuff like taco seasoning, Italian herb mix, or everything bagel topping.
You control the salt, skip the fillers, and it tastes noticeably better than the store packets. I use small 4 oz Mason jar funnel to get the blend in cleanly, then stick a piece of washi tape on the lid with the blend name and date.
They keep well in the pantry for a couple months, and I rotate through them fast enough that nothing sits around going stale. If you make blends as gifts around the holidays, these jars look genuinely charming with a handwritten label and a bit of twine tied around the neck.
2. Start Seeds for Your Garden
I started doing this one spring when I ran out of peat pots and grabbed a few empty spice jars instead. They turned out to be surprisingly good seed starters — small enough to sit on a windowsill without hogging space, and the clear glass lets you watch root development, which is actually satisfying.
Fill them most of the way with seed-starting mix (not regular potting soil — it’s too heavy), press a seed in, and mist lightly. Poke a small drainage hole in the metal shaker cap if you’re using it, or just swap the lid out for plastic wrap with a rubber band until germination.
Once the seedling has two sets of true leaves, transplant it into a bigger pot. The one thing I’d note: don’t leave them in the spice jar too long.
Roots will circle and bind in that small of a space, so treat this as a nursery, not a permanent home.
3. Organize Your Craft Supplies
If you do any kind of craft — beading, sewing, scrapbooking, model building — you know how fast tiny supplies multiply and disappear into desk drawers. Empty spice jars are the perfect size for sorting and storing small items: seed beads, sequins, buttons, embroidery floss, pin needles, even glitter (which, honestly, is the worst thing to leave in a flimsy bag).
The clear glass means you can see exactly what’s inside without opening anything, and the shaker top is great for dispensing small beads one at a time. I line mine up on a small shelf in my craft room, labels facing out, and it’s the most organized I’ve ever been.
One heads-up: if you’re storing anything metal that could rust, like pins or needles, toss a tiny silica gel packet in first.
4. Tame Your Bathroom Counter
I used to lose bobby pins and hair ties in what felt like a Bermuda Triangle of my bathroom drawers. Then I cleared out a few spice jars, gave them a good scrub, and set them on the counter beside the sink.
One for bobby pins, one for cotton swabs, one for hair elastics, one for those tiny earring backs that vanish constantly. The jars are narrow enough that they don’t crowd the counter, and the wide-mouth opening makes it easy to grab what you need.
If you want them to look cohesive, spray-paint the lids the same color — a matte black or soft gold looks nice — and stick a simple label on each one. I’ve also seen people mount a small magnetic strip to the wall and pop the metal lids right onto it, which is clever if counter space is truly at a premium.
5. Give Layered Gift Jars
This one’s a classic for a reason, and spice jars actually work better than big Mason jars for it because they’re a more manageable, giftable size. You layer dry ingredients in the jar, attach a tag with instructions, and you’ve got a thoughtful handmade gift that looks way more impressive than the effort involved.
- ✦Hot cocoa mix — layers of cocoa powder, sugar, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips
- ✦Cookie mix in a jar — flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and chocolate chips, with a tag listing wet ingredients to add
- ✦Bath soak — Epsom salt, dried lavender buds, a few drops of essential oil
- ✦Chai tea blend — loose black tea, cinnamon sticks broken to fit, cardamom, cloves, and dried ginger
The key is packing each layer tightly so they don’t shift and blur together. I use the back of a spoon to press each one flat. A square of fabric over the lid secured with a ribbon finishes it off nicely.
6. Make Tiny Succulent Planters
Succulents are one of the few plants small enough to actually live happily in a spice jar for a while. I’ve made a whole little windowsill collection this way, and they look adorable — especially if you group three or four jars of slightly different heights together.
Add a thin layer of pebbles or small stones to the bottom for drainage (since there’s no hole in the jar), then a layer of cactus-specific potting soil, and nestle a small succulent cutting or rosette in. Water sparingly — the lack of drainage means root rot is a real risk, so let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
These also make great party favors or place settings for a garden-themed dinner. Just know that long-term, the plant will eventually outgrow the jar and need to be repotted, but you’ll get several good months out of it.
7. Create Votive Candle Holders
Spice jars make charming little candle holders, especially if you group a few together on a tray or mantel. A standard tea light fits perfectly inside most 4 oz jars — just drop one in and light it.
The glass creates a warm, soft glow that’s really lovely in the evening, and the jar protects the flame from drafts. If you want to dress them up, wrap a bit of jute twine around the outside or apply a thin coat of frosted glass spray paint first, which diffuses the light beautifully.
You can also fill the bottom with a tablespoon of sand, dried rice, or small pebbles before setting the candle in — it raises the flame to a better height and looks more polished. Just be careful not to leave them unattended, and never burn a candle all the way down to the glass bottom, since the heat can cause the jar to crack.
8. Corral Your Desk Supplies
The junk drawer is where small office supplies go to die. I pulled out a few spice jars, filled them with paper clips, thumbtacks, rubber bands, and binder clips, and lined them up on a small wooden tray on my desk.
Suddenly everything was visible, accessible, and — dare I say — actually nice to look at. The shaker lid works surprisingly well for dispensing paper clips one at a time, though I usually pop it off for thumbtacks for obvious reasons.
If you have kids, this is also a great way to organize art supplies at a homework station: googly eyes, foam stickers, crayon stubs, colored sand. It beats a tangled ziplock bag every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put spices back in cleaned spice jars?
Absolutely, and it’s one of the best uses. Just make sure the jar is fully dry before refilling — any residual moisture can cause clumping or even mold in ground spices.
I run mine through the dishwasher and then let them air-dry upside down overnight. If the old spice had a strong smell (looking at you, cumin), a quick soak in equal parts white vinegar and water before washing usually takes care of it.
How do you get the label off a spice jar?
Soak the jar in hot soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes, then peel off as much of the label as you can. For the sticky residue that’s always left behind, rub it with a bit of Goo Gone or cooking oil, let it sit for five minutes, and wipe clean with a paper towel. Finish with a wash and a dry, and the glass comes out spotless.
Are old spice jars airtight?
Most of them are, yes — at least the ones with threaded metal or plastic lids. The seal is usually good enough for dry goods, craft supplies, or small items.
If you’re planning to store something moisture-sensitive, like homemade spice blends or bath salts, check that the lid screws on tightly with no gaps. If the seal feels loose or the lid is bent, it’s better to recycle that one than risk your contents going stale.
What size are most empty spice jars?
The standard grocery-store spice jar holds about 4 fluid ounces (roughly ½ cup) and stands around 4 inches tall. Some brands use slightly larger 6 oz jars, and specialty ones like those from Trader Joe’s or Penzeys can vary. The 4 oz size is the most versatile for reuse projects because it’s small enough to fit on a windowsill or bathroom counter but big enough to actually hold something useful.
Empty spice jars are one of those things that feel too small to bother with — until you start saving them and realize how many problems a clean little glass jar can solve. Give them a good wash, peel off the labels, and keep a few stashed in a cabinet. You’ll find a use for them faster than you think.
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