• Empty ice cream buckets can be a very useful household tool. They can serve many purposes, from storage to entertainment. Reusing ice cream buckets is an easy way to recycle at home, and also saves you money on more expensive organizational tools around the house. Just remember to give the bucket a thorough washing before using it for other purposes.
  
  

Cleaning Products Storage

• An ice cream bucket is usually the ideal size for holding various cleaning supplies. Bottles of cleaner, gloves and other cleaning tools such as cloths and brushes often fit neatly inside these plastic buckets. Make a cleaning bucket for each area of your home so you don't have to constantly haul supplies around the house. If the lids won't fit on top of the buckets once they're full, save them to use as trays for flower pots.
  
  

Toy Storage

• Ice cream buckets work well as storage containers for small toys. Blocks, small cars, doll clothes and small figures fit easily inside. To keep things organized, use a permanent marker to write the contents on the lid or side of the bucket. Draw a picture for younger kids, or let them decorate the bucket, so they can find the toys they want. This also helps them when they need to put their toys away. Stack the buckets in the closet or on a shelf when they're not being used.
  
  

Travel Container for Kids

• Long trips with kids can be a challenge. Give each child his or her own ice cream bucket filled with toys and other activities for the trip. The only restriction should be that it must fit inside the bucket with the lid on. This prevents kids from bringing too many toys or large items that take up a lot of space, and the lid keeps the items secure when not being used.
  
  

Building Tool for Kids

• Instead of buying sand buckets or snow block molds, use your empty ice cream buckets. The kids can pack the bucket with snow in the winter to create snow fort blocks. In the summer, pack the buckets with damp sand to build sand castles. The empty buckets also work well for mixing up mud pies and other outdoor play activities for kids.
  
  

Garbage Can

• An empty ice cream bucket works well as a small garbage can in rooms that don't have a lot of trash build-up on a regular day, like bedrooms or bathrooms. Place a plastic grocery bag inside as a trash liner. You can paint or decorate the buckets to make them more attractive.
  
  

Clothespin Storage

• If you have a clothesline, an empty ice cream bucket works well as a clothespin storage bucket. Unhook the handle and place it over the clothesline before reattaching it. You can slide the bucket along the clothesline as you hang clothes so the clothespins are readily available. The lid protects the clothespins from weather elements and dirt.