Toss Your Boring Soap Dispenser: Use Empty Whiskey Bottles To Add Rustic Charm

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If your basic soap dispenser is making your bathroom or kitchen look drab, the solution might be hiding in your recycling bin. Hand soap often comes in ugly, disposable dispensers. Instead, whiskey bottles offer an inexpensive solution with a rustic, country style. Just like how some people repurpose vases to ditch ugly soap bottles for a thrifted flip, glass whiskey bottles can be upcycled to create DIY liquid soap dispensers. By simply adding a pump, you can transform whiskey handles into stylish and functional countertop decor.

Depending on your style, you can keep the liquor labels on your soap pump for a cheeky look, or remove them to make chic glass dispensers. If you opt to leave the stickers on the glass, you'll need to seal them to prevent soap or water from damaging the paper. For an easy way to preserve the whiskey labels, Dollar Tree sells 2-ounce bottles of Mod Podge for $1.25.

Besides hand soap, any kind of liquid cleaner can be transferred into this DIY dispenser. Whether you want a cute way to display the dish soap in your kitchen or you'd like to upgrade your plastic shampoo and body wash dispensers, an old whiskey bottle will make washing up more fun. Note that if you keep large glass bottles in a wet and slippery place like the shower, there is risk for the bottles to break while your feet are bare. Make sure they are kept some place secure. These homemade pumps could also be convenient for lotion, conditioner, or similar liquid self-care products. While whiskey bottles offer a more rustic, farmhouse aesthetic, you can reuse any glass container, and could even turn an empty jam jar into the cutest soap dispenser.

To upcycle the whiskey container, wash out the glass thoroughly. Be careful to avoid wetting the labels if you plan to keep them. Otherwise, use steel wool to scrub the stickers away. Products like Goo Gone can also help to remove the paper and adhesive. To preserve the labels, apply several coats of Mod Podge, allowing them to dry in between. Consider sticking masking tape onto the glass around the labels to prevent the Mod Podge from running. For an alternative look that's still charming and rustic, paint your DIY glass soap dispenser. On YouTube, Our Upcycled Life paints a Crown Royal bottle white and applied a vinyl transfer to the front to add a cute phrase to the soap dispenser.

The type of liquor bottle you choose will determine what you need to make this DIY soap pump. Many classic whiskey bottles, such as Jack Daniel's or Maker's Mark, will have threaded tops, allowing you to screw on any regular pump. On Amazon, a pack of 2 brushed nickel soap pump replacements is about $12, keeping this project affordable. Some fancy whiskeys may come with cork stoppers, but that doesn't mean you can't use the bottle. If you can't screw on the pump, opt for one with a stopper instead. The Creative Hobbies pump dispensers with cork stoppers come in packs of 5 for $10 on Amazon and could transform any bottle for this DIY.

Before adding soap to the bottle, test that your pump fits. It's also crucial that the straw portion is long enough to reach into the bottom of the container. If it's too long, you can simply trim the end of the plastic hose with scissors. However, if this piece is too short, you could replace it. Spray bottles designed for cleaning have similar straws that can be pulled off and wedged onto the end of the soap pump.

Finally, add your soap. To avoid a mess, use a funnel to fill the dispenser. With clear glass, the color of the soap will show through your dispenser, which can make for fun customizations. Add a brownish or amber-colored hand soap to make your whiskey dispenser look more realistic. Alternatively, vibrant colors like green or purple appear whimsical in these glass drink bottle dispensers.

For a cute display, make several of these whiskey bottle dispensers and set them together on the counter, keeping your soaps and lotions neat and accessible. If you still have lots of leftover liquor containers, they can make fun home decor. For example, you could turn empty glass bottles into unique light features to brighten your home.