5 Things To Do with Berry Baskets

From Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things, Reader's Digest AustraliaUpdated: Mar. 20, 2019

Berry baskets are useful to hold your small everyday knick-knacks, but have you ever tried using them in the dishwasher? How about using them as part of your home decor? Read on to find out some clever ways to put these baskets to good use.

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Store soap pads and sponges

Are you tired of throwing away prematurely rusted steel-wool soap pads or smelly sponges? Place a berry basket near the corner of your kitchen sink, cut off one corner and line the bottom with a layer of heavy-duty aluminium foil. Fashion a spout on a corner of the foil closest to the sink that can act as a drain, to keep water from pooling up at the bottom of the basket. Now sit back and enjoy the added longevity of your soap pads and sponges.

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Use as a colander

When you need a small colander to wash individual servings of fruits and vegetables, or to drain off a child’s portion of hot pasta shells, use an empty berry basket. They make a very effective colander for these sorts of jobs.

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Use as a dishwasher basket

If the smaller items you place in your dishwasher, such as baby-bottle caps, jar lids and food-processor accessories, won’t stay in the same spot, try putting them in a berry basket. Place the items inside one basket, then cover over with a second basket. Fasten them together with a thick rubber band and place on your dishwasher’s upper rack.

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Arrange flowers

Droopy or lopsided flower arrangements just don’t cut it. That’s why the professionals use something known as a frog to keep cut flowers in place when they’re arranged. To make your own frog, insert an inverted berry basket into a vase (cut the basket to fit, if necessary). It will keep your stalks standing tall.

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Organise your pills

A clean berry basket could be just what the doctor ordered for organising your vitamins and medicine bottles. If you’re taking several medications regularly, a berry basket offers a simple and convenient way to place them all-or prepackaged individual doses-in one, easy-to-remember location. You can also use baskets to organise medications in a cupboard or medicine cabinet according to their expiry dates or uses.