Don’t throw away empty wine bottles as they have ‘fantastic’ use

If you’re looking for new and unique homeware that doesn’t cost a fortune, one woman has shared a simple way you can turn your empty glass wine bottles into stylish glasses and other home decor items.

To help people find a purpose with their wine bottles that take up place in the recycling bin, DIY creator Angie, known online as ‘AngieCreated’ has shared a simple hack she uses every time she comes across an empty wine bottle.

“Stop tossing your winebottles,” Angie wrote on her TikTok video as she was seen turning her empty bottles into different DIY projects.

In the video, Angie showed off how she’d upcycled different wine bottles into glasses, jars, jarred glasses, vases and candle holders, all in different colours from the different coloured bottles.

In the caption, she explained her process of how she cut the wine bottles into different shapes at home before making them safe to use and drink from again.

1. Clean the bottle

The first thing you should do is clean the bottle that you’re wanting to use. Angie recommends filling the bottle with hot water before starting to peel off the label.

After getting the label off, rinse the bottle before scrubbing off the residue with a dishbrush or steel brush to make sure you get the last bit of glue off the bottle.

Angie also recommended using products such as ‘Goo Gone’ or other surface cleaners to make sure there’s no sticky residues left.

2. Prepare to cut

The next thing you need to do is to decide where you want to cut the bottle for your bottles. When you’ve got an idea, add two elastic bands and place them above and below where you want to cut the bottle.

Then use a glass cutter to gently score a circle around the bottle where you want it to crack.

Angie says to use even pressure and to do it in one, clean line. And don’t go over the same spot twice, as this can risk it shattering before you ‘cut’ it properly.

3. Crack the bottle with temperature changes

In order to make the bottle crack where you’ve scored it, Angie uses temperature changes with water.

She explained that you should start by pouring boiling water on the score line before running cold water over the same area.

Repeat this process until the bottle cracks from the temperature changes.

4. Sand the bottle

The last, but one of the most important steps is to sand the bottle down in order to not risk cutting yourself on the sharp edges.

“Start with 80-grit, finish with 1000-grit,” Angie explained as she was seen gradually using different tyoes if sand paper to move up to 1000 grit. She also explained that you should make sure to smooth the inside, outside and top edges of the bottle.

“Now you’ve got a DIY glass cup!,” she stated.

Several viewers praised Angie for her unique upcycling idea, with many expressing their excitment to make their own glasses.

One person wrote: “This is the new mason jars.”

“Cote de Roses bottles are how I serve water at any dinner party every time,” another viewer shared.

“Babe they all look fantastic but in what world do you think I can do this and not end up in ER?” another person said, pointing out the dangers that could come if you made a mistake.

Always do your own research before starting a new DIY project with techniques and materials that could be dangerous if not used properly. And always use appropriate safety protection.