How to Make Bird Feeders from Recycled Plastic Laundry Detergent Bottles

Wash containers and remove all labels. If the detergent is an off-brand, it will most likely have a paper label and soaking it in water overnight will allow you to peel it right off. If you use a name brand detergent, you can soak the bottle forever and it will not easily come off.

To remove labels that are glossier, pour in enough water to cover the entire side when it is laid flat. Leave the lid off. Put it in the microwave for two to three minutes.

Remove the bottle while using pot holders. Attempt to peel one of the corners of the sticker that was face down in the microwave. If it peels easily, remove the label. If it does not peel easily, put it back in the microwave and check every 30 seconds until it does peel off easily.

OPTIONAL: Remove the spout. It will be easier to fill the feeder later if you remove the spout on the bottle now. Put your knife inside the spout in the opening between the two sides. Some spouts will pop right out if some pressure is applied here; most will not. You can take your knife and saw around the bottom of the spout to remove it. If the plastic bottle is still warm, it will cut easier.

In the middle of the wider sides, down near the base, cut a square out of the bottle. Vary the size of the cut to fit the type of food you will be putting in the feeder. For sunflower seeds, you will want a larger hole. For mixed bird seed, a smaller one.

Screw a plastic plate or Frisbee on the base of the bottle. This will be easier if you pre-drill a hole in both pieces first. Make sure the item is large enough for birds to land on and feed from.

Drill a hole, then screw in an eyebolt through an upside-down plate and the center of the cap from the detergent bottle. The plate should be large enough to keep the feed from getting wet. It will also work as a small deterrent for squirrels.

Instead of going with a plate on the bottom of the feeder, you can also use a stick or dowel for the birds to perch on while feeding. To do this, you will need to make an inverted "U" cut instead of the square one shown earlier. You will also want it to sit about 1/2 inch above the base of the bottle.

Once cut, fold the flap inside the bottle.

Using a standard hole punch, punch a couple of small holes under the opening, low on the bottle. If you can punch them where the bottle begins to curve, the dowel will be held more securely.

Push the dowel or branch through the holes.

Using a cup hook, connect the plate to the top of feeder as discussed in Step 4.