A glass spray bottle is the best storage container for homemade cleaners and essential oil recipes. Glass does not react with essential oils and other green cleaning ingredients and is often recommended by green cleaning experts. Learn how to make an upcycled glass spray bottle without breaking the bank.
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The Glass Spray Bottle Dilemma
I make lots of my own homemade cleaners and laundry products. I store them in glass containers and spray bottles to prevent plastic chemicals from leaching into my green cleaning solutions.
Buying Glass Spray Bottles
While I love glass spray bottles, I hate the price. Commercial glass spray bottles can cost more than $5.00 each
The Solution: Upcycle a Glass Spray Bottle
I’ve figured out a way to get spray bottles for all my DIY cleaners for FREE. I’m going to share my secret with you today.
Plus it is the easiest DIY project ever to appear on Bren Did… HONESTLY!
DIY Glass Spray Bottle Supplies
- An empty glass bottle with a screw top. I like to use small vinegar bottles, they cost less than $1 and you can use the vinegar to clean.
- A recycled plastic sprayer (you can also buy spray heads here)
- Scissors
DIY Glass Spray Bottle Instructions
1.Wash and dry your bottle and sprayer. (Remove the label using this easy homemade cleaner.)
2. Cut the spray bottle stem to the length of the bottle. If the stem has a small particle strainer on the end you can pop it off and replace it on your cut end.
3. Place the sprayer on your glass bottle.
I have been using these bottles for more than a year and they are still going strong.
Easy DIY
This DIY is SOOOOO simple there is no reason not to try it… at least once!
Make a few new glass spray bottles for you house then fill them with these natural cleaning recipes and natural laundry ideas (all with free printable labels!).
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Sarah
WOW! I so appreciate your info here and the little “cheating” tips like buying water glass bottles! I will definitely recommend this website to my family and friends! I really appreciate all the effort you took in trying everything out…
And as the saying goes in our home: the real natural stuff actually work BETTER than the synthetics!!!
We’re here to stay!
Bren
I’m so glad you found the information helpful, Sarah. I do love a conducting a DIY “experiment! 😉 Bren
Julie
Hi Bren. I am new to this. I have recently started paying attention to all the harmful chemicals in everyday household items such as body sprays,soaps, perfumes and cleaning products after reading a story about a boy allergic to Axe products and the fact that the company would not even disclose to her what was in it so she could keep her son away from the ingredient. This led me to other articles on the EPA and and the lack of its monitoring the safety of everyday items. This led to more reading and The discovery that we have lost a lot of knowledge relying on so much manufactured stuff and a lot of controll on how it is made. So I have jumped head first into making improvements in my home that are safer and healthier. This said, I wanted to thank u for all the helpful tips and insights. I am going to make the laundry detergent and the no spray bathroom cleaner. And i love that the hydrogen peroxide it listed for getting out tough stains. My husband had gotten sick and had to have a medicine taken twice a day through an iv and the nurse told us that hydrogen peroxide can get out blood stains if applied within a few hours . Anyway, thank u so much for all the helpfull tips u post.
Bren
I love hydrogen peroxide for blood stains! It works a treat!
Danielle
Thank you so much for your post. Do you have any thoughts on using an aluminum sprayer bottle instead of a glass sprayer bottle? Thanks, Danielle
Bren
Some essential oil users warn against using aluminum containers with essential oils because some oils can damage the aluminum and allow it to leach into the essential oils. I would stick with glass or stainless steel to be safe. (Glass is the cheaper option).
Danielle
Thank you!
Kristin
This is awesome! One question: How do you make sure the sprayer will screw onto your bottle? Do they have standardized sizes?
Thanks!
Bren
Most spray bottles in the US are standard size.
Elizabeth H Land
Sorry! I just saw that Tina asked this same question. But, with due respect, I’m not sure your answer really addressed the issue. Are there sprayers ‘made for cleaning’. What kind of plastic would they have to be made from to not leach?
Bren
I look for sprayers made with plastics in categories #2, #4 and #5 (read more about the safety of plastics here .
Elizabeth H Land
Hi Bren, Great idea but just had a question: what about the plastic from the sprayer? Won’t that also leach into the cleaning solution?
Bren
You can buy glass sprayer stems (but they are expensive). If using plastic look for sprayers made with plastics in categories #2, #4 and #5 (read more about the safety of plastics here .
Paula G
I’m totally cracking up at your website. Not laughing at you, but laughing in amazement. You don’t know how many “how-to’s” I’ve come across that are a flop. But you actually try them and post what works. Can’t imagine how many times you try something before you get it right. Reminds me of the countless hours of research and seven recipe attempts to deconstruct my favorite Flax4Life chocolate muffins. Almost there, but the eight attempt is around the corner. Thanks for your work and sharing your finds. Lady after my own heart.
Bren
Thanks, Paula!
Jackie
Great idea! Now I am going to have to spring for some of the expensive bottled water in glass bottles. Heinz white vinegar hasn’t come in glass bottles in Canada for years. Other types do (red wine vinegar, balsamic etc), but I actually recycled my last empty ones for another purpose.
Bren
The white vinegar in the US is beginning to be switched to plastic but I can still (occasionally) find glass. Water bottles are nice for the fun colors!
Krystal
Genius! I’ve been debating the purchase of glass bottles and never even considered all the apple cider vinegar bottles I usually throw out. Now I just need smaller bottles for the fine mist air freshener sprayers I have. They have a smaller screw top. Thank you for sharing your ideas!
Bren
Thanks, Krystal!
Deb
Weleda spray deodorant comes in small glass bottles and the mist is fine It’s a great product. I’d been wondering if I could find a good use for the empty bottles.
Sharifa
Hi,I love your blog and I love up cycling. Here in South Africa I use glass fruit juice bottles with either a spray top for cleaning or a pump top to dispense homemade hand wash or body wash.
Bren
Great upcycle, Sharifa!
Tara J. Brady
Thanks a TON! I am new to all this and had to buy a few glass bottles to start. A popular green subscription site had ONE bottle with a white/clear spray top for $8.95 each…um who am I Martha Stewart?! I don’t have that kind of money! So I went to good old Amazon and the white sprayer types were $12.95 for two. Still too much. For some reason I like the look of the white/clear top but had to go with the dark black top which cost me $8.95 per set. Ouch. I’m thinking “ok I can’t make anything else I don’t have any more bottles!” Lol but this is perfect!! Thanks again. I am loving your blog!!
Bren
Thanks, Tara! I am glad to be helpful.
Tina
Doesn’t the plastic from the sprayer leach chemicals into the solution?
Bren
It may, I would use a sprayer that is made for cleaning.
Cory
Hi Bren
What a a great idea … how many ounces are the vinegar bottles you use? I haven’t seen any glass Heinz bottles around here in Windsor, Ontario Canada. Love your site! Thanks
Bren
I usually use 16 ounce bottles. You can also check the water bottle section, I’ve used glass Pellegrino and other sparkling water bottles to make cleaners too.
Eldoé
Very nice. So bad they don’t sell it in glass bottle here in france!
Bren
You can use any glass bottle. For example, a mineral water bottle such as Perrier works (double check that the bottle has a screw top).
Carolyn @ Our Gilded Abode
What a great idea! Wish I had seen this before I ordered glass spray bottles online. Won’t buy them in the future. Thank you so much for sharing!
Bren
Thanks, Carolyn!
EllaM
If you’re using EO’s there is a reason the glass bottles should be dark.
Bren
I agree, if you are using you bottles to store essential oils for a long period of time you should select a dark colored glass bottle. I like to use dark green sparkling mineral water bottles.
Michelle
Love the idea but what are the sprayers recycled from? How were you able to clean the sprayers thoroughly?
Bren
Michelle, I recycle my spray tops from all types of things… old plastic spray bottles I purchased to hold cleaners, commercial green cleaner bottles that are empty, a broken water sprayer from my kids’ pool toys, etc. I clean them with soap and water and make sure to “spray” the soapy water through the nozzle.
Stourmy Spiderlady McPhearson
I an upcycling old wine bottles into tiki torches.
Bren
That’s a great idea, Stourmy!
Erin
This is brilliant
Bren
Thanks Erin! 🙂 Make my day!