Say Goodbye To Tangled Hoses: The Clever Plastic Bottle Hack To Keep Them Organized

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Garden hoses are essential for keeping your outdoor plants healthy and hydrated. You also reach for them when you're cleaning bikes, washing the dog, or setting up a backyard sprinkler. Because they get used so often throughout the growing season, it's easy to toss them aside when you're finished instead of storing them neatly. This can leave them in a tangled mess. And tangles aren't just annoying; they can cause kinks and damage that can shorten the hose's lifespan. These jumbles and twists can even make watering less efficient by restricting water flow or creating weak spots that are more likely to leak over time. While there are a variety of DIY solutions for avoiding hose clutter, one brilliant method you might not have considered is to make a wrap to hold a coiled hose together using an old plastic bottle.

That's right! That water or pop bottle you were about to recycle could be the perfect tool for controlling your hose chaos. This is just one of the many savvy ways you can reuse empty plastic bottles in the garden. To try this hack out at home, all you need is your 20-ounce plastic bottle and bottle cap, some scissors, and, of course, your tangled hose. 

To create a wrap to keep your hose organized and neat, begin by carefully cutting your plastic bottle lengthwise. Make sure to avoid cutting through the mouth or neck of the bottle — cut directly through the bottom. You can then recycle the smaller section that doesn't include the bottle neck. Now, unscrew the cap, cut a small hole near the base of the bottle (just large enough for the neck to fit through), and neatly coil your hose. Make sure your hose is clean before wrapping it up, and don't wind it too tightly. Dirt and grit left on the hose can wear down the outer material over time, while overly tight coils can encourage kinks. Your loops should be about 2 feet in diameter. Wrap what remains of your bottle around the coil of hose, fit the neck and mouth through the hole you created, then screw the cap back on to secure the wrap. Now your hose is ready to be neatly stored until the next time you need to use it.

As handy as this hack is, you may find that longer hoses create a coil too large for your 20-ounce bottle to fit around. A 2-liter bottle might be better suited for lengthier ones. Additionally, it's likely that your DIY wraps won't hold up indefinitely. Luckily, they're fast and free to make, so you can easily create more and transform additional trash into garden treasure. You can also purchase a product like the Heavy-Duty Wrap-It Storage Straps if you're looking for a more long-term organizational solution for your hoses.