You know that little hard case that comes with a new pair of glasses?
Most of us use it for a while, toss it into a drawer, and completely forget about it.
Then one day you open that drawer and discover five of them.
Maybe one is scratched. Another has a broken clasp. One still has the logo from an optician you haven't visited in years. And somehow, you can't bring yourself to throw them away.
Honestly? I'm glad you didn't.
Because those little eyeglass cases are surprisingly useful.
They're compact, protective, easy to clean, and already designed to keep small objects contained. In other words, they're basically tiny storage boxes hiding in plain sight!
So before you send those old cases to the trash, take a look at these 10 smart ways to reuse old eyeglass cases. You may find yourself wishing you'd saved a few more.
Why Keep Old Eyeglass Cases?
An eyeglass case has several qualities that make it perfect for repurposing.
It's usually:
- Small enough to fit into a handbag, backpack, or drawer
- Hard-sided and protective
- Lightweight
- Easy to open and close
- Already lined with soft material
- Convenient for organizing small items
- Free if you already have one sitting around!
And that's the beauty of repurposing something like this.
You don't need to buy another organizer. You already have one.
1. Turn It Into a Mini Sewing Kit
This might be my favorite idea because an eyeglass case is almost the perfect size for a tiny emergency sewing kit.
Add a few needles, several colors of thread, a couple of buttons, small safety pins, and perhaps a tiny pair of thread snips if they fit safely.
Now you've got a little sewing kit you can keep in a purse, desk drawer, suitcase, or car emergency bag.
What to put inside
Try including:
- Needles
- Black and white thread
- A few colorful threads
- Small buttons
- Safety pins
- Tiny measuring tape
- Needle threader
It's especially handy when you're traveling and discover a loose button five minutes before dinner.
2. Create a Travel-Sized First-Aid Kit
An old hard case can also become a compact container for a few basic first-aid supplies.
You could use it for adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, or other small items appropriate for your needs.
The case keeps everything together instead of allowing tiny supplies to disappear into the bottom of your purse.
Just remember that the contents should be clean, appropriate for the intended use, and within their expiration dates.
3. Keep Your Charging Cables From Becoming a Tangled Mess
Raise your hand if your bag contains at least three cables that somehow manage to tie themselves into knots.
Exactly.
An eyeglass case can be a simple way to keep a short charging cable, adapter, or earbuds together.
Wrap the cable loosely, place it inside, and close the case.
Suddenly, you're not digging through your handbag looking for the one cable you actually need.
Anything but boring!
4. Make a Tiny Craft Supply Organizer
If you enjoy crafting, you already know how quickly tiny supplies can take over a room.
Buttons.
Beads.
Embroidery floss.
Small pieces of ribbon.
Jewelry findings.
Those things have a magical ability to scatter everywhere.
An old eyeglass case gives you a small, portable place to keep a particular collection of tiny craft supplies together.
You could even assign different cases to different projects.
One case for beads. One for sewing supplies. One for embroidery.
It's simple, inexpensive, and makes cleanup much easier.
5. Use It as a Hair-Accessory Case
Hair elastics, bobby pins, clips, and small barrettes are exactly the sort of things that disappear when you need them most.
Keep a handful in an old eyeglass case instead.
It's particularly useful for travel.
Instead of stuffing hair accessories into a toiletry bag where they'll inevitably vanish beneath your shampoo and makeup, put them in their own little case.
When you arrive at your destination, everything is right where you expect it to be.
6. Turn It Into a Small Emergency Kit for Your Purse
