It’s true, the sturdy, hinged boxes that new glasses come in are often tossed without a second thought. They are actually incredibly versatile for organization and travel. Here are 10 smart ways to reuse old eyeglass cases.
1. The Ultimate Cable and Earbud Tamer
This is perhaps the most popular reuse. Tangled earbuds and charging cables are a modern annoyance. An eyeglass case is the perfect size to store a set of earbuds, a USB cable, or even a small power bank. It protects them from damage in a bag and keeps them instantly accessible without a knot in sight.
2. A Secure Home for Small Electronics
Beyond cables, these cases are ideal for protecting other small, expensive gadgets.
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USB Flash Drives & SD Cards: Keep your important data and photos safe from being bent or crushed at the bottom of a backpack.
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Portable Hard Drives: A hard case offers an extra layer of shock protection.
3. The Perfect Pencil or Pen Case
For students, artists, or anyone who carries nice writing instruments, a glasses case is a perfect protective sleeve. It stops pens from leaking onto other items in your bag and prevents the clips from snapping off. A hard case is especially good for protecting expensive fountain pens.
4. A Travel-Size Art Kit
Slip a few pencils, a small sharpener, and a putty eraser inside. You have a portable, pocket-sized sketching kit ready for inspiration on the go. You could even tape a small piece of sandpaper to the inside cover for sharpening charcoal or pastel pencils.
5. A Mini First-Aid Kit
Create a custom first-aid kit for your purse, glove compartment, or gym bag. It’s the perfect size for:
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A few adhesive bandages (plasters)
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Single-use antiseptic wipes
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Small packets of pain reliever
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A tiny tube of antibiotic ointment
6. Protect Your Reading Glasses
This is a classic, but it’s worth mentioning. You’re upgrading to a new pair, but your old prescription isn’t useless. Keep your previous pair of glasses (or a cheap pair of readers) in this hard case in your nightstand, office drawer, or car. That way, you always have a backup, and they’re protected when not in use.
7. A Discreet Jewelry Travel Case
Protect delicate jewelry from getting tangled or crushed while traveling.
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Store a pair of earrings to ensure you don’t lose the back.
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Keep a delicate necklace from knotting.
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Safely transport a nice watch to prevent the face from scratching.
8. Organize Your Desk or Junk Drawer
Use them as sorting trays inside drawers. You can corral things like:
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Stamps and a small ink pad
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Paper clips, push pins, and binder clips
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Batteries (keep them from rolling around and touching other metal objects)
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Spare buttons or sewing needles
9. A Safe for Razor Blades
This is a great safety hack. If you use a safety razor with replaceable double-edged blades, storing the used (or new) blades in an old metal or hard plastic eyeglass case makes disposal much safer. It prevents anyone from accidentally cutting themselves on a loose blade in the trash.
10. A Portable Craft or Sewing Kit
Stash a small pair of scissors, a needle, a few pins stuck through a small piece of felt, and a couple of spools of thread in a neutral color. You’ll have a compact mending kit ready for any clothing emergencies while traveling.