10 Clever Dollar Tree Ideas We’re Obsessed With
If you’re not shopping at Dollar Tree, you’re missing out on these clever ideas for just $1!
Not only does this bargain retailer carry everything priced at $1 or less, but you can also use many of their items to create surprisingly cool and budget-friendly home decor & organization, frugal entertainment, and easy travel hacks.
Check out these borderline genius Dollar Tree ideas we’re obsessed with!
1. Use a pool noodle for simple, summer fun.
If you’re looking for an easy way to let your kids or pets cool off from the summer heat, head to Dollar Tree and purchase a few pool noodles for just $1 each! Then poke holes in the pool noodle, cover one end with duct tape, insert the hose in the opposite end, turn on the water – and get ready to have a splashin’ good time! 💦
You can also make a pool noodle floating cooler, perfect to chill cold drinks while swimming! All you need is a pool noodle, a plastic dishpan, and twine.
Hip Tip: For even more summer fun, check out these 10 kids’ summer activities using Dollar Tree items!
2. Keep your boots standing tall with a noodle.
Have tall boots that tend to fall over? Keep your winter boots upright in the closet with pool noodles from Dollar Tree. Just cut them to size and place them inside the boots during the summer months to help them hold their shape.
3. Create a lovely birdbath on the cheep.
Dollar Tree carries all of the items you’ll need to create a beautiful birdbath on the cheep cheap (see what I did there? 😉)! All you need is a plate or tray, a clear bowl, and a bag of colorful gems or marbles. Fill up the bowl with water, and watch the birds flock to it all spring and summer long! ☀️
4. Place beach toys or camping dishes in mesh laundry bags.
One thing about the beach is the sand… gets …everywhere. Keep those sand toys in mesh laundry bags at the beach, so you can shake out the sand before packing in the car instead of bringing it home with you. 🏖
Or, if you’re going camping and looking for a way to keep your dishes clean after washing them, consider grabbing a mesh laundry bag and placing your wet dishes in it. Then, just hang it up on a tree limb, and the dishes will air dry and stay clean from dirt or sand. You can also use the bag for keeping all your dirty laundry in one place.
Hip Tip: For even more camping tips and tricks, check out these 20 camping hacks using Dollar Tree items!
5. Use a shower cap for pesky bugs and dirty shoes.
A great way to protect your food from those pesky little bugs while camping or having a picnic in the park is to cover them using Dollar Tree’s shower caps – and they come in a pack of six for just a buck! 😱
When camping, you can also use these shower caps to hold your dirty shoes to keep any mud or dirt out of your car. Or, going on vacation? This little trick also works great for traveling to keep the dirty bottoms of your shoes from rubbing up against clean clothes in your luggage.
Hip Tip: Before your trip, check out these 16 Dollar Tree items to buy for your next vacation!
6. Spruce up your space with picture-perfect lanterns.
If you love farmhouse decor ❤️, Dollar Tree sells large picture frames that are perfect for making these rustic DIY lanterns! They’re an affordable way to add extra lighting and ambiance to your space without breaking the bank – and they’re beautiful to use for weddings, too!
Hip Tip: Planning a wedding? Check out these 5 brilliant wedding day hacks using Dollar Tree items!
7. Use a headband to keep your trash bag in place.
This may sound overly simple, but if you’ve ever had trouble with your trash bags falling inside the receptacle, you know how annoying it can be. An easy and frugal solution is to wrap a stretchy elastic headband from Dollar Tree around the top to keep the plastic trash bags from moving. Easy peasy!
It works great for large and small trash cans – and you can’t beat paying a buck for a multi-pack!
8. Use a caddy for road trips and movie nights.
If you’re planning a road trip and looking for ways to keep the kids entertained in the car, consider purchasing a craft caddy for just $1 at Dollar Tree. Then fill it with items like crayons, markers, pens, glue, scissors (for older children), stickers, and flashcards to keep things neatly organized and easily accessible in the car.
Are you a homeschooling parent or teacher? These craft caddies are also great if you want to create a homeschooling learning center at home or various learning stations at school!
Plus, the larger shower caddies are great for movie nights at home! 🍿 Grab some shower caddies, popcorn tubs, and plastic/mason jar tumblers with straws – then fill them with goodies that each person enjoys for a personalized basket. Wash and reuse these items time and time again to make every movie night fun!
Hip Tip: For more storage tips, check out these 10 home storage solutions using Dollar Tree items!
9. Organize items easily with stacking bins.
Dollar Tree’s $1 stacking bins are great for using under the bathroom or kitchen sink to hold miscellaneous hair products, razors, soap bars, medicines, facial care products, sponges, dishwasher tabs, and more!
Going camping? These bins are also handy for using inside the tent to keep things organized, or even for placing on the picnic table to hold games, lighters, hand sanitizer, flashlights, bug spray, and other items.
10. Create elegant home decor using plastic animals.
If you’re hosting a themed party or just want to add some elegant-looking décor on the cheap, consider grabbing a few Dollar Tree plastic animals and spray paint them with gold paint (check out how a Hip2Save reader used them for a baby shower!). Then just decorate with them where needed!
You’ll be surprised at how lovely these little animals turn out, and your guests will be impressed, too. As you can see, they definitely look like they came from a higher-end store and not Dollar Tree!
Hip Tip: Love crafts? Check out these 10 crafting supplies that are worth every penny from Dollar Tree!
Can’t believe I didn’t think of number 7! I used to have a huge rubber band that I got from the post office but I accidentally got taken out with the trash and the bag always falls in. Genius!!! Thanks again, h2s!
You’re so welcome, JA! Glad that one will be helpful!
i use x-mas light clips. you can get ones that will easily clip on to your trash can then i wrap the twirled end of the bag around & through where the bulb goes.
Adorable 🥰
Some of these are great 4-H projects. I will share these with my son!!
Cool ideas… will try them. Thanks h2save.
Yay! You are SO welcome! Thanks a bunch for the feedback!
5) Dollar Tree sells a 20pc variety pack of food cover-ups. It has 5 small 8.5 in, 8 medium 14 in, and 7 large 16.5 in cover-ups. I have used a small on a plastic cup, pop can, and temporarily on a can of pasta sauce. I have used a large on a dinner plate and an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. The only time I can remember using a medium was when I needed to cover a 2 cup glass measuring cup. It went more than halfway down the sides. I wanted to keep dust out of a saline solution I made after having teeth pulled.
they are also great for cake covers if no icing ir pound cake or like that
The box to check off to receive email notifications for follow-up comments is missing from this post too.
Thanks, Sara! Sorry for the issues. These style of post does not have that option at the moment.
I second Sara’s comment. The Food Cover Ups are the best. I bake alot and I put brownies (baked in cupcake liners) on a paper plate and use a cover up. You can see whats on the plate and its inexpensive and convenient. Everyone always asked where to get the cover ups. They would be excellent during a barbeque or pick nick to keep bugs out of food and are easily removed. They are soooo handy.
I use leftover plastics bags for my shoes to store them lol. Just grab some that I have in my stash, shove them in my boots and they look perfect the next year 👢👟.
Also on my small trashcans in the bathroom, I have a couple command hooks on the side. Holds the bag in place also.
pool noodles are great to cut up and use to surround window air conditioners to cushion unit from window frame. They fill in gaps and quiet the running- just slit and fit over sill/etc. They can be used year after year. One will do a whole window.
thank you, smart
Number 9. I have those bins but mind don’t stay in place. Did you glue them to stay in place? Th aks for any tips!