Buckets are cylindrical or conical containers with handles designed to carry or store liquids and hold objects in various settings. The fundamental purpose of a bucket is to store and carry multiple materials during general-purpose cleaning, building, mixing, and other maintenance applications. These versatile household cleaning tools come in various sizes, shapes, designs, colours, and materials with an open top for easy access to contents. Depending on the bucket types, they have varied capacities (typically in litres) to hold materials. Buckets are usually made from plastic materials; however, they also come as steel buckets for different purposes.
Bucket Lids
Bucket lids, also called bucket covers or bucket tops, are crucial accessories designed to enhance the functionality of buckets by providing protection, containment, and organisation for the contents. Bucket covers easily fit on bucket tops and serves several vital functions when paired with buckets, including sealing, integrity, identification, and safety. A bucket lid comes in various types, colours, sizes, shapes, and materials, depending on the intended applications and bucket types. Additionally, they feature flip-up, removable, or hinged sections with snap-on designs, ensuring easy access to contents.
Popular Types of Buckets
Buckets have a broad range of varieties based on their materials and intended applications. Some of the standard bucket types include:
- Plastic Buckets – These are the most-used, lightweight, and durable containers made from plastic materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. They are ideal for household chores like cleaning, mopping, and storing small items due to their lightweight and wear and tear resistance. Plastic buckets are also used in agriculture and gardening for carrying water and soil or harvesting fruits and vegetables.
- Metal Buckets – Metal buckets are typically made of galvanised steel or aluminium and are known for their strength and durability. A metal bucket can perform heavy-duty tasks such as construction, mixing concrete, or carrying tools and materials on construction sites.
- Wooden Buckets – Historically, wooden buckets were used for carrying water and other liquids. While they are less common today, they are still used for decorative purposes, such as in rustic and traditional settings.
- Ice Buckets – Ice buckets are insulated containers used to hold ice cubes or crushed ice. They come with a lid and tongs for easy access to the ice and are commonly used at parties and gatherings to keep beverages cold.
- Mop Buckets – A mop bucket is designed explicitly for mopping floors and features a wringer attached to squeeze excess water out of the mop. They separate excess water from the mop head, making it easier to clean surfaces efficiently. Mop buckets are commonly used and favoured in cleaning and janitorial applications.
- Fire Buckets – Fire buckets are typically red containers designed to hold water or fire extinguishing materials for firefighting purposes in various settings.
- Paint Buckets – As the name suggests, these specialised buckets are designed for holding and mixing paints with measurements engraved on the side for accurate mixing and pouring of paint.
- Food Grade Buckets – Food-grade plastic buckets are specifically designed to store and transport food items. They are often used in the food industry for storing ingredients, pickling, and food preparation.
- Sand Buckets – Sand buckets, often made of plastic or metal, are used by children for playing in sandboxes or at the beach. They come in various sizes and may have handles or spouts for easy pouring.
- Construction Buckets – These are heavy-duty buckets used in construction and excavation work for carrying materials like soil, gravel, and debris.
Typical Applications of Buckets
Buckets are versatile tools designed for a wide variety of purposes in commercial, residential, and industrial applications. Some major functions of a bucket include:
- Cleaning: Buckets hold water for cleaning tasks, such as mopping floors, washing cars, or scrubbing surfaces.
- Storage: Buckets are suitable for storing items such as food, water, paint, chemicals, tools, gardening supplies, and more.
- Transportation: Buckets with handles are convenient for carrying and transporting materials.
- Mixing: Many buckets are designed with graduated markings to aid in measuring and mixing materials accurately.
- Gardening: Gardeners use buckets for various purposes, such as planting, weeding, and harvesting.
- Construction: In construction, buckets are essential for carrying and dispensing concrete, mortar, and other building materials.
