I searched high and low in every store and could not find a good, old-fashioned poofy powder puff. I use Gold Bond Power in various and sundry places and had been using my hand or a wash cloth to apply it. In the midst of searching another store, my husband suggested I take an old sock and fill it with powder and use that. WOW! What a suggestion!
When I got home, I found a cotton anklet that needed a job and put about 1/2 cup Gold Bond Powder in it. I twisted the top and tied it off with a rubber band. I poofed power in all the right places, and it didn't make near the mess the other ways had done.
My husband! The inventor of poofy powder socks.
By Elaine from OK
This page contains the following solutions.
I can't see very well without my glasses, so I put a large "S" on my shampoo bottle and a large "C" om my conditioner bottle with a waterproof marker, now I can tell one from the other while I am in the shower.
Do you ever wonder how much of a product, such as lotion, gets thrown away when you can no longer squeeze or pump any more out? I did.
We always save the soap, shampoos, toothpaste, and lotions we get at hotels when we stay in them. They come in handy when we run out of out regular soaps and things, especially when we can't make it to the store right away.
A dime sized shampoo works great for me, even when my hair is long, and it saves money too. Just put a dime sized plop of shampoo in your hand, rub it, and spread it over your damp hair, and nope, it does not usually lather in your hair.
Get all the product that you paid for out of the bottle or tube before throwing it out. Plastic tubes are easily cut in half with scissors.
A large portion of our grocery budgets go to non grocery personal care items. How do you save money on toiletries like shampoo, soap, lotion and other personal care products? Here are tips from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.
We live on a limited income, and shop at Dollar General stores often. There, we buy DG brand antibacterial soap for bathing. A 40 oz. bottle cost $2.
My mother-in-law taught me this during our visit this summer. When you have a stiff tube of product such as shampoo, moisturizer, or sunscreen and there's too little cream left to squeeze out, you can cut the tube crosswise into two sections.
To keep the contents from drying out, I put the container in a small sandwich bag. I also do this with bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion that are too low for the pump to get to the contents.
It's surprising how much product is left when you think the last drop has been squeezed from that tube of facial cleanser, moisturizer, or hair gel.
Instead of buying a clip for squeezing out your toothpaste, conditioner tubes, etc., put the tube down on the counter and with the handle of a screwdriver or hair brush, push from the bottom up to the cap end.
Do you love your bath salt, but it is never enough, and it costs too much to continually replace? You can mix your current bath salts with equal amounts of baking soda to give you more and it also softens the water even more for you.
Can't get lotion out of that tube? There's plenty left after you've squeezed as much out as you can! Cut the end off with scissors. For small tubes, your finger can get the rest out.
Most people don't realize that the main purpose of a facial cream is to seal in water. The best way to save money on your creams is to mix a little water in your hand with your cream or lotion and apply gently to a slightly damp face.
You can save the amount of lotion and soaps you dispense from pump-style bottles by wrapping a big rubber band around their necks. When you go to pump, it dispenses a much smaller amount, making it easier for you to control how much comes out.
First of all, I use the cheaper brand. Alberto VO5 around here is usually just $1 a bottle and sometimes on sale for less. Their conditioners seem like they mix more reddily with water.
Some kids don't know what a normal amount of shampoo, conditioner, or showergel is. They tend to use way too much.You can just buy a plastic pump bottle for each different product to refill over and over, and tell them that 1 or 2 pushes is enough!
This is a really simple and quick way to get all your toothpaste in the tube up to the dispenser. Just hold the tube front and back, then place the back end on the counter edge.
Re-use those 2 oz. energy drink bottles you've accumulated to put lotion samples in if you make your own lotions. They are perfect for purses because of their size.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Do you have any tips on how to use all of a product or get the most out of a product like toothpaste or shampoo? Post your ideas below or send them to daily@thriftyfun.com
When you are near the end of a tube of lotion, shower gel, facial scrub, etc. and can't easily get that last bit out, don't throw
it away. Leave the cap on and cut the top of the tube off far enough so that you can reach your fingers into the bottom to scrape out that last tid-bit. I have gotten more uses out of things which over time saves money (and resources).
Beth
I buy the generic Lubriderm lotion for my husband. There is usually a good 1/2 inch of lotion left at the bottom of the bottle when the pump stops working. I stand the old one on top of the new one (after the new one has been used a little) and tape them together with a little masking tape. Then when I come back a few hours later, the old is COMPLETELY empty!
Lynn
Check out stores which sell kitchen gadgets. I have a little two sided plastic "funnel like thing" [sort of shaped like an open ended hourglass] which fits over the the necks of two bottles [ketchup, karo and other tall narrow neck type bottles].
You place the gadget over the neck of the new bottle, turn the other bottle upside down and place the neck in the other side, so it drains down into the new bottle.
KayD
When the old bottle is almost empty there is usually enough room at the top of the new bottle to pour off what is left. The old bottle balances easily on top of the new and drains to the last drop. If you are not sure whether the new bottle has enough room use some before draining the old bottle.
Michael
You can only squeeze so much of the toothpaste out of the tube. When you have squeezed all you can, split the tube open with a pair of scissors. You can get several more brushings out of what's left inside. Just remember to store in it a plastic bag, because it will dry out if you leave it out in the open.
April - Bedford, Indiana
Regarding the tip about turning bottles upside down to get every drop. I have a shower caddy that allows the bottle to sit that way all the time. Plus, when I reach the end of a shampoo or conditioner bottle, I add a bit of water to the bottle and shake it up. I can usually get another couple of days worth that way.
Jess
I got something on ketchup!If your down real low on ketchup and there 's just a little at the bottom of the bottle,and you gotta tip it upside down to get it to the top,that takes long for it to slide down,put the bottle in your hand,and take your arm and swing your arm around and around in circle's about six or so time,all the left over ketchup is at the top of the bottle,and you can use the last bit instead of tossing it.
A few ideas serve me here.
For toothpaste, I flatten the tube when it is about three/fourths empty then roll from the bottom and secure with a large paperclip. Keep rolling and securing as the tube empties. By the time the last portion is reached the tube is very tight and will allow for a number of two-hands squeezes pushing into the cap area to remove the last amount. This method has eliminated the messy method of splitting the tube for a scraping. Recently, I found that a small office clamp is superior in convenience to even the paperclip.
For items like detergent and shampoo my technique is different. When bottoms-up convenience passes, I turn the container upright and allow any left over amount to drain to the bottom. Then using a cutter blade, I cut off most of the upper portion exposing the reside which is usually a significant amount. The collection then can be poured into the new container and finally the last drops scraped out. For detergent I go still another step for a complete cleaning. I put the "cleaned out" container piece into my dishpan and run dish water directly into it. The hot water completely removes any lingering product. I literally get benefit of the last drop.
I use liquid fabric softener that comes in a cardboard container. When that container is empty I leave it open for several weeks and it serves as an air freshener even after all residue has evaporated. The fragrance so permeates the cardboard that its effect lasts a long time.
For tubes of blush and lipstick when the tube can no longer be extended and the surface no longer applies color, I use my fingernail and finally the plastic tip of an eyeshadow applicator to scrape the remainer out and apply. This technique yields an amazing quantity.
Of course, there is the traditional method for catsup. Add a small amount of water to the residue and shake well.
When making gingerbread cookies the recipe calls for molasses and hot water. After pouring out the last of the molasses. I put the measured amount of water into the molasses bottle and shook well. The water cleaned out the remaining molasses beautifully.
I had bought a couple of room deodorizers in the plastic containers that look like an egg. After the jel had shriveled to a tiny lump, I opened the container and removed the chunk of dried jel. The fragrance was still strong enough to effectively be used as shoe deodorizers.
~Charlotte
You can extend lipstick more effectively & make it look better if you use a lipstick brush for dipping into the tube & then applying it. You can also make a new shade by digging out all the old lipstick & combining it with other old lipstick leftovers & a bit of petroleum jelly & putting it in a small container like a pill box. Heat a moment in the microwave if it needs melting a bit & stir with a popsicle stick. Use a lipbrush to apply. Small, stubby bristled paintbrushes work well as lipbrushes. - Alekscat - Richmond,VA
When the shampoo bottle is empty [well, almost] I save it for bath-time. As I fill the tub with water, I hold the bottle under the spigot a moment, and get enough shampoo from it for a nice bubble bath.
By the way, I often buy bargain shampoo just to use for bubble bath. It works great, some brands have a wonderful scent, it's delicate on my skin, it keeps the tub spotlessly clean, and ounce for ounce, it is usually much cheaper than bubble bath. - Eastwood
Health and beauty items that you don't use or want to use for their intended purpose can often be put to a different use such as using lotions for shaving. If unopened they could be donated to a shelter. This is a page about using it up health and beauty products.
This is a page about using pump bottles in the bath. Using pump bottles in the bath helps prevent using too much product. Its a great way to save money!
Place rubber bands around your shampoo bottles to reduce their slipperiness and also to help differentiate between the shampoo and conditioner, especially when they are the same brand.
This page is about getting all the lotion out of a bottle. Being able to use the very last of the lotion can be a challenge.
I, like so many other woman, will try almost anything. Then I noticed companies are betting on just that! Shaving cream for one example: it softens, has aloe or tons of other promises. Maybe they do, but is it worth the extra money you pay for it?
