My niece was telling me that she often receives gifts of scented bubble baths, lotions, perfumes, shampoos and conditioners that she can't use because she doesn't care for the scent. Does anyone have ideas on how to put these to other uses? One that I thought of was to donate them to homeless shelters.
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For bubble bath, shampoos, body washes, etc. I use them for hand washables and they work so well. Plus, they come out smelling so nice.
For body lotion, moisturizers, hair conditioners, etc. I use them to shave with instead of shave cream, which is so expensive. And they work so well for this purpose and leave the skin very silky and moisturized, too.
As far as perfume, I don't use it for anything if I don't like the scent. I just bring it to work and put a "free to anyone" label on it so that whoever likes it, can have it and that'll make someone else
Alot of food pantries would be happy to receive unwanted personal hygiene items and other non-food items such as bath tissue, baby items etc.. I know first hand about these items being very much needed by agencies that help people who although they work may not have enough money left to buy these necessities. Mrs. B New york
Nursing Homes would be another good place to donate such things. There are always elderly people with no families to get little extras like that, who would probably love a little pampering.
I usually save gifts like that to give away to someone else for a birthday or bridal shower gift, then I don't have to go shopping later
Most Children's Services are in desperate need of "overnight" bags or suitcases for children going into foster care. Most do not have anything of their own. They are taken with only clothes on their backs. There are several organizations that work on putting together overnight bags that come with a pillow or blanket (even if it is infant size, it is something to call their own), a toy and toiletry items.
Do not give to others anything you would not consider fit for yourself and your loved ones. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Having worked in shelters, a lot of stuff that is worthless or not fit is donated because some people think that homeless or poor people should be grateful to get your garbage.
There's nothing wrong with donating something that you don't want if it hasn't been used. It's a matter of personal preference, not donating garbage.
I used to work at a 24 hour emergency shelter and yes donations are accepted but not opened half way used bottles. Safety first is the thought for the residents.
Check with local Salvation Army also Abused Women Shelter etc. Agencies listed in blue pages in phone book. Terrific idea to donate
many items are useful.
Use perfumes to remove nail polish
When my sister was in ICU the nurses there were great. They would put all of their change together every night and when they had enough one of them would go out and purchase good smelling lotions etc...I since have purchased them for the ICU.Its an idea if you want to spread out your donations
My mother lives in a senior apartment complex and next to the laundry room is a table that is used to fold clothes or leave items that the residents can take. I leave clothes, candy, magazines, coupons and other items I no longer need. They would be most grateful to receive any items.
We donate unwanted scented products to Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity Thrift Shop & Battered Women's Shelter too. I imagine a Salvation Army Store might take them. Hate to throw away something good that someone else might like, just because we think of it as more FUME than Per. To someone else's nose it might be lovely.
You can always reuse some of the little bottles and jars for traveling. Just fill them with the products you like. Travel containers can get expensive.
- Marianne
As well as donating your extra soaps etc. to nursing homes. Please think about donating some of your time to the ones who have no families. I work in a nursing home and they love visits from people. Please donate your time if you can.
Thanks,
- Carlene
I donate a lot of things I can't use to the senior center. They appreciate them. They play games, such as Bingo, and use them for prizes. Candles, candies, lotions, soaps, even canned goods & paper products work out nicely.
- Jeannie
Shampoo's are great in the liquid soap bottles. I always buy cheap shampoo to fill mine, smells good also!
Hi, Lynn, in Western Oregon.
If you live anywhere near my church, New Vision Fellowship, 5525 SW. Menlo Dr., Beaverton, we can use any toiletries for our food pantry. We give bags of food and toiletries to people who come to us for help. We also allow homeless people the use of our showers, so soaps and shampoos come in handy there too.
Betty
When expecting guests, these little bottles can be placed decoratively on their towels in their rooms. They can also be refilled for your next guests.
Some perfumes - like peach, pear scented etc. make good room sprays, especially for the bedroom or bathroom. I will buy perfume at garage sales (check and make sure they're not stale) and if I'm not going to use it as perfume I'll use it as a spray.
When you have the end of a bottle of shampoo, turn the bottle upside down and get the last out, you can use it as hand soap, just add a small amount of water to it and add it to your hand soap container. Even several different kinds of odds/ends of flavors of shampoo smells good when mixed together (a vaguely floral scent usually) and works good for hand soap and you are not wasting it.
By C B
When lip gloss seems almost done but you can see there's more, I put a drop of baby oil in it and shake. No waste.
By Betsy Nein
Creams and lotions that come in those tubes are never quite empty even when you can't squeeze any more out. I cut the tubes half way up across the middle and there is always lots cream left to use many more times. I then slip the top part back over and it keeps the cream or lotions from drying out.
I'm probably not the first to do this, but I got sick of having the feeling that when I tossed that plastic handlotion, shampoo, conditioner,etc, bottle, I was throwing away a lot of product. Now, I cut bottles open and scoop out the remnants into a small sealable plastic bag. Easy to get product out, waterproof, and no more waste!
c.j.cox
you can take strong purfume and mix it with distilled water for a body splash in a spray bottle.
or try mixing old colognes together ---- use pliars to get the tops off and put them in a new bottle.
add to bath --- and add to unsented lotions and bath salts.
put in cleaning water to wash countertops and sinks.
some lotions work really good as a hair conditioner. i also use lotion to get make up off my eyes and for washing my face. I make a scrub with some liquid type of lotion and sugar for those dead skin flakes ---- using cold water with that.
if i run out of detergent i use shampoo for laundry or for dishes ---- strawberry works well at getting out tomatoe stains from plastic.
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