Would you purge or use up?

**Precious26** · 03-24-2011, 11:12 AM

Hi FV,

I wanted to ask, when you're organizing bathroom products, do you ever have the urge just to purge it rather than using it up? I think I have way too much. Do you possible have any other suggestions when it comes to bathroom products such as lotions, hair products, scrubs(that have never been used)? For the most part these were given to me as gifts over the years. I am trying to declutter my house and get rid of stuff that I don't need. I like being simple and free of clutter that is unused.

Cheers,

Jeanette

**Spirit Deer** · 03-24-2011, 11:14 AM

It depends what it is. If I'm likely to use it, I'll keep it but if not, it's gone.

If there are things you know you'll never use, then offer them on Freecycle or donate to a women's shelter or other charity.

**shoiji** · 03-24-2011, 11:17 AM

Food pantries will also take personal care products.

**chowder** · 03-24-2011, 11:41 AM

I just did that.Took everything out, if I use it,went back in.All that was left out, I checked it over again,boxed it up and donated it.I was really surprised at how much room my cupboards have now.I then made a list of products that I had tried,but didn't like.Now I am not second guessing at the store when a product comes on sale,and I want to give it a try.

**TigerGirl1226** · 03-24-2011, 12:00 PM

I use the stuff that I like. The stuff that I'm not hugely fond of like bodywash may be used as bubble bath, but if I really hate it...it gets chunked. I know I should donate it, but I don't.

**Ali Lee** · 03-24-2011, 01:08 PM

All extra shampoo & body wash goes into my hand wash pump. Extra conditioner can be made into clothes fabric softener. Shampoo can be made into body wash. Or, ditto ^, can be given to women shelters. My dau gave her extra make up to a shelter. They met her in a parking lot to receive it, tho. They can't give out their address.

**brennasmom** · 03-24-2011, 02:14 PM

I was going to recommend the food bank as well. I contacted mine locally and they said they would love to have HBA items

**NikoSan999** · 03-24-2011, 02:25 PM

One thing not mentioned....if the products are unopened and not ancient, as I think you mentioned some weren't, you could make gift baskets out of them. Birthdays, Christmas etc. Maybe add a little something extra to it, some shredded color paper and voila! A very nice present economically.

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-24-2011, 04:37 PM

I tend to mix mine together. For example: My fruity body wash gets mixed together into one, my floral body wash gets mixed together into one...and so on grouped by "families" of scents in similar products - shampoo, conditioner...

**lisaflex** · 03-24-2011, 07:39 PM

i would probably pitch the ones i wouldnt use....

**ravenmaniac** · 03-24-2011, 09:39 PM

It is funny this subject came up, a few months ago I went through my bathroom products.

The ones I would use I did keep. If the products were old or discolored I chucked them.

A lot of room was freed up and now I am organized. I know what products I have and which ones need to be replenished. If I receive products as gifts I will not use, I put a label on the product with the person's name who gave it too me, then I put it on the gift shelf.

**The Muse** · 03-25-2011, 05:10 AM

I generally keep it and I'm glad I did because now that I'm living in Denmark where everything is very expensive, all of the stuff I was tempted to throw out in the US is saving me a ton of money.

**Ceashels** · 03-25-2011, 07:50 AM

I just did some purging of bath supplies yesterday. Some were in the "eww, that gets pitched" category, some were in the ... "I'll take that upstairs and use it." Sometimes its all a matter of how accessible things are for me to use them up.

**monkeywrangler71** · 03-25-2011, 08:10 AM

If it is shampoo or conditioner I dump it in with whatever bottle is open in the shower. Body wash I put into the soap dispenser; lotions, etc. go in the donation bag, if they are not open (which they never are since I don't use them).

**Judi Dial** · 03-25-2011, 11:30 AM

A few years ago I had the whole top shelf of our bathroom closet filled with hba products, and had to purge a lot, so I know how it goes!

I took the unopened stuff to the swap shop so someone else could use it. (We give very few gifts, though that is a NEAT idea!) These days, I might give them to the food pantry?

I solved this by changing what I buy. I buy very few hba products from the market or drug store. I have 1 bar of Italian lemon soap I'd bought years ago we're using up in the bathroom, along with a mini bar from a hotel. When those are gone, I have organic melt/pour blocks of soap 1lb ea to cut and use. The shampoo we're using was on special, after it's gone, I plan to buy shampoo base or more likely shampoo bars. We get our laundry and dish soap from the manufacturer, Sun & Earth, in gallon bottles.

If I wasn't so scent sensitive and the companies hadn't gone so scent crazy, I'd probably still buy shampoo concentrate from a beauty supply store, which is how beauty shops buy it.

DH and I to both now use the same, unscented, stick deodorant. He's using my lotion base for shaving cream these days.

I tried to find ways to use fewer products, and to make sure that what we do use is generic (so we can both use them) whenever possible.

IHTH

Judi

I also use shampoo (just a little) as bubblebath!