I know this might be a little weird or a little extreme to some of you, but I really think it’s saved me some serious cash through the years. Instead of tossing “empty” bottles of shampoo or conditioner, I simply remove the caps from the old and new bottles, set the olds on top of the news and drain the leftovers into the new bottle. I’ll prop them up and let them sit all day. It’s amazing how much I’ll get from the “empties!”
You can swirl a little water in the bottom of the old bottle to help move the process along. This also works for body wash, laundry detergent, etc. I’d estimate I get at least another week’s worth of product each time. That really adds up over time.
Pretty please tell me I’m not the only one who does this? Do you get every last drop out of your toiletries, too?
~Mavis
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Linda says
I do the same thing adding a little water to the bottle. I add a little to the spaghetti
sauce and ketchup etc. I am turning into my mother.
My daughter says rug shampoo (foam type) works great on tile grout.
MeMom StMartin says
You can by the double funnel With a connector for doing this chore at walmart now. It is a handy tool I use often. It is about $4-$5.
Mavis says
Double funnels are a godsend! So worth the money!
Laura says
Plenty of others do that. Cut off the tops of lotion bottles to get inside them – you would be amazed at how much lotion is at the bottom that will never come out of a pump bottle. Qtip works well for makeup in bottom of bottle. Same with pump bottles of hand soap – take out the pump and pour it into your hand. Keep on saving!!!
Krista says
I do the same with lotion bottles. There is always SO much left in there. And they are quite easy to cut with a decent pair of scissors.
Sandra says
I use the Fiskers Amplify scissors to cut my lotion bottles to get that last bit out. The scissors are made for cutting tough stuff like plastic, chipboard, light metal, etc.
Rachel B says
I do this with lotion bottles, too! It really is amazing how much is left.
Julia says
I upend bottles and cut tubes also. For almost empty spaghetti jars I dump in a bit of cooked spaghetti, put on the lid and shake it around to get the last bit of sauce!!!
Kathy says
Have a little do-hicky that you screw bottles into so one drains into the other. Do it with condiments in bottles but haven’t done qoth hair care products or lotion. Wish I could remember where it was gotten!
Kim says
Walmart had it at one time.
Laura says
I got mine at Container store and I know they still carry it. Very handy!
Tammy says
For shampoo, I tip it upside down in the shower when it is nearly empty, then the last few times I add water and use it up that way.
When I was a kid, my dad made a cap for two bottles (I think it was for motor oil, but I’m not sure), where the lids were glued together with a hole in both, so that he could screw it on the new/old bottle and have it stand upside down without toppling over. 🙂
Janet says
I put almost empty lotion bottles in the microwave for a little bit to warm up the lotion and then turn the bottle over and repeat warming until the bottle is empty.
Vy says
When the shampoo and conditioner hit about 3/4 full, I fill it back up with water, shake and leave. Next shower I can’t even tell, it’s all solidified back. I keep doing that until it starts to become obvious it’s diluted (you might be surprised how long that takes). But yes, I also use every teeny bit, rinsing out the bottles until they stop working 🙂
Jennifer says
I use a lipbrush when my lipstick gets down even with the container. You would be surprised how much lipstick is left in the container.
Alison R says
We do the same things!: Condiments, beauty supplies, laundry supplies, cleaning supplies, and toothpaste tubes too!
Amazing how much is leftover that no one will ever use!
We use it all, pennies add up!
Peggy Ann says
I have a cheap plastic funnel that I use only for transferring the remains of one bottle (shampoo, lotion, etc.) into the new bottle. I keep it with my toiletry stash so I don’t confuse it with a funnel I use for food items.
Jonnie says
Toiletries, and condiments, and anything else I can do it with. Being around great-grandparents, and grandparents, who live through the Depression, makes you aware of the cost of everything, and how to make everything stretch. You do not waste anything, if you can help it. When you cook, you cook stock pots full of chili, stew, etc…, and you freeze it into different meals, it keeps food from going bad, before you can cook it. Or you can it. You also make everything from soap to soup, yourself, from basic ingredients, to save money, and do with them, what you are doing with your store bought products. We also reversed the size of meals, we eat daily. The largest should be breakfast, not dinner. You don’t need a lot of calories to help you sleep. You do need them to function properly during the day, when you’re active. Well I am going to shut up now.
Annette says
I have been doing the same thing for years. I too think I save money doing it over time. I also do it with lotion, liquid hand soap, and liquid really…that includes food
Terri says
I do this also. I also take new liquid laundry detergent, pour half into empty bottle and add water to both. Two bottles for the price of one! Our clothes are really not “dirty”. If we have something bad, just use a pre-treatment!
Laurie says
I do that too! I also cut toothpaste containers, lotions, etc, near the end of the container. It is amazing how much more of the product you can get out! When something has a pump and it gets to where it doesn’t work any more, I take the pump out and shake the container against my hand. I don’t know how much money I’ve saved, but I feel wasteful if I don’t do that.
Donna says
Yep and I also cut my toothpaste tubes in half to get every last bit out of them
Patty says
Every. Last. Drop in this household. Of everything!
Kathy says
I do!!
Pamela says
totally do this but I use a funnel into a pump bottle bottle. Then I rinse the old bottle into my hair for one last shampoo