8 Genius Ways To Get the Most Out of Your Toiletries, According to Redditors

Have you noticed how everything seems to cost an arm and a leg these days? It’s like even the air we breathe has a price tag on it. But fear not, my fellow frugal friend — when it comes to toiletries, there are a few tricks that can help you get the most bang for your buck. 

From squeezing every last drop out of the shampoo bottle or toothpaste tube to repurposing empty lotion containers as makeshift planters, Redditors share the tricks they use to make toiletries work double duty and stretch your dollars further. 

Related: 8 Ways To Save More Money in 2023, According to Thrifty Redditors

Cut ‘Em Open

Cutting open shampoo bottles and toothpaste tubes allows you to scrape out every last drop of product to prevent waste and maximize your savings. It’s a simple trick that can make a big difference in the long run. “I also like to cut my lotion bottles up when they are ’empty’ to really get the last drop out,” says one Redditor, adding, “Usually it lasts me another week or two this way.” 

Related: Things You Should Never Do in the Shower

Repurpose Lotion Containers

Instead of throwing away large lotion containers, you can repurpose them as planters and give them a new lease on life. With a little creativity and some basic gardening skills, you can turn your empty containers into cute and eco-friendly planters for your home or garden, helping you reduce waste and save money in the long run. Who said you can’t be thrifty and fabulous at the same time? 

Related: Planning on Planting? Check Out These Cheap, Year-Round DIY Greenhouse Ideas

Use Conditioner as Shaving Cream

According to Redditors, “Conditioner you don’t care for can be used as shaving lotion for legs.” Using conditioner for shaving cream is a neat money-saving hack that can leave your skin feeling equally smooth and soft. The creamy texture of conditioner helps the razor glide smoothly across your skin, making it a perfect substitute for traditional shaving cream. 

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Use a Few Drops of Shampoo To Make Soap

If you run out of hand soap, a few drops of shampoo mixed with water can be a great substitute. Shampoo has similar ingredients that can be used to effectively clean your hands, while also being a cost-effective solution. “I refill an old hand soap dispenser with mostly water and a squirt of cheap shampoo, mixed into a soapy mix! No one is the wiser,” writes one user. 

Dig Out Every Last Bit of Deodorant and Chapstick

To get the last bit of chapstick or deodorant, you can use a Q-tip or toothpick to scrape and scoop the remaining product out. “Don’t forget solid antiperspirant gets smashed between the grid, so when it’s out, you can keep unscrewing it and use something to poke it through the holes and apply it with your fingers,” writes one user, adding, “There’s often a week or two worth of deodorant in the bottom.” 

“Same with Chapstick: I dig the last bits out with a Q-tip and it’s a solid amount left in the little cradle that screws onto the winding mechanism,” writes another. 

Use Conditioner To ‘Unshrink’ Wool Sweaters

According to one Redditor, conditioner can be used to restore wool sweaters that have shrunk in the wash. “I read about conditioning wool sweaters with conditioner to help ‘unshrink’ them if you accidentally shrink them in the wash,” writes one user, adding, “[It] worked pretty well and I got rid of 1/2 the conditioner.” 

Use Shampoo as a Substitute for Detergent

In a pinch, you can use shampoo as a substitute for laundry detergent by adding a small amount to your washing machine, or when hand-washing clothes. Shampoo has similar cleaning properties as laundry detergent and can effectively remove dirt and stains from your clothes, users say. “I use [shampoo] for mostly everything, [it’s] really good for woolens, as wool is basically hair and most detergents are for cotton and not as good,” suggests one Redditor. 

Use Conditioner in Place of Fabric Softener

Believe or not, you can use conditioner as a substitute for fabric softener by adding a small amount to your washing machine’s rinse cycle. The conditioner’s moisturizing properties should leave your clothes feeling soft and smelling clean. “I once used some conditioner as fabric softener because I didn’t like it for my hair. The wash smelled nice,” writes one user.