Hotel toiletries are free and depending on where you are staying they can be okay or even lousy. And most people usually ignore them and bring (or buy) their own when travelling. However I was inspired by my in-laws to take a second look and bring them home. After all we did pay for them together with the room so why not make use of them?
At first I stored them in case we have house guests who need them but they ended staying in storage for so long that they expire. So I had to think of something better…
I finally found a system that works for me! This is what I use them for:
Soaps are used for the guest toilet for washing hands.
Colgate Toothpaste tubes are stored for use during travel.
I group the toothbrushes in 2 and stored them in a clean zip lock bag.
- The better quality toothbrushes are stored for guests who might have forgotten to bring a toothbrush
- The bad ones (that feel like they would rip your gums of if you used them) are saved for home cleaning needs like cleaning silver jewelry, etc. (much more sanitary than using an old toothbrush right?)
I group the shampoos, bath gels and foams together. These are for refilling our liquid hand soap dispensers in the 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. We dilute the one in the kitchen with water to extend the use.
Shaving kits are saved for visitors. For trips my husband likes to bring the electric razor I gave him because there is no need to bring shaving cream.
Shower caps are saved for use when I am deep conditioning my own hair at home.
BRIGHT IDEA!
You can also use shower caps when you are coloring your hair or around your feet when deep conditioning your feet with thick lotion or petroleum jelly so that they don’t get on your bedding or floor. Just be careful not to walk in them or you might slip and fall.
The rest of the items like sewing kits, cotton buds, pads, combs and other items in sachets are in another bag. These are for guest if they forgot to bring some and also I love bringing them along when we are traveling on cheap. (Budget hotels don’t necessarily provide these.) They are perfect because they are sealed and in small quantities that are perfect for a weekend vacay.
Items that I don’t store are:
- Conditioners
- Lotions
- Other toothpaste brands
These I immediately give to our maid for her use. I am sure she appreciates them because she gets to save on toiletries too!
BRIGHT IDEA!
The toothpastes that are too awful to use, I ask my maid to store for cleaning silver. Toothpaste is an amazing non-toxic way to clean silvers. All you need is a toothbrush, some toothpaste and start polishing!
This is where it all goes! Without the boxes and extra cases (I remove them!) they all fit in a small see-through container. This saves me money from not needing to buy hand soaps for the home. Why buy when I get so much for free right?
How about you? Do you bring home toiletries free from hotels? What do you do with them?
Weeeeeeee I’m so happy to find someone who does the same thing! LOL I like storing hotel toiletries, too!
Yay! Good to find a fellow practical traveller! =D
Wow, how organized you are!! I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to take them or not, so I never did! I will from now on. 🙂 I like toothbrushes to clean as well, but I have used old ones. Thanks for sharing the idea!!
Hey Kaho, you actually pay for them as part of the per night rate so by all means these are yours! =) Glad to have inspired you!
I always bring home hotel toiletries! Everything goes to my nanny and helper though as part of my travel loot. I just keep the shower cap and the sewing kit. If they’re really nice though (like Sofitel has L’Occitane toiletries!), I keep them for future travel use.
I love your tips though. I may be linking to this in a future post. =)
We are kindred souls for sure! =) Go for it! I love reading your posts!
hey there, oh my i loveee bringing back all toiletries from hotel 😉 more like collecting them, i even put it somewhere hidden so that the next day during housekeeping i get the new set, HAHA, though i didnt use it, anyway i love ur tips & love your blog too!
Thanks I am glad you love it! I used to just keep them but now that I am a wife I am so much more conscious of bringing down expenses so it’s really my being a cheapskate or “practical” that gets me thinking of ways to economize/save. =)
Wow, you got a lot of hotel souvenirs. I don’t usually take them home and use them. I give them away to random people. Judy Ann Santos and Kris Aquino likes to take hotel toiletries and stuffs, why can’t we?
I am just always finding ways to save money hehe! Haha that’s nice to know! (re Judy & Kris)
Very neat and organized.
Why thank you =)
I bring home the hotel toiletries too. I keep the shower caps, sewing kits and the slippers (which are handy for overnight or short stays at family or friend’ home). All the rest I give to a charity that I and my husband support here in Talakag, Bukidnon. It is called Bethany Christian Home for Children (a home for orphaned and abandoned children). I also give them the sachets of coffee, tea, and sugar too. I also collect these when I’m in restaurants and in flights. Every little helps 😀
Hi! I love hotel toiletries and actually collect them, it is nice to see that i’m not the only one who brings them along back home. I love your idea to storage them. Thanks.
Hi Selkie! It’s nice to know that I have something in common with so many people out there! May I know what you do with them? I would love to hear other ideas!
Hi!
I simply store them…i love their small sizes, don’t wanna use them. use them for decoration and collection. i even write e-mails to the places where they’re made and ask for some samples. Normally people are very nice and send it to me.
[IMG]http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt64/kilauea_2009/2009049.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt64/kilauea_2009/2009050.jpg[/IMG]
those are the links of photos for my collection….it was supposed to be the actual photos :S
Sorry if my english is not correct, i am writing to you from Madeira, Portugal
😀
Hi Selkie, your collection is indeed impressive! If I had a collection like that I would love to use em! (but then it wouldn’t be a collection any more hehe!) I didn’t realize that you can write places and ask for samples – how kind of them. I guess that is for more serious collectors like you! =) Thanks for sharing your collection and passion for travel sized toiletries Selkie!
I thought I was weird, but now I know I am ‘normal’. I always keep the unused ones. When we moved out of the hotel where we stayed for two moths, I must say I had plenty of supply. I store them for our when we do have guest. But I have noted your other tips and will adopt, give the rest to the maid and refill the hand-washing bottle. Great ideas, thank you for this blog