To switch to miniature toiletries

[HolidayLetter]

I have always provided naice hand-soaps, shower gels etc in large (refillable) bottles, but have recently been toying with the idea of switching to hotel-style miniatures on the grounds that I was always very excited by miniature soaps in the olden days, when I went on holiday rather than providing them. However, I'm now thinking that this might irritate some guests on environmental grounds. AIBU to switch to miniatures?

Good point, BIWI. A lot of my guests are American/Australian. I last went away in 2012, so I've lost track of what going away involves!

PolPot, I used L'Occitane refills for ages, but they were so expensive that I've taken to using whatever fancy-branded stuff I can find in TK Maxx (which has the disadvantage that it mostly isn't refillable, so I'm still chucking away big plastic bottles on a regular basis). I've come across a very nice locally made brand though, so that was going to be my alternative if I went back to the 'refills' route.

Completely unreasonable. Have you missed the memo on climate crisis?

In my holiday let I provided cleaning things (washing up liquid, washing detergent) plus condiments and things like ketchup. I did not provide soaps or shampoos. Total waste as I found people will not use half empty bottles generally for personal hygiene.
You may recycle but it is far better for the environment not to use the plastic in the first place.

I've come across a very nice locally made brand though, so that was going to be my alternative if I went back to the 'refills' route.

That seems a much better idea.

O no! Someone has voted that IANBU. Still, I think 98% is still pretty definitive.

I have not missed the memo, Balanchine (lovely name, btw). Just trying to balance what I want with what guests might expect!

Another user of holiday lets - never seen more than a dispenser of liquid soap and often not even that.
However as a person with allergies I always take our own stuff anyway. (Even to hotels where I would expect more to be provoded)

Sorry @HolidayLetter I hadn’t seen your post about it being for a business or I would have been less sharp :)

And thanks :)

A refillable locally made brand would be PERFECT. Much better than a mass market brand.

What about tiny bars of soap wrapped in posh paper? I bet one of the handmade soap brigade would sell them to you, or you could make your own. It's fairly easy using melt and pour, and you'd use pretty moulds like fancy ice cube trays. Hearts or flowers or something.

You definitely need to supply new (whether miniature or not) bar soap in bathrooms/kitchens. I know IABU but I cannot stand the big bottles in some (lower end) hotels now - the idea of using something some other person has used in the bathroom disgusts me (I either want miniatures provided and in case they are not I now bring my own).

I have stayed at a few high end hotels recently and while some still have the single use miniatures quite a few have gone to refillable wall mounted dispensers with shampoo/conditioner/body wash in the shower and one with liquid soap by the sink. Could you do that?

Local homemade refillable brand would be my choice. It's nice that its supporting a local business plus not had any airmiles added to it.

Can you get small bars of solid shampoo and conditioner? Those would be nicer (and better for the environment) than half used bottles of stuff (I often worry that someone with nefarious intent may have piddled in the bottles - or worse, even though I know this is unlikely), and small bars would be used up by customers or can be sort of 'remelted' and new bars made from leavings.

I think a wall mounted refillable dispenser would be the way forward.

You could use a good quality brand or hair/body wash. Tiny hand soaps wrapped in paper are good for the handbasin.

In general most people do take their own stuff to a holiday let. Hotels not so much. Times are changing though and we all need to be considerate of plastic usage.

wall mounted push button dispensers in the shower

I also like these and locally sourced refills sounds lovely

I have to be honest I do like miniatures though. I take them home with me and use for hand luggage only trips. But I think they need to be very premium like Molton Brown to register with a guest.

Other than a small bar of soap for hand washing I never open the tiny toiletries anywhere we stay.
I'd rather use my own products. Single use plastic is the secondary reason.

What’s the point in those mini bars of soap? They only get used for a weekend then presumably get chucked away afterwards?

FWIW, the nicest toiletries imo are full size luxury toiletries that you can use as much as you want. Ie soho house has full size cowshed stuff, they have labels to say if you take the whole thing you’ll be charged but it is really nice

I dont expect any more than handwash provided in a holiday let.

Thank you, Balanchine .

Right. I'm now thinking (on the basis of the comments on here) that I will provide small individual soap bars (the local company does them with a little paper sleeve) in the kitchens and bathrooms, and refillable shower/bath stuff in the bathrooms/shower rooms, again from the local company. They are slightly more expensive than (eg) the Scottish Soap Company, but they also look a bit higher-end, and it would be nicer to keep it local.

I will also look into the wall dispensers, as I agree with m00rfarm that it's tricky to hold a bottle while you're trying to have a shower.

I think you would be better getting a wall mounted dispenser like this one, which has space for shampoo, conditioner and body wash. you can get refill pouches to empty in meaning you aren't using plastic

Thank you for the link, Sleep. I've been on hotel supplies porn sites all afternoon, so you have now given me another one to look at.

Please don’t do this. Find a eco shop where you can refill, they have some really lovey and luxurious products in there.

Make sure you advertise the fact they are a local company, it always gets plus points from me in a review.

Do not remelt shampoo bars as suggested up thread (not envy)

Can you get small bars of solid shampoo and conditioner? Those would be nicer (and better for the environment) than half used bottles of stuff (I often worry that someone with nefarious intent may have piddled in the bottles - or worse, even though I know this is unlikely), and small bars would be used up by customers or can be sort of 'remelted' and new bars made from leavings.

Oh good grief 100% do NOT melt down old bars and give them to new guests, that is disgusting!