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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To use or to chuck insane accumulation of toiletries?

66 replies

Turnfacethenamechange · 24/07/2022 17:33

I am not a hoarder. Except seemingly I am an accidental one when it comes to toiletries

I am having a declutter and have found that I possess:

7 bottles of various shampoos in varying states of emptiness
6 x conditioners as above
7x bottles of retinol lotions and potions, mostly unopened
5x unused bars of fancy soap
4x hand creams
A whopping 17 x bottles and tubes of various hair serums, gels, creams and mousses.

In addition, loads of random things like pillow spray, bath essence, body milk and essential oils that I have no idea what to do with.

Most of these are gifts, or bought in desperation when I was having a bad hair/skin day.

There’s hundreds of pounds worth of stuff here!

Should I:
A) Keep it and work my way through it over the next 6 months, as not doing so would be wasteful. (YABU)

B) Bin / donate everything unwanted and free up two whole drawers at the bottom of my wardrobe. (YANBU)

Before anyone suggests it I am not going to re-gift anything as I pride myself on giving thoughtful gifts!

OP posts:
antelopevalley · 24/07/2022 17:34

Just use them. Its not that difficult.

litlealligator · 24/07/2022 17:35

If there's stuff that hasn't been opened give it to your local food bank, they need toiletries too.

ChessieFL · 24/07/2022 17:36

I was going to suggest food bank, or your local women’s refuge.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 24/07/2022 17:36

Just use them up.

Nospringchickendipper · 24/07/2022 17:36

Just use them up and don’t buy anymore till you have finished them all

freddiemercury · 24/07/2022 17:36

Donate anything unopened to a hygiene bank...like a food bank but for toiletries. Please. They are desperate for donations

sobercuriouskind · 24/07/2022 17:37

I have a similar "problem". If you can, anything the same that you can pour together, do that. Have a "using now" box and only when you have fully finished a product in that box, replace it with something else needing used up. However, be realistic, if you are never in a million years going to use that pillow spray, chuck.

MadamOracle · 24/07/2022 17:37

Donate them to a food bank. Many people are as in need of toiletries as they are food.

nca · 24/07/2022 17:37

Use them. I'd consolidate the open ones (aka bung them all into one bottle)

Itsnotwhatitlookslike · 24/07/2022 17:37

Use the stuff that’s opened, such a waste -money wise and environmentally- to just bin it. Donate the unopened stuff.

LuckyAmy1986 · 24/07/2022 17:38

Don’t bin anything. Either use it or donate it…

Turnfacethenamechange · 24/07/2022 17:39

Ooh the consolidation option is a good call!

OP posts:
Hereforthedramaz · 24/07/2022 17:41

I am in a similar position and I'm trying really hard to work through my ridiculous stash! As you say it's £100s of pounds worth and seems so wasteful to chuck! Pretty much all tried so can't give to a charity etc.

Unfortunately the reason I have a massive stash is I find it almost impossible to resist buying new things!

But I have set myself a rule of using things up, unless I have an actual adverse reaction to something.

I feel a really weird satisfaction when I actually use something up!

LadyKenya · 24/07/2022 17:41

Itsnotwhatitlookslike · 24/07/2022 17:37

Use the stuff that’s opened, such a waste -money wise and environmentally- to just bin it. Donate the unopened stuff.

This.

dudsville · 24/07/2022 17:45

I've been working through hair care products for ages, it feels good to know I'm not throwing money away. I haven't kept things I don't like or that don't work for me though. These are just things I was trying out but weren't favourites. I wfh and during the week I don't get out much, I can use these things on those days.

Preemptedyou · 24/07/2022 17:46

It's really not that much, just use it up

KarrotKake · 24/07/2022 17:51

Donate the unopened stuff.
Selectively bin some of the opened stuff, but use most of it up.

CornishTiger · 24/07/2022 17:52

Donate the unused stuff but why unopened retinols?

will you not use the soap? I do instead of shower gel?

shampoo as hand soap. It’s a cleaning agent!

CornishTiger · 24/07/2022 17:53

I’ve been working through my stash for years…….

BlooberryBiskits · 24/07/2022 17:54

KarrotKake · 24/07/2022 17:51

Donate the unopened stuff.
Selectively bin some of the opened stuff, but use most of it up.

Agree. Can’t you offload some on friends & family?

if the shampoo & conditioners are dire use them as soap/body wash and for shaving your legs

face creams can be body lotion etc

GaspingGekko · 24/07/2022 17:56

Figure out what you won't use - e.g. I would never use pillow spray. Throw or donate those. Then just work your way through the rest.
Definitely agree with putting all the shampoos etc into one bottle.

Puddington · 24/07/2022 17:57

I would just start using it up, with the caveat that some skincare things can go a bit dodgy if opened and then left for months without being used. I have a similar "problem" with a treasure trove of shower gels etc given as stocking fillers but I love a variety Grin If there's anything unopened you're not overly keen on though donating it is a good shout.

urgen · 24/07/2022 17:57

You sound like me! I presume it’s just unopened toiletries that are acceptable?

mumda · 24/07/2022 18:00

Consolidation of open shampoos. I've got a pump action tresseme bottle that I've kept for years. Much less wasteful than tipping stuff out each time.

onwardandupwards · 24/07/2022 18:01

Try the olio app if you want to give some away, I managed to give most of what I had away including half filled bottles ect.