Decluttering Guides
Toiletries
There’s no two ways about it, we all need toiletries in our homes. From the everyday essentials, to medicine that we call upon when needed. What we don’t need however is the ones that we don’t use, don’t really like or those that have seen better days.
The great news is, toiletries are a great place to start with your overall decluttering journey.
When beginning to sort out your toiletries remember, you are an ever evolving being. Your tastes change over time and that is perfectly ok.
Lets break it down:
Know What You Have
When making a start, gather all your toiletries from all over the house so you can see exactly what you have. You need to be asking yourself some key questions of each item:
- Do I use it?
- Do I like the smell?
- Does it make me feel good?
- Is it way out of date?
- Does it live up to its promises
- Does it suit me?
- Is it useable?
If the answer is NO then it is time for it to go
- Am I keeping it because it was a gift?
- Am I keeping it because it was expensive?
If the answer is YES to these, then let someone else have the joy.
Keep It All In One Place
When decluttering, you will usually find toiletries in every room. Understandably we use them in different rooms at different times, but the trick is to make sure they are all returned to where they live all together. It’s the only way to keep track of what you have and what you need when purchasing more.
Use What You Have
How many times do we see a new shower gel scent for example and get sucked in to buying it and using that one rather than the ones that are already in the cupboard. We’ve all done it.
You have to make a conscious effort to use what you already have before you buy or start using a new product. When you start a new product before the old one has been used up, it often never will be. (Which is perfectly ok if you change your mind, but you need to get rid of the old one too) Keep in mind that all products have an expiration date
Cosmetics
“Love this mascara, I’ve had it for years”
We have our day to day make up and of course the going ‘out out’ make up range too. But, ask yourself what of all of this do I really use? Make sure those things are not buried at the bottom of a bag. Do you have multiples of the same black mascara for example? If so you can only use one at a time. Having more open just means each gets used less and goes out of date quicker and the last thing you want to do is be putting out of date cosmetics or toiletries on your face, especially near your eyes.
Cosmetics and toiletries have a ‘Once open use by’ guide on the item itself. We’ve added a guide here when some general rules, but check your individual product.
If you consciously want to track when your items are out of date, pop a sticker on the bottom when you opened the item to start using it. If you think you may use it, pop it all in a basket and each time you use the item you can put it away where it should be with the other toiletries. Review the basket in 3 months time and you’ll have your answer.
If you don’t have time for that, the most glaring evidence that a product is turning is when it starts to look or behave differently. It’s time to toss your products if: the texture has changed; you see signs of separation; the odour shifts to a funky note; or the colour dramatically changes.
Paraphernalia
“do I really need 13 tweezers and 4 nail clippers”
Make up bags, baskets, hair brushes the list goes one. Gather them all together, streamline and pass the rest on.
Medication
You should dispose of medication when:
- It has passed its expiration date
- It has passed its use by date
- The protective packaging is damaged
- They are left over from a previous condition
Pharmacies have the ability to dispose of medication in the safest way possible including prescription medicine, over the counter medication and inhalers. These CAN NOT go in your regular bin. Remove your address labels to any chemist.
Kids Stuff
As we know, children come with a whole world of ‘stuff’ and toiletries and medication are no exception. Old bottles of Oilatum that they no longer need ring any bells? Still have the baby clippers when they are now 13? Lot’s of us have been there.
Make sure what you keep is relevant to them now. Have they grown out of it, do they still need it, has it been used and most important of all, maybe we need only 1 or 2 (or even 3 or 4) syringes.
Perfume, Miniatures and Samples
Don’t we all just love a freebie – aren’t the sample sizes so cute and the tiny packet of hand cream will be perfect for the car or the handbag…. Yes, BUT is that where they are? Have they actually been used? Rarely so. It may have been free, but you need to question are you actually using it. If not, it’s time to get rid!
Where To Donate Your Comsmetics
“If you would be embarrassed to give it to a friend, do not donate it.”
It’s ok to bin stuff that isn’t good enough to give away, in fact its the right thing to do!
There are plenty of projects for your unused, no longer needed toiletries. I’ve added some links below where you can check out what is in your own area.
Toiletries are often brought as gifts but often the style or fragrance is just not your thing and of a set maybe there is only one item that you would actually use. The trick is to get them out of the house as quickly as possible. Say thank you and put it straight in a bag for donation. The more time it spends in your home, the harder it is to pass on. The fact that you don’t like it and won’t use it has not changed, but the guilt in passing on that you may experience has increased.
For open but barely used items you can always put these up on your local free pages (I usually use Facebook fort these) where people can make the choice if they are happy to use, so they too can be passed on and re homed.
Below are some of the places that we donate to. Use the links below to see what’s in your area.
Hygiene Banks believe that “it is not right that feeling clean should be a luxury or a privilege for anyone in our society, yet many are living in poverty and cannot afford to stay clean. That is why our network of projects exists – to give people access to the basics they need.”
They are collect new, unused, in-date personal care and household cleaning essentials – including deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, make-up, nappies, toilet roll, laundry detergent and surface cleaner. If you need them and use them, then it is likely someone else needs and uses them too.
Basics Banks are set up by local churches to support those who are experiencing financial difficulty and need short term support. You’ll find collection/Donation points in supermarkets as well as your local branches of basics bank. They not only collect non perishable food but unused toiletries too.
A comprehensive directory of places local to you where you can donate.