Monday, February 12, 2024

Going Upside Down to Save Every Last Drop

One morning, Mom left the honey bottle out on the counter to recycle the container. When I looked at it more closely, I saw that there was still some honey left in it so I turned it upside down.


Art thought I was being a little extreme. He didn't think I could possibly balance it to allow enough time for every last bit of honey to drop into the new bottle.

But... Oho! Yes I did. I just kept the kitchen window closed so the wind wouldn't knock the almost empty bottle off.


In the afternoon, I was noticing that my soft soap bottle was running very low. When I looked in the cabinet, I saw that the large Sam's Club 80 fl.oz. refill container was almost empty.

But I figured I'd try doing the upside down trick again.

When I did, I found there was so much that I could fill another bottle a little less than one third full.

We fill our soft soap bottles with a little less than a 1/3 hand soap and then add water. It's just enough soap to give you a nice lather for your hands.


Would you believe after about a 1/2 hour, I was able to fill 3 empty soft soap bottles? Actually, the pink bottle has too much liquid hand soap. I had to transfer some to the third bottle.

OK, I think that's it for today. I don't have anything else to turn upside down.

24 comments:

  1. As the son of beekeepers, if your honey starts to crystalize on the sides of the bottle, heat it for 15 seconds or so in a microwave or place in a pan of hot water to turn the crystals back into honey.

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  2. I always do that! Empty bottle rarely are!

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  3. Jamie here: I have been doing this, too.

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  4. I do the upside down bottle often. Liquid washing detergent is one that I probably do the most. You can always get another few washes worth of soap out. I also cut lotion tubes and am surprised at how much lotion is left to be scooped out after you can't get any more to squeeze out of the opening. I cut it a few inches above the bottom and seal it in a plastic baggie to keep it from drying out as I use the last of it.

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  5. I've tried the upside down bottle but it just ended in a mess to clean up. I swish the near empty bottles and jars with a bit of hot water. Detergents and soaps get used with water anyway. I would put the watered down honey in a stir fry. Maybe some gets wasted, but far less than what I might spill so I call it a good effort.

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  6. I do that, and as Retirement Coffee Shop said cut open tubes and scrape out what is left on the sides.

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  7. Another trick before you do this is to make sure the cap is on tight and windmill the bottle around holding onto the bottom with a firm hand with the top pointing out - what is left will quickly go to the cap end. This is also good for catsup and mustard and other condiments.

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  8. Kay, I add water to the bottom of my Dawn liquid detergent in the kitchen when it get to the bottom. Makes it useful for a couple more days. Have never tried it with the hand soaps, usually keep a refill bottle around for them. But I may try the upside down thing with my honey as I have several almost empty bottles.

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  9. Good for you Kay! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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  10. You're like my wife. I swear that she would hold onto a 5 gallon jar for a decade if there were a teaspoon of whatnot in it.

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  11. Oh yes, I've been doing this for years! Of course, I hate to waste things! x

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  12. That's a great way to get every last drop. I don't do enough of this!

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  13. This made me smile Kay. My parents taught me at an early age to do the same.

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  14. A very good way to get every drop :)

    All the best Jan

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  15. So savvy! I really don't like those big bottles so I transfer them into smaller bottles that are easier to store and use. I just bought a huge bottle of mayonnaise from Costco and will use a couple (or more) smaller mayo bottles. The big empty plastic bottle is handy for storing screws, lids, hinges, etc. outside and in the tool shed.

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  16. I don't have as much patience as you do to empty bottles. I do the upside down trick but not for long.

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  17. I've always done that, with everything applicable. Honey, maple syrup, soap, and more and more.

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  18. I'm a bottle balancer, too! Drives my family nuts - but gosh I want every last drop!!!!! Thanks for your kind comment.

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  19. Sister! I hate to waste anything

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  20. Another thing: I get all the shampoo/conditioner/facewash/laundry soap/dishsoap/etc out of the bottle/tube by adding a bit of water and giving it a good shaking. I almost always get enough out of it for another couple uses.,

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  21. Keeping the kitchen window closed to prevent any mishaps from the wind was a smart move. It's moments like these that highlight the ingenuity and creativity we bring to everyday tasks.

    I am inviting you to read my new blog post.

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  22. I do exactly the same thing. How I was raised, for sure, was to get every last drop. I think all of us who had parents, etc, that went through the depression in the 1930's are like that.

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