I'd like to know this too. Remodeling a bath and couldn't believe how much I accumulated.

I'd like to know this too. Remodeling a bath and couldn't believe how much I accumulated.

Try homeless shelters. I went through mine and picked the most exotic ones and put in a huge shallow champagne glass. I stuck a flower in one side and it look nice and unusual. I set it on the basement bathroom vanity for guests to use.

I gave the rest to my niece is on a tight budget.

I think it is great that you want to donate these things instead of just pitching them, but if you can't find anyone to take them, try keeping the little bottles of shampoo in your laundry area. Great for dabbing a little on stains, expecially oily ones on placemats or napkins. Also you can rub those little soaps on stains . Shampoo is also good in soap dispensers, near the kitchen sink, mixed half and half with water, for washing your hands or even the dishes. Running your fingernails over a leftover bar of soap before gardening can make cleaning up your hands later a breeze and you don't have ridges left in the "real" bar of soap in the bathroom. I keep the little bars in the garden shed with my garden gloves :)

Great tips for using them as stain remover, thank you Jak1.
I do like the idea of using the samples for a more altruistic purpose

Local charities should be happy to pick them up. I used to sell Avon, I had loads of "samples" (shampoo,conditioner,tiny single use lipsticks,tiny vials of colognes,etc) which I donated to my local "birthright" charity. They were very happy to accept them.

We all know someone serving in Afghanistan--many of those guys are seriously in need right now. A friend's husband is on a base where they've closed the base store--they now have NO access to buy anything--they'd be delighted to get a box of shampoos, soaps, shampoo, etc. And since they're not getting breakfast these days, if you send a box over, it wouldn't hurt to toss in a few boxes of granola bars, some dried fruit, etc.

Local Food Pantries will usually welcome these items and much more.

I pour the shampoo bottles into an empty standard size shampoo bottle and we use it.

The soaps can be used for homemade laundry detergent, melted for liquid hand soap or shower gel- add water, used as stain bars for laundry.

The mouthwash bottles - toilet bowl cleaner or bug spray on decks, base of house, etc.

Conditioner - dilute with vinegar and use as fabric softner.

Left overs I keep until I have a large box full then donate to a local homeless shelter with shower facilities. They are always happy to get them.

our USO will also take them: they keep a supply in the restrooms with a note letting the servicemembers know they are free to take whatever they need. Often servicemembers are stranded at these locations when travelling, and having supplies to freshen up really helps!