I was going to suggest a women's shelter if you do not have a grateful family member to give them to.

yep. Give them to someone who can use them.

I give mine to the shelter for battered women, run by Gospel Rescue Mission. They are always so grateful and often request donations of towels, shampoo and soap, etc. Thank you for caring!

I ask my kids and daughter-in-law if they want them. Otherwise, I will probably use it up. I have been whittling down all the cosmetics I have collected recently. Some to the trash, and others just not buying more till everything is used up. Since I rarely wear make up these days, I have lots to use up.

I remember when we were kids (a family of 3 girls and a boy) the bottles of cheap eau de toilette we girls would get in Christmas gift exchanges at school Lilly of the Valley, Evening in Paris, etc. Finally, we would toss them out. Our brother had garbage duty, so he would retrieve them and scent the gross galvanized garbage cans with them after washing them out.

If they are very old past few years even if unopened I dispose of them. They can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Not worth the risk. If it is fairly new and unopened I would donate it. I would definitely not donate anything partly used.

shampoos can be used at pet rescue facilities.

If any family members would appreciate your items give them to them, a women's shelter is also a good idea, I've donated some items to thrift stores, if they can't be sold maybe they can give them away to workers interested.

Throw them away. If they're old and opened, they're no good to shelters.

Try using some of the used shampoos to clean your bathroom. It will leave the tub sparkling clean, as it will the others items, shower, toilet and sink.

Coming back to add: if YOU ended up at a shelter, how would you feel if someone handed you a used, old product to use? If you want to donate to a shelter, buy some new stuff and take it to them.

Feed the lawn. Soap will aerate the soil.

Throw them out. Even unopened, stuff gets old and ineffective. Never did understand the idea of donating to a shelter. Those folks may be down, but....

Actually, yes - I volunteer at a shelter. We NEVER give used/opened stuff to the people who arrive. It's an insult! They've just lost everything and have NOTHING. A $1 travel-size brand-new item is the best ting ever for them. Why in the HELL would you think people would be grateful for crap?

Not sure I really understand what you just said....not understand the idea of donating to a shelter? Really??

If I had nothing, I don't think I'd be such a snob as to turn down something just because it's a partial bottle. We're not talking about a used toothbrush, used toilet paper or used feminine products. Someone opened a bottle, squeezed out some and closed it. What's so gross about that? Too good to donate? I don't understand that at all.

If you don't want to donate it or if they are particularly old, and I mean years out of date then I wouldn't suggest them for the living, human or animal. You can use them for cleaners around the house, cleaning oil stains on the driveway, washing the car, driveway, lawn furniture, etc. People you know might want it too. Know someone away at college who could use a care package? Someone who is not making a lot of money who isn't above using a partial bottle (or would love a new bottle) of product would appreciate it. There are a lot of churches who know families who could use help. Or check with friends, maybe they know people who are down on their luck or getting by who could use a little help. You could also list it on Freecycle if you have that in your area.

The domestic violence agency I used to work for did not accept opened, partly used products. However, I've seen this sort of thing (along with partly used makeup and perfume) at a Plato's Closet thrift store.

Toss them. The shelter I volunteer at does not accept opened toiletries.

I finally had to toss the shampoo/conditioners and lotions that I was trying to donate. Most of it was barely used, some not at all, but past the date. The battered women/children shelters that I donate to, will only accept unopened toiletries and can only be 1 year past the expiration date. I tried giving it to a homeless shelter, but they also have guidelines. It was not like this several years ago, they gladly took whatever was offered.

The reason they don't accept used/expired things now is because the women who show up at shelters are already so fragile, that to hand them a used product damages their self-esteem and self-worth even more.

I have been told NOT to use shampoo and conditioners meant for us on dogs and it is not good for them - it strips the natural oils from their fur...

Brushworks....soaps, shampoos, and detergents do NOT aerate the soil. Just the opposite, really. Plus, their use can harm essential microorganisms and other soil biota.

If you'd like more info about it, please email me directly. I'd be happy to share information about this subject with you.

Shampoo and conditioner are great for washing natural fibers like wool, angora and cashmere sweaters, jute and wool rugs, etc.

I had a bunch of products that I couldn't use any more. I was having reactions to many products so the ones that I could dispense without touching I put in a box and then listed it on Kijiji for anyone who was interested. I had a lot of people respond and it went very, very quickly. Anything expired or that I dipped my fingers into I threw away.

The highschool here accepts soaps to put in the football pracatice showers at the practice field

Found this article and a lot more like it.

20 New Uses for Shampoo

Now have to decide what to do with the other stuff.

I find it kind of disheartening temporary shelters turn down opened shampoo donations. I don't think people in dire need would care so much, but in the world we live in...product tampering is not unheard of and I can understand any agency setting policy to err on the side of caution.

in the shelter I volunteered no partially opened toilet items, not used underwear either. Big stores donated opened underwear packages so not a huge problem. Additionally, cash donations were used to buy undies and other high demand items and very good discounts.. Other than legal issues, and you never know who's gonna sue, I think it was a morale booster for the clients to come out with "new stuff", no matter how small, it was something they simply weren't in a position to get for themselves.

I liked the link for the alternative uses. If you just don't want to think too much about it, maybe dump contents and recycle containers. You'd still be a good citizen of the world. I do use soap, dish, detergent, any, for the soil. I used to be one of those that had a cabinet full of hair potions but finally got smart and learned to not grab the latest and greatest every time I was at the store.