Do you have stuff that you don't know what to do with?

[mamagael]

I have nice candles, that I don't like the smell of, (not quite regiftable) diaper rash cream, and gift bags. I'm using all the baby wash and shampoo that I don't use for baby for hand soap. Anyway just thinking of what I could use up around here in a creative way, instead of just getting rid of. What do you do?

[choleblack]

I dump anything I don't need at Goodwill/Salvation Army etc. Candles & gift bags would fall into that category. Everything else (toiletries) get tossed if they are old and gross or given away to friends, not as gifts, just as a "here I don't need this can you use it up" kind of thing. All my friends are obsessive recyclers too though.

Chole

[Korwynne]

I'm there with you. I've been donating a lot.

[stephanielynn]

i freecycle products that i opened, but never used or no longer use. people pick up bags of used nail polish, hair products, etc. i use old/not liked shampoo and conditioner as toilet cleaner. old candles...hmmm. can't think of what you could do with them besides burn them or give them away...not as a gift, but just see if anyone wants them to burn. if they have any sentimental value at all, you could pass them along to someone at a blessingway/mother blessing sort of thing. i kept all of the candles from mine and am taking them to other blessingways as they come up. or just gift it with a note to someone (crunchy...lol) who is about to be in labor. but...if it's just a stinky candle someone gave you that you don't want...well, it wouldn't be so special. lol.

gift bags...i always have things to take back/to someone, and i just use the more beat up ones to carry things to give people. and then the nice ones, i keep the ones i know i'll reuse and freecycle the rest.

[Barb]

I don't usually post here - but I've been decluttering like crazy lately. I give clothing to a friend who's daughter is younger than mine. The boys stuff is bagged for another friend. Miscellaneous stuff goes to goodwill - candles, old frames, toys, broken stuff (they fix things) - bags every week to goodwill. Good tax write off too lol

[ElDucko]

i totally reuse gift bags, until they look used, and then they get used as something to carry a lunch in, or something.

Even if I don't really care for a candle I will use it in the bathroom. We have a little shelf that candles go on over the towel rack and they just sit up there. (our bathroom isn't well ventilated)

If the gift bags are paper you can recycle or compost them, or cut them up for crafts, or make paper with them.

You could melt down candles with other candles to make new ones, or use up some with crayons to make scented crayons as a gift.

uuuuuuuummmmmmm . . .

[Korwynne]

I had to laugh because I was thinking about it.. and the biggest things I didn't know what to do with were baby stuff - and some of it went to live at your house

[DixieChick]

Free for all! I invite my friends over and we share and swap. I pull out all the stuff I don't need anymore, clothes, toys, books, household, dishes, whatever I am tired of. I schedule a donation pick up a couple of days after the free-for-all. That way, everyone takes what they want. When we are done, all the extra goes on the front porch for pick-up.

[BlueRoseMama]

I donate a lot.

[Soledad]

I read somewhere , someone had a basket near her door with things she no longer wanted. When friends and family came over she often would tell her guest they were free to take from the basket.