Beauty > Skin Care > MoisturizerMarch 26, 2010

Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

How do you get hand lotion, liquid soap, etc. out of plastic pump bottles when you get to the bottom and know there is some left in the bottle?

By Mary from Newark, CA

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By
02/19/2011

Solutions Catalog used to sell a product that could scrape out all of the product left in the bottom of pump bottles....called the MakeUpMiser. I noticed on ebay too.

RE: Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

By
03/29/2010

Kaelle, I love your tip of adding glass marbles to my pump bottle of dish washing liquid. I like to be able to just reach with one hand and with the sponge held underneath to catch the tiny bit, I tap the pump with my index finger. The bottle often moves to one side, so I have to straighten it, then try again. The marbles would weight it down so that it'd be more stable. Thank you, thank you. Julia in Boca Raton. FL

By
03/29/2010

Yes, cutting the containers works great. Remember also, to do the same with tubes. I use a medication that is $600.00 per tube.
When the tube was empty I cut the tube and was able to get 30 additional applications. I do this with all containers. Glass bottles can be turned upside down and drained into bowls or shorter jars. I find that the small jars that Bouillon comes in is very handy for this purpose. Sometimes I have to put the Bouillon jar inside a larger bowl to hold up the bottle I am trying to drain.

By
03/29/2010

I too cut off the bottom of the container. My one splurge is Oil of Olay Regenerist, about $17 per bottle, but it lasts me about 6 months. Just last week I cut the bottom out and got another 3 uses from it. The bottle is short enough for me to get my finger all the way to the top. You'd be amazed at how much of a product is left after you can't pump anymore out. I wish manufacturers would put everything in jars. But, what do I know? I'm just the consumer.

By
03/29/2010

If you are not planning on reusing the bottle, cut the bottle in half and you can reach the lotion left both in the neck of the bottle and the bottom. Othewise Q-tips work to reach up in the pump sometimes. If you are reusing the bottle, heat the bottle in the microwave a few seconds softening the liquid more and it will run out easier. Just make sure there is no metal in your bottle.

By
03/26/2010

I put clear glass marbles in the bottom of the container... enough to cover the bottom. It raises the level of whatever is in it so the pump can get it out. I especially like to use it on liquid hand soap containers as it makes the container more bottom heavy and it stays put better. And since I reuse one of the 'foamer' types where I add water to reg liquid soap the addition of a few marbles helps to shake it up every now and then to mix.

You could probably do the same with hand lotion pump bottles but on those I use as much as the pump will allow. When I can't get any more out I take off the lid/pump and put on a flip top style lid I saved from an old shampoo bottle that fits and store it upside down until I have used up the last bit.

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(Archived Mar 26, 2010)Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

Request: Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

I treat myself to a very expensive facial care system that includes 2 small pump bottles; one for the morning and one for the evening. One bottle normally does me 2 months. Near the end of the bottle, the pump no longer reaches the cream, but I can see that there is still cream there. I turn the bottle over and allow the contents to drip into the lid that comes with the bottle. By doing this, I get an extra 2 - 3 weeks of cream. Since this is quite expensive to begin with ($30.00 for one 1.5 oz bottle on sale), the extra I gain is very welcome.

By Robin from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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RE: Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

I have also had the same problem at times and I've extended the pump tube by adding a piece of drinking straw to the end. This usually does the trick in getting the rest of the cream/lotion from the bottom of the bottle. (12/12/2006)

By Mel

RE: Getting The Last Out Of Pump Bottles

I like the St Ives Apricot scrub and when it won't come out I just take scissors and slice the end off and get the rest out.

Another thing I do is mix a cheap hair conditioner with an expensive one. Like Suave (1.00) with Thermasilk. I don't like wasting the stuff in the bottoms of bottles. I turn them upside down and add to something else, always. I had 2 conditioners that were empty so I mixed in a bit of water and got the rest out and added it to my leave in hair conditioner spray. I find this works a lot better than just having the leave in conditioner by it's self. (12/13/2006)

By TrayJ24736

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