Note: Stupid Tip of the Day is a not-so-new regular feature of The Gate which will not be featured regularly — if at all — after today…or maybe not. Does anyone really read these disclaimers, anyway?!?
A s I whipped out the bottle of mouthwash from that idiotic one-quart plastic bag of liquid toiletries I have to carry with me whenever I travel except when I was traveling from Los Angeles to Rome on my unintentional trip around the world — and I have not had to whip out that bag in years due to Pre✓ by the Transportation Security Administration — I thought I would impart to you a little trick I devised which may simultaneously be convenient for you and could save you money.
After I used up all of the contents of a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash, I decided to re-use the bottle instead of purchasing a new travel-sized bottle of mouthwash; but the problem was that I did not know when I reached the recommended quantity of which to swish around my mouth to make it sparkling clean and shiny…
…so I took a small measuring cup typically found with a bottle of cough syrup — cleaned first, of course — and I measured the proper amount of mouthwash and poured it into the small bottle, which I also rinsed and cleaned. I then demarcated the level with an indelible black marker. I repeated the process as necessary — which in this case was once more, as you see in the photograph below:
This may either be something you already do or may think is too stupid an idea to do; but it works for me — and I do not have to overpay for a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash.
You can also use this trick to travel with any liquid — whether it your favorite shampoo, conditioner, body wash or lotion, as only a few of many examples — and have a collection of small bottles of essential liquids to carry with you whenever you travel.
In addition to saving money while still using your favorite liquids while traveling, additional bonuses are that the smaller bottles are lighter in weight than larger bottles; take up less room in your baggage and will fit in a zippered clear bag whose size is one quart; take only a moment or two to manually fill; and are in sealed containers which do not spill as per my years of experience.
When the small bottle outlives its usefulness and you want to use a fresher bottle, please be sure to recycle the old bottle if it is indeed comprised of a recyclable plastic.
Of course, if you do not mind or prefer using the amenities provided in your hotel room when you travel, you do not need to bring them in the first place; but I thought I would offer to you a tip which has worked well for me for years — and I hope it works well for you too if you decide to use it.
