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I’ve been annoyed at having to throw out the last 5% of my (stick) deodorants that doesn’t come up no matter how much the dial on the bottom is turned. Now, I have a solution to that. Take an old stick and put it in the microwave until the deodorant melts (don’t boil it!). Then spoon it over into another not-so-old stick that has been dialed back a bit. Reheat it to make the surface smooth.
Originally posted 2008-06-07 11:19:54.
I wrote a post about using baking soda for deodorant in another section, but you can google it just as easily. Better then stick on crap.
also rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball (from a bottle of vitamins) works as a deodorant
I would opt against putting a deodorant stick in the microwave because of all the chemicals in the stick and the nature of the heating in the device. The possible chemical reactions make me shiver…
yuk, is this one of those things that aren’t worth your time to do? I’m a low sweat guy and use talcum powder. 
@Dubravko – You’re only melting the deodorant, not boiling it. If the deodorant has that many chemicals in it, I’d be concerned putting it on my skin, eh?
@retirebyforty – Depends. It’s reducing your cost, resource use, and garbage production by 5% and it doesn’t take very much time.
My approach of reducing environmental waste here is similar to your approach of reducing dairy budget (“don’t buy milk”). Just don’t use this crap.
By the way, if you’re using some mainstream brand, research its AL content. Maybe after all you should be concerned about putting it on your skin.
For the girls: you can do the same thing with the last 5% of a lipstick.
I second the baking soda idea. It’s quick and easy, and it only has one ingredient.
I don’t get it, the real easy solution is to scrape it out with a small nail file or other small pointy item as you need it. Doesn’t take much effort at all, and goes on real easy. I’ve done it over the years, and never had a problem. You’re wasting energy with the microwave to do what you recommend. (Plus there are the possible chemical interactions, not that I am a chemist).
One of the (cheap store brand) ones I’ve used is built such that the “plunger” can be pulled out and the last little cake accessed. You can then just rub that cake on yourself directly. Kind of what Scott said above.
My wife routinely cuts open lotion tubes with scissors and there is always a lot of lotion left that one can easily dip one’s finger into and access.
recently found this site and love it. i can confess stingy strategies here and not get strange looks. if you take the flat handle of a hairbrush, you can squish an almost empty toothpaste tube up toward the cap end. then, cut empty end off about 2 inches or so from the cap. stick toothbrush in new opening to get the last remnants. fold over cut end until next use.
oh. you can also brush teeth w/baking soda in a pinch, but the taste – yuk.
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