10 products I use up to the last drop (and have saved me $100)

10 products I use up to the last drop (and have saved me $100)

Most people toss things with way more left in them than they realize. It adds up-tiny bits of product that don't seem like much until you're replacing stuff way more often than you need to. When you start paying attention, you'll see how many items are designed to waste.

These are the products I've learned to squeeze, scrape, or shake until the very last drop is used. It doesn't feel like a big change in the moment, but it keeps more money in your pocket over time-and makes every purchase actually worth it.

Toothpaste

There's always more hiding in the tube than you think. Folding the end and pressing it with something firm can easily give you a few more days of use-sometimes even a full week.

If you cut the tube open toward the end, you'll be shocked how much is still stuck to the inside. Store it in a baggie and scoop out what you need with your toothbrush. It sounds tedious, but it saves a few tubes a year without even changing brands.

Laundry Detergent

Liquid detergent bottles are notoriously wasteful at the end. There's always that last bit stuck in the bottom or clinging to the sides, especially if it's one of the thick ones.

Flip the bottle upside down and let it drain into a small container. You can usually get 1-2 more loads out of what would've been tossed. Some people add water and shake, which works too-but I've found draining it slowly gets every usable drop without watering it down.

Foundation

Makeup bottles are a money pit if you toss them too soon. Pump-style foundations are the worst offenders-you think it's empty when the pump stops working, but there's still product stuck all over the sides.

A little makeup spatula (you can get a 2-pack for under $10) lets you scrape out the rest easily. I've extended some of my pricier foundations by another full week or two this way, which adds up fast over the course of a year.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Thicker conditioners especially like to cling to the bottle walls. If you stand the bottle upside down and shake it toward the cap, you can usually squeeze out several more uses.

Once it stops coming out, cut the bottle open with scissors. You'll usually find enough inside for two or three more washes. Transferring it to a small jar makes it easier to scoop without mess. Doing this with both shampoo and conditioner saves you from restocking too soon.

Hand Soap

The pump always stops working while there's still soap at the bottom. It's one of those things that feels normal until you realize how often you’re tossing them before they're truly empty.

Add a little warm water, shake the bottle, and you'll get another few days of use without changing how it works. I also pour leftovers into one main bottle so nothing gets wasted. Between bathrooms and the kitchen, it can easily stretch your hand soap budget.

Peanut Butter

There's more than enough stuck along the sides and bottom of the jar to make another sandwich or smoothie. Scraping it with a butter knife or rubber spatula makes a big difference.

If you're making oatmeal or shakes, you can even pour hot ingredients right into the nearly empty jar and stir it in. You'll use every bit without it going to waste-and it saves you from cracking open the next jar too early.

Lotion

Lotion bottles love to cling to every surface inside the tube. Once it stops pumping or squeezing, it's easy to think it's empty. But there's almost always another week's worth of product still inside.

Cut the bottle and scoop it into a small airtight container. It's the exact same product-you’re just not letting it get tossed. This works especially well with thicker body butters and creams where the pump gives up early.

Dish Soap

If you cook often, you go through dish soap fast. But every bottle has that last stubborn bit that's tough to get out. Flipping the bottle upside down over another container works, or you can run a little hot water inside to loosen it up.

Even that last tablespoon can give you another full sink full of dishes. Doing this every time you swap bottles adds a few extra bottles of use over the course of a year-without sacrificing how clean things get.

Concealer or Lip Gloss

Small beauty products run out fast, especially with those plastic wands that can't reach the corners. But a mini spatula or skinny Q-tip will pull out every bit left at the bottom.

With concealer, it's enough for several more applications-especially if it's a pricier one. Lip glosses also leave plenty in the corners of the tube. If you're spending good money on them, getting full use out of every drop keeps it from feeling like a waste.

Cleaning Spray

Once the spray stops working, you're usually left with a good inch of cleaner still inside. The straw doesn't reach it, so you assume it's done. But tilting the bottle or moving the straw to the opposite side can help you spray out more.

Or pour the rest into another bottle and finish it off there. It might not seem like much, but if you clean weekly, you'll go through fewer bottles every year. That means fewer replacements, less waste, and more value from every product.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.