If you love something, set it free.

While I fear that I'll sound like an observation comic with this post, I just have to ask:

What is the deal with complimentary shower caps in hotel bathrooms?

Do people actually use them anymore? Or, are they just the vestigial tail of 1960s toiletries? You know, existing in the world of Aqua Net and peroxide.

This question arose on our trip -- or what I like to call "The great shampoo and soap heist of 2001."

To me, complimentary miniatures in the form of lotions, shampoos and conditioners, bar soaps and even mini jams, jellies and ketchups are the ultimate traveling perk.

Although I will admit that taking unused complimentary hotel items does slightly reek of frugal desperation, I must say that I leave no hotel bathroom complete with it's original goods at my time of departure.

I even take the free shower caps. This, despite, the overwhelming understanding that I will never find a need for the cap.

Since we usually pack our own soaps and shampoos, hotel toiletries usually have a straight path from the bathroom counter to my suitcase.

On our trip North, however, we didn't pack our own soaps.

Because of this oversight, this conversation, or rather, inquisition, occurred:

Mena: Did you unwrap the hand soap on the counter?!?

Ben: Yes. What do care?

Mena: I told you already -- use the Sheraton soap!

Ben: Why? Why can't I use this soap?

Mena: Did you forget about my collection?

Ben: Oh yeah. The collection.

---

In order to preserve my collection of soaps, I designated a low-quality bar from the Portland Sheraton as the official trip soap. I carried that bar from city to city with the sheer goal of preservation of the nicer soaps.

I'm a compulsive saver -- I can't help it.

We still have miniature jars of jam from our honeymoon.

It's silly, I admit. Why save something and hoard it in a jar -- you'll never know the joy of actual product consumption.

I'll never know the joy of the lime and eucalyptus "Renewal" Escents body bar that I grabbed from the Pacific Palisades Hotel in Vancouver. Nor will I experience the refreshing lather of the rosemary mint Aveda shampoo from the Peerless Hotel.

Instead, they'll lose their scent and efficiency in a drawer in my bathroom.

And these are the free goods!

I can guarantee that the stuff I bought from Lush is never even going to see the light of day.

Comments

[Kacey]

Actually, my grandmother uses shower caps whenever she goes to hotels. She was griping because on a recent trip the hotel they stayed in DIDN'T have a shower cap! Goodness!
Yeah, we laughed at her too.
Mean, you're funny! All those stolen free goods you're hoarding...*grins*

[paula]

Those little complimentary items are simply the BEST part of any hotel stay!

I can't believe you got Aveda Shampoo!

My favorite heist was this nifty little "Emergency Pack" from a hotel stay in Florida. It was/is complete (I haven't used it yet, and probably never will) with a tube of sewing needles, a few spools of thread, miscellaneous buttons, a thimble, breath mints, a shower cap (also in a tube) a little box of band aids (in case you poke yourself while trying to sew on those ever elusive buttons) and a tampon!

This was obviously packed with a female in mind.

Most amusing.

[Kristin]

you know what you can use the shower caps for? for covering dishes.
one of the plastic wrap companies recently came out with a product which is basically just a glorified shower cap for those incapable of keeping plastic wrap from sticking to itself.

[Daniel Talsky]

You are fucking funny, mena.

[ann]

Oh no Mena! you just *have* to use the Lush stuff. You can't, you just *can't* leave Lush stuff in a drawer.

As a fellow free-stuff hoarder, and all out Lush products addict, I both know and understand your pain.

Just don't deny yourself the utter bliss of Lush stuff.

P.S. I can wholeheartedly recommend any of the bath ballistics (Big Blue is particularly good to share, being of a scent that isn't particularly girlie) and Karma soap is just wonderful.

[Jeff]

On a recent family vacation to your fair city, San Fran, we stayed at one of those wonderful little downtown hotels (the ones with small lobbies where guests actually congregate and talk to each other).

While I no longer have much for shower caps (there's nothing to keep dry and wavy "up there"), I did take notice of the Avena Rosemary Mint shampoo and made sure I took them home with me (which, despite my trip being in August, I'm still using due to proper rationing).

Now that's a nice way to wake up!

[meg]

I can totally relate to you Mena, I have a collection of Neutrogena lotions and shampoos from a hotel I used to stay at for business travel in '96. To my dismay, I recently discovered the plastic had cracked on the lotions and they'd dried into some sort of creamy cement-like mass. Ick.

About two years ago, to combat this problem of compulsive hoarding of "the good stuff," I developed a new philosophy I called, "Use the Good Stuff Now." I realized I had nice bottles of wine I was saving for God knows what, a fancy vinegar given to me as a gift, etc.

I decided that I'd use this good stuff, since having friends over for dinner was a special occasion, and who knows how long some of these things would keep. So I started drinking nice bottles of wine while I ate microwave popcorn and watched DVD's. And using fancy vinegar when I made salads. I have less nice stuff hoarded now, but every day that I use some of these things is a little nicer, and in its own way, a little special.

[andrea]

Free shower caps. Home hair colouring kits. now it won't drip all over the floor.

that is the God-given use of free plastic shower caps.

[Derek]

kind of funny stuff! Great to put on the net - I just really do not know how I happened on this site, but kudos to putting personal hygene goodies at the disposal of all th world! Man o man...was this a good way to wake up this morning!

[Mary Beth]

I can completely relate on the "compulsive saving" I also have a stash of Lush products squirreled away. I'm trying to be better, really I am.

A few months ago on a trip to Ireland, we were able to fly first class across the pond, thanks to the frequent flyer miles painstakingly earned on more business trips than either of us would care to remember. This introduced me to the best give aways ever. When you fly first class overseas (at least on Delta), you are supplied with an "amenity kit" which is in the seatback pocket when you board the plane.

My kit consisted of a tastefully decorated tin which contained: a tiny tube of fabulous hand cream and lip balm by L'Occitane(I had to break down and use these out of desparation), a pair of cotton socks, an eyeshade, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, tic tacs, a "do not disturb" sticker (we were curious about where one might stick this...) and an "office kit" (Delta pen and a tiny pad consisting of about four sheets of paper).

The best thing about these kits is that the more frequent and jaded overseas passengers often either take a few needed items and leave the rest behind or leave the entire thing behind, untouched. Sooo, if you're in the back of first class, or in a front coach seat, you may be able to score one or more of these special treats while you're de-planing.

[Andy]

Okay I know this is an old archived entry, but I have only just found it via Martin Sutherland's blog (http://www.sunpig.com/martin/archives/2003/04/06/soap_shampoo_toothpaste/) and I really have to comment...

I'm a recovering-hoarder, my natural inclination is to hoard just about anything and everything. I used to collect toiletries, notepaper, pens and just about anything else you can imagine - not in any organised way, not nicely displayed or cleverly indexed, just stuffed in every nook and cranny available...

I realised just how bad this had got a while ago when I had to move twice in a six month period and had to pack/unpack it all several times in short succession, since then I've been trying to cut back. However the thing which has really made me stop and think, throw things away and start to use up things that I've hoarded for years has been clearing my parents house.

My Dad died a few months back and since then I've been going through the house they lived in for 45 years finding stuff they have hoarded for... well 45 years!

I promise you it's horrific and it's made me realise I really have to be more disciplined in future.

[lindah]

what kind of shampoo and condtioner does the Sheraton hotel use
thanks
linda