Pliers turned an 'empty' Tide jug into one more laundry load

One Reddit user shared their latest laundry hack after they found what they believed to be a near-empty container of detergent.

Here's what to know

The original poster took to Reddit's r/Laundry forum to share an experiment they did, where they set out to see how much detergent an apparently finished Tide bottle was still holding.

OP wrote, "Usually when my detergent is 'empty' I leave it upside-down overnight and it fills to line 1." But for the experiment, OP took the "empty" Tide jug and pulled out the spout with pliers. Once the spout was removed, there was still enough detergent left to drain into the measuring cap to reach line 2.

Many commenters shared their similar tactics for getting the last bit of product out of apparently empty containers. One user who buys acrylic paint in "bulk giant plastic jugs" described cutting off the top third and using a mini silicone spatula because there is "SO much product" left inside.

Others said they deal with similar leftover products in lotion bottles, along with shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and body wash.

Another commenter wrote that the jug was "awful with how much goes to waste otherwise," while another said the lip around the spout "Keeps a LOT of product inside after it's no longer able to pour."

What can be done?

Alongside the OP's pliers method, another commenter explained that they make "a small, v-shaped cut at the bottom of the jug and drain from the bottom."

Several people said they preferred less invasive methods. To get the last bit into the cap, one commenter recommended adding "a little water to the jug, put the cap on, shake it vigorously," then turning the bottle upside down so the remaining detergent runs into the cap.

Another said they simply "add a bunch of water to the jug to rinse out the residual detergent and toss that in the wash."

One workaround was drilling or cutting a small hole in the bottom corner and propping the bottle up overnight with the cup underneath, while a different commenter said, "Just leave it upside down on a towel you're about to wash."

Where can I learn more?

If you want more on cutting laundry-room waste, these articles look at Tide packaging changes, detergent alternatives, and ways to reuse plastic jugs.

• P&G rolled out a plastic-free Tide format that could shrink laundry-room packaging waste.

• An expert cleaner swears one natural ingredient can replace store-bought detergent for some loads.

• Gardeners are giving old plastic milk cartons a second life instead of tossing them.

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