Lori you must never have stayed in Motel 6. They don't even give you the package of shampoo. Motel 6 is the only motel that I never even bother to take the soap from cause you need a magnifying glass to even see the soap.

I always take the soaps and toiletries each day I am staying at a location. I was especially happy with the Bath & Body Works stuff at the Wyndham Resorts, though the European Hotels usually give luxurious lotions and shampoos. I keep them stocked in my overnight bag for my next trip. I bring them when I visit friends and relatives so that they do not have to supply me. I especially like the shelter idea. I know I enjoy these items so letting someone else have the same pleasure is great!

It's good to hear that there are so many generous people out there who donate their stolen little soaps to the shelters. I'm executive director of a shelter in St. Louis and can't recall ever getting soap from anyone. Maybe you all just WISH you had donated soap. And how about writing a check once in a while? That will cost you but if you can afford to travel all the time to collect this soap, you can afford to share the wealth.

I love the shower caps. I've never used them but I always take them with me. My wife hates it. I also make sure that I don't leave half empty bottles (or unused full bottles) on the counter in the hotel lest the maid thinks I don't need my daily quota.

Hey ginny, if you've ever traveled, you know what housekeeping does with the half-used soap you leave in the shower and alongside the sink every day. They throw it out in the process of tidying up and leave fresh ones. Now, I see that as waste. I will slip the unused portion of soap onto a tissue and leave it out of sight. Housekeeping leaves a fresh supply which I pocket while continuing to use the first bars. I don't see this as "stealing".

As executive director of a shelter, maybe you could make a plea for these toiletry items if you feel there's a need. It could be that people don't think of donating them, or feel that their 3 tiny bottles of shampoo and 3 soaps won't make a difference. Or it could be that people are donating those items to a local children's hospital (see http://wdwig.com/soap.htm ) instead.

Hi Ginny,

Is your post for real?

It's hard for me to believe that as an executive director of a homeless shelter you would be so out of touch. Lots of people donate things around the house to places like yours. I personally would be happy to send you a box of soaps and toiletry items for your shelter. Please post the name, phone number and address of the place here. Also, consider a new career, your current one seems to be making you BITTER.

Our Church prepares meals daily for two months out of every year for our local homeless shelter. The first time our family helped the shelter director told us that the people in the shelter really appreciated having their own bars of soap and bottles of shampoo. He told us he had a particular need during the summer, as many of the people in the shelter worked the agricultural fields during the day and came home very hot and in need of a nice shower. Since that time we have brought all of our hotel soaps once a year to the shelter, and our Vacation Bible School has the children bring soaps from home as a small mission project. I think this is the best use possible of these soaps! I think the Shelter director above would get quite a response if he/she just asked people he knew!

I don't suppose these Church groups would approve of removing the Gideon Bibles and circulating them . . . .

I don't understand the people who seem to think taking the soaps, shampoo, and stationery that you don't use right there in the hotel is "stealing." These things are expendables that are supplied as part of the room price; since the majority of people take them all, don't you think that's what hotels expect? If they wanted less used or taken, they'd supply less. Now, robes, etc. are another story.

No matter what our financial situation may be, many of us who must travel resent the high cost of lodging. I don't like being away from home and revel in the little extras that make my stay a little more bearable. The little _extras_ some places provide make it a little more palatable. Yes, I take the the soaps, shampoo, etc. and wonder why more places don't provide a toothbrush and toothpaste. Surely, if we want our hair clean, don't we want our teeth and mouth clean?

I've worked as an auditor (for a public accounting firm--not any of the hotel chains) in the hospitality industry for 15 years, and I can tell you that those of you who decide to take the soaps, etc. with you are driving up the cost of hotel stays. You would be absolutely amazed at how much these items run a hotel each year, and how much they could reduce their rates by if you just left your extras.

I get paid whether or not hotels make a profit, and I stay at all of these hotels for free when I'm working (I avoid hotels when I travel for obvious reasons), so I have no stake in whether hotel rates are high or not. Just thought you'd like to know.

By the way, taking soaps, etc. is not stealing. Take towels and robes is the same as walking into any store and taking the same items without paying.

Ombudsman: The Gideons hope people will take the Bibles--and read them, and apply the lessons.

On a sort-of related note: my dentist gives out toothbrushes that I dislike. I find that these are also great to donate for shelters, etc.

Interesting issue. Most people think it is OK to take replenishable supplies from a hotel room. Fair enough. So why isn't it OK to grab 50 ketchup packets from McDonalds with your french fries? Can you make off with the box of Kleenex in the hotel, or the extra roll of toilet paper? If it isn't OK to take more than you need under those circumstances, why is it OK with the little bottle of shampoo? Please ponder and report back.

Toothbrushes at the dentist, anti-biotic samples at the doctor, small bars of Dial at the hotel - all the same thing - promoting a product.

the best hotel products in all my years of traveling.- the grand wailea resort and spa on maui. oh my gosh the shampoo and conditioners are so luxurious-the scents of those gorgeous tropical flowersand the body lotions incredible. next would be topnotch in stowe, vermont. not only do they give you two different beautiful soap within 5 minutes of check in they deliver a bag of special spa soaps and treats. my friend and i still laugh how we spread everything out on the beds to divide it up-you know the grown up version of dividing the candy at halloween.

Terri--it's NOT the same. Hotels BUY the little bars of Dial. Dentists get those toothbrushes for free. Wake up.

Whoa! What dentist do you go to? My dentist does not get her tooth brushes free... unless the providing company gives them away with her name engraved on the handle!

Thought it might be interesting to some of you that I recently had the unpleasant task of cleaning up the last odds and ends of a home where an elderly distant relative has lived for over 40 years (after a death.) Did an estate sale for these relatives on my own time, as little was salvagable and they had no means or energy to keep the remaining piles. In a small broken dresser I found over 300 rain and shower caps in tiny plastic holders from many different locations and times.
Found about 30 or 40 soaps and most were so dried out that they flaked apart on opening. Some shampoos had names I haven't heard in years and years. Also found tons of bobbi pins and rollers that were never used in their original packaging. Strange what we leave behind us. Gave all away to the shelter I always give our outgrown or women's clothes. They loved them.

Yes, I confess, I take the small soaps and shampoo. I'll pack one of each away for the next trip, and give one to my daughter. (At 20 she has stopped believing I've gone out of my way to do this, but enjoys them just the same.)
As far as Gideon's Bibles go, they were recently distributed at a nursing home where I work - to each resident and staff member who would accept one in our choice of English or Spanish - with a promise of as many more as we may could use. I think they would consider a "borrowed" bible a success.