Do You Hoard Travel Amenities?

Do you hoard travel amenities?  I used to!

I have to make a conscious effort to not bring travel amenities home with me. An exception can be made for things I am certain I will use.

For example:

• Fantastic pajamas from a first-class flight – I still have two 20+ year old Bogner half-zips from Lufthansa that I routinely wear
• An amenity kit bag that translates well to reuse – American Airlines has had a couple of past lines that were sturdy and hold charger cords in my travel tote
• A cruise line tote bag that I’d actually carry – I covet an ancient zippered Seabourn canvas beach tote
• A product that I need multiples of – lip balm is my kryptonite
• A collectible product – the KLM Delft houses are worth holding onto
• One-time memorabilia – the Virgin Voyages MerMaiden swag I received this week

One of the many travel amenity kits I’ve acquired over the years.

And sometimes I will bring home cool things that I won’t use.  When?  If I think it will be a cool giveaway or a gift that someone will appreciate.

But I wasn’t always like this with travel amenities

There was a point a few years ago that, despite my efforts not to bring things home, I was swimming in extras.

• I laundered and donated 15 pairs of airline pajamas to a local shelter for people experiencing homelessness
• Dozens of amenity kit bags were given away
• Three large boxes of unopened toiletries and cosmetic samples ended up packed for a women’s shelter

And yet travel amenities still manage to sneak into my house unchecked. I am back up to a full storage container to go through.

What I learned about what I acquire

• Some of it was useful.  I keep meaning to pick up travel hairspray, but it turned out I have six travel-sized cans already.
• Some of it was excessive.  I continually have a two-year supply of toothpaste and toothbrushes, thanks to both my travels and my dentist.
• Some of it was scary.  Remember when the W carried Aveda and Bliss?  I still occasionally find a hidden bottle of one of those!
• Some of it was  strange.  I encounter things I’ve brought back from Japan that don’t always remember the purpose for.
• Some of it was gross.  There is nothing ickier to find in these boxes than a bottle of shampoo that exploded and then hardened.
• Some of it was gone.  Quite a few bottles that once contained water-based products were empty due to evaporation.

How do I control the chaos?

After the great purge years ago, I’ve tried hard to not to hoard travel amenities.  If I do bring things home, there must be a designated purpose.

• I put them in regular rotation (for example, lip balm in my purse, bedside drawer, desk drawer).
• If I plan to use them as giveaways, they go in a dedicated giveaway bin.
• For items I intend to donate, I launder them (pajamas) or ensure they are unopened before putting them in a donation bag. I periodically drop those donations off with a local shelter that I know will utilize them.
• If they are collectable or unique memorabilia, I make sure they are worth keeping and then utilize them appropriately.
• Ideally, I don’t bring them home at all if they don’t meet one of the above categories!

Do you have other things you do with your travel amenities?

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments. I’m always looking for new ways to appreciate unique products!