Recycling lip balm tubes

Discussion in 'Products of the Hive' started by Hobie, Dec 6, 2009.

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  1. Dec 6, 2009 #1
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    I have a bunch of old lip balm tubes from last year's batch that I would like to clean up and re-use rather than toss in the landfill. Can anyone give me pointers on how to clean them? Get that last little bit out and sterilize them again?

    I'm not selling commercially, so it doesn't have to be perfect.
     
    Hobie, Dec 6, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 6, 2009
  3. Dec 6, 2009 #2
    XLB

    XLB New Member

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    do the lip balm tubes have the screw type thingy that you twist to push the balm up? (it may seem like a stuiped question but i've seen different looking lip balm tubes.) if so I can't really help you. :dontknow:

    other than that, hot soapy water and some sly fingers always did the trick for me. :thumbsup:
     
    XLB, Dec 6, 2009
    XLB, Dec 6, 2009

  5. Dec 6, 2009 #3
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    Yes, these are the twist-up kind, like your basic "Chapstick" tube.
     
    Hobie, Dec 6, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 6, 2009
  6. Dec 6, 2009 #4
    BjornBee

    BjornBee New Member

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    What have you been doing to get a bunch of old tubes....eating it.... :lol:

    Can you hit them with steam, where it will clean them without damaging the plastic?
     
    BjornBee, Dec 6, 2009
    BjornBee, Dec 6, 2009
  7. Dec 6, 2009 #5
    Charles

    Charles New Member

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    I would think dipping them with tongs in boiling water for 30 seconds or so would melt everything (except the plastic) and sterilize.

    Just a guess though ;-)
     
    Charles, Dec 6, 2009
    Charles, Dec 6, 2009
  8. Dec 6, 2009 #6
    Omie

    Omie Active Member

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    Were they used?
    I'm just as much into recycling as anyone else, but...personally, I'd want to know if my lip balm tube had been rolling around on some stranger's lips a hundred times...even if it 'was' thoroughly cleaned.
     
    Omie, Dec 6, 2009
    Omie, Dec 6, 2009
  9. Dec 6, 2009 #7
    Iddee

    Iddee New Member

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    The OP sounds as if they were a year old and unused. She just wants to replace it with new stuff for her own use. At least, that's the way I read it.
     
    Iddee, Dec 6, 2009
    Iddee, Dec 6, 2009
  10. Dec 6, 2009 #8
    Omie

    Omie Active Member

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    Yes of course, if they were unused or just for her own use then that'd be fine! :)
     
    Omie, Dec 6, 2009
    Omie, Dec 6, 2009
  11. Dec 7, 2009 #9
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    Yes, they were used. Fortunately, my family isn't very sqeamish as long as reasonable efforts at hygiene are taken. We return last years canning jars and honey jars (glass and plastic) to the origin for "refill," too. No one has died yet.

    I may try steam or hot water (double boiler). I figure if the tubes are damaged... well, I'm no worse off than before!

    This is more funny than you think! And there is a lesson here: Several of the tubes were a bit soft, so I left them out overnight with caps off to get a bit more solid. I live in an old Victorian house in the country. Mice move in in the winter. Mice REALLY like lip balm. 'Nuf said!
     
    Hobie, Dec 7, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 7, 2009
  12. Dec 10, 2009 #10
    Bens-Bees

    Bens-Bees New Member

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    Sounded to me like a lotta kissin' goin on... :Dancing:

    Ok, a lot of kissin' mice! You know those things have like 12 litters a year... it's no wonder they need so much lip balm! :rolling:
     
    Bens-Bees, Dec 10, 2009
    Bens-Bees, Dec 10, 2009
  13. Dec 11, 2009 #11
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    Well, for what it's worth, soaking in near-boiling water and cleaning out the remaining balm with a toothpick does work. But what a tedious pain in the *$$! I will have to think long and hard before being too cheap to buy new tubes next time.
     
    Hobie, Dec 11, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 11, 2009
  14. Dec 11, 2009 #12
    BjornBee

    BjornBee New Member

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    I think you wouldn't need to think to long or to hard.... :thumbsup:

    Next time, just ask ahead of time and I'll call you a cheapskate upfront, and save you the hassle.... :rolling:
     
    BjornBee, Dec 11, 2009
    BjornBee, Dec 11, 2009
  15. Dec 12, 2009 #13
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    I've been called worse!

    And besides, the word is "thrifty." !!
     
    Hobie, Dec 12, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 12, 2009
  16. Dec 12, 2009 #14
    BjornBee

    BjornBee New Member

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    I like "frugal".... ;)
     
    BjornBee, Dec 12, 2009
    BjornBee, Dec 12, 2009
  17. Dec 12, 2009 #15
    Iddee

    Iddee New Member

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    You're both old fashioned.... Today it's "green".
     
    Iddee, Dec 12, 2009
    Iddee, Dec 12, 2009
  18. Dec 12, 2009 #16
    Mama Beek

    Mama Beek New Member

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    Hobie has found another new, green, frugal way to be extra thrifty.....LOL. We wash ziplock baggies here as long as they haven't stored meat, so I totally get the picture :)
     
    Mama Beek, Dec 12, 2009
    Mama Beek, Dec 12, 2009
  19. Dec 13, 2009 #17
    Hobie

    Hobie New Member

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    I cleaned the tubes, washed in dilute Clorox, then cleaned again in near-boiling water, so I don't think I will pass on the plague to anyone! Maybe I'll make green labels this year.

    I wash zip-locks, too! My husband thinks I'm weird, but doesn't seem to mind that we haven't bought a box in years.

    I grew up in a house where we recycled everything possible and it is an irrepressable habit now. We laughed about "washing the garbage" (bottles, cans, aluminum foil, etc.)
     
    Hobie, Dec 13, 2009
    Hobie, Dec 13, 2009
  20. Dec 15, 2009 #18
    BjornBee

    BjornBee New Member

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    Hey, I like to be green. And you can have fun too!

    Showers together..... :thumbsup:

    No underwear..... :eek:

    Bet you can't get those pictures out of your head today..... :rolling:
     
    BjornBee, Dec 15, 2009
    BjornBee, Dec 15, 2009
  21. Dec 15, 2009 #19
    Charles

    Charles New Member

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    Need ..... to keep ....... naked bjorn thoughts ..... from entering ...... my head

    [​IMG]
     
    Charles, Dec 15, 2009
    Charles, Dec 15, 2009
  22. Dec 16, 2009 #20
    Walt B

    Walt B Active Member

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    :goodpost: :rolling: :rolling:

    Walt
     
    Walt B, Dec 16, 2009
    Walt B, Dec 16, 2009
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