Can I just say how much I love this site!!!  I've been wondering for awhile about liquids and you all have answered my questions.   I asked on another thread about liquids but I should asked it here - sorry about that.  Anyway, I have sent some body wash before but I don't know how it arrived.  When I saw the sign at the post office last year, I decided to stay away from any liquids after that because I thought they might throw away the entire box if I put any in there.  Thanks for all the great information.

::goes off to shop for 'my' soldiers::

 Cori

I LOVE THIS SITE TOO!!:-)

I don't know about Pop, so I won't go there. BUT I Do know about Liquids, I have packed ALOT of boxes of Hygiene, not just for AS contacts.

TAPE TAPE TAPE ....No bottle gets put in any box without having its Lid taped at least 1/2 down onto the top of the bottle. So not only is that lid taped just slightly onto the curve of the bottle, it is taped DOWN the actual bottle. Bottles over Tubes any day of the week, no lotion sent in tubes because of the expansion the back end of the tube may have a blow out. Unless it is thick like paste such as diaper cream or thicker antibiotic ointment.

I DO NOT use Scotch tape, I use wide packing tape, I know its a hassle for them to remove, but I don't want a mess. Sealed Mouthwash or any other bottle that has a factory seal, is taped again. Each Product is put in size appropriate ziplocks even bandaids, I dont want to waste shipping room so they are removed from their factory box and put in a baggie, the baggie is wrapped around the items and Taped! Every individual Baby wipe 80pk refill gets its own ziplock( to keep them fresh and so they can carry the wipes keeping them clean).

Each box is Lined with a Garbage Bag prior to packing it. Toothpaste Toothbrushes get their own bag, and are usually only shipped with baby wipes & deodorant(taped) & foot powder(taped), paper, cards, pens other than the stationary everything has its own ziplock. I tape the top of toothpaste ( toothpaste only goes on the top of the load).

All soap products go into their own box, hair conditioner, soap, bodywash, shampoo, aftershave, lotion, foot cream,hand sanitizer etc.

Also those who are mobile, get 4 oz bottles refilled and labeled with the product that has been used. These Labels are also taped..lol so they know whats in it and so it does come off too easily if it gets wet.

When I have "Moldable items" such as Sweet Tarts etc I leave a Corner of the box and line it with a small kitchen catcher, I literally puzzle fit so there is not a inch to spare.

The original garbage bag is then folded over like an envelope, I can't afford the space for a knot..lol. I put my letter on top of the bag. The box has NO Jiggle, nothing moves, then I tape the WHOLE box, so if it gets snow mud rain etc that baby is Sealed tighter than a drum. Also no seams bursting!

Packets are once again bagged and taped, shampoo, powder. In order not to waste room i send very few original boxs ie.granola bars. bandaids, drink packets etc these are baggied wrapped & taped tight together.

If I am going to pay shipping costs on these, I am going to get my moneys worth..lol

Sorry for being so long winded, but hygiene shipping is pretty much what I do over & over. But like I said I dont ship any carbonated beverages, it scares me( more like scares my obsessive compulsive side) haha!!

Thats just how I do it, I have to do a Coffee Pot:-( tght fitting is going to be hard:-( Its going to be filled with stuff so they better not plug it in,,haha ( I tape a note)

Hugs Nanc

Wow that was great!! Like Liquids 101!

 Thanks!

Nanc,

I don't use the wide tape on the bottles and tubes anymore - I use the narrow strapping tape around the lids that are straight enough to use it on, as well as around the tube/bottle also.  That tape is stronger, yet narrow and easier to handle and remove also.  For liquids or thin gels, I also double bag as Marty suggests, with the bags in opposite direction, although I bag them opposite to what he recommends.  He said to put the upside down bag first, and I put the upside down bag last.  I finally found something I had looked for in the last couple of years whenever I could remember it - the twist-tie gallon bags.  I like to use those for the first bagging with the top twisted and then folded down to have the top doubled down inside the twist-tie.  I found those at Big Lots not long ago.

Now, if anyone has a good way to send pump-top bottles without concern about the pump breaking I would like to hear how you do it.  The only thing I could come up with is to use plastic shopping bags and wind them round and round the pump top and tape it like mad with package sealing tape and pray that it makes it.  I have sometimes sent both hand soap and lotion with pumps on them, and always wondered if the pump remained intact through the trip.

 Gran

Hi Gran

Thanks for the suggestions:-) I have about 5 different sized bags here that I use. And there are two that are specialty which I use with either M/F they are I think 13 gallon and scented. These I utilize when sending say socks or luffas so when its opened there is either a Floral scent or Mountain Fresh scent...but they usually dont ship with hygiene as I like my sturdy ziplocks. The biggest thing is to keep those lids from unscrewing or loosening, which travel encourages vibration hence lids can come loose.And to keep the vibration down and movement to nil by making sure that box is packed tightly. I like taping too Gran! I got a great deal on Packing tape and when that runs out I will probably use Priority tape, but the colors come off of that so I will still probably try and find my packing tape deals.

I have been thinking about your pumps Gran, and I dont usually send them BUT here is a thought...

What about using a Cut toilet paper roll or sturdy paper towel roll. Utilizing it by slicing across then down the side and cutting it to fit the lenght between the pump curve and bottom of the screwed cap. Probably after taping the cap and using the bag idea, just for extra support. What do you think? If the roll is cut to fit, you could also double up and do a second layer of that roll around your bags.

Just a thought Gran, What do you think? Like I said I rarely send pumps, but I have thought about it cause I have some bigger bottles of lotion for women.

Hugs Nanc

I got the large Johnson's lotion that had the pumps when we got the coupon a while back for 2 free ones, and some of the guys want the Dial or other antibacterial hand soap especially when they are living on the Iraqi bases, so I usually get them in a pump bottle and then get a large refill to go with them.  I will have to play with the tubes some to see what will work.  If it was layered beneath the pump portion, it would help support the pump mechanism possibly better than the softer plastic bags, although I really twist them and wind them tightly and try to get most of the air out of them to make them firmer.

Gran

JustMeinAZ:

 Also those who are mobile, get 4 oz bottles refilled and labeled with the product that has been used. These Labels are also taped..lol so they know whats in it and so it does come off too easily if it gets wet.

I have often thought about doing this but have wondered if does not make for a similar situation as sending homemade food because they have no way of knowing what is really in those bottles so like with the food, it gets them use to letting their guard down.  Any thoughts on this?

Rosemary 

Call me neurotic if you wish, but I would feel better about having anything in it's original container and sending the empty containers separately for them to do with as they please.  I personally wouldn't want to be applying something that came out of a mystery bottle with the world as it is now.  After all, their mail isn't inspected as it would be by customs inspectors coming into our country.

Gran

I understand the points made, and very valid. I deal with the same contacts, and explain the packages in my letters to the point that it probably ruins the Santa Claus feel of it all. Due to the thoroughness of all hygiene care taken care of in a couple of boxes, they have already had the product explained and the expense reduction in purchasing the larger quantities. They are given First Aid supplies as well. They can treat wounds with sutures, care for athletes foot, boils, calluses, water distillation if needed etc. My hubby is a survivalist, they even recieve dental tools for weapon cleaning.

I don't deal with contacts who easily get to px's or clinics or even have the ability to Mail out. These are the guys who need to be self-sufficient in the middle of nowhere, and they understand and thank me for getting them these items. Most are on their 3rd deployment, the ones that are on their first may not understand what all has been sent: especially the wound treatment items for the field like the 10% Iodine.

My communication with my contacts is good and I have been blessed, I wish to give them the best and I cannot afford it otherwise, they know this and are grateful. Also the 4 oz bottles give more applications than 2 oz trial sizes and can be used over approx one month and they like that!

My boys are happy and they let me know it :-) Nanc

I mailed my box today.  I took the little guy I nanny for(he's 13 months)and gave him my keys to play with so he was quiet in the line.    The clerk asked the question about liquids, perishable, etc, and I said yes, that there is shampoo in the box but it's double bagged and 3 oz.  She said wow you've done this before!!  I told her I have mailed a few but I've also had some good advice.