I’m an extreme cheapskate – I reuse mouthwash and use dryer lint as makeup remover, who cares if it’s gross, I’m richer
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BRUSHING her teeth in the morning Claire Anne carefully measures out a capful of mouthwash. She gargles and swills the mint flavoured liquid around her mouth for sixty seconds. But instead of spitting the liquid into the sink, Claire carefully spits it into a second mouthwash bottle so she can re-use it that night.
![[Claire Anne is a self-confessed super scrimper and using the same mouthwash upto three times is one way she saves money]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/i-reuse-mouthwash-use-dryer-961275587.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
“I can already hear the thousands of people screeching how gross or disgusting even the mere thought of re-using mouthwash is,” Claire says. “But I’m determined to do whatever I can to save even a couple of pennies to be able to pay the gas and heating bill and save for next Christmas.
![[Rather than let the used mouthwash disappear down the plug hole she fills a second bottle]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/i-reuse-mouthwash-use-dryer-961275642.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
“Second or third hand mouthwash works fine. I tested it and it saves money.”. “I rinse my mouth with water first. I am not bothered if there is some left-over spit in the mouthwash, it is my spit and my money, and my teeth have not looked better.”.
![[She also collects the dryer lint to reuse around the house and no longer has to buy cotton wool balls to remove nail polish]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cfc5f9d1-ab05-4181-9617-32431d036d18.jpg?strip=all&w=792)
Mental health advocate and mum of two Claire, 44, who lives in Leeds, West Yorks, with her courier manager husband, 48 and her two children aged 16 and 12, says mouthwash is too expensive. “I was buying two bottles of mouthwash a month and that cost me £7,” she says.
![[Claire says the lint is just as effective as cotton wool]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/i-reuse-mouthwash-use-dryer-961275436.jpg?strip=all&w=741)
“My favourite brand went up 20p and it was then I had my radical money saving light bulb moment. “Mouthwash is a disinfectant, so I figured why spit it after one use? People share bars of soap; we are being told to share bath water, so my mouthwash idea is logical.”.
![[Claire will also turn up at people's houses unanounced in the hope to bag a free lunch]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/729809d2-d96f-4d06-984b-4245deaa1c64.jpg?strip=all&w=584)
