Dear Jim,
Your issue is interesting.
My suggestion is to check the label to be aware of the ingredients and their sub-products created by aging. I suggest also to check your local ordinances about what can be disposed and how.
Logic may suggest to dispose it "normally" but when it comes to aged products, the answer can be tricky. Since maybe we don't use anymore those products or the aged version of them can be chemically changed, it is better to always check.
I also suggest you to check those recent webinars, those can help you to assess a procedure and clarify how to behave with mysterious liquids:
Identifying and Managing Hazardous Materials In Museum Collections
| Connectingtocollections |
remove preview |
|
| Identifying and Managing Hazardous Materials In Museum Collections |
| While hazardous materials can be a daunting topic to tackle, it is very possible to not only identify hazards in your own collection, but to also implement straightforward and inexpensive solutions to safely house, store, display and work with these materials. |
| View this on Connectingtocollections > |
|
|
Events for April 2026 - Connecting to Collections Care
| Connectingtocollections |
remove preview |
|
| Events for April 2026 - Connecting to Collections Care |
| " All Events This event has passed. - 2:00 pm Many small and mid-sized cultural institutions face challenging issues with collections containers that still have contents inside of them, whether they are solids or liquids. Often these are assumed to be the original contents, but sometimes they may not be. |
| View this on Connectingtocollections > |
|
|
Best
regards
------------------------------
[Arianna] [Buffagni] [Connecting to Collection Care Monitor]
[Conservator specialized in Easel Painting, Wooden Painting and Artifacts, and Contemporary materials]
[Italy]
Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent
Quattro Castella
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2026 14:45
From: Jim Hansmann
Subject: Vintage bottle with shampoo
We have recently rec'd, at the Castle Rock Museum, in Colorado, numerous vintage medical and prescription bottles. They all appear to be innocuous, they are empty, with the exception of two bottles, 18 oz. of Watkins Coconut Oil Shampoo. I am wondering what would be the best method for disposing of this liquid shampoo. Can it simple be poured down the sink? We don't care to keep the liquid, only the bottles.
Jim Hansmann
Curator, Castle Rock Museum
------------------------------
Jim Hansmann
Curator
Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum
Castle Rock
United States
------------------------------