May 21, 2026
By: Trudy Gritsch
You consider yourself a savvy traveler. You’ve got your carry-on packing strategy down to a science. But even the most seasoned traveler can slip up now and then.
After dropping your checked bags at the ticketing counter, you breeze over to the security checkpoint, carry-on in tow. That’s when you realize your mistake. That small shampoo bottle you tossed in your carry-on? It’s actually over the 3.4 oz liquid limit.
If you find yourself at the checkpoint with an item that should have gone in your checked bag, what can you actually do about it?
Option 1: Check that bag
Perhaps this specialty shampoo is crucial for the event you’re attending tomorrow and there won’t be an opportunity to repurchase in time. In that case, if you have the time, turn around and head for the ticketing counter, because you need to check that carry-on to save your shampoo and your ‘do. Be careful about checked baggage restrictions and always keep important medications on your person.
Option 2: Mail it home
Maybe this not-small-enough shampoo is the good stuff from the bathroom, but for this trip, whatever the hotel provides will suffice. A Mail it Home kiosk makes it easy to send your V.I.B. (very important bottle) back to your collection safe and sound. Find a Mail it Home station at the entrance of checkpoints 3, 4, and 5.
Option 3: Donate it
Then again, if complimentary suds or a quick repurchase after landing doesn’t cramp your hairstyle, you might be tempted to toss it. Instead of feeding the local landfill, consider donating the inconvenient bottle to the local food bank!
With Donation Drop @ SEA, items not allowed in carry-ons, like your oversized shampoo, are collected in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and shared with the Des Moines Area Food Bank. Donations are monitored and screened before delivery, but your shampoo will be sent through so long as it is sealed or lightly used. In January 2026 alone, travelers donated over 150 pounds of non-food items. Donation Drop bins are located at the entrance of every checkpoint.
One day you’re packing your toiletries and daydreaming about the vacation ahead. The next, you’re watching with tears in your eyes as that shampoo takes off on its own new adventure. They grow up so fast.
Take your packing problem to one of the Donation Drop bins and turn a TSA mishap into tangible support for the community.
