Safety razors!

I've been using this for a while now and am very pleased with it.

There is absolutely no plastic involved and it's practically waste free! I bought mine on amazon, but I know they are available in many stores: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart just to name a few. Some other online options are: zerowastecartel.com and zerowastestore.com.

Be sure to soap up though when you use the safety razor or use a nice environmentally friendly shaving cream. I can do my underarms in the shower, but prefer to shave my legs outside of the shower. This is just because I don't want to waste water and in order to get the best angle for shaving. The shavers don't have a pivoting head, so it's all about the correct angle. It's a good idea to maybe watch a youtube video on how to use them, just to make sure you have the right idea. Below is a little gif showing how to open and insert the blades.

It's ridiculous to use disposable, plastic razors that add to landfills when this option is available. Unfortunately millions of razors end up in landfills every year. MILLIONS. They are not recyclable.

So, consider purchasing one of these safety razors. They last for years and years and if you end up needing to get a new one, it is recyclable!

Please feel free to add a comment with your experience or with any questions you may have. It's always great to share!

Thanks!
Joy

Who gives a crap- no, it's toilet paper!

We're on our second shipment (or "shitment" HA!) of a product made by a company called who gives a crap
Yes, you read that right.

 

 

It's plastic free packaging, 100% recycled materials toilet paper! Delivered right to your door. We love it. You can subscribe for scheduled deliveries or just go up and order when you need it. They have other options as well, like bamboo, which is sustainably grown. You can also try their tissues or paper towels if you need them. We've ordered a few paper towel rolls as well and they work great.

who gives a crap

It's pretty reasonably priced and wayyyyy better for the planet and ultimately mankind! Which is the point, right?

Before finding this company, I had been looking everywhere for a place that sells toilet paper NOT wrapped in plastic. Couldn't find it. Think of all of the plastic produced out there just to wrap toilet paper that is used to wipe your arse! All that plastic is here for hundreds of years now, destroying and polluting the only home we have.

So forget COSTCO for your bum wiping needs, go for this instead!

As always, if you have a comment or something you can share, please do!

Thanks!
Joy

Plastic free teeth! Huh?

Tooth brushes: First and the easiest transition is BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSHES! Personally, I love them. My son and I both use them.They are biodegradable, so your tooth brush won't be around hundreds of years after you're gone!

Here are some buying options.

zerowastecartel.com

zerowastestore.com

amazon.com

Tooth paste: I've been using environmentally friendly toothpaste for years, but recently starting thinking about all the plastic that goes into caring for our teeth! The one I was using still had fluoride and was packaged in a plastic tube. Here is what I've been using now for a while. There are some I'm still trying out. So far I've been happy with Davids.

The thing about environmentally friendly tooth paste is, well, they don't usually contain fluoride. Because really, fluoride is a toxin. I haven't had a problem so far and have been to the dentist with no cavities. Yet...  Obviously, that is a personal choice if you want/need fluoride or not.

I also tried a tooth powder (pictured in the first image above) it's ok, but takes some getting used to. It has a saltier taste due to the baking soda I guess. I prefer the paste my self.

Here is where I've bought Davids:

amazon.com

zerowastecartel.com

The tooth powder, here:

sfsustainable.com

Dental floss: This product I've been really amazed by.

It comes in the cutest little glass bottle with a metal head. The floss itself is made of silk and coated with Candelilla wax. Works great and is all biodegradable. You also just order refills of the floss!

Here is where I bought it:

zerowastecartel.com

I know a lot of these products I've posted can be purchased in other places. The links I've shared are just where I've actually bought things from. A warning, especially with buying things online. Be sure they are using sustainable packaging! I bought a toothpaste on Amazon that LOOKED like it was in a metal tube but it was a PLASTIC tube made to look like metal...oy vay.

Another consideration. I know when you go to the dentist it's oh so tempting to take that little plastic bag from your hygienist with that FREE tooth brush, tooth paste and dental floss, but RESIST! It won't hurt their feelings, don't worry. They get that stuff for free from the big distributors. Maybe if enough people turn it down because of all the plastic, they'll get the idea that they need to make some changes...(sigh) 

Anyways, as always, please leave any comments, questions or share what you use in the comments here!

Thanks!

-Joy

Natural toilet bowl cleaning!

I'm moving into the bathroom as far as some plastic free ideas. I wanted to start with toilet bowl cleaner.

Pictured here is what I've been using.

I purchased a glass spray bottle because I didn't have any spray bottles. There are many options on where to purchase these. Here are a couple.
wild minimalist

amazon

In the spray bottle I just put some white vinegar! To minimize the vinegar smell, I put some drops of essential oils. The one I bought was a lemongrass scent from Whole Foods for 5 bucks.

In the lidded glass jar is baking soda! I poked some holes in the lid to be able to sprinkle the baking powder into the bowl. I bought the jar at Target for a couple of dollars.

What you do Flush your toilet. When the water starts filling the bowl again just spray the vinegar solution and sprinkle the baking soda into the bowl. Let it sit for a bit, maybe 5 minutes. Also just spray the vinegar solution around the seat and outside of the toilet. Use your toilet brush inside the bowl and just a cloth to wipe around the outside of the toilet. Voila!

If you need a new toilet brush, there are some nice wood options instead of plastic! Here is one I plan on buying soon. Maybe I'll treat myself for my birthday or Christmas!

wildminimalist.com

Vinegar is a great natural cleaner. You can use it on a lot of different surfaces. Here is an article from today.com about 28 ways to use vinegar around the house.

As always, if you have some great ideas you've used to clean your toilets, please share!

-Joy

Knock it off with the plastic water bottles already!

So, this one is pretty easy. There are sooooooo many super cute re-usable water bottles options out there, so no excuse grabbing one of those plastic, disposable ones! Plastic water bottles are a HUGE problem. They are everywhere. Recycling them doesn't necessarily happen. Treat yourself and your family members to some fun, cute water bottles!

Also note, my travel, insulated coffee cup. It keeps coffee warm for hours! Keep one in your car or purse even, for those unexpected trips to Peet's/Starbucks/Philz. Yeah...

Reasons to not use those plastic water bottles are endless. Not to mention some of the questionable practices of a few of the mega bottled water companies. Yikes!  I won't get into that here, but definitely research and find out for yourself.

Plus, there are studies showing how harmful chemicals from the plastic can leach into the water. Why take that chance?

"But Joy, I'm having a party and need a lot of water!" Well...

                                                   BAM!

Get a few of these fun, glass water/beverage containers! They're cute and look festive as well. If you don't want to buy something like this, just use whatever containers you have around the house to hold liquids to serve: glass bottles, pitchers, whatever. Add some paper cups and have some sharpies available for peeps to write their names on them. They can draw on and decorate their cups, too!

Anyways, just some ideas to replace those plastic, disposable water bottles when you can.

If you have some ideas or things you've done, please leave a comment and share!

Have a great weekend!
-Joy

Ahhhh, coffee...

For years now, my husband and I have been pretty sustainable with our coffee drinking. Coffee preparing? Anywhoo, just trying to find the best way not to create waste from making that MUCH needed cup o' joe in the morning.

We also buy organic, fair trade coffee brands.

In the past we've done anything from having a small coffee maker with a mesh, reusable filter, to our current French Press, which creates pretty much no waste.

We've landed on the French press and have pretty much stuck with it.

I wanted to touch on some other methods we've tried, but also give information on some other options.

A lot of people have been using those Keurig style coffee makers which KILL me. Up until now, there was no option put to use those little disposable cups and add to the millions of tonz of those things existing forever on the planet. GOOD NEWS, you can still use your machines but there are a bunch of re-usable, fill-it-yourself pods!! Yay!!!

  https://www.amazon.com

I have an amazon link here, but please feel free to find the items on other sites or in stores as well. Please note, I haven't used these re-fill able ones myself, so this isn't a specific recommendation. I'm just soooooo glad the option is finally here!

There are even biodegradable options for the pods themselves!

https://www.tayst.com/products/pods-for-keurig

Previous to our French Press, we were using the individual cup, pour over funnels with filters.

At first with brown paper filters, but then we discovered reusable fabric filters for them. I'd show you a photo of our actual filters and funnels, but they are packed away. Here is a link to some on-line. I haven't ordered from this company, but I hear good things.

https://www.grove.co

Again, the GREAT news for making that all important cup of coffee is that there are a bunch of sustainable options out there. And not only will your coffee be delicious, it will be better for the planet.

Don't forget to compost those coffee grounds, too!

If you have a comment or other planet friendly ways to make your coffee, please share here!

Thanks!
Joy

To paper towel, or NOT to paper towel...?

I know, I know, most people think, "give up paper towels?!! No. Way." Well, I know it's hard to imagine, but it's possible. Even if you just limit your use, A LOT, it helps. If my husband can do it, so can you! "What does this have to do with plastic, Joy" you ask? Well, it comes wrapped in plastic! Here is some information I found:

(source: WWF - Watch the Amazon go down in paper towels. and fillgood.co)

• Paper towels are not made of plastic: of course, they are mostly made from trees but also from recycled paper. Now even bamboo!
• Paper towels are compostable: true if you have access to home compost or city compost, and if you don’t use them with chemicals like toxic cleaning products. If composting is not an option, they end up in landfills because THEY CAN’T BE RECYCLED.
• Paper towels come wrapped in plastic.
• Printed paper towels are made with nasty inks and dyes, and sometimes even chemicals scents
• People use A LOT of paper towels: 13 billion pounds each year in the US → 40 pounds, the equivalent of 80 rolls, per person, per year
• Environmental impact in the US: producing all that paper consumes a lot of resources, including 110 million trees per year and 130 billion gallons of water. On top of that, you can add the energy to manufacture the paper towels and transport them from the factory to the store to your house and finally to the landfill or the composting facility.

The easiest solution, use cloth towels and napkins, yo!

This post is mostly about how I use towels and napkins in the kitchen and for meals.




For hands

I have a collection of cute hand towels. I have a towel rack hanging from the cabinet by the sink. I wash hands then dry with on of my hand towels hanging there. I know many people already do this, right?


For clean up

Now this is where people usually have the urge to grab for a paper towel! I have another collection of towels that I keep in a bottom drawer of the kitchen. They are towels I've had for years and years. If we need to dry a pot or pan, or dry some fruits or vegetables, I grab one of these. I have some designated towels here for floor spills or messes, too. See the red towel on the floor under the open drawer? That stays on the floor to wipe up any drips of water, in particular. I just drag it over with my foot and wipe it up!

You can use old clothing, like tee-shirts, cut up for rags, too.

Of course there are other options for wiping up spills and cleaning. I really like environmentally friendly products from a company called NORWEX. Here is their website:

https://norwex.biz/en_US/


There are microfiber clothes from them that are amazing, plus other products as well. Check out all the products they carry when you can! I use their microfiber EnviroCloth to clean in my kitchen. You don't need or use cleaning sprays with this product! I'll talk more about them in later posts.

At the table

Again, napkins aren't plastic, but usually they come wrapped in it. Plus, they are just wasteful. If we need napkins, I have some cloth ones available. The husband and I just wash our hands after dinner, as does our son, but during dinner there is bound to be mess. Often for him, I'll have one of his small wash clothes from when he was a baby, at his place. This often helps to avoid having him wipe his hands on his pants or shirt...sometimes, sometimes not (eye roll). If you don't have cloth napkins already, a fun thing to do is look for mismatch, fun patterns in thrift stores or antique stores if you have any around. Or, make your own!

Did I mention, it will save you money!

Ok, to be honest, we do still have paper towels in the house. We are still hung up on being able to use them for gross clean ups like dog pee and other bodily messes. I plan on doing more designated towels or rags for that. Plus I need to try the cooling rack over a backing sheet for our turkey bacon. But, we are limiting our use and I'm trying to find a paper towel supply that doesn't come wrapped in plastic. Unfortunately, it will probably be something online I'll have to have delivered. I'm avoiding Amazon as well. That will be yet another post!

Once I move into the bathroom with my posts (now it's been kitchen) I'll share about a site called Who Gives a Crap where we get our plastic free toilet paper!

If you have any other ideas to replace plastic wrapped paper towels or napkins,  or have a question, please share in the comments!

Thanks!
-Joy