Category: Uncategorized

Do I Dare…

With Gummy Bears?

I’ve been searching for a zero waste fruit snack replacement for awhile. I toyed with making my own, but it wasn’t a feasible solution.

I searched for them in bulk online – no luck.

No luck finding fruit snacks in bulk at a store either, but I can find gummy bears.

Which prompts the question….Would it be that horrible to give my kids gummy bears instead of fruit snacks?

So I started looking online and found a bunch of articles about lawsuits against Welch’s for marketing fruit snacks as a “healthy” snack when they’re really not that much better than gummy bears.

Hmm….

I can find gummy bears in bulk – getting to use my reusable produce bags (no plastic!), store them in a glass jar, and place them in small reusable containers when I need them.

Plus, my kids love them and I’m pretty sure if they understood how awesome of a job I’m doing as a mom by just giving in and giving them gummy bears they would follow me around chanting, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

I’m going to chalk up their lack of chanting to the fact that they are still young and just don’t know about the awesomeness of chanting yet.

In my head, they’re chanting.

Apparently though, gummy bears really aren’t that much different than fruit snacks. So I’m going for it. I’ve been buying gummy bears in bulk and I’ve been occasionally giving them to my kids. The funny thing is I get hesitant to hand my kids gummy bears because they’re candy. It’s been a bit of an awakening for me because if I’m hesitant to hand out gummy bears, shouldn’t I be hesitant to give out fruit snacks?

I’ve also bought dried cranberries in bulk (Craisins) because if I really want my kids to have a healthy snack, I should be handing over actual fruit or dried fruit. So I wanted a back-up option.

For right now, I’ve got a large jar of gummy bears in my pantry which can cause quite a fit when my kids are aware of it and will try to do anything to get to it. It’s a nice treat to bribe them to do things for them every now and then.

They’re really good gummy bears too, in a variety of colors flavors. Which makes them a nice treat for mommy too. I need to teach them the gummy bears theme song…perhaps that can be a summer goal of ours.

Here’s my response from Charmin in regards to using recycled paper for their toilet paper. I considered it to be disappointing. I took it as more validation that phasing out unsustainable products, particularly single-use items, is absolutely the right step to take.

Until next time…

Good Morning , Julia!

Thank you for reaching out to Charmin about our products and our sustainability policy. I completely understand your desire to learn more, and I want to assure you that we’re working to help the earth as well. Let me offer some additional details! 
To answer your first question, we use virgin wood pulp to manufacture our paper products as virgin fiber in tissue products is preferred by consumers, and ‘does the job’ much more efficiently. I know, it probably sounds not-so-earth-friendly, however, by using virgin fiber from responsibly managed forests, our products are more absorbent, so consumers can do more with less waste. Tissue and paper towel products made from recycled materials are less soft, less absorbent and lack the strength that products manufactured from virgin fibers can provide.
Our tissue and paper towel products contain a significant amount of sustainability-sourced, fast-growing renewable fibers. 100% of our wood fiber comes from responsibly managed forests, certified to the most rigorous standards from third parties such as the Forest Stewardship Council. More than 95% of Bounty, Puffs, and Charmin inner cores, cartons and paperboard packaging are recycled fiber. And by 2030 we aim to have 100% recyclable or reusable packaging.
We do plan to label our packages with appropriate recycling information in the near future, but this will take some time to implement. Until our packaging is revised with recycling information the following website provides useful information on plastic film recycling, and it gives you details of drop-off locations for recycling: www.plasticfilmrecycling.org You might also like to know, our goal is to ensure that 90% of our packaging is recyclable or that we have a program in place to enable package recycling. We are a member of the Flexible Film Recycling Group (FFRG), an industry association working to increase the collection and recycling of flexible films. 

In the meantime, while I can’t promise anything, but we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our products and packages to meet the needs and preferences of our consumers. Your comments will help us with our research, and you can be assured I’m sharing your thoughts with the rest of our team so they’re aware of how this may impact your enjoyment of our brand.
While I hope my response answers your questions, I also understand you may have more concerns, and we welcome you to write back in anytime. We also invite you to visit PG.com to review our sustainability initiatives, and future plans.
Thank you again for sharing your enthusiasm regarding being green, Julia! We appreciate you writing to Charmin and invite you to reconnect anytime you need us.

Anu
Charmin Team

Still Making Noise…Amazon & Starbucks

Arrgh! I had forgotten to post my fun bidet GIF on the bidet post! So feel free to enjoy it now:

You gotta love Jessica Day.

Now that I got that out of the way, I received a very nice, detailed response from Seventh Generation in regards to their use of plastic in their packaging:

Mar 11, 3:42 PM EDT

Hi Julia‍,

Thanks for reaching out to us and sharing your feedback about our use of plastic. 

We are always striving to improve our packaging and to lead the industry in the sustainability profile of our products and packaging. Our company is working hard to reduce and eventually eliminate our use of plastic and we know we have a long journey ahead. Currently, we are focusing on three different avenues to reduce plastic use in our products.

First, we lead the industry in using post-consumer recycled material in our packaging. Many of our plastic bottles are made from 100% recycled content and 97.5% of our packaging is recyclable. Where we can’t reach 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, we employ additional solutions to reduce virgin petroleum use, such as using bioplastic resin that is derived from sugarcane to add bottle strength and does not affect bottle recyclability.

Second, we are developing products and packaging that use significantly less plastic than conventional packaging. We first launched our 4X concentrated Laundry Detergent in the cardboard bottle back in 2012 and have recently introduced our Ultra Concentrated Easy Dose laundry detergent which uses 60% less plastic, 50% less water, and is 75% lighter than our 100 oz bottle. We will continue to try to push for more concentrated products, but this will also require a shift in consumer behavior, which has proven challenging.

Third, we have a designated team of Packaging Engineers and researchers looking into completely plastic free alternatives as well. This is something we are very excited about and will continue to work towards. We just announced our partnership with The Loop, which is a company that we are doing a pilot program with to deliver reusable glass and aluminum containers of our products directly to customers homes. Once the customer uses up the product, they send their empty reusable container back to The Loop where they are cleaned and refilled. We hope to launch this in select cities this November. In the meantime, of course, we encourage everyone to recycle whenever possible!

We know that there is still much more to be done, and we will continue to push and develop ways to reduce plastic usage. We need to push for systemic change that ensures all packaging is recycled, if not eliminated, since no matter which plastic we choose, we’re not doing enough to address the looming global threat of plastic pollution.

Thank you again for your feedback and for your personal commitment to reduce your use of plastic. I will gladly share your comments with our team.

Bettina
Customer Care

My favorite line is, “but this will also require a shift in consumer behavior, which has proven challenging.”

So true.

Change is hard, especially when the necessity of the change isn’t recognized or understood. I won’t confess that every change has been easy in this house, but it’s been surprising just how easy many of them have actually been. I didn’t expect that.

Getting a response from Seventh Generation reminded me that I never posted many of the responses I received from different companies. (I have no idea if they’d be a fascinating read to anyone except me.)

But to me, it’s SO IMPORTANT to contact the corporations in charge of my favorite products – or even just the worst contributors! – to let them know that I want them to change to more sustainable practices. That I would SUPPORT their products that are more sustainable!

If I don’t say anything….they’ll never know.

In fact, my sister was recently at a Starbucks and overheard a group of Managers sitting and discussing policies. So naturally, she inserted herself in the conversation to make some suggestions of her own. 🙂

As she listed off her requests (some sustainable, some about bringing back some preferred beverages #priorities #lightlysweetenedchai), they listened politely and told her to submit her suggestions on the Starbucks suggestion webpage.

You know, suggestions such as making Venti-sized reusable Starbucks cups for when you need a giant coffee, but want to use your reusable Starbucks cup. Or suggestions like, All Starbucks stores should have recycle centers and that you wish Starbucks would make eco-friendly, recyclable or compostable cups to create a more sustainable future.

Apparently, they keep a tally of how many suggestions they get for different ideas and that’s how they know what to prioritize. The green little sticks that you stick in the mouthpiece so your drink doesn’t spill came about because of the suggestion page. Now we just need them to offer recycling for them.

I imagine most companies do something similar.

So, keeping this in mind, this is what I just submitted to Starbucks:

I wish Starbucks had reusable Venti-size cups. I am transitioning to a zero waste household and while I have a reusable Starbucks cup, sometimes you want a Venti. And all my reusable non-Starbucks cups are roughly the size of my Grande Starbucks cup anyhow. Also, I wish they weren’t plastic, unless they’re 100% reused plastic. Plastic is permanent and contributing to a SERIOUS global crisis. Please make positive changes for environmental sustainability!

I care so much for the environment and contacting companies to ask them to be more sustainable in their practice and packaging literally takes 5 minutes.

If more people would just take 5 minutes to let corporations know that they support them becoming more sustainable….just think of the change that could happen.

Speaking of corporations, I know Amazon is hated by many….but I personally love it. It is my go-to place for the majority of my purchases – even if it’s just for a price-comparison.

Did you know that you can request Amazon to limit the plastic in the packaging they send to you?

My understanding is, it’s up to the individual warehouse to decide whether or not they “honor” your request, but it’s still worth a shot. I found the directions on Earth 911 and went through the process myself.

First step – email Amazon’s customer service to request they limit the amount of plastic packaging in your orders. They’ll make a note in your account, but ultimately it’s up to Amazon to follow that request. Here’s the script recommended on Earth 911:

Hi,

My name is _________. The email address attached to my Amazon account is __________.

I’m requesting that Amazon use minimal packaging in all of my future orders. Please note on my account to avoid plastic packaging like bubble wrap and plastic air pillows when fulfilling my orders.

Thank you!

Of course, the teacher in me included a nice “educating” statement that plastic is permanent and how plastic packaging is contributing to a global problem, because I feel the need to educate EVERYONE on EVERYTHING.

Second step – Leave feedback on your Amazon packaging. If you’re disappointed it came with plastic bubble wrap instead of more sustainable, recyclable, paper packaging – leave feedback and let them know you’re disappointed.

Third step – Recycle the crap out of the plastic that Amazon sent you. The bubble wrap packets that they sent can most likely be recycled with your plastic bags at your local grocery store.

Fourth step – Try to reduce what you buy in general. (Yeah….I’m still working on that one personally…..)

I don’t normally assign homework, but let me give a little homework assignment tonight to my 4 readers. Pick a company that you either really like, but you’re disappointed in their environmental practices – or a major company that you dislike and you’re EXTREMELY disappointed in their environmental practices.

Go to their website, find the “Contact Us” link and take 5 minutes to let them know that you want them to become more sustainable in their practices.

I personally like say, “I would like to know what ______ is doing to make your company more environmentally friendly in order to create a more sustainable future.” Then read their response and see if they’re a company you’d still like to support. (I still need to post the very disappointing response I received from Bath & Body Works…I really have liked their hand soaps, but once I burn through my stash, I’m done with them.)

Write it in your planners and….Go.

Toilet Paper

If you read my post yesterday about our new bidet(s), you can understand that toilet paper is the natural progression from that post.

When I started considering zero waste, I remember briefly having the thought that at least I don’t have to worry about toilet paper, besides the plastic wrapper that it comes in.

And, if you’re reading this and have no intention of making a change of toilet paper or to a bidet with family cloth, A) I’m hoping I can change your mind (keep reading!) and B) Check your local grocery store because most likely, the plastic wrapper your toilet paper comes in is recyclable with your plastic bags.

Let’s face the facts, even with a bidet and family cloth – I still feel like I have to have toilet paper for guests who come over.

We’ve always bought our toilet paper from Aldi, since that was our place to shop (come on Aldi….stop wrapping all your produce in plastic! Get on board!!). We got the cheap Willow brand which I believe was $6.99 for 18 rolls.

Ok, I found that stat online. I don’t actually remember how much it cost. And I just went on a hunt for some Willow brand toilet paper in my house for a photo op and couldn’t find any. It was all Angel Soft.

(Can we just take a moment to let the realization sink in that most of my photos in the past 2 months have become trash and things like toilet paper. What does that say about me? I’m not taking the time to think about it…)

Here’s your picture of the Angel Soft toilet paper in my house. Why? I don’t know. I feel like pictures are necessary for some odd reason.

So this is one of the few times that I am going to put in the scary facts about toilet paper. Because I think they need to be put out there again to the few readers I may or may not have.

Toilet paper has been in the news quite a bit recently because a recent report about logging forests for toilet paper was published by the NRDC and Stand.Earth.

Essentially, in the last 20 years, 28 million acres (roughly the size of Ohio) of boreal old-growth forests in Canada has been logged for tree pulp. Which the main purpose of tree pulp is for toilet paper. Most of that toilet paper production is specifically for the United States.

We have literally been flushing away trees. The sole purpose of them being cut down was to make brand new toilet paper.

Not a fun fact. That’s the kind of fact that gives me the sinking feeling in my chest.

All the habitat destruction for the animals that we love to watch on Youtube and go see at zoos. All the air pollution adding to climate change from all the logging machinery. All those beautiful, old-growth trees – gone. For toilet paper.

I don’t know how to get images from the internet onto this blog, so I encourage you to Google boreal forest and see how pretty they are.

Then think of what they’re being cut-down for.

The first time I read about using family cloth (reusable, washable, cloths that you use as your toilet paper for your family at home), I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Ugh – I don’t think I could EVER do that! – I thought.

But these are the facts that spur me forward.

The facts that have caused me to not only implement these changes in my life but to post about them on the internet in the hope that even one person will be inspired to change. One person who will maybe rethink the amount of toilet paper they use each time they go. One person who rethinks buying toilet paper that isn’t made from 100% recycled paper.

And maybe that one person will cause a ripple effect for positive, eco-friendly change.

My love for the woods and animals is greater than any embarrassment of being mocked for using reusable toilet paper (among other things).

Anyhow, like I said – toilet paper wasn’t a concern for me. Paper is easily recycled – next product, please.

But I wasn’t being an informed consumer. There are SO MANY recycled toilet papers out there!!! This is one time where I am pleading with my 10 readers – make a change to recycled, eco-friendly toilet paper.

My sister actually just ordered some toilet paper- I believe a trial pack of several different paper products – from Who Gives a Crap. Their website states they’re made without trees (I don’t know how – I didn’t read more into it), mostly free shipping, and they donate 50% of proceeds to build toilets. And they make it really pretty (can’t decide if it’s overkill or not, but it’s definitely the prettiest picture on this post about toilet paper):

Amazon seemed to have a wide selection of eco-friendly options – including multiple toilet papers made from bamboo and 100% recycled fibers.

Seventh generation products are great (I did just send them an email today to request that they phase out their plastic packaging, even if it is recyclable – don’t be afraid to make some noise with your favorite products!!!) and their toilet paper is 100% recyclable fiber and even though it comes in a plastic wrapper (recyclable with most plastic bag recycling).

We still have a stash of toilet paper, but I think this may honestly be my next step – a bulk order of Scott toilet paper from Amazon. 80 rolls for $41. They all come wrapped in paper, in a cardboard box, 100% recycled fiber, biodegradable, 2-ply, and the woman from the septic company when I called the first time however many years ago to get our septic pumped said it was the best for septic tanks.

It may not be the most “plush”, but maybe that will encourage my family to use the nice, soft, flannel family cloth at their disposal by my toilets. 🙂

And now, I’m off to write every corporate offender of cutting down new trees to make toilet paper or paper towels to ask them to STOP and kindly let them know that, “I will no longer be buying their product(s) and I will be encouraging my family and friends to do the same in an effort to better protect the planet for our future generations.”

Go make some noise for positive change.

(And if you know of any other 100% recycled toilet paper brands – let me know!!)

Bidet to you, too

I’m back everybody!!! I can’t imagine that anyone has truly been missing these posts, but I definitely have. Unfortunately, other things (mostly work) has taken precedence, but such is the life.

I’m still on my zero waste journey though, even if I didn’t write about it for a few days.

I feel like it’s time to share something that we’ve been using for 2+ months and I could never have believed how amazing it is.

A bidet.

A what???

It rhymes with “G’day”.

If you’re unfamiliar with a bidet, here’s the Google definition: a low oval basin used for washing one’s genital and anal area. Essentially, you do your business, turn on the bidet, and get a spray of water to rinse yourself off. You dry off, and go about your day. It’s often touted as being great for children and older folks who may have more difficulty cleaning “back there”. I have found it to be fantastic during my time of the month.

Not being an expert on toilets or bidets, I feel like they are a much more common feature in bathrooms overseas – particularly Europe and Asia. Once again, not an expert, so don’t quote me on that.

What’s ironic to me is I have cumulatively spent 8 months in Europe (for a study abroad and a work abroad), and the VERY first place I went (Paris – with my sister), we took funny pictures posing over the bidet because we found it hilarious (stupid Americans…), but I never used one. Plenty of opportunities….never used one…

But then I fell down the zero waste rabbit hole and at first, had NO CONCERN over a toilet paper change whatsoever. Wasn’t on my radar like all the rest of my hygiene and food products. It’s paper that breaks down – just recycle the cardboard tube. All I need to do is find some not wrapped in plastic. Easy. (I thought)

As I started looking stuff up, I saw zero waste blogs discussing bidets and family cloth (cloth toilet paper that you wash instead of put in the toilet) and the bidet became my first zero waste purchase at the end of December. I was sold on it fast.

Before I even started this blog, I had a bidet installed at my house toilet.

Part of the reason for that is it was like $35 on Amazon. And it was Prime 2-day shipping.

My husband and I had a healthy debate over which bathroom to put it in – the upstairs or downstairs. Or as we tend to refer to them as “my bathroom” and “his bathroom”. I won out because we also cloth diaper our children and have a diaper sprayer attached to the upstairs toilet. I wanted to make sure it worked with a diaper sprayer and that we liked it before we bought a second one (also a healthy debate).

I think we all really liked it immediately. I didn’t know if we would like it, but it’s amazing just how clean you really feel.

It really got me thinking of how wrong my impressions were on a bidet when I was mocking it as a young, American tourist in Europe. I mean, I go twosies and think it’s appropriate to just wipe off my tooshie with a piece of paper, pull up my pants, and go on my way. If I get poo on my hands during an aggressive diaper change, I end up washing my hands like 2-3 times! So why wouldn’t I want to get my tooshie cleaner too?

Ya know what I’m saying?

I did end up sewing my own reusable toilet paper (or family cloth as it’s advertised online and on Etsy) out of leftover flannel pajama pants that I had laying around the house. I have no idea if anyone else in the house uses it. I use it personally because with the bidet, you get clean and instead of getting all the gross stuff on it, it really becomes more of a little hand towel for your butt.

Keep in mind, your toilet is still a toilet. The bidet is just an added feature. So if you ever come over to my house and need to go, you can simply use the toilet as normal or try out the bidet. Which won’t happen because barely anyone ever comes to my house, but still the option is there. Do your business, turn the nozzle, spray where you will, and move on with your day.

We still have regular toilet paper – no need to use the family cloth. I just figure any time the family cloth is used, it’s a good reduction in toilet paper which saves money and trees. And I think I may tackle toilet paper in another post, because as eco-friendly as I consider myself, I never considered toilet paper a problem. (Spoiler – It is!).

My toddler has used it and doesn’t use it all the time, but that’s because he’s a fickle toddler. One moment he hates me, the next he loves me. One second he has to go, the next he doesn’t. I think he can tell that I think so highly of the bidet that he likes to dangle his usage of it over me. Kids. I mean, I would just be happy if he would pull his pants up after using the toilet instead of running around the house Winnie the Pooh style (shirt, no pants). The bidet is very low on my battle list with him.

Anyhow, we liked it so much that last Thursday, there was a lightning deal on the bidet we got so we ordered a second for the downstairs toilet. And we told some other people that we knew were vaguely interested in a bidet so some others were ordered too. So we got a second for $25. Huzzah! It’s yet to be installed, but I even clicked no-rush shipping and it was here in 2 days.

It’s a very unobtrusive addition to your toilet and there’s a wide variety out there on Amazon. We were semi-intrigued at the warm water options, but you have to run a line from the hot water tap and our sink is across the room.

It’s been a fun zero waste change for 2+ months. Still not tired of it. At all. They have great reviews on Amazon too – with videos even. Word to the wise, if you do get one and install it, make sure when you “test” it that you’re sitting on the toilet or have it covered. I made my husband install this one and I knew he tested it out because he yelled as water shot across the entire room and hit the mirror above our sink.

In other news, I got some zero waste, beeswax reusable zippered food pouches that I’m testing out right now, as we speak with cheddar puffs and sliced cheese. I’ve also placed an order for Elate mascara and foundation. Hopefully with the mascara, the third time’s the charm.

Until next time… 🙂

Making a List – Personal Swaps

A quick update before I get rolling, I emptied our dishwasher this morning (after using a Dropps pod) and did find some residue in a plastic sippy cup:

Was this leftover from a baking soda wash? Is it the Dropps pod? Is it Dropps + plastic? I don’t know. I just never want to pretend that a product is more than what it is and lead people astray, so I’ll keep updating over time if I ever get jaded by something.

The rest of my dishes and glassware still came out looking great in my mind (and I feel like I’ve never fully had a “perfect” dishwasher load):

Anyhow…

I’ve mentioned that my Pinterest has become inundated with zero waste items and I keep seeing these memes or blog posts that say “how to go zero waste in a month” or a “month by month guide” to going zero waste where in one month, you zero waste your kitchen and the next month, you zero waste your toiletries….you get the idea. My favorite is the video “We went zero waste for a week and here’s our review!”

Not to sound judgmental….but how in the heck is that possible? ONE WEEK? A month??? Zero waste ALL your hygiene products because it’s February??

I personally prefer the slow implementation as things run out or as I feel prepared to tackle them. And I definitely didn’t watch the video(s) because my extreme eye rolling prevented me from seeing where to click.

Is that too mean? Perhaps they were really positive videos that inspired people and not what I’m thinking at all.

I’m all about the slow change for lasting change.

Hitting the 2 month milestone was a big deal for me. It’s seriously made me reflect on everything I’ve changed in the past 2 months and what I still want to change.

Originally, I wanted this to be a list of ALL the changes I’ve made with updates, but I realized there’s been too many and this post was getting way too long.

I’m limiting this list to just my hygiene/make-up products.

Hygiene Products:

  1. Bamboo toothbrush – easy switch, never going back. I barely use my Sonicare anymore, even though the plan was to finish out the head on it.
  2. DIY toothpaste – still a fan – I’ve made 3 more batches and haven’t used Crest since
  3. Toothpaste Tablets – A fun experience, will leave in my travel bag, but won’t be using them long-term
  4. Compostable dental floss (Dental Lace) – So great! I’ve learned my lesson about pulling it too tight so I haven’t had any more breakages. My husband has said it breaks for him a lot (but I just tell him to stop pulling so tight).
  5. Lush Shampoo Bar – Huge fan, love the citrus smell and it was easy to travel with in the tin. I’m really sad to be finishing up my old shampoo and conditioner.
  6. Lush Conditioner Bar – Eh, it’s OK. Want to shop around a little more and see if there are better options, but think long term that it could be a solution even if I don’t find anything else.
  7. Dry Shampoo – Been using for years, best dry shampoo I’ve used in my opinion.
  8. Safety Razor – Easy switch, not an issue so far. I think I want a leather, travel holster for it for my birthday (*hint*hint*)
  9. Diva Cup – SERIOUSLY THE BEST THING EVER! You’re missing out if you’re a menstruating female and don’t have one.
  10. Reusable menstrual pads – Eh, they work for their job 😉
  11. Face Wash (Coconut Oil) – Been using for years with no plans to change.
  12. Contact Solution – From everything I’ve looked at, there’s no way to get solution except in a plastic bottle. So I just make sure to recycle everything involved, including the little packets my contacts come in (mine are recyclable!).
  13. Deodorant – Both happy and disappointed. I think it would be great if I wasn’t as stressed out at my job. Transitioning to a zero waste, natural deodorant has actually been better than I EVER thought it would be! I feel it’s a work in progress…summer & running will be interesting…but I am determined to make it work. I’ve got 2 new products to try out from Etsy.

I’m actually surprised because I feel that hygiene products have been one of the easiest areas to swap out. I thought it would be more challenging or difficult to adjust to some of these hygiene changes.

Not to mention, I keep feeling like more things aren’t working out, but looking back over this list has made me realize there are more wins than not (not including kitchen swaps…that’s the biggest challenge for me).

On my radar to change:

  1. Soap (I’ve always used bar soap….I need one not in a plastic wrapper)
  2. Hand soap
  3. Q Tips (Do I want to change??)
  4. Hair Thermal Protectant
  5. Deep conditioner or different hair conditioner?
  6. Face moisturizer
  7. Hand lotion/Body lotion
  8. Eczema cream
  9. I use reusable exfoliating shower gloves that I happen to love. Santa knows I love them, so they tend to appear in my stocking quite a bit (Hi, Mom! I don’t need any more right now…). I have numerous pairs and probably will never change from my shower gloves…but I’m curious about the bamboo scrub brushes….
  10. I’ve been wondering about a hair brush. I have 2 plastic ones (with glow in the dark handles which has actually come in handy at least one time for me…), and even though I want to get a bamboo one to give off that air of eco-friendly superiority…I don’t think I’ll be changing any time soon. That would be wasteful.

Although it’s not entirely zero waste yet, I’ve been tracking the changes in my travel toiletry bag. This picture was snapped on New Year’s Eve, when I stayed the night at my sister’s house and had decided that zero waste was going to be my New Year’s resolution (I had just started the blog too). Deodorant and hair brush not pictured:

My ugly green and orange toiletry bag was my Grandma’s that I brought home with me after she passed. It’s funny how I both hate the colors and really like the bag all at the same time. I had to sew a new zipper in it since I’m pretty sure it’s about 50 years old. There’s somethin’ about it that makes it feel perfect.

Here is my toiletry bag on our recent trip to Pittsburgh:

There’s still plastic, but it’s headed out the door! And a lot of those plastic containers hold other items. The one with the green lid has my nighttime aloe face gel, the one with the black lid holds my coconut oil for face wash (an old Oil of Olay container), and the one with the red lid is an old cinnamon spice container that I put my DIY dry shampoo in. And the only reason I didn’t bring my safety razor was that the pink one in my travel bag is relatively new and I need to use it up.

Make-up Changes:

Here’s a before shot of my make-up bag (meaning, use every day – not all the random make-up that I have floating around in my bathroom drawer):

  1. Elate Foundation – I like it a lot and will be ordering a full size product soon, which is all zero waste (glass bottle, bamboo lid).
  2. Loose Powder from Elate – Seems nice so far; adjusting to using a brush instead of a pouf.
  3. Mascara – Two total fails from Etsy: one cake and one liquid. Planning to order soon from Elate along with a full size foundation and hoping this will be the end to the trilogy.
  4. Zero waste chapstick from Etsy – It is lasting a REALLY long time, I like that it is slightly glossy and not waxy, and I want to look into ones that perhaps have more of a red tint to it. It tends to “melt” a little more easily in my pocket than a Burt’s Bees, but I use it every day.
  5. Eyeshadow from Etsy – I really like it and I have been switching back and forth between my Bare Minerals and this new stuff. I had to mark one to know which one is which. I have also found it is not as easy to open these tins as my previous eye shadows. If I’m not focusing, I end up with my thumb in it like this (happened twice so far):

I still need to find a zero waste eyeliner, although I’ve been thinking that a regular eyeliner pencil is probably zero waste and I could compost the shavings. Mine right now is in a plastic tube, and I’m not near being finished with it.

Here’s the after of my make-up bag, which doesn’t seem like that big of changes yet (especially with my Elate samples in plastic containers):

I’m hoping to go through some of the other changes in another list on a different day. I keep thinking of all these other things to post about too that are in the back of my mind – my trips to the bulk stores nearby, Amazon packaging, cloth diapering….one day at a time! I also really need to figure out how to get a menu on this blog…#goals

Dishin’ – The Sequel

You may be aware, but I’ve been on the hunt for a new dishwasher detergent and/or pod. One that is zero waste.

I had tried a zero waste DIY recipe and linked back to the blog that I had found it and I got a comment from that blogger! It was really cool to connect with a zero waster in California like that! She recommended trying some vinegar in the jet dry compartment of my dishwasher to help with the splotches.

I replied that I was nervous to try vinegar in with a baking soda-based detergent for fear of a 2nd grade, volcano science experiment explosion in my dishwasher. However, a friend from high school also recommended on Facebook that I put a cup of vinegar in the bottom of my dishwasher to help with the spots…

….So I thought, eh – for the sake of Science, let’s try it!

I wasn’t sure which one to do….and I don’t have a specific “Jet Dry” compartment in my dishwasher. I have one marked “Rinse Aid” so I assumed that was it and filled it with some vinegar.

Still splotchy on my glassware and everything seemed to have a residue.

I’m a glutton for punishment and may try putting a cup of vinegar in the bottom of my dishwasher. I’m really interested if this would work for someone with “normal” water (not my extremely hard water). People seem to like it – I want to know if it’s my water or not.

However, before I got the opportunity to keep doing my experiments on DIY zero waste dishwasher detergent, this appeared in my mailbox:

Awwww yeah!

One thing about going zero waste – it’s making me ridiculously excited about things like running the dishwasher or washing my hair. I just bought stainless steel straws and reusable beeswax snack bags (on Etsy) and I feel as if I just booked myself a tropical beach vacation.

Sometimes it’s the little things….

I ordered the dishwasher pods (64 pods in Lemon scent) from Dropps and they are completely zero waste. They came in a cardboard box that can be recycled – nothing else.

Here’s the information sticker on the cardboard box, in case anyone wants that information:

We had guests from out-of-town this weekend, so it was the perfect opportunity to try out dishwasher detergents since we did so many dishes.

For starters, I did my second try with that DIY baking soda mixture (see above) on Friday night and after noticing the splotches, we ran it again right away with a Dropps pod.

It came out the same. Still splotchy. I got nervous.

I told myself that it was probably already splotchy from the DIY mixture…I need to give Dropps another chance. I couldn’t make any rash decisions yet.

With house guests, we were easily at a full load by Saturday afternoon. So I ran the dishwasher again with a Dropps pod and thought to myself that if it doesn’t work, I bet I could give them away and at least they wouldn’t go to waste.

Noticing the dishwasher was done (phone in hand to snap some photos), I slowly & skeptically opened the door, pulled out a rack, and peeked through closed eyes…

They came out beautifully!

Multiple glassware with no issues, and my plastic even felt better than normal! My ceramic plates and bowls were clean and didn’t feel like they had a residue or anything on them.

I swear they felt “not covered in toxic chemicals” too, but I don’t know if that’s just my mind knowing that Dropps uses good stuff.

The only questionable item was this little glass dish, but I think it was leftover from the baking soda wash.

Actually, I just scrolled up and confirmed that this WAS leftover from the baking soda wash because it’s the one in my splotchy picture from up above!

So the Dropps got it cleaner, even if not perfect:


So while it would have been nice to be able to use the DIY version because it would have been ridiculously cheap, I am really happy to have found an alternative that is zero waste and eco-friendly. And a pod is WAY easier than measuring out separate ingredients each time.

Not to mention, Dropps is a company that from what I know of it, I am happy to support!

For the record, the lemon scent is very subtle in the box (my Finish gel pacs have a strong smell in comparison – and have dyed my dishwasher orange!) and there was no scent left on my dishes. See – Orange!

I did a cost analysis (because this is kind of math I can handle). For the orange Finish gel packs (bought on Amazon), the cost per pod are:

  • 36 cents for 32 pods
  • 29 cents for 54 pods
  • 21 cents for 84 pods

In comparison, the Dropps dishwasher pods (per pod) are:

  • 31 cents for 64 pods
  • 25 cents for 125 pods
  • 21 cents for 180 pods
  • 16 cents for 804 pods (what??? Intriguing but it’s $125….)

If you subscribe with Dropps, you get 20% off. (I swear they just changed this from Thursday or I did not look at it hard enough) …If you click on the One Time Purchase (Buy now & Buy in Bulk) – you can get a 10 pod trial kit for $10. I probably would have done that last week since I wasn’t sure about them, but knowing that they work now (or having at least one successful run), I’m glad I didn’t.

They currently have a sale on bundles which includes both laundry pods and dishwasher detergent pods if you’re interested. And I signed up for the Refer a friend thing so if you want to use this code (no pressure – it’s there if you want it), I think you can get $10 off a subscription – http://i.refs.cc/x3Z7wRLG

When I ordered last week, I found a coupon code on Retail Me Not (BargainBuddy) that got me 15% off and free shipping. I had signed up for a subscription, figuring I could cancel it. I actually just went on and DID cancel it. I think I’m going to give it another go in my dishwasher and if it’s still good, I’ll buy the 180 pack, since that’s what I would have done with my Finish gel pacs. When I run out, I’ll do another one time purchase.

I‘m a good suburban mom with stockpiles. 🙂

But let’s end on a high note of how pretty my other glassware came out, just to remind us how nice the Dropps is (while seeing my hand looking really weird). This feels like a HUGE zero waste win for me!

2 Month Reflection

I have hit the benchmark of making zero waste changes AND blogging for 2 months!!!!

Not to toot my own horn, but I’m ridiculously happy because I didn’t know if zero waste would just be a “phase” I would go through. Even more so, I was worried about maintaining a blog for this long!

And who knows, perhaps it will only be a 2 month phase, but I’m still proud of accomplishing 2 months.

I like to think that others are getting on board too (I really like the Facebook group for this reason – it’s giving other people the opportunity to chime in – let me know if you want an invite!), and I keep reminding myself that even if NO ONE else does anything, every little change I make makes a difference.

That actually reminds me of the book by a woman named Julia Butterfly Hill, called “One Makes the Difference”. She also wrote another book called “The Legacy of Luna” – she lived in a giant redwood tree for 2 years to prevent it from being torn down for lumber. It’s fascinating and a good read – but anyhow, in “One Makes the Difference”, she talks about all the little changes that one person can make to make a positive impact on the environment. I have both if anyone is interested in borrowing them – or you can check them out at your local library. I think I ordered them used off Amazon or half.com.

I made a lot of changes after reading them about 10 years ago, but 2 months ago I realized there was SO MUCH MORE that I could be doing.

It’s so true though – ONE makes the Difference.

My husband and I were reflecting on this recently because our trash has seriously decreased. Oh, we still have trash – but it’s been a lot less in these 2 months. We also have seen a decrease in the plastic in our recycling which also means we don’t have to transport our recycling as often.

I said I’d be honest though as I do all of this…so here is my honest confession.

I’ve regressed in some areas.

Well, for starters, I’m pressing ‘pause’ on using my Lush shampoo and conditioner bars. Now, I don’t necessarily consider this a regression, because I told myself I’d use them for a month to see if they’re a viable new product, but then I’d use up my massive bottles of shampoo & conditioner.

I was nervous that going back to my old shampoo & conditioner would make me miss them. That my hair would be so obviously more amazing with a commercial product that I would be left wondering what I was ever thinking going zero waste.

Thankfully, it was the opposite.

I actually miss using my Lush bars! I’m a little disappointed that I’m going to finish off these bottles!

Now, in full disclosure, while I really like my shampoo bar – I am interested in maybe finding a different zero waste conditioner. Like maybe a once-a-week deep conditioner or doing a DIY liquid conditioner…I haven’t settled on anything yet.

That’s kind of a theme with me right now. Slow but steady, wins the race. And I’m taking this slow.

Right now, my goal is to power through my commercial shampoo & conditioner, recycle the bottles, and move on with my life.

This week, I also took a step back with my deodorant. Ugh.

I’m at the tail-end of my zero waste deodorant and it just hasn’t been cutting it while I’m at work. It’s been GREAT on the weekends when I’m relaxed!!!

But going through the daily trials that is today’s public education system…it just doesn’t last.

I was smelly and super self-conscious about it, even with a second application mid-day. It’s been bad. So, I went back to my old stuff and forgave myself.

I ordered two new zero waste deodorants that I got on Etsy and I’m wearing one of them for the first time today. It’s Lemongrass and Peppermint and is working BEAUTIFULLY. But once again, it’s the weekend and I’m relaxed.

They’re from Hammond Herbs on Etsy (based out of Oregon). Beautifully wrapped and packaged with NO PLASTIC! They had quite an array of scents – I got a 2 pack of Lemongrass & Peppermint and Tea Tree & Lavender.

And I still had no issues with my deodorant from FreeWheelin’ Market on Etsy (other than it not lasting through a school day, but I don’t think it’s the deodorant’s fault; that’s my stress). I was ready to order it again, but figured I would try something new, for the sake of Science.

Also, going to the meat market has been challenging with my schedule lately, so we’ve been buying meat at the grocery store. In some “bad for the environment” packaging. I would like to start making more of an effort there. Although, I noticed that the flash frozen chicken from Aldi comes in a recyclable bag, so I’ve been washing the bag afterwards and throwing it in my plastic bag recycling.

Last confession: there have been some food items that I have not been able to find in bulk or in recyclable packaging, but I bought them anyways. Like cheddar puffs and other snacks for my kids. And cheese.

Slow change and progress over perfection.

But let’s try to end on a positive note. First, these two pictures were shared with me from someone via my father-in-law who is also really into recycling:

I just love this! It’s so freakin’ true! We have developed some serious bad habits on this planet (but I still think that serious change needs to come from the top down – and maybe that’s just me transferring blame to others!).

He also shared this picture on non-plastic food storage. I think I’m going to post it again on the Facebook group as well:

My sister shared an Earth Day 2 mile run in Chardon, Ohio in April that is doing lots of things to encourage environmentally friendly habits. I haven’t signed up (yet), but I had wanted to do something for Earth Day to get my kids involved – like take them somewhere to pick up trash and then bribe them with ice cream afterwards – so I’m thinking of maybe doing this race and following it up with a trash clean-up somewhere. Still just mulling it over, no definitive plans.

I had also asked my husband if he would make a compost tumbler for me in March. So on Friday (March 1st), I began the not-so-subtle sweet nagging of, “Sweetie?? Do you think that this month you can make a compost tumbler?? Pleeeease?” I’m excited. I really want to work on composting more this year.

So, if you’re reading – Thank you! If you’re making eco-friendly changes – Thank you! And keep sharing those eco-positive articles and ideas – I love hearing them!

None of Your Beeswax (wraps)

I’ve never been a big user of Saran Wrap. Not only have I always found it wasteful, I’ve also found it annoying and clingy, which I’m pretty sure is what they market it as. 😉

When we moved into our house, I’m pretty sure that I just “borrowed” two boxes of Saran Wrap from my parents that we never intended on returning or replacing (Hi, Mom!) – mostly because I felt every house should have some (Why?? I don’t know where I get these thoughts…)

I believe we are still on that second box of Saran Wrap. And I think I used most of the first one when I made LOTS of freezer meals in preparation for Baby #2.

I have quite a collection of glass storage containers (Pyrex and Glasslock containers), and plastic containers, which is what we store the majority of our food in – not a huge need for Saran Wrap. They all have lids (mostly).

If I ever have a bowl without a lid, I use a reusable bowl cover that I got from my Grandma. The only way to describe them is as a shower cap. They are shower caps for bowls. I was always so enamored with them and when she needed some more, and got a set of 2, she gave me one set.

I like them because they remind me of her and her wonderful cooking, but if I’m honest – I rarely use them. I just took them out to take a picture of them, and they were a little sticky and grody. ….I should wash them…. But they are reusable, even if they are plastic! And I just think a shower cap on any bowl makes it look adorable. It’d be more adorable with homemade applesauce in it, but still cute.

I’ve been seeing DIY patterns for cloth bowl shower caps on Pinterest lately. (My Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram feeds have become overrun with eco-friendly things. Not complaining. It just weirds me out sometimes.) And the Pinexpert who made them sure made them beautifully!

But let’s get into the crux of this matter…..

My Dad had actually asked for some eco-friendly things for his birthday earlier this Fall (before I fell down the zero-waste rabbit hole) and as a result, I ordered him some Etee beeswax wraps. They’re made of cotton fabric and beeswax and can be used to cover and protect any food, just like plastic wrap.

I think they’re so cool.

You use the heat of your hands to kind of seal it around whatever you’re putting it on. Keep in mind, you have to be careful about washing them because too hot of water can wash off the beeswax. When they no longer work, they can be composted since they are ALL natural.

I ordered 3 for him and I was super excited to see them. And I REALLY wanted my own! He gave me really good reports on them and I was going to order some for myself, but then I thought – I don’t really use Saran Wrap that much….Why not DIY them???

So last November, I made some of my own.

I went to Michael’s armed with a 40% off coupon and bought a hunk of beeswax that I sat and grated by hand (That was a mistake…I’ll admit that), and then I ironed my fabric and beeswax with some oil sandwiched in between parchment paper for a Sunday afternoon.

I enjoyed it. Just like I enjoy running long distances. It’s odd, but it’s me. Some people enjoy baking and I’ll never understand that. 🙂

However, when comparing the quality of my Dad’s Etee beeswax wraps (and the small, free beeswax I got with my deodorant and chapstick from FreeWheelin’ Market on Etsy)…..mine stink.

They do. There’s WAY too much beeswax on them! I mean…they still work….but the ones not made by me are far, far superior. I made this one below, and you can see the fabric is not as flexible and the wax got really creased.

What I really wanted them for was a replacement for the reusable, plastic lunch bags that I use in my toddler’s lunches. My attempt at making one into a bag was not so great:

But I’d really like some for when we pack lunches for summer “adventures” because as a mom with toddlers, I find I always want a little placemat to put their food on instead of the gross tables. And I always wonder why I go to those lengths to protect them when you watch them find a dirt-covered fruit snack in the couch and pop it in their mouth. Shudder…..

Still, it’d be a nice thing to have and I feel the beeswax wraps would double as a kid placemat on a dirty picnic table.

When we went to Fresh Thyme recently, I saw this reusable food & sandwich wrap from Keep Leaf. Same idea, with velcro, but it doubles as a placemat. FYI – Keep Leaf also has some reusable zipper pouches, which has been a topic of conversation on the newly created Facebook group if you’d like an invite. No pressure 😉

I like both, but I think I’m learning more towards the Etee beeswax wraps (also available on Amazon) since I know that everything is 100% compostable and zero waste instead of just reusable. I’m still debating it though and there are loads of them on Etsy and Amazon so I’m sure I’ll read up on reviews and order some.

Etee has now sewn some of their wraps into bags and I honestly want both the bags AND the wraps.

Is that me being greedy?

I imagine I’ll get a set of 4-5 before the nice warm weather rolls around so we can use them on our summer outings. Perhaps I’ll ask for some for my birthday.

If you’re interested in DIYing your own beeswax wraps, I encourage you to watch or read some of the instructions on Etsy. I don’t think I had the right ratio of beeswax to oil. Or the right oil. And I’d probably use some small, pre-bought beeswax pellets instead of grating my own. Truth be told, I probably won’t DIY my own again, but it was a fun project. 🙂

Also on the Facebook group (Love Your Mother (Earth)), there’s been some good discussion about non-plastic freezer storage and the best reusable snack bag, so if anyone has any input, it would be much, much appreciated!

Update: See, I just posted this and now I’ve already found a new thing on Etsy to desire. There are MANY Etsy shops that have zippered beeswax pouches – like this one, Rainbow Bee Design. That may be where I get some from….

It’s Raining Tacos…

We eat tacos a lot. Taco Tuesday, Taco Thursday, Taco Saturday…the day doesn’t need an alliteration for us to enjoy them. And then we ask Alexa to play “Raining Taco’s” by Parry Gripp and we have an all out dance party.

It’s Wicked Fun Times.

We first heard the song when “she who must not be named” misheard my toddler and started playing the playlist “Songs to Annoy Your Parents”. What’s worse is….we weren’t annoyed by most of the songs on there…..hmm…..

I’ve been buying taco seasoning because, hello – working mom! It’s so cheap, why not?

I thought I had a picture of a trashed taco seasoning packet but I don’t. I do find it funny that previously, most of my pictures were of my children and now there is a definite 50/50 split between my kids and garbage.

#Priorities

What’s sad to me is that when we lived in Washington (pre-kids), we had (for the longest time) made our own taco seasoning because we ran out one time, found a recipe online, and realized how freakin’ simple it was to make our seasoning.

We got lazy though when we got a house and became parents. I mean, it’s just so cheap at Aldi – why spend time measuring out spices???

But the packaging, once again, is that weird plastic foil hybrid. Not recyclable. So we used up what we had, and we’ve reverted back to making our own. Which is simple:

  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red powder
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Store it in a jar, season to taste – then let it Rain Some Tacos.

I’m sure there’s lots of recipes out there on Pinterest. We also do not prefer a lot of spiciness in our house, and we kind of add that with canned diced tomatoes with jalapenos, but we’ve even backed off of that with our kids.

I don’t know why since they only want to eat the tortilla anyway.

We’ve still been buying our tortillas in a plastic bag because the tortillas from Aldi come in bags that can be recycled:

I’ve heard that it’s super easy to make your own flour tortillas, but I’ve been hesitant to incorporate too many food changes early on because I want them to be sustainable. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself or I’m sure I won’t follow through.

But my husband was just showing me a recipe to make your own tortillas so I’m sure at some point I’ll try them. Just like I want to try to make our own hamburger buns, which we’ve also still been buying and recycling the plastic bags.

I’ve become very obsessive about checking the packaging as I buy things though to see if they’re recyclable. 🙂 OCD or cute quirk? Jury’s still out.

I believe that this coming Friday marks 2 months of blogging and honestly, I can’t believe I’ve somewhat maintained it this long. Some days, I’m just not sure about it!!! Like really…..are people going to want to read about DIY zero waste taco seasoning???

But I keep reminding myself that if I feel I’ve had even the smallest impact, then it’s worth it. And people keep telling me it’s making them think so I’m taking that as a positive. Until the next time….

Let’s Dish

We are running low on our dishwasher detergent. Just having a working dishwasher is a huge game-changer for us since our first house in Washington state didn’t have one. We hand-washed everything. And we’ve always been somewhat eco-friendly (although we still used lots of products in plastic), so when we had guests over – it was lots of time spent washing dishes since we never used disposables.

Honestly, I don’t mind it so much except for the time factor. Now that I’m a mom, I really mind the time factor. I can’t wait til my kids are old enough to do the dishes. That’s going to be a fantastic day. Right? Because they’ll do dishes all the time, right?

When we moved in and used the dishwasher in our house, it was so disappointing. We “borrowed” a bottle of dish-washing detergent from my parents that we had no intention of ever returning or replacing (Hi, Mom!). It left everything white and streaky. Every other detergent we tried either didn’t get our dishes clean or left them white and streaky. I tried to make my own too with no luck though.

So for awhile, we hand-washed all our dishes with our dishwasher just sitting there.

But then, a friend of mine at work told me to try the orange Finish gel pacs and our life was changed. Even though they have stained the inside of our dishwasher orange, they do a beautiful job of cleaning all our dishes.

It’s time for a change though! The Finish gel pacs may have been a time-saver, but I’m sure they are full of harsh chemicals (I’m not looking that up) and while they come in a cardboard box, they also come wrapped in a plastic bag.

So it’s time to see if there is a better solution to cut out the harsh chemicals and the little bit of plastic.

My first step was to try to make my own from a zero waste blog that claimed to work with hard water. We have EXTREMELY hard water. Have I mentioned that? It makes finding detergents that work (or trying to go ‘No Poo for your hair-washing) very challenging.

Anyhow, I tried a recipe from Zero Waste California, where you use 5 drops of dish soap, cover it with 1 1/4 Tbsp baking soda, and then 1 tsp of salt. I loaded it up, said a little prayer, and turned it on.

I was actually a little excited to open up the dishwasher to unload it afterwards which is typically a non-existent emotion I have in regards to my dishwasher. I couldn’t wait to see how it did!


The first thing I pulled out was a Pyrex bowl and it was so beautifully clean and shining…I thought I was in luck! What an easy detergent – so cheap too!

But then I pulled out some of my glass jars and they were wicked spotted. My plates were streaky too. Harumph.

I have to wonder if these DIY recipes would work in a house with “normal” water. Maybe if we ever move some day, I’ll try them again.

But for now, I’m on the hunt.

This morning on Facebook, I had an advertisement for Clean Cult because of course, Facebook knows me better than I know myself and my feed is full of zero waste, eco-friendly products. That’s not a complaint. Well, I mean – it is super creepy how easily they can profile me so I guess it’s a mild complaint.

Clean Cult had such a funny video and they have foaming hand soap, bar hand soap, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner etc. Plus any order over $12 has free shipping! The reviews sounded good and like they have some quality, natural cleaning products. I loved that their refills are entirely plastic free/recyclable and I was totally ready to order from them. Until I went through the process of trying to order.

For starters, you have to buy a trial kit to get their products. I’m assuming it’s to get the plastic containers with their own labels to advertise their products. I personally wanted to jump straight to the refills to refill what I already have at my house. I have lots of spray bottles and a dish soap bottle – why do I have to buy a new one?

Also, they want you to buy a minimum of 3 products in the starter kit (you get a free bar of soap, though!).

I was happily filling up my starter kit to get that free bar of soap and getting really excited about it when I realized it was wasteful for me.

I have enough hand soap stock-piled right now that it will seriously last me a year. I like my current DIY all-purpose cleaners, and I really want to try the EcoEgg for laundry detergent. So here I was about to buy products that I didn’t need, just to try a new dishwasher detergent.

And I didn’t really want to buy them in plastic containers, even if I would get refills for them later.

I’m not opposed to Clean Cult by any means – I just didn’t need all the products when all I want is to test-drive their dishwasher tablets.

So I placed an order with Dropps instead. Dropps claims a lot of the same perks as Clean Cult and with both of them you sign up for a subscription that you can cancel at any time. Actually, Dropps you could do a one-time order, I signed up for the subscription because there was a 20% discount with it.

I only ordered their dishwasher pods (I got 64 lemon-scented pods for $16) and I found a coupon code on RetailMeNot – (code: BargainBuddy) – that got me 15% off and free shipping. So I paid $13.60 for my dishwasher pods.

Which was less than what I was going to spend with Clean Cult and saved me a bunch of products that I would have been happy to test drive for the sake of Science, but really didn’t need.

I’ll report back on how they work once they arrive. I know, what a tease 😉

Speaking of reporting back and “dishing”…a friend of mine pitched the idea of creating a Facebook group where my 4 readers could share out when they try a zero waste product or have ideas for reducing waste.

Ok, it’s slightly more than 4 readers, but that’s way more fun to say.

And I love the idea because I’m definitely not going to try everything under the sun – I’m just trying to find what works for me. And what works for one person definitely isn’t going to work for everyone.

So, if you’d like to be included, just let me know and I’ll send an invitation. I think that’s how it works. If you know of someone else who would like to be in, then you can send them an invitation (is that how it works?). If you want to post your triumphs, failures, ideas, and questions – go for it. If you just want to read about other people’s triumphs, failures, ideas or questions, they’ll be available to you. But bear with it, because it’s a new thing and I’ve never done it. I titled it “Love Your Mother (Earth)”. We can see how it goes. 🙂