hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:13:59 GMT -6
One of my goals for the year is to cut back on the amount of disposable stuff we use (as well as recycle more). What products or tricks have you found that help you?
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Post by sweptaway on Jan 7, 2018 10:16:55 GMT -6
What kinds of disposable things are you using now?
We have eleventy million reusable water bottles. I use cloth napkins and rags in the kitchen and make my own cleaner. (I reserve clorox wipes for raw meat clean up, mostly).
My goal for this year is to start composting
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kitchen
Gold
Posts: 928 Likes: 4,667
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Post by kitchen on Jan 7, 2018 10:19:13 GMT -6
Cloth dish towels, dish rags, napkins, and small baby wash cloths for wiping noses and faces. The key is having a lot so you can have them be single use (between washes) for things like meat cooking and stuff. I throw the stuff out into the garage next to the washing machine and wash just about every other day, which is NBD since there's always laundry changing to do anyway.
Only time we use paper towels is for bacon.
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Tlex
Ruby
Posts: 22,759 Likes: 154,991
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Post by Tlex on Jan 7, 2018 10:22:03 GMT -6
I bought about 40 facecloths and I have a drawer dedicated to them in the kitchen. They are used either for wiping up the kids or anything else you would use a paper towel for except raw meat type clean up, I use paper towel and Lysol wipes for that. The cloths get washed on hot with bleach and extra rinse, so white was a must.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Jan 7, 2018 10:25:35 GMT -6
Reusable produce bags. Bee's Wrap to replace plastic wrap/foil (this is a phase in for us- it's pricey).
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:25:45 GMT -6
What kinds of disposable things are you using now? We have eleventy million reusable water bottles. I use cloth napkins and rags in the kitchen and make my own cleaner. (I reserve clorox wipes for raw meat clean up, mostly). My goal for this year is to start compostingI need to get better about this. I forget to put stuff in there, so we aren't using the composter nearly as efficiently as we could. I use cloth towels instead of paper towels for the most part (working on getting better at that). I need to get better about buying in bulk and making my own snack packs and things. I don't like the amount of waste I use making DS1's lunches.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:26:16 GMT -6
Reusable produce bags. Bee's Wrap to replace plastic wrap/foil (this is a phase in for us- it's pricey). Tell me more about this, please.
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Post by thechickencoop on Jan 7, 2018 10:26:49 GMT -6
I just got these stretchy rubber lids to use for all of my glass bowls instead of plastic wrap, but I store/prep a lot if food in them so for me, they help a lot.
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Post by thechickencoop on Jan 7, 2018 10:28:21 GMT -6
What kinds of disposable things are you using now? We have eleventy million reusable water bottles. I use cloth napkins and rags in the kitchen and make my own cleaner. (I reserve clorox wipes for raw meat clean up, mostly). My goal for this year is to start compostingI need to get better about this. I forget to put stuff in there, so we aren't using the composter nearly as efficiently as we could. I use cloth towels instead of paper towels for the most part (working on getting better at that). I need to get better about buying in bulk and making my own snack packs and things. I don't like the amount of waste I use making DS1's lunches. Oh yea, I don't do any snack packs. I just buy big bags of almonds/pretzels/whatever and then usually fill a little Tupperware for his lunch.
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Post by justbecause on Jan 7, 2018 10:30:59 GMT -6
I like the reusable snack bags/containers for lunches.
I need to get back into making my own cleaner. Vinegar still the thing to use?
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Post by yoginikiki on Jan 7, 2018 10:32:46 GMT -6
I've always done cloth napkins and cleaning cloths. Old cloth diapers make incredible cleaning cloths --- easy to bleach too! I also got a big set of pyrex like this which is helping both on making appropriate portions of dinner (I'm italian and make way too much because OMG WHAT IF WE RUN OUT) to reduce wasted leftovers....and I can just store whatever is leftover in the container it was cooked in which is helpful!
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Post by sweptaway on Jan 7, 2018 10:40:03 GMT -6
What kinds of disposable things are you using now? We have eleventy million reusable water bottles. I use cloth napkins and rags in the kitchen and make my own cleaner. (I reserve clorox wipes for raw meat clean up, mostly). My goal for this year is to start compostingI need to get better about this. I forget to put stuff in there, so we aren't using the composter nearly as efficiently as we could. I use cloth towels instead of paper towels for the most part (working on getting better at that). I need to get better about buying in bulk and making my own snack packs and things. I don't like the amount of waste I use making DS1's lunches. I use reusable snack bags but I've not yet found a brand that I feel like holds up well. After a while and many washes I feel like they start to get funky. But still better than individual or Ziploc. I'll second the bees wax wraps too
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Post by sweptaway on Jan 7, 2018 10:42:04 GMT -6
I like the reusable snack bags/containers for lunches. I need to get back into making my own cleaner. Vinegar still the thing to use? I use half vinegar, half water, and a few squirts of dish soap for almost everything I keep a bleach cleaner on hand for bathrooms and illnesses
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origami
Amethyst
Posts: 6,443 Likes: 46,620
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Post by origami on Jan 7, 2018 10:42:47 GMT -6
We aren't in take your lunch phase yet but will be next year and will be doing either small tupperware or bento boxes. DS loves to make his own "trail mix" so I buy big bags of peanuts, raisins, and pretzels so he can put it together--I may also just get more reusable ziplocs but they are a bitch to clean.
+1 million to cloth napkins for everything. I make them every year for thanksgiving and then they just go into rotation so we have about 30 floating around. I also bought a couple 10 packs of ikea washcloths for all house cleaning purposes. Same with paper towels being for much more limited uses, like meat and other gross things.
I also like laundry and dishwasher pods and for laundry soap I use biokleen which comes in a recyclable container--regular containers are probably recyclable some places anyway.
And meal planning really cuts down on the waste since I try to only buy what will get eaten even if it comes in plastic packaging. Our trash is only picked up twice a month and we don't have the option for more so it's been a process of figuring that out.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:43:17 GMT -6
I think I'll get him a Yumbox that can fit a sandwich and a new Camelbak. Most days, he has a sandwich (that I pack in a ziploc), an applesauce pouch (he's big enough to not need a pouch), and a juice or milk box. That would immediately cut back on quite a bit.
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Post by punkypower on Jan 7, 2018 10:43:25 GMT -6
We use washcloths as napkins. I bought them super cheap after Christmas years ago. They came in 12 packs. I’ve seen packs at Walmart, etc that are $3 or 4. If we hosted non-family meals I’d buy a set of wrinkle resistant nice cloth napkins. But we don’t.
Microfiber cloths for dusting, I bought them from Dollar Tree or Amazon, probably both, super cheap.
Reusable containers. In seven years of school DS has very rarely taken a plastic baggie/foil for lunch. Also for regular food storage.
We do not use paper plates, cups or utensils.
Mama cloth or a menstrual cup. Since getting older my period has gotten very heavy so I no longer use cloth. I have a Diva Cup but I never fully got used to it.
Cloth diapers/training pants. Even part time. Cloth wipes, work great as tissues for runny noses or just a need to wipe my nose moments kids have.
Reusable water bottles. We only buy disposable for hurricane prep.
Recycle as much as possible. Donate instead of throwing away if possible.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:44:28 GMT -6
I'm also going to get those microwave splatter guards. That's one of the few times I still use paper towels.
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Lakes
Sapphire
Posts: 3,594 Likes: 13,281
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Post by Lakes on Jan 7, 2018 10:46:56 GMT -6
+1 to the Pyrex glass containers instead of plastic Tupperware. They're so easy to clean and don't get cloudy or gross looking. Mine are 4 years old and still look new, even the lids. I also use cloth napkins and reusable snack bags.
My stepmom uses the Bee's Wrap that was mentioned and LOVES it. I haven't made the switch yet but it's on my list of things I'm interested in.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:49:59 GMT -6
I hate that recycling is so damned inconvenient in our area. Luckily we have access to the base's recycling facility. Otherwise the closest place is 20 miles away.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 10:52:56 GMT -6
For buying in bulk, see if your store will measure the tare weight if your own container so you don’t have to use their plastic bags. I’ve been meaning to do this myself.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,638 Likes: 123,092
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Post by hawkward on Jan 7, 2018 10:54:13 GMT -6
That Bee's Wrap sounds cool. I have a serious thing about germs. Is it easy to clean?
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Post by donnamoss on Jan 7, 2018 11:00:43 GMT -6
I need to call our recycle people to see if we can get a bigger bin. They give us this little box and we HAVE to use it, and only it. But I’ve seen some people with a big trash can.
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Post by marygracerich on Jan 7, 2018 11:01:03 GMT -6
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Post by donnamoss on Jan 7, 2018 11:10:58 GMT -6
DD1 contracted salmonella as an infant and I have a ton of anxiety about cross contamination as a result. We use an absurd amount of paper towels. But it keeps me sane so...
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Post by wildflower on Jan 7, 2018 11:12:33 GMT -6
I buy meat in bulk and freeze it in dinner size portions. I've bought a bunch of Tupperware to help cut down on using Ziplocks for that. We recently switched *to* disposable diapers after nearly 3 years of cloth.... #sanity I also have a pile of kitchen washclothes that I go through for wiping faces, tables, and etc. I also have a large pile of old towels for general messes and water spills. Three of them are bath sized and those get used regularly. I have this microfiber mop that eliminates any Swiffer type refills. It's amazing. sweptaway, I really like the Lunchskins brand of reuseable bags. Sadly, ours were forgotten in a diaper bag once and the food in the molded. There was no cleaning that.
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Tlex
Ruby
Posts: 22,759 Likes: 154,991
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Post by Tlex on Jan 7, 2018 11:17:32 GMT -6
Wow I had never heard of that bees wrap stuff - I want!
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Post by babybean on Jan 7, 2018 11:24:23 GMT -6
Wow I had never heard of that bees wrap stuff - I want! It’s pricey but you can make it yourself even. If that’s your thing.
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Post by babybean on Jan 7, 2018 11:26:21 GMT -6
That Bee's Wrap sounds cool. I have a serious thing about germs. Is it easy to clean? I believe you just rinse it in lukewarm water because hot will compromise the wax, so you’re not supposed to use it on meat or anything.
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piratecat
Diamond
Posts: 36,035 Likes: 143,914
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Post by piratecat on Jan 7, 2018 11:43:39 GMT -6
That Bee's Wrap sounds cool. I have a serious thing about germs. Is it easy to clean? I use dish soap and cold water and air dry. You can’t use hot water on it but I also wouldn’t use it to cover raw meat or anything.
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Post by thechickencoop on Jan 7, 2018 11:44:32 GMT -6
I guess we do a lot more than just glassware lol.
Lots of Pyrex and Rubbermaid containers. H got a huge Pyrex set with the lids as a tip once from a customer (??lol) and I was ecstatic.
No snack packs like I said, BUT, I do put applesauce cups in his lunch. I think once I run out of what we have then I'll switch to just a large container and putting it in small Rubbermaids since I have s lot of the small square ones now.
I have a stash of towels and cloths for cleaning, everything except for meat messes and toilets.
We rarely use paper plates/plasticware.
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