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Post by petrichor on Jan 7, 2018 11:47:14 GMT -6
We use sandwich wraps and bags made from PUL for packing lunches.
We don't buy paper napkins, paper towels, tissues, plastic wrap...
I have 100 or so baby washcloths we use for everything.
With DS I did pretty much exclusively cloth diapers and cloth wipes. This time around I use a combination of cloth and disposable.
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Post by thechickencoop on Jan 7, 2018 11:47:28 GMT -6
To tie into the Kon Mari thread, I have some cloth napkins I made years ago that we've used like, twice. So I'm going to make more using my fabric stash WHICH I need to go through and purge when I get to that category.
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Post by unicornofthesea on Jan 7, 2018 11:48:29 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? I use a stainless steel water bottle - my kids bring steel thermoses in their lunch boxes instead of water bottles. They bring steel utensils from home, too. I use Woolzies dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Canvas bags for shopping. We switched to wool dryer balls as well. So much cheaper in the long run and less waste. |
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Post by blurnette989 on Jan 7, 2018 11:48:59 GMT -6
Reusable produce bags. Bee's Wrap to replace plastic wrap/foil (this is a phase in for us- it's pricey). What reusable produce bags do you use? This is something I want to get. |
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Post by unicornofthesea on Jan 7, 2018 11:49:32 GMT -6
I really want to switch to reusable paper towels.... any recs?
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Lakes
Sapphire
Posts: 3,594
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Post by Lakes on Jan 7, 2018 11:53:01 GMT -6
I use a stainless steel water bottle - my kids bring steel thermoses in their lunch boxes instead of water bottles. They bring steel utensils from home, too. I use Woolzies dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Canvas bags for shopping. We switched to wool dryer balls as well. So much cheaper in the long run and less waste. Yes! I don't miss dryer sheets at all. I find the scent to be overwhelming now that I haven't used them for two years. |
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Lormor
Platinum
Sometimes I can gif and sometimes I can't.
Posts: 1,673 Likes: 8,624 
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Post by Lormor on Jan 7, 2018 11:59:23 GMT -6
I use an eco coffee cup for take away coffee. I feel like a total hipster, but I don’t allow myself to buy takeaway coffee unless I have it with me.
ETA: it’s made of bamboo and is dishwasher safe. I love it so much.
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Post by babybean on Jan 7, 2018 11:59:37 GMT -6
I really want to switch to reusable paper towels.... any recs? flour sack towels work well. |
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Lormor
Platinum
Sometimes I can gif and sometimes I can't.
Posts: 1,673 Likes: 8,624
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Post by Lormor on Jan 7, 2018 12:24:00 GMT -6
I use an eco coffee cup for take away coffee. I feel like a total hipster, but I don’t allow myself to buy takeaway coffee unless I have it with me. ETA: it’s made of bamboo and is dishwasher safe. I love it so much. Do you have a link? I need to just leave a clean one in my car. I got mine in South Africa, but this is the company ecoffeecup.eco/shop/ and the prices are in pounds, so hopefully they are international. |
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mapleme
Amethyst
Posts: 6,072 Likes: 16,089
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Post by mapleme on Jan 7, 2018 12:25:19 GMT -6
I really want to switch to reusable paper towels.... any recs? flour sack towels work well. I was about to say this. Flour sack towels from Walmart are the best! They're roughly 5 for $5 and no way would have I bought them with heavy recommendation. They seem like cheap walmart crap when you first buy them. But you wash them a few times and they get really soft. They're super absorbent compared to paper towels, and much bigger. We have dozens and generally throw them in the wash after one use (unless the use is something like wiping up water). MH is awful about doing things like wiping the floor and then hanging a towel back up, so I just regularly grab all the towels that around and throw them in the wash. So now he's in the habit of grabbing a new towel for everything (success!). We've been doing the FST life for 4ish years now and we've finally starting to get holes in some or they're super stained, so we've thrown out a bunch and bought another couple sets with no guilt or sentimental attachment to some pretty and pricey towel. A couple of years ago I switched my whole bakery over to FST and we wash every load with bleach (because food service). They hold up great to the abuse and are easy to replace when they don't. |
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Post by stampingqueen on Jan 7, 2018 12:27:00 GMT -6
flour sack towels work well. I was about to say this. Flour sack towels from Walmart are the best! They're roughly 5 for $5 and no way would have I bought them with heavy recommendation. They seem like cheap walmart crap when you first buy them. But you wash them a few times and they get really soft. They're super absorbent compared to paper towels, and much bigger. We have dozens and generally throw them in the wash after one use (unless the use is something like wiping up water). MH is awful about doing things like wiping the floor and then hanging a towel back up, so I just regularly grab all the towels that around and throw them in the wash. So now he's in the habit of grabbing a new towel for everything (success!). We've been doing the FST life for 4ish years now and we've finally starting to get holes in some or they're super stained, so we've thrown out a bunch and bought another couple sets with no guilt or sentimental attachment to some pretty and pricey towel. A couple of years ago I switched my whole bakery over to FST and we wash every load with bleach (because food service). They hold up great to the abuse and are easy to replace when they don't. My husband also uses a towel on the floor and hangs it back up. I am constantly getting new towels from the drawer because I can't trust the towels that are out. |
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Post by GhoatMonket on Jan 7, 2018 12:39:02 GMT -6
Reusable produce bags. Bee's Wrap to replace plastic wrap/foil (this is a phase in for us- it's pricey). What reusable produce bags do you use? This is something I want to get. I found a multi pack on Amazon. |
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Tlex
Ruby
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Post by Tlex on Jan 7, 2018 12:43:35 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. Well I actually have some beeswax pellets and EOS... interesting! |
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Tlex
Ruby
Posts: 22,759
Likes: 154,991
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Post by Tlex on Jan 7, 2018 12:43:51 GMT -6
Adding FSTs to my want list.
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Post by wildflower on Jan 7, 2018 12:48:47 GMT -6
Reusable grocery bags are a must around here. Our local grocery store has them for 99 cents each and 4-5 are enough for my weekly shopping. They are fantastic for lots of other things as well! It took me a hot minute to get used to bringing them, but now I just remember them along with my grocery list.
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Post by babybean on Jan 7, 2018 13:12:12 GMT -6
It’s pricey but you can make it yourself even. If that’s your thing. Well I actually have some beeswax pellets and EOS... interesting! We make beeswax candles so have a lot of wax but I haven’t gotten around to trying these yet. I saw some good tutorials on YouTube. Lmk how yours turn out if you give them a go. ETA: Unrelated, but I use the mainstay brand FST’s from Walmart for stuffing our pocket diapers. Inexpensive and absorbent. |
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Post by coconutbacon on Jan 7, 2018 13:13:51 GMT -6
Like a lot of people— water bottles, cloth napkins, Pyrex containers, bento boxes and thermoses.
I do use ziplocs for some things, but I wash and re-use them. I don’t remember when I last bought them. I have some that are years old— they hold up!
I do pour over coffee at home (chemex) and I have a reusable filter for it. At work I do French press so no filter at all needed.
I always carry baggu bags with me— they hold a ton and are easy to scrunch up and out in my purse.
Also, like a lot of others have said, buying in bulk. I also get milk from the farmers market, where they do a deposit for the glass bottle, so I just bring it back every week. I get a big container of yogurt there and make my own smoothie pouches for DD using re-usable pouches.
Also, just generally seeing if an item you need is available used. I get a lot of toys for DD through our local parents’ list serve— especially big ticket items like a scooter or balance bike. Most of my pots and pans are from the thrift store or eBay. I will turn stuff into a used clothing store for credit, and then get a “new” item that way.
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Bookshelves
Emerald
Generally at a 2
Posts: 11,563
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Post by Bookshelves on Jan 7, 2018 13:14:13 GMT -6
If I am dining in a restaurant that does disposable cups (fast food or casual), I don't put a lid on my cup. I'm working on giving up the straws. But I do love straws.
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Post by petrichor on Jan 7, 2018 13:15:58 GMT -6
If I am dining in a restaurant that does disposable cups (fast food or casual), I don't put a lid on my cup. I'm working on giving up the straws. But I do love straws. My boss gifted us all stainless steel straws. |
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Bookshelves
Emerald
Generally at a 2
Posts: 11,563
Likes: 104,431
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Post by Bookshelves on Jan 7, 2018 13:18:48 GMT -6
I made reusable grocery bags my New Year's resolution a couple years ago. I did great that year by making sure I had enough bags for two grocery trips. Having two sets meant I was more likely to make sure they were always in the car. I slipped at the beginning of 2017 when making trips with my newborn/moving, but I'm back in the habit now.
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Bookshelves
Emerald
Generally at a 2
Posts: 11,563
Likes: 104,431
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Post by Bookshelves on Jan 7, 2018 13:19:25 GMT -6
If I am dining in a restaurant that does disposable cups (fast food or casual), I don't put a lid on my cup. I'm working on giving up the straws. But I do love straws. My boss gifted us all stainless steel straws. I love it in theory, but I'd rather go no straw than a metal one. It just sets my teeth on edge!  |
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Bookshelves
Emerald
Generally at a 2
Posts: 11,563
Likes: 104,431
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Post by Bookshelves on Jan 7, 2018 13:21:17 GMT -6
There are so, so many places that I love to eat that use disposable *everything.* Like my favorite taco place. I feel conflicted when I eat there and then there's so much waste. But... tacos.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 13:21:21 GMT -6
I use Green Bags for produce. It really keeps the produce fresh longer, so less good waste, and you just rinse them out to reuse.
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jaidit
Ruby
Posts: 18,135 Likes: 300,270
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Post by jaidit on Jan 7, 2018 13:21:33 GMT -6
I’m really lucky that there are strict laws against waste here. Most packaging is recyclable, and things like plastic take out containers will soon be banned.
Small changes i do at home are:
Using recharable batteries
Splurging for long lasting light bulbs
Using loose tea with a tea strainer
Using a French press (don’t need coffee filters)
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Post by brookethecat on Jan 7, 2018 13:57:12 GMT -6
We do a lot of things to keep disposable items at a minimum.
*Cloth napkins and towels for all except bathroom and cat puke.
*bento boxes for kids’s lunches.
*bulk items that are quickly consumed (Costco for yogurt, frozen fruit, etc)
*reusable grocery bags
*long lasting light bulbs
*reusable kcups
*everyone has a reusable water bottle. We only have flats of water in the garage as part of our emergency supply kit.
There are probably more things we could do, but it’s a work in progress. Hubs protested the cloth at first, but we’ve been doing it for ~10 years now and is no longer an issue.
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Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
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Post by Minerva on Jan 7, 2018 13:58:55 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 clean almost everything in my house with vinegar, blue dish detergent, and water. 30% vinegar plus a few drops of detergent and some orange peels or lavender oil for scrubbing counters and floors. Pure vinegar (heated) and mixed with an equal amount of dish soap for soap scum. We use a 10% bleach spray for disinfecting after handling raw meat, GI distress, etc... |
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Post by seamonster on Jan 7, 2018 13:59:10 GMT -6
We have two drying racks and only use the dryer when we need something dry right away. I want to install a retractable clothes line to dry our sheets rather than hanging them over our pool fence.
I use pyrex containers or a bento lunch set for taking my lunch or storing leftovers.
We mostly take reusable shopping bags even for clothes shopping. I try to make it a habit of once the bags are unpacked to put them in my trunk so they're always there.
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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 14:07:08 GMT -6
I’m really lucky that there are strict laws against waste here. Most packaging is recyclable, and things like plastic take out containers will soon be banned. Small changes i do at home are: Using recharable batteries Splurging for long lasting light bulbs Using loose tea with a tea strainer Using a French press (don’t need coffee filters) I miss so much how convenient and expected these things were when we were in England! H and I were just talking about that, like how the recycling bins were bigger than the trash ones and picked up more frequently. |
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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 14:08:49 GMT -6
I just got reusable stuff for DS1’s lunches. That should now involve minimal waste!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 14:10:20 GMT -6
I’m really lucky that there are strict laws against waste here. Most packaging is recyclable, and things like plastic take out containers will soon be banned. Small changes i do at home are: Using recharable batteries Splurging for long lasting light bulbs Using loose tea with a tea strainer Using a French press (don’t need coffee filters) I miss so much how convenient and expected these things were when we were in England! H and I were just talking about that, like how the recycling bins were bigger than the trash ones and picked up more frequently. We fill up our recycling bin way faster than our garbage bin. I wish it wasn’t still hard to recycle in some parts of this country. Ridiculous. |
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