Things I started thinking about - Wildlife Gardeners

Equilibrium · 09-08-2009, 12:44 AM

You know those commercials that used to advertise toothpaste that would show a toothbrush with a string of toothpaste on it that looked like a sea serpent? Why so much toothpaste? I thought about it and stopped loading my toothbrush. Instead I put about a third that I used to and my teeth are just as clean. Same thing with shampoo. We've started using half the amount we used to use and our hair is clean. Not as much foamy lather but it doesn't seem to matter. Same thing with laundry detergent since I read what JennyC wrote. Why use the full cap full when a load is only set to medium and when some people run clothing through a wash cycle with no laundry detergent? I started using only a half a cap. Our clothes are coming clean on a half a cap. Bottled water... never again. We were buying cases of it for kids to grab. Now they can refill their water bottles. I used my meter and I tested the water in several bottled brands we regularly bought and guess what... the videos were right. The ppm in the bottled water is higher than tap water not to mention the plastic used in bottling it. So much for bottled spring water. Our water usage even without watering our lawn and having water saver toilets and shower heads is still horrible. We need to work on that. I think it was midwesternerrr that got us off completely off Northern and Kleenex double ply extra cushy soft bleached toilet paper for un-bleached recycled Seventh Generation and Green Forest paper products and even though they're a little bit higher we use a heck of a lot less and we're saving at least $15 a month on toilet paper. Who would have thought? Now that I've been reading these threads I'm finding more and more things I do and things I buy to be questionable. Is anyone else starting to question why they use certain products or how much they use or why they reach for specific brands unconsciously?

Hedgerowe · 09-08-2009, 05:54 AM

Absolutely. Though unpleasant sounding, I have my septic tank to thank for it. Once I started learning about them and how healthy ones operate much like a compost pile, my attitude toward what goes down my drains has undergone a sea change (and I have since learned that if city sewage were regarded the same way then sewage processing would cost a fraction of what it costs now--lower taxes and better for the environment). I feel that if my household sewage is going to eventually drain into the ground water, I have a responsibility to make sure that it is in good shape. Plus, I won't have to have the tank serviced nearly as often. An added bonus is that I am spending less, too.

I have taken to using only 2-3 tablespoon's worth of laundry detergent. I boost with baking soda and soften with white vinegar. I make my own cleaning spray from 50-50 white vinegar and water, plus an ounce or two of isopropyl alcohol. I scour my sinks with baking soda. I have cut my dishwasher detergent usage in half by using baking soda in the "pre-wash" cup and using less detergent (and only use phosphate-free). And, although this is not an "easy fix," since the bathroom is being put in from scratch (renovation from a c. 1950s retrofit) a bidet is being installed. That will cut down on toilet paper usage considerably.

Once I started "making my own," I realized that there are lots of ways to both cut back on expenses and consume fewer resources. I almost never use paper towels and instead keep a motley collection of old dishtowels for the purpose of wiping up anything and everything. The coffee maker has been replaced with a french press style pot, so there is no paper filter. If I were really brave I would switch to loose tea too, since I am a tea drinker, but so far I am hopelessly hooked on my favorite brand, which I can only find in bags. It is rare when a plastic water bottle enters the house (and every single one that does gets recycled plus all those that I collect from the roadside when out and about). And, I think three times before I hit the "print" button on my computer screen.

JennyC · 09-08-2009, 08:07 AM

I've definitely made radical changes in this area in the last couple of years.

Are you guys checking to be sure your dishwashing detergent, etc, is not antibacterial? Having just bought a new-to-me septic system, I'm going to be sure to avoid things like antibacterial soaps that will fry it (not to mention bulk up any germs in the house). With hand dishwahing soap in particular, it seems to me that they hide the "antibacterial" label.

I really like the idea of using baking soda in the dishwasher prewash cup! I'll be trying that.

I use baking soda for a cleanser, too. For really tough spots, though, salt works better (it can scratch delicate surfaces, though, so be careful). I often use salt to scrub burned-on food off my cast iron.

We got a drip coffee pot with one of those permanent filters a couple of years ago; it's really nice. No more filters to throw out!

I do still have a clothes dryer, but more and more of my loads go out on the line (now, if I could just remember to get them off the line before it rains!) I wash everything in cold with no recognizable harm. The dogs' blankets looked stained when they come out of the wash (ground-in dust, not "accidents!"), but they did when I washed in hot, too. Dogs are rough on stuff

Dirty Knees · 09-08-2009, 12:51 PM

We are a very wasteful family when we start looking at our habits. Life style changes are so hard. We do need to make them.

I started drying clothes outside this year. Electric dryers waste so much energy. Line dried clothing doesn't need fabric softeners.

Hedgerowe · 09-08-2009, 01:00 PM

No antibacterial soaps or detergents in the house that I am aware of (I make an effort not to purchase them but so many things are antibacterial these days).

I have found a good source for non-antibacterial sponges, that are real cellulose, too. Trader Joe's sells them as their "pop-up" sponges.

I have a clothes line that I use constantly in good weather.

Salt works on my cast iron, too, JennyC. That and elbow grease, another thing that is hard to find sometimes!

JennyC · 09-08-2009, 03:07 PM

I try to avoid elbow grease whenever possible!

midwesternerr · 09-09-2009, 11:00 PM

For the record, I won't trust this until Isee groups like Seirra Club and Audubon state that the problems have been fixed. However, if they actually change their ways *big if* Kimberly Clark (Kleenex) may be off my ban list one day.

Beyond Green Greenpeace praises Kimberly-Clark on paper sourcing initiative MIT Sloan Management Review

Quote:

Greenpeace gave a big bear hug to Kimberly-Clark, the paper giant that agreed to a sustainable fiber procurement policy.
“Kimberly-Clark now has a goal of obtaining 100 percent of the wood fiber for its products — including its flagship brand, Kleenex — from environmentally responsible sources” (recycled or Forest Stewardship Council-certified), Greenpeace writes on its blog.

One thing I do not recommend cutting back on is flouride. Some of the toothpastes on the market do not include flouride. I talked with my dentist about this and he feels this is a good way to have teeth decalcify leaving stains and eventually cavaties. I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'll be more persuasive with all my teeth

I brush 3 times a day and use a flouride mouth wash

I can't see ANY difference in my clothes when I use a smaller amount of detergent. I think they just want us to use more, so that we have to buy more! Most of the clothes I wear hardly get dirty anyway, I just wash and try them so they don't stink. Well, the snake outfits get pretty trashed but then again I really am not trying to be fashionable while looking for snakes.

I use hard plastic water bottles filled with tap water and throw them in a cooler before I go hiking. MMMMM more flouride for my teeth too

Good thing to do would be to get hiking clothes second hand too. They are going to get trashed anyway so no need for anything new.

Sage · 09-09-2009, 11:37 PM

I agree, Lib! I cut back on detergent too and sometimes just use borax which also removes detergent residue. And the toothpaste. Commercials teach us to use a lot, so we will need to buy their products more frequently.

Can't give up those paper towels though but do use the select-a-size so I can take a smaller piece. And "recycled toilet paper" - just can't wrap my head around that one! Though I switched to Scott years ago.

Anti-bacterial soaps, I use liquids, are almost impossible to find anymore.

I made a good observation today as I sat in the car at Wegman's (grocery) when Roger ran in for something...almost everyone going into the store was carrying their own cloth bags!

gnomenative · 09-10-2009, 01:44 AM

Unplugging not-in-use electrical things is something even our 8 year old has grasped, though crawling around in the dark looking for the lamp plug doesn't amuse me. Ghost electricity really adds up. Leave your cell phone charger plugged in? We also swithed EVERYTHING to cf bulbs- even outdoors.

JennyC · 09-10-2009, 07:24 AM

I thought of another one, something I do when I'm doing a bunch of laundry and I'm not going to hang it on the line (think rain --- or I haven't done laundry in way too long and need something to wear tommorrow!). I dump the first load into the dryer, but don't turn it on until load #2 is finished washing. Then I dry both at once. Unless the load is heavy on jeans or thick towels, they both get dry in the time it takes to dry just one. And even with jeans and towels, it only takes a very little longer than a single load, not nearly as much as doing two loads separately. This also speeds up the laundry process, becuase the washer doesn't take as long as the dryer. I don't worry about mixing loads in the dryer -- colors bleed in the wash, in water.

09-08-2009, 12:44 AM	#1
Equilibrium Land Steward Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois	Things I started thinking about You know those commercials that used to advertise toothpaste that would show a toothbrush with a string of toothpaste on it that looked like a sea serpent? Why so much toothpaste? I thought about it and stopped loading my toothbrush. Instead I put about a third that I used to and my teeth are just as clean. Same thing with shampoo. We've started using half the amount we used to use and our hair is clean. Not as much foamy lather but it doesn't seem to matter. Same thing with laundry detergent since I read what JennyC wrote. Why use the full cap full when a load is only set to medium and when some people run clothing through a wash cycle with no laundry detergent? I started using only a half a cap. Our clothes are coming clean on a half a cap. Bottled water... never again. We were buying cases of it for kids to grab. Now they can refill their water bottles. I used my meter and I tested the water in several bottled brands we regularly bought and guess what... the videos were right. The ppm in the bottled water is higher than tap water not to mention the plastic used in bottling it. So much for bottled spring water. Our water usage even without watering our lawn and having water saver toilets and shower heads is still horrible. We need to work on that. I think it was midwesternerrr that got us off completely off Northern and Kleenex double ply extra cushy soft bleached toilet paper for un-bleached recycled Seventh Generation and Green Forest paper products and even though they're a little bit higher we use a heck of a lot less and we're saving at least $15 a month on toilet paper. Who would have thought? Now that I've been reading these threads I'm finding more and more things I do and things I buy to be questionable. Is anyone else starting to question why they use certain products or how much they use or why they reach for specific brands unconsciously? __________________ There are people all over the world who are willing to exploit others. You can't just point the finger at America -Arlo Guthrie

09-08-2009, 12:51 PM	#4
Dirty Knees Salamander Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Milwaukee	We are a very wasteful family when we start looking at our habits. Life style changes are so hard. We do need to make them. I started drying clothes outside this year. Electric dryers waste so much energy. Line dried clothing doesn't need fabric softeners. __________________ It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. ~ Napoleon Hill

09-09-2009, 11:37 PM	#8
Sage Official Non-Gardener Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY, & Fort Myers, FL	I agree, Lib! I cut back on detergent too and sometimes just use borax which also removes detergent residue. And the toothpaste. Commercials teach us to use a lot, so we will need to buy their products more frequently. Can't give up those paper towels though but do use the select-a-size so I can take a smaller piece. And "recycled toilet paper" - just can't wrap my head around that one! Though I switched to Scott years ago. Anti-bacterial soaps, I use liquids, are almost impossible to find anymore. I made a good observation today as I sat in the car at Wegman's (grocery) when Roger ran in for something...almost everyone going into the store was carrying their own cloth bags! __________________ *~Sage's Place~*

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09-08-2009, 05:54 AM	#2
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	Absolutely. Though unpleasant sounding, I have my septic tank to thank for it. Once I started learning about them and how healthy ones operate much like a compost pile, my attitude toward what goes down my drains has undergone a sea change (and I have since learned that if city sewage were regarded the same way then sewage processing would cost a fraction of what it costs now--lower taxes and better for the environment). I feel that if my household sewage is going to eventually drain into the ground water, I have a responsibility to make sure that it is in good shape. Plus, I won't have to have the tank serviced nearly as often. An added bonus is that I am spending less, too. I have taken to using only 2-3 tablespoon's worth of laundry detergent. I boost with baking soda and soften with white vinegar. I make my own cleaning spray from 50-50 white vinegar and water, plus an ounce or two of isopropyl alcohol. I scour my sinks with baking soda. I have cut my dishwasher detergent usage in half by using baking soda in the "pre-wash" cup and using less detergent (and only use phosphate-free). And, although this is not an "easy fix," since the bathroom is being put in from scratch (renovation from a c. 1950s retrofit) a bidet is being installed. That will cut down on toilet paper usage considerably. Once I started "making my own," I realized that there are lots of ways to both cut back on expenses and consume fewer resources. I almost never use paper towels and instead keep a motley collection of old dishtowels for the purpose of wiping up anything and everything. The coffee maker has been replaced with a french press style pot, so there is no paper filter. If I were really brave I would switch to loose tea too, since I am a tea drinker, but so far I am hopelessly hooked on my favorite brand, which I can only find in bags. It is rare when a plastic water bottle enters the house (and every single one that does gets recycled plus all those that I collect from the roadside when out and about). And, I think three times before I hit the "print" button on my computer screen.

09-08-2009, 08:07 AM	#3
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	I've definitely made radical changes in this area in the last couple of years. Are you guys checking to be sure your dishwashing detergent, etc, is not antibacterial? Having just bought a new-to-me septic system, I'm going to be sure to avoid things like antibacterial soaps that will fry it (not to mention bulk up any germs in the house). With hand dishwahing soap in particular, it seems to me that they hide the "antibacterial" label. I really like the idea of using baking soda in the dishwasher prewash cup! I'll be trying that. I use baking soda for a cleanser, too. For really tough spots, though, salt works better (it can scratch delicate surfaces, though, so be careful). I often use salt to scrub burned-on food off my cast iron. We got a drip coffee pot with one of those permanent filters a couple of years ago; it's really nice. No more filters to throw out! I do still have a clothes dryer, but more and more of my loads go out on the line (now, if I could just remember to get them off the line before it rains!) I wash everything in cold with no recognizable harm. The dogs' blankets looked stained when they come out of the wash (ground-in dust, not "accidents!"), but they did when I washed in hot, too. Dogs are rough on stuff

09-08-2009, 01:00 PM	#5
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	No antibacterial soaps or detergents in the house that I am aware of (I make an effort not to purchase them but so many things are antibacterial these days). I have found a good source for non-antibacterial sponges, that are real cellulose, too. Trader Joe's sells them as their "pop-up" sponges. I have a clothes line that I use constantly in good weather. Salt works on my cast iron, too, JennyC. That and elbow grease, another thing that is hard to find sometimes!

09-08-2009, 03:07 PM	#6
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	I try to avoid elbow grease whenever possible!

09-10-2009, 01:44 AM	#9
gnomenative Grub Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Montgomery, Illinois	Unplugging not-in-use electrical things is something even our 8 year old has grasped, though crawling around in the dark looking for the lamp plug doesn't amuse me. Ghost electricity really adds up. Leave your cell phone charger plugged in? We also swithed EVERYTHING to cf bulbs- even outdoors.

09-10-2009, 07:24 AM	#10
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	I thought of another one, something I do when I'm doing a bunch of laundry and I'm not going to hang it on the line (think rain --- or I haven't done laundry in way too long and need something to wear tommorrow!). I dump the first load into the dryer, but don't turn it on until load #2 is finished washing. Then I dry both at once. Unless the load is heavy on jeans or thick towels, they both get dry in the time it takes to dry just one. And even with jeans and towels, it only takes a very little longer than a single load, not nearly as much as doing two loads separately. This also speeds up the laundry process, becuase the washer doesn't take as long as the dryer. I don't worry about mixing loads in the dryer -- colors bleed in the wash, in water.