I confess, I’m a recidivist. When my kids were in grade school I used only natural cleaning products. But as I like to joke, I decided I’d rather have a clean house.
This is the dilemma– better living through chemistry is not just something they say. Bleach DOES get your kitchen sink cleaner, and there’s nothing like a good ammonia soak to clean hairbrushes. But I’m inspired by the blog to give it another go, at least for this month. I’ve started this week just by becoming aware of what products I use.
Well, I’m shocked. I’m not much of a housekeeper, and I confess I don’t mind my hair getting pretty dirty, but before 7 a.m., I had used the following cleaning products: toilet paper (bleach, plastic packaging, but reusable, compostable tubes, and post-consumer paper content), toothpaste (god knows what chemical/pharmaceutical content, plastic tube, paper box with some sort of metallic print), “clinical strength” deodorant (plastic package, paper box, god knows what untested pharmaceuticals and chemicals), sanitary pad (plastic packaging, chemical gel, glue, paper), bar soap (local artisan made, all natural claim, paper packaging), dish liquid (supposedly “green” whatever that means, plastic bottle), sponge (made of plastic, plastic packaging), cleanser (bleach, grit, unknown chemicals, paper and metal packaging), thyroid medication (plastic bottle, pharmacy won’t refill the same bottle, or take used bottles back).
All before 7 a.m.
Here they are one by one.
Toilet paper: I’m hobbled by my desire to avoid Whole Foods, for personal reasons, although they are one of the sources of 100% recycled TP although just about all the TP you buy now has at least some post-consumer content. This blog has a review on the 100% recycled TP products. But the other issue for me is the plastic that it’s wrapped in. You can get single rolls still, wrapped in paper; I think for me, that’s the option. This is pricier, by a long shot, but more consistent with my overall philosophy. The paper wrapping, despite the chemical dyes and bleaches it probably contains, will eventually break down in the environment. The plastic will not. The shipping is a wash. I reuse all the rolls for seed starting, and then put them in my own compost. I just wish there was a factory on U.S. soil but I understand that this is like wishing for the prince to come riding up and rescue me (as in, not gonna happen).
Toothpaste: When I was child, toothpaste tubes were marvelously maleable; when you rolled them up they stayed rolled. Apparently, this was because of the lead in the packaging. Fast forward to 2011, and now it’s phthalates. Sigh. Again, here it’s the packaging. The Crunchy Chicken blog has some ideas for making your own. Anybody game?
Deodorant: I’ve tried. I really have. But in the society I live in, I need a deodorant that works. Showering twice a day is not the solution, being neither practical, sustainable, nor effective. You’ll pry clinical strength deodorant out of my cold, dead, but fragrant, hands.
Sanitary pads: I’m 55 years old. The most sustainable thing the universe can do is let me for pity’s sake get rid of my fertility. In the meantime, I’m investigating reusable ones. I’ll report back, unless of course, I get to stop now. In which case, I leave this to one of you youngsters.
Soap and shampoo: figured this one out. I buy from artisan makers, local when I can, who wrap in paper. I’ve been using Ligget’s bar shampoo, but check out Emily’s excellent post.
Cleanser: the best cleanser in the world is vinegar and washing soda. Inexplicably it is impossible to find washing soda for purchase in any store within a 10 mile radius. I finally did find it on drugstore.com. I find thread after thread titled “where can I buy washing soda?” This excellent, green, safe, time-tested household cleaner has been removed from shelves in favor of processed, unregulated “green cleaners” at twice the price and none of the security of knowing what’s in it. Don’t use Barkeeper’s Friend, unless you are absolutely sure that no pet, child, or other living creature will come in contact with it. While a “natural” product using oxalic acid it is extremely corrosive and dangerous. Best green cleanser brand I’ve found is Bon Ami, widely available at green markets and most hardware stores. Again, there are no labeling regulations, so you have to take them at their word about what’s in it.
Sponges. You used to be able to buy dishrags– cotton cloths with a thick, absorbent waffle weave– that you could use and wash and use again, for months. I have not been able to find them in years. They don’t get smelly and they’re not made with petrochemicals, like sponges are. Natural sponges are too expensive for daily dish use and I’m not convinced they’re sustainably harvested. Luffa is expensive in stores and hard to grow in my climate, but that’s another alternative. Dish cloths are another thing that has disappeared off the shelves of local stores, and you can’t ask for them, because the generation that knows what these are doesn’t work in stores. I finally found some on Amazon that seem to be the dish cloths of my childhood. We’ll see.
Dish Liquid. We need labeling laws. Impossible to really know what’s in even the green ones. Anybody got a recipe?
Prescriptions. Apparently there’s some sort of law against reusing Rx bottles, at least this is what the gum-popping 12-year-old pharmacy assistant told me. Well, she looked 12 to me. (I’m sure she’s researched it thoroughly). Anyway, I got the doctor to give me the prescription in 3-month batches, all 3 months in a single bottle. So instead of 12 containers a year, I now have 4. I save seeds in the discards.
I have found that the Diva cup works really well to replace the feminine products, reusable and comfortable.
That´s the one I use too… and love it!
I switched to reusable pads over a year ago, and I have less severe cramping. big help overall.
If you have a natural foods store in the area (other than whole foods), they are usually willing to purchase specialty items for you. I just had mine order the fluoride-free toothpaste (still not making our own here, and Tom’s of Maine just switched to plastic from metal tubes and I’m not sure why…) AND also two cases of the Seventh Generation TP wrapped in paper. They usually only charge me the wholesale price, too, not their retail price, on bulk items.
And we’ve been on reusable menstrual supplies for years – my 15yo has always been on cloth pads, using tampons when she swims but I’m hoping to convert her to the sea sponge (what I use) once she’s over the transition with tampons (and the revulsion LOL).
I use a loofah as a scrubber in my kitchen. Inexpensive, sustainable, biodegradable – it’s pretty great.
I use Nature Clean dish liquid. They list all their ingredients.
Good post, Xan. It is amazing how many additives and how much packaging go into these products. I have a post with deo and toothpaste and cleaning product recipes here: http://www.sustainableeats.com/category/cleaning-products/
Somewhere I have a lotion post and a soap post. I’m whittling products one by one and am down to just a few now (namely shampoo and conditioner since my attempts have been FAILS).
This is a great link– I’ll make sure Susy sees it for the resource page! For anyone who has a great REAL clean link, either post in the comments, or send us a tip to notdabbling@gmail.com
I switched to a homemade deodorant that actually works better on me than the commercial stuff ever has. I tested it after a few stinky days w/o a shower, and it worked to help remove the odor! I really love the stuff.
Basically baking soda, corn start (or arrowroot powder) and coconut oil LOVE the stuff.
I found the dish cloths of old at my local Target Store under the label RE or Room Essentials. No plastic packaging other then the plastic hook for hanging on the rack at the store. However they are made in Pakistan so the global footprint is large.
I second Beth on the Diva Cup. LOVE IT, although I do still need pads on the “heavy days” (which for me are really bad), but I always did with tampons too.
Another vote for the Diva Cup. I’ve been using it since 2004, and haven’t looked back. I recently bought some cloth pads, and even though I have to safety-pin them into place to get them to stay, they work incredibly well. http://www.etsy.com/shop/epicerma
I’ll be replacing the toothpaste and deodorant when those run out, and have happily stopped using shampoo–about a month ago?
Thank you for a thoughtful post!
Xan, I’m growing luffa this year and if I have a surplus I’ll send you some at the end of the season.
A community farm (Beardsley) here in Knoxville is also growing luffa, and I’m so excited about it! I hope it comes in, and we can give out luffas to volunteers, etc.
Okay, i just want to say this one thing: I had been using ‘clinical strength’ deodorant most of my teen to adult life. With varying success. I was always the sweaty, smelly kid. I actually kind of like my BO, but there comes a point when too much is too much. After reading about all the scary carcinogenic qualities of deodorant, and dislikign the unreusable plastic…. i ventured to try making it myself.
and guess what
IT WORKS MORE THAN THAT CLINICAL STUFF EVER DID!
Baking soda, arrowroot powder, coconut oil, tea tree and lavender essential oils. That’s it. In a reusable mason jar. That’s it! AND i shower about once every 2-3 days depending on if i’ve gone to a step aerobics class. I never have to reapply, and i DON’T STINK! I don’t even stink right after step aerobics! Well, my pits don’t at least.
My point: please try. You may be happily surprised!
Okay, I’ll give it a go. You guys are inspiring me!
PS, i use a mix of 1/4 Sal Suds (made by dr. bronner’s) 1/4 white vinegar and 1/2 water to clean our dishes. works wonders.
i’d love to find washing soda and those other products you mentioned. Be sure and send us links if you find a good supplier!
Miranda,
The Dr. Bronner’s has SLS in it – do you know if that is ok for greywater? When I googled the ingredients I saw lots of reasons to not use it. I’m still just making soap jelly from homemade soap to use because I’m just not sure if the sal suds are ok or not. Have you researched?
I make my own deodorant with a mix of creams (coco butter, lanolin, shea butter, coconut oil) and a blend of baking soda and cornstarch (organic). I put it in jars and apply it with my fingers (warm weather) or in an empty deodorant container (cold weather). I apply a couple of drops of essential oil with it (adding the essential oil to my pre-mixed stuff didn’t work well). Works great! I’ve been doing this for 2-3 years now, thru all seasons and weathers. It does a wonderful job.
I purchase Miessence (yes it is in plastic) toothpaste and use a tiny amount of this, then dip the wet brush in Xylitol (60%)/Baking Soda mix. Does great and stretches out the toothpaste to last a long, long time. I get the mint flavor that way (i couldn’t do a satisfactory mix of the Xylitol/Baking Soda/Mint flavoring) but have the other ingredients as the main part of brushing my teeth.
I’m another Diva cup user and just love it! I make my own soaps and think that I’ll try the ‘no poo’ thing this summer. I knit and crochet, so I make our dish scrubbers/cleaning cloths and swiffer covers or use birds eye weave flat diaper cloths (those things soak up great!). I also clean with baking soda and vinegar, though have ammonia, bleach, dishwasher detergent and dish soap that I haven’t replaced yet with natural products. I’m hoping to switch my family to natural tissues this fall (2 kids in school means lots of runny noses). I know there’s a lot more I can do, but small steps…
Miranda, what’s your formula?
For toilet paper, I order Seventh Generation Bathroom Tissue, 2-Ply Sheets, 500-Sheet Rolls (Pack of 48)
from Amazon. I actually have it set up as a recurring item, it automatically ships me a box every 6 months. No plastic wrappers (each roll is wrapped in paper which I use to line my compost bowl) it comes in a cardboard box which gets composted in the garden.
For Dishwashing liquid I use Dr. Bronner – Sal-Suds mixed in one of those foaming dispensers and it works better than anything else I’ve tried (even non “green” products).
I’ll do a post later this week about the products I have found and love using.
I’m going to experiment with using felted wool sweater squares for dishrags – shouldn’t get stinky, no mold, mildew since WOOL IS AWESOME!
Perhaps you could start somewhere like this.
http://www.soapinanutshell.com.au/
Trace, I actually found Soapnuts at Ten Thousand villages, and have been using them for about a month. Can’t convince my husband to switch, however.
Walmarts around here (Ozarks) carry washing soda and Fels Naptha soap. You might check. Wish I could find a good substitute for my $1 Dawn from Dollar General but with our hard well water it is the only thing that cuts the grease on dishes.
Joining the choir to sing the praises of the Diva Cup, my BFF. So awesome.
Scott toilet paper is made in the US, will soon have a core-less (brown paper tube) center available, and is made from recycled content. They are still sold … in places in paper wrap (tho maybe not the core-less).
Kimberly Clark (the Kleenex company that makes Scott) has factories/mills that are zero-waste. IE they use recycled fiber, and take more in, in recycled material than they discard. Yes, there is still some new fiber.
For toilet paper and other “disposable” paper products, Marcal Small Steps is available here in NW IN. Comes out of NJ. 100% recycled content with no bleach but alas – wrapped in plastic. Food Network brand dishcloths – 80% cotton, 20% polyester – with mesh on one side, found at Kohl’s a few years back. Unfortunately made in China. The cloth is cotton, the mesh is the poly. I did see luffa cloths at my local grocery store but didn’t examine closely.
Though I’m only 29, I do know what a dish cloth is. I also get those vacant stares when I ask in stores for washing soda, fels-naptha soap, any solid in-a-bar type laundry soap since they don’t know what fels-naptha is, floursack style kitchen cloths… I spent for-frickin-ever trying to track down washing soda and fels-naptha when I moved to KY and wound up using Ivory soap and the last of my last box of washing soda at the time to make up my laundry detergent for the first time here and decided I liked it better.
I could not locate washing soda at. all. while I was in MD, but in MO it seemed to be readily available (at the time I was there, anyway). Here in KY, the only place I could find washing soda was at the Rural King farm supply store. I seem to be able to find lots of things there (washing soda, fels-naptha, flour-sack style cloths, Beech-Nut gum) that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere. I’m still trying to find plain old, unscented ammonia, though. I use it for control of certain garden pests and hate the fake lemon-y smell and the other smells I can find it in just smell gross to me.
We just found bar laundry soap in Chinatown; I bought some and am going to try shaving/soaking it since in its current state it’s only good for hand washing. And of course, it’s made in China so god knows what awful crap is in it, plus ginormous mileage.
Oh, also, I use a DivaCup-like product called The Keeper. Mine is made of natural gum rubber (latex), but they also have a medical grade silicone option available. I chose this company when I was looking for a menstrual cup partly because I could get the gum rubber instead of the silicone (which basically translates in my mind to plastic and I’d have no idea how to properly dispose of it later), but mostly because they’re the only menstrual cups I could find that are made here in America.
For toilet paper, I take old sweat shirts, cut them into small rectangles, fold over and sew the sides. I use these for number 1 only. They are small so it’s easy to throw a bunch in with the laundry. It’s amazing how much less toilet paper we have to buy.
Haha- I floated this concept past the family, to universal dumbfounded stares. I may try this just for myself. In the meantime, I’m just getting them used to not flushing every time they pee. 🙂
I´ve used silicone cups instead of sanitary pads with great results: it´s comfortable, reusable, cheap (at least after a while), and efficient. It demands some care, but no that much you can think of. After a year of using it, I can´t think how I survive without it before. There are different brands and all work almost the same way. Ah, and they recommend to change it every year, but I found a video than say the do so after noticing that the recommendation of using for 10 years without trouble wasn´t very good for business. So… try it!
Now, about dish liquid, I would also love to have one homemade recipe.
Thanks!.
If you happen to have a CVS Pharmacy near you, they are *supposed* to (according to company policy, at least) accept the bottles for recycling at the pharmacy counter. If they don’t, bitch to management or write an “Extra Care” comment message online and include the store number (found on your bottle or receipt).
As you may have noticed, script bottles are made of one of the grades of plastics that many municipalities still don’t accept (like, oh, mine). CVS tosses so many a day that they have their own recycling vendor. If you can get the labels off (to protect your privacy), I believe Whole Foods will also take that kind of plastic.
I imagine some of the other larger pharmacy chains probably do the same thing but don’t advertise it. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than the trash, IMHO.
A couple more bits of interest…
They’re renovating the Target store in our area and I noticed that they’ve set-up a special display shelf with not only the supposed “green” brands (Meyers, Seventh Gen, etc.) but also laundry-sized boxes of Baking Soda, Borax, and even Vinegar that’s packaged and labeled specifically for “cleaning use” (yeah, I know…it’s the same stuff except not cut with filtered water). While none of this is a big revelation, I’m happy to see that the Big Box Stores are taking notice of the trends and demands.
I happened upon an artcle about the difference between Baking Soda and Washing Soda and it looks like it might be somewhat inter-changeable and you could probably double it up in recipes if it isn’t powerful enough. The article is here: http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_bakingsoda.asp
An interesting puzzle for someone… I’ve been buying J.R. Watkins dish soap and surface cleaner for awhile. I like the dish soap because it actually lathers (unlike 7gen and others) and the surface cleaner because it actually loosens stuff on the counter better than water (again, unlike 7gen and others). I’m not sure if either is actually “safe” beyond the claims made but I did notice something by observation. My dish sponges (regular old blue “Scotch” ones…nothing earthy) don’t get that moldy smell EVER when using the Watkins dish soap. As soon as I switch back to Dawn or some other name brand, I find I have to sterilize them every couple of days (in the dishwasher or microwave) to remove the moldy odor. Anyone know what ingredient is making the difference?
Another diva cup fan here, for fifteen years or more.
Also, lately, my MS-related incontinence has become an issue, so I invested in some reusable cloth pads which work fantastically well, are convenient and pretty. Unlike disposable adult diapers which are none of those things.
Too much information? I hope not.
Both are available from http://lunapads.com/, where you can also find good, phosphate and pthalate-free laundry soaps.
Karen, this is one of the types of information that the web is brilliant at–things you would feel hideously uncomfortable sharing face to face. Thank you for an important tip for people who deal with this problem.
I can get recycled toilet paper from Kroger and CVS. (dont’ know they are where you are.)
I haven’t used washing soda, but I have found it at a few grocery stores around here. (I think it’s because I live on the out skirts of a town, where it’s still pretty rural.)
I’m looking for something to clean my oven.
It’s driving me crazy.
I too feel I should be getting to the end of the monthly cycle. But it’s still hanging on. Think I should look into some reusable pads. Right now I use Seventh Gen, or something similar. But even those have to be thrown out.