My war on waste!!!

greenbee

GreyQueen wrote: »

In the New Year, I will be doing some thing a bit daring for me - getting an alternative to a roll-on deodorant. I use 6 of these in a year, so if I can get a workaround which won't see me soaked in the 'pit department (or a social outcast, lol) it reduces the plastic waste stream a little.

I've tried and failed with one of the ZWH suggested alternatives (baking soda) as it brought me out in a nasty rash. Not as bad as the one I got from using a premium natural deo some years ago (the one with the man's name and the US state name). That required anti-histimanes from the GP to clear up..............! So, you can see why I'm a little chary about venturing into this area of personal grooming. This time, I shall try an alum stone, I expect my local healthfood emporium can provide one.

Have you tried coconut oil? I'm using the vanilla-scented waitr*se baby massage oil at the moment (as I already had it), but I have the ordinary stuff for cooking, and will change to that.

katkin wrote: »

I've just had a rifle through the plastic box and its full of veg / fruit, meat and toiletry wrappers such as deodorant, shampoo bottles and dairy things like - cheese, yoghurt, milk cartons. Bread, crackers packets etc.

There is only so much you can do - and you've done a lot already. Obvious ones are deodorant as GQ has mentioned already, and making bread, oatcakes and yogurt. This won't completely eliminate the plastics (I've found oatmeal in a cardboard carton with a tiny plastic window, instead of a bag), and I buy Yeo valley yogurt for my starters as it has minimal plastic and a cardboard wrapper. Longlife milk comes in tetrapaks, and I need to sort out recycling for those at some point.

Having said that, I've been having a clearout recently so my bin is shockingly full. As is my recycling (which I've only just emptied).

VJ's mum - I use muslin squares for removing makeup, ideally with oil, and wash them on a hot wash with my towels. They get a bit stained after a while, but I know they are clean and it's just makeup residue

GreyQueen

No, I haven't tried coconut oil. Would you recommend it? And where do you get it (I'm a long way from a W8rose but will be near Sains, Tosspots, Liddly and Aldee in the next couple of weeks). Do you find it in the cookery section or in toiletries, what sort of container and does it keep?

Basically, tell me everything........:rotfl:

Gonna head offline for the evening as will be pie-eyed at work tomorrow if I don't get away from the t'interwebulator. G'night, all, GQ xx

greenbee

You can get coconut oil in all sorts of places now - I usually get it in the health food shop but I'm pretty sure most supermarkets have it as it's one of the current faddy superfoods

I just rub it on my underarms and it seems to be effective. I did some research, and just found lots of people saying that they find it works. Obviously it doesn't work as an anti-perspirant, so you'll still sweat, but people seem to find they don't smell. It might be worth a try if you can get a small amount. Maybe ask friends/colleagues if anyone has any and if so could you have a spoonful 'for a recipe' as you're trying it out and want to know what all the fuss is about before forking out for a whole jar

I cook with it, use it on my hair under my swimming had when I'm swimming, and put it on my feet under cotton socks when they need some tlc overnight. I also use it as an intensive moisturiser when I need something more than body lotion. And it smells fab

Pollycat

greenbee wrote: »

You can get coconut oil in all sorts of places now - I usually get it in the health food shop but I'm pretty sure most supermarkets have it as it's one of the current faddy superfoods

Tesco sell it, it's much cheaper than in H&B.
You might be interested in this:
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

greenbee

Pollycat wrote: »

Tesco sell it, it's much cheaper than in H&B.
You might be interested in this:
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

I'm allergic to supermarkets especially evil Tesco :cool: luckily I have a good independent health food shop I get this from and it lasts ages.

But good point for those that use supermarkets.

katkin

Thank you for the great tips everyone :cool:

I'll be trying them straight away.

You can make coconut deodorant with added baking powder some cornflour and essential oils. It,s a bit messy on clothes especially black and a *ugger to wash. It doesn't stop you sweating but smells nice and is very moisturising.

It really is great stuff for deep conditioning your hair and moisturising your skin.

We also cook with it, you need very little too.

FunBrum

I was looking into making my own deodorant. I will definitely try now!
Thanks you all for the info about it!

As I said previously, I rarely shop. Luckily we have a farmer's market every month on the 'Green' so if I need eggs, veg, things like that, then I get them from there, all organic. Because I only have myself to think of, it's not expensive, and, because I buy few and far between, I hardly spend!
I also grow my own veg so that helps as well!
There's no receipts, no bags, as you bring your own, and no little angels racing around ramming you with a shopping trolley!

I gave my car up over two years ago, mainly because of my concerns for the environment. I walk everywhere, apart from if someone is going my way anyway, then I might get a lift, but not often.
I don't have internet connection at home as I can get it free at the library and my children's houses. I use it in exchange for babysitting! I can pick up free Wi-Fi at MacDonalds 2 minutes walk from my house, and can spend a few hours 'surfing' and sipping my 'free' cups of coffee...I have vouchers! Plus I'm warm and cosy so don't have to have any heating on at home. Thus having less impact on the environment!

I shower after a free session at the gym. Some classes, gym and swimming are free under the 'Be Active' scheme for council tax payers.

The list is endless, and I love not wasting or spending while saving the planet!

katkin

^
FunBrum you have a great set up there, very impressive and inspiring :T

Oh I forgot to mention this earlier - I've managed to wean us off kitchen roll. I posted this in another thread and thought maybe the sewers here might consider making reusable fabric kitchen roll.

I used an old thin towel and brushed cotton jammies ( I got too fat for them ) to make 12 cloth sheets. They're held as a roll with little stitched velcro tabs at the corners. I've seen patterns on the internet that use poppers too. You just pull one off as you need it and they really do work well for spills, drying washed veg / salad stuff etc.

I boil wash them and they've so far lasted over a year. Stains come of easily with a steep in bleach.

I draw the line at cloth loo roll though

meritaten

katkin wrote: »

^
FunBrum you have a great set up there, very impressive and inspiring :T

Oh I forgot to mention this earlier - I've managed to wean us off kitchen roll. I posted this in another thread and thought maybe the sewers here might consider making reusable fabric kitchen roll.

I used an old thin towel and brushed cotton jammies ( I got too fat for them ) to make 12 cloth sheets. They're held as a roll with little stitched velcro tabs at the corners. I've seen patterns on the internet that use poppers too. You just pull one off as you need it and they really do work well for spills, drying washed veg / salad stuff etc.

I boil wash them and they've so far lasted over a year. Stains come of easily with a steep in bleach.

I draw the line at cloth loo roll though

ah - I learned this at a local tourist attraction - in Tudor times they used moss to wipe their bottys! they didn't say if it was re-usuable - but I would assume it went on 'ye olde composte heape'.

Fiftys1

New post on 'Treading my own path' - from near 0 to zero: how I got rid of my bin. Inspiring read.