Getting Soapy on my Zero Waste Journey
I am usually trying to keep moving toward less of an environmental impact by decreasing the amount of waste, specifically plastic, I use. After my initial push to swap out some products I use regularly, I moved to soap bottles. Previously I had plastic containers of body wash (mens' & womens'), hand soap (2 bathrooms), and dish soap. That is 5 plastic bottles of soap in my home.
In the bathtub was the easiest switch for me. Long ago, I swapped out my fancy smelling body wash for Dove for sensitive skin due to dry skin. It smells nice as well as lathers easily.
Next, I finally put those bar soaps I'd bought at the craft fair to good use. Multiple "decorative" bar soaps collected in my bathroom from gifts or fun purchases. I use them for hand soap in my bathrooms. They also lather easily as well as look super cute with a beautiful soap dish. Plus, most of them are made from natural products like honey or goats milk. You can buy these at a craft fair, farmers market, or even big stores as well. My favorites are mint scents.
I was nervous to try replacing my dish soap. I was raised with Dawn or Ajax decorating my kitchen sink. Who could argue with a product that helped clean baby animals? Instead, I switched to Dr. Bronner's bar soap. I will admit, it does not kick grease and grime as promised in the dish soap commercials, however, with a trusty glass container of baking soda nearby, grease doesn't stand a chance. It lathers easily with a dish rag and keeps my dishes clean.
Many Zero Waste people will switch to brushes. Though I've ditched the sponge, I still prefer a dish rag. We have many so I simply toss it in the laundry after I'm done with a set of dishes.
I'm not perfect. I still use shampoo and conditioner in bottles. I trust only Tide with my laundry and I have so much of some cleaners to use up, that I haven't begun to search for a more sustainable option in those areas yet. As always, I believe it is most important to take the journey and constantly make progress, not perfection.
As always, in pursuit of daisies.
In the bathtub was the easiest switch for me. Long ago, I swapped out my fancy smelling body wash for Dove for sensitive skin due to dry skin. It smells nice as well as lathers easily.
Next, I finally put those bar soaps I'd bought at the craft fair to good use. Multiple "decorative" bar soaps collected in my bathroom from gifts or fun purchases. I use them for hand soap in my bathrooms. They also lather easily as well as look super cute with a beautiful soap dish. Plus, most of them are made from natural products like honey or goats milk. You can buy these at a craft fair, farmers market, or even big stores as well. My favorites are mint scents.
I was nervous to try replacing my dish soap. I was raised with Dawn or Ajax decorating my kitchen sink. Who could argue with a product that helped clean baby animals? Instead, I switched to Dr. Bronner's bar soap. I will admit, it does not kick grease and grime as promised in the dish soap commercials, however, with a trusty glass container of baking soda nearby, grease doesn't stand a chance. It lathers easily with a dish rag and keeps my dishes clean.
Many Zero Waste people will switch to brushes. Though I've ditched the sponge, I still prefer a dish rag. We have many so I simply toss it in the laundry after I'm done with a set of dishes.
I'm not perfect. I still use shampoo and conditioner in bottles. I trust only Tide with my laundry and I have so much of some cleaners to use up, that I haven't begun to search for a more sustainable option in those areas yet. As always, I believe it is most important to take the journey and constantly make progress, not perfection.
As always, in pursuit of daisies.
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