My toothpaste was on its last drop, so it was time to finally research how to make effective zero-waste toothpaste!
Enter Lauren Singer, the American guru of all hipster zero-wasters:
A couple of notes on her recipe..
-I doubled this recipe, and therefor used about 40 drops of peppermint. 40 drops was TOO MUCH, and I think I would have preferred less, like 30 or even 20. So if you plan on doing this recipe, start with less and then you can add more.
-It was a cold evening, and I found I couldn't mix all of the ingredients effectively. I was using the exact same ball jar that Lauren had, and I simply closed the lid tight, and ran the jar under hot water in my sink until the coconut oil melted a bit. That allowed me to mix everything together much easier.
-She was right when she said it is a little saltier than what you are used to. That's the baking soda. I have also seen people add a few packets of Stevia powder, to mellow out the saltiness. I don't have stevia in my house, but if you do give it a try. Just like adding the peppermint, try 1 or two packets and see how that is for you. You can always add more but can't add less.
TADA! Teethy Paste!
I would next like to take a moment to talk shampoos. What would be a good zero-waste alternative to the retail shampoos in plastic bottles I am so used to? I don't really feel good about making this particular thing, because my hair is kind of important to me! I could purchase one huge bottle in bulk, but I don't think buying a large plastic bottle is going to necessarily be "less plastic," that doesn't make me feel too good...
I found two options that could help those that want to try zero waste shampoo. The first is this beautiful company called "Plaine Products." They sell their bottles in aluminum containers, so they aren't going to break on you in the shower. They ship them to you in a box, along with a return label. When you are finished with your shampoo, conditioner, and/or body wash, you can mail the empty bottle back to them, and they will wash and refill your container and send it back to you! Here is their website:
I love that they use all natural products for their hair and body care, and I love the idea of zero plastic. The one thing I have trouble with is that I would like to reduce my carbon footprint, so I'd like less things shipped to me back and forth, wasting gas and time. Rather, I'd prefer to pick something up from a store nearby. But if you like this idea, it may be for you! We all have buying power, and you would be saying "no!" to plastics.
I was at Wholec Foods yesterday, and came across this:
It is a Shampoo bar, where you lather it up and use the lather on your hair as a shampoo. The paper wrap says that it works as well as a 24 oz bottle of regular shampoo. I am eager to try it out, and I can recycle the paper or use it as kindling in my fire pit. No plastic!
A few years ago my friend Ember was selling these things called "Polar Pipes." They make your drinks taste extra cold, because your straw gets freezing cold. It works the same if you are drinking something warm. My kids enjoyed them, so I asked her for a few more, and she sent me some!!!!!!
Time to say goodbye to my plastic straws, I will give them to my extended family. :D
Now for the not so great news on my zero-waste journey:
Just wanted to give a quick update on my "bread tin" idea. It turned out it was NOT a good idea to put it inside an unventilated tin because....This happened...
Rust. Well....That was a fail. I am learning as I go! I have my homemade bread in a leftover plastic bag until I can figure out another alternative. Maybe when I make the beeswax wraps I will make a huge one to use specifically for breads...Doesn't hurt to try!
I will end with a very sad realization...There will be some things that I will not be able to purchase anymore because of this new lifestyle. A lot of it is very good because it helps my family and I to eat healthier and avoid packaged goods. The down side is I will never again be able to just buy my favorite treat...Goodbye Oreos, my faithful friend! If I had a true craving, I would need to make it with my own two hands. Such was the case with homemade raviolis. It was so simple to just pick them up from the freezer, stick them in boiling water, and instant comfort food. Now I see that I cannot purchase raviolis without the plastic, so I would have to try to make them....
Three hours later.....
Sure, they look so good in the picture, but the amount of time and physical effort it took to actually knead and roll out that dough was more than what those raviolis were worth! If I had a pasta maker, it may have been a little easier, but I didn't, so that was the beginning of my demise. I will have to say goodbye to the little pasta stuffed goodness, and perhaps have a joyful reminisce at a restaurant someday. :(
If you happen to have a box of Oreos in your pantry, save one for me?
Cheers,
Laura
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