Try to live like we used to, back in the old days…

SueBee

SueBee

New Member
Location
Midwest
I’m wondering how many ways are possible if you want to be more earth-conscious. For example, don’t use paper towels. Instead use a cloth towel that you later wash. Hang clothes out to dry rather than using the clothes dryer, etc. Which ones can you think of?

I didn’t realize the dishwasher pods are plastic that ends up as microplastic in our water. I thought they were gelatin or something harmless. I won’t be buying them again, in spite of how convenient they are. Maddening.
 

Don't run a clothes dryer just to dry a few items which will dry on racks or hangers in a couple of hours.

Switch from hand soaps to solid bars, which last much longer.

Consolidate shopping, ATM visits, and other errands to accomplish several tasks in one trip.

If you wear a clean shirt somewhere for only an hour or two, pin a tag on it with the date and hang it separately from your other clothing to wear one more time another day.

Instead of buying a pre-wash spray, mix your own using water, ammonia, and liquid dish soap. It works just as well.
 
no fem products here either (not good for me)
no paper towels
no chemicals to clean with...
knit socks from my hand spun wool---no chemicals to process
use hand soap
mostly do not buy plastic items except when necessary, like milk jugs
 
dusty said:
no fem products here either (not good for me)
no paper towels
no chemicals to clean with...
knit socks from my hand spun wool---no chemicals to process
use hand soap
mostly do not buy plastic items except when necessary, like milk jugs
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What do you use to clean with then? Just soap and water?
 
I used to embrace this philosophy.

Sticking with the basics was generally cheaper and allowed me to splurge on a few luxuries, any small benefit to the environment was a bonus.

Now that I’m old, I embrace convenience and convenience usually comes with a higher price for me and for the environment.

It’s just plain easier for me to use a variety of single serve foods, disposable coffee pods, laundry pods, disposable wipes and cleaning products, etc…

I feel that I did my bit and now, as an extremely selfish old fart, all I really care about is my comfort and continued independence.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I used to embrace this philosophy.

Sticking with the basics was generally cheaper and allowed me to splurge on a few luxuries, any small benefit to the environment was a bonus.

Now that I’m old, I embrace convenience and convenience usually comes with a higher price for me and for the environment.

It’s just plain easier for me to use a variety of single serve foods, disposable coffee pods, laundry pods, disposable wipes and cleaning products, etc…

I feel that I did my bit and now, as an extremely selfish old fart, all I really care about is my comfort and continued independence.
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Some of those things are just more convenient in general for those that live alone.
 
Consider planting trees. Living trees, in many locales, play a natural role in stabilizing soil and providing shade. Trees are always dynamic contributors to ecology, with their roots interacting with other organisms in soil, and by providing perching and nesting spots for birds and other creatures. Living trees fix carbon from the atmosphere into Earth's living system.

Often it's possible find a group in one's home area that is involved with tree planting. An effective group may receiving guidance from a local college, or may in some other way have botanists and ecologists as advisors. With a group, you might have the opportunity to personally plant some trees as part of a project; you'd probably have the option to attend their public meetings and ask questions and suggest ideas, or, if you wanted, you might be able to volunteer to serve as a resident with the group's board of directors,. Groups like this generally want people to sit in on meetings as be part of community guidance.
 
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MACKTEXAS said:
Don't run a clothes dryer just to dry a few items which will dry on racks or hangers in a couple of hours.

Switch from hand soaps to solid bars, which last much longer.

Consolidate shopping, ATM visits, and other errands to accomplish several tasks in one trip.

If you wear a clean shirt somewhere for only an hour or two, pin a tag on it with the date and hang it separately from your other clothing to wear one more time another day.

Instead of buying a pre-wash spray, mix your own using water, ammonia, and liquid dish soap. It works just as well.
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I bought a solid bar that’s a combo shampoo and conditioner. It works well and there’s no plastic container to disgard. I also use bar soap rather than liquid soaps. I rarely use my clothes dryer, instead opting for the indoor rack or outdoor clothesline when weather is good.
 
I used to use the dishwasher every day, but the cost of electricity rose so much that nowadays I only use it if we've got so much stuff to wash up that it would take more than one sink full of water to do so. It's saved me quite a lot of money over the past couple of years, and does reconnect me with the time when I worked in a pizza parlour, doing dishwashing shifts around 50 years ago.
 
Fritz said:
What do you use to clean with then? Just soap and water?
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I use Murphy's oil soap on the counters and floors (smells sooo good) and 7th Generation for other cleaning.

Inspired by the Iroquois principle of considering the next seven generations, Seventh Generation was founded by Jeffrey Hollender to reimagine household essentials for families who care deeply about their impact. From the start, the brand has chosen thoughtful ingredients and responsible sourcing, making products without harsh chemicals that honor the health of our planet for generations to come.
 
dusty said:
Inspired by the Iroquois principle of considering the next seven generations, Seventh Generation was founded by Jeffrey Hollender to reimagine household essentials for families who care deeply about their impact.
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I think the Iroquois principle makes a lot of sense. And if we use the estimate that generations follow one another in a 30-year span, then seven generations is 210 years. Trees can certainly live and fulfill functions over that length of time, and some trees have lived for over a thousand years.

(Please excuse my interest in and keenness for trees.)
 
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dusty said:
I use Murphy's oil soap on the counters and floors (smells sooo good) and 7th Generation for other cleaning.

Inspired by the Iroquois principle of considering the next seven generations, Seventh Generation was founded by Jeffrey Hollender to reimagine household essentials for families who care deeply about their impact. From the start, the brand has chosen thoughtful ingredients and responsible sourcing, making products without harsh chemicals that honor the health of our planet for generations to come.
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Mruphy's Oil Soap is a good product. I have some here, but I thought @Fritz was referring to what you use instead of paper towels, since your earlier post #4 said "no paper towels". When I was a child, I don't think we had paper towels at our house, but I can't remember what we used instead unless it was rags.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Mruphy's Oil Soap is a good product. I have some here, but I thought @Fritz was referring to what you use instead of paper towels, since your earlier post #4 said "no paper towels". When I was a child, I don't think we had paper towels at our house, but I can't remember what we used instead unless it was raMy mother
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My mother always had paper towels. I don't like the idea of making them as it is not necessary for my daily living.
 
I am not much of a conservationist. I use paper towels, my clothes dryer, I shower and shave almost everyday. I use shower soap in a pump, mainly Dial Spring Water. My housekeeper comes in every other week and cleans for me. I change my own bed linens once a week. I do my few dishes by hand. Seldom use the dishwasher. I take my truck to the car wash once every 2 weeks, unless it rains.
 
Rags or microfibre clothes, depending upon the chore. Both can be rewashed for many uses. Paper towels are only for really dirty chores.

Pears bar soap for hand washing and the shower.
 
I use paper towels for some things - but mostly microfibre cloths which are easy to wash and re use many times. I do buy the plain unbleached un patterned paper towels (and toilet paper) which reduces chemicals a bit.

I have a tumble dryer which I very rarely use, is over 20 years old, if it breaks I wont bother replacing it. Of course not using it often means it probably won't break anyway
Washing gets hung on clotheslines outside to dry.

The usual easy things - dress for weather rather than putting heater on uneccesarily, walk/ bicycle/take public transport if you can instead of driving

Recycle as much as possible and avoid using uneccesary packaging

We have solar panels on our roof.
 
Water consumption for modern households is not sustainable in the long run. The earth will never run out of water for the next billion years or longer, but we already have clean drinking water issues.

Since I live in a converted cabin I tote 10 gallons of water from an outdoor spigot every single day.

More than enough to drink, clean and shower daily. Drinking water goes through two filters and sets in the sun for several hours in a large glass container. I only use glass or food grade stainless steel for all dishes and utinsels.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Mruphy's Oil Soap is a good product. I have some here, but I thought @Fritz was referring to what you use instead of paper towels, since your earlier post #4 said "no paper towels". When I was a child, I don't think we had paper towels at our house, but I can't remember what we used instead unless it was rags.
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My mother never had paper towels, I'm not even sure she knew what they were, but in any case if my father had found her wasting money on paper towels he would have thrown a fit...

We used tea-towels, and rags for everything...
 
LoveTulips said:
To be honest, I don't do stuff to save the environment but to save us money - no Bounce dryer sheets ( just sprinkle some vinegar on a face cloth), no Swifter dusters ( I have a fluffy wool duster duster which can be vacuumed or washed by hand).
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I've never heard of vinegar on a face cloth being a substitute for a Dryer sheet... how does that work ?
 
JBR said:
I think the Iroquois principle makes a lot of sense. And if we use the estimate that generations follow one another in a 30-year span, then seven generations is 210 years. Trees can certainly live and fulfill functions over that length of time, and some trees have lived for over a thousand years.

(Please excuse my interest in and keenness for trees.)
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it;s to be admired not excused.... (y):love:
 

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