Author: keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Toilet Paper

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Reduce Your Use of Toilet Paper

So, you might have a lot of questions before this even begins, but I promise, I’ll get there. Why reduce our use of toilet paper? Just like with so many disposable paper products, there’s a lot that goes into making that toilet paper that you just flush down the toilet and forget about. The trees cut down, the transportation pollution, the factories, the water used, the bleach, the packaging, more transportation, etc. to say nothing of the afterlife… And, again, the famous Kimberly-Clark company is notorious for using old-growth trees to make their products. You get the point by now, right? Reducing our use of toilet paper is going to help our environment. But how to do that??

REDUCE

One way to reduce our use of toilet paper, of course, is to just be more conscious about how much we’re using. Might not save a ton, but I think that being aware of it can make a difference.

The other method, and my favorite method, is to use cloth wipes. Ok, so before you skip this whole thing, please just hear me out and be open-minded. I know that some people get super weird about this topic, but I really think it’s becoming more and more commonplace. So, some folks use cloth bathroom wipes for EVERYthing. I mean, EVERYthing. And that’s super rad that they make that work, and maybe someday, I, myself, will be more open-minded and be doing that too. We use cloth wipes in our home exclusively for #1 visits, and, personally, I think that’s a good way to start. So, this may be a post really for the ladies…

I’ve been using cloth wipes (for #1 visits) for about 7 years, and I LOVE it. It’s funny when I hear people get grossed out by this because, now, when I think about using toilet paper is when I get a bit grossed out. It’s paper!  No matter how hard the companies try, it’s either scratchy or fuzzy. When it gets wet, which is kinda the point, it’s pretty yucky. This is to say nothing of bleaches or whatever else might have gone into making this product.  We have quite a decent stash of cloth wipes, but when I’m not caught up on laundry and I have to use toilet paper (for #1) my heart sinks.

Cloth is SOooooo much nicer. It’s soft, and, if you have a nice quality cloth, it seems to stay mostly dry, so it’s easy to handle. Yes, you save money and help the environment and all that, and I know that last bit should be my emphasis here, but, again, I can’t tell you just how far superior cloth is to paper.

So, how does it work?

The first step is to get a stash of cloth. This is a great time to reuse fabrics that you were otherwise unable to pass along. Or bits from your fabric stash. There are also many shops on Etsy and the like that sell these simple square pieces of cloth and label them as “cloth wipes” or “family wipes.” It’s actually kind of fun because your “toilet paper” can be a mix of super cute designs. As I’ve said in other videos, cotton is a super wasteful crop, so do your best to reuse other cloth or find organic cotton.

So, we just put a basket on the back of each toilet with a stash of cloth wipes for us ladies. Then we have cans next to the toilet where the used cloth goes, but, as I said, with cloth, you barely notice any wetness on them. It’s not like a can of wet towels or anything. And then, I just throw them in with our regular wash. And this is where I need to just step in and say if you’re going to be paranoid and doing a whole extra wash and dry load for 20 pee wipes, then this method might not be for you. It might not actually be helping… One suggestion though, if you are feeling weird about it for some reason, is maybe consider throwing the wipes in with a load of towels or sheets. I don’t bother folding the wipes like I used to; I just grab a pile from the clean laundry and stick them back in the clean basket.

I know some people have kids–girls–who use a lot of toilet paper, like toilets getting clogged, major battles, redness from excessive wiping, etc. Cloth is a great solution! If a kid uses one cloth or five, it doesn’t really matter. The one thing is to just train your girl early on to throw the cloth into the cloth basket and to let you know, for sure, if she accidentally throws one in the toilet. Also, if you’re not doing the #2s with cloth in your house, make sure this is clear as well.

Cloth wipes are great anytime, but when they really shine, if you graduate to using it this way, is on-the-go. I know, I know, I’m probably pushing the limits of your open-mindedness now. But I bring little zippered pouches when I’m out and about–one for clean wipes and one for used. Small makeup bags are great for this. The used bag just goes right in the wash with the wipes. Anyway, if a stall is out of toilet paper, no problem. If the toilet paper is one-ply, cheap, thin awfulness, no problem. Going camping? This method is THE BEST, because you don’t have any soggy toilet paper to figure out. Going swimming? Toilet paper is THE WORST after swimming; I can’t stand it. Cloth wipes? Totally awesome!!

Anyway, as I see it, cloth wipes are an absolute win. Save money, help the environment, and such a better experience.

REUSE

Ummmm….no. Obviously, right? But, as I will mention in the tissue episode, if you happen to have a roll of unused toilet paper that got mushed next to something weird in the back of the cabinet, or goodness knows what other reason you might think you don’t want to use it for its intended purpose, think about if you can use it for something else.  Wiping up floorboards or greasy messes or something before just tossing it.

I will cover toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes in a future episode with some more reusing ideas for those.

If you’re very into the cloth wipes idea already and those get to a point of being unusable, you can switch the cloths over to cleaning cloths at some point or recycle them in a textile bin.

recycle?

Again, if you happen to have an unused roll of toilet paper. I’m assuming the paper fibers are too small to recycle, but, again, if you have unused, natural toilet paper, there is a chance it could be added to compost. Do some research if that’s something that comes up.

TP inner tubes are cardboard and should be recyclable.

The plastic packaging should be able to go into any plastic bag recycling drop off

Ending Thoughts

I know that considering cloth as a way of reducing your toilet paper use and doing your part might just be too much for you right now, but maybe some of you are willing to give it a shot. If you are, I really think you’ll love it! But, if you feel this is “for a future date” or just not for you, and even if it is for you, but you still, ahem, need some toilet paper, at least consider shopping for smarter toilet paper. Look for paper from recycled content or bamboo. Look for companies who don’t use dyes, chlorine, fragrances, or excessive packaging. There are companies like one called, Who Gives a Crap, who really try to offer environmentally-friendly toilet paper.  So, do some research, and thank you so much for reading and considering all of this. Your actions can and will make a difference!

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Holiday Humbug

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For those of you reading this who don’t know me, I promise I’m not some grumpy, bitter Grinch.  And yet…    The more I study reducing and reusing, and the more I reflect on my actions and our products and how everything is made and what their afterlife is, the more I dislike just about every mainstream holiday tradition.  (sorry)

I know, I know.  This immediately paints me as a complete Scrooge of all holidays.  Although, I will say that by the end of the stories, The Grinch and Scrooge are the ones who are in the holiday spirit more than anyone else, right?

It’s not that I dislike holidays or celebrations or creating traditions.  I think the spirit behind holidays is wonderful.  A time to rejoice and be grateful?  Heck ya!  To be together with friends and family?  Yes, please.  To have something to look forward to?  Sounds awesome.     All of these core parts of holidays are so beautiful and so important. (Not to mention the obvious religious aspects of many holidays that mostly go ignored these days, even by those who are religious.)  But, the environmental impact of most mainstream holiday traditions makes me cringe.

In no particular order, I take issue with:

plastic Easter eggs, Christmas trees (both plastic ones and previously-living), pumpkins, fireworks, mass-produced Valentines, Thanksgiving as a holiday, wrapping paper, balloons, gingerbread houses, Amazon gifts, goodie bags, Christmas lights, over-gifting, and pretty much all the cheap, plastic decorations that are sold in mass for each and every holiday.  (And this is the short list…)

So, how to manage?  How to embrace the spirit of holidays and celebrations without cringing and being a complete outcast and party pooper?  I’m not quite sure…  It’s a delicate topic.  People cling pretty fiercely to habits and especially fiercely to anything tied to tradition.  Even by writing this post I realize I’m probably ticking off quite a few people (If anyone out there is actually reading…)  And I get it.  I totally do.  But, I guess I am holding out hope.  I’m thinking of the final scene of “The Grinch” when the Whos down in Whoville start singing without their gifts or their trees or their excessive decorations.  They embrace the deeper meaning of Christmas.  And if any year has given us the chance to do this, it’s this one.  This year that has collectively ripped away the norms for us of what we think life “should” look like.  But, we, as humans, are resilient and strong and creative.  If a holiday tradition doesn’t make sense in our world anymore, we are smart.  We will find things that do work.

So, on that note, may I wish you a happy holiday season for whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate.  May we all find and appreciate the deeper meaning of the celebrations in our lives.

Boo Humbug

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One of the worst parts about being the eco-conscious type is that I feel like I’m the Bah Humbug of every holiday. I cringe at plastic Easter egg hunts and Christmas trees being killed to put in homes. And Halloween is no exception for this major reality check.

Pumpkins have become synonymous with Halloween. It seems there’s no way to separate the two. I remember one year in my young adult life, I started to feel uncomfortable and weird when I realized I hadn’t carved a pumpkin for the holiday. The gooey “guts,” the smell of the pumpkin, the roasting seeds, the candle lighting up whatever face I had attempted. That, to me, was Halloween. 

But, times are changing and, as a whole, we’re becoming more aware of how our actions effect our planet and how our planet, in turn, effects us. And, pumpkins, I’m very sad to say create a huge negative impact on our world. Like any crop, they take tons of water to grow in the first place. But, unlike other crops, most of the pumpkins people purchase end up as waste, not as food. Then, as the pumpkins decompose, they release potent greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. “BOO” never seemed so appropriate.

So, what do we do…?

REDUCE

The first step is to reduce. If you absolutely aren’t ready to part with the pumpkin tradition YET, then at least cut back. Don’t support events that hurl pumpkins in catapults for sport. (Better yet, write to them and let them know why you don’t support their event or farm.) Buy less pumpkins. I’ve seen people with scores of pumpkins as decoration. Simply start by cutting back. 

If you’re feeling up for it, cut out the pumpkins altogether. I’ve seen amazing spooky jack-o-lanterns made from beets, turnips, and potatoes. While this may sound odd at first, some of these types of carving practices were done long before pumpkins. I also find that these all create naturally spooky faces. What’s different about using these for carving is that when you scoop out the insides beforehand, those insides are most of the vegetable and can be used right away for eating. Any remaining bits can be composted. Also, these vegetables are smaller, which means less water waste in growing and less waste after. While I have seen other “alternative” jack-o-lanterns besides these, I think it’s always best to keep in mind which one will create the least amount of food waste.

Another idea is to create some durable craft pumpkins that can be put out and used year after year. Perhaps you can make some fabric ones as seen in this video or maybe there’s a craft base that allows you or your child to re-decorate the faux pumpkin each Halloween.

REUSE 

The best way to reuse a jack-o-lantern pumpkin, of course, is to eat it. Unfortunately, once pumpkins have been carved, and lit up, there’s little appeal for eating the “flesh” that’s been out. Also, jack-o-lantern pumpkins have not been grown with taste in mind, and this type of pumpkin is usually sub-par for recipes. One suggestion is to find a pumpkin variety that is edible, decorate the exterior, if you’re feeling inclined, and then use the insides for any number of pumpkin dishes when you’re done displaying it.

Also, if the pumpkin flesh isn’t all that tasty, there are still beauty recipes that could work for making the most of the pumpkin. There are hair masks and body scrubs and face mask recipes online that use the flesh as beauty aids.

RECYCLE 

The best way to recycle your pumpkin is to compost it. Read up on this first, as there are some tips you might want to be aware of like removing all the seeds and cutting the pumpkin into smaller pieces to help speed up the composting process. Also, I’ve noticed that because of the high water content of pumpkin, you may want to stay aware and add extra ‘brown’ materials while the pumpkin is doing its thing.

If you don’t have a compost pile, there are sometimes local drop-off sites after Halloween, so be on the lookout for those. You might also be able to bury some of the bits in your yard directly, so look into that as well.  I once had a whole family of javelinas take care of recycling my pumpkin for me in the middle of the night, but that wasn’t exactly planned…

ENDING THOUGHTS

Traditions are very tough to change. But, as our world grows and becomes more aware, change is something we are constantly facing. I know this may sound like a bummer of a post to some, and I totally get it.  But maybe, just maybe, we can embrace creating some new (and old) Halloween traditions that work for the time we’re in now.

Thank you for reading. Your actions can and will make a difference!

The Giving Tree

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Back in 2015, I somehow volunteered to make a tree project on behalf of the local library for a community tree decorating display/event.  Anyway, being the tree hugger that I am, I made it into an upcycled project and wrote a little statement about trees, which I included with the project.  As we’re in yet another season of cutting down trees, I thought I’d share this little project here.

  

I used Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” as a base for this tree project as a reminder of all the gifts trees provide for us. 

During the holidays, trees (no matter what their form) can be a place to gather with friends and family, a place to share gifts, and a part of the holiday decor and magic.

Trees provide so much more though.  They are the source of our furniture, our paper, our homes, our food packaging, our books, and on and on. 

I think it would serve us, and our planet, to remain conscious of these gifts, appreciate them, and try our best to make good uses of them.

I love that I was able to build this scene by reusing old books that were no longer in a condition to keep as reading books.  Here, they have new life and are able to give to us once again. 

The supports I used to prop the books are old wooden game pieces from discarded Scrabble and Jenga games. 

And with wooden skewers being used as supports for the book trees, this entire project truly is a gift from trees.

I remain a “tree hugger” at heart.  And so, despite my appreciation for all the gifts I know trees provide for me in my life,

I still believe a tree’s best gifts are given when it is left in the ground to grow–providing oxygen, fruit, shade, animals’ homes, and most of all, breathtaking beauty.