Unpaper Towels: worth the investment?

Almost three years ago, I took the plunge and stopped buying paper towel. It was a big decision that I didn't have a lot of support for, but I promised a trial period. In that trial period my husband was diagnosed with a very large menengioma brain tumor. After this diagnoses he was very supportive because he really wanted to rid our home and lives of unnecessary exposure to harmful ingredients.

One of his best buddies worked in the paper industry and put it into perspective for us: "Wood does not soak up water. What kind of chemicals and additives do you think they put on wood pulp to make paper soak water like paper towel does?" Hmmmmm.... The less chemicals we were exposing ourselves to the better. This is a great article that Growing a Green Family wrote about paper towels. 

After our trial period, we both were in agreement, we could definitely live without it.  Are there times we wished we had something disposable? Yes, like when a bottle of wine dropped out of the fridge.... Or I dropped a jar of salsa.... Yes I wish we had a roll. But in all honesty, it hasn't been as hard as we thought.  

Where can you get "unpaper" towels? Etsy is a great place, I love supporting small handmakers. Local is even better! You can get them with snaps and put them on your existing paper towel roll dispenser. I did that for awhile and then I just stopped and now they get put in with the other towels. I am actually looking to replace the ones I bought three years ago, so I definitely think it's a great investment.

What do you think? Is it something you could try?

• MamaSuds Laundry Soap was designed specifically for cloth diapering Mamas.
• It is a natural, oil-based detergent that is effective in removing poo from diapers without causing burns or irritation.
• Effective washing routine includes an initial cold rinse, followed by a hot wash with 4 oz of MamaSuds soap, then a cold rinse and extra cold rinse.
• Drying can be done in the dryer with wool dryer balls or in the sun during warmer months.
• Reviews of MamaSuds available on Change-Diapers.com, Eco-Friendly USA, Every Child is Blessing, Housewife Mama, Fort Worth Examiner MamaSuds and Customer Reviews Kid Tested... Mommy reviewed.

How did I get here?

In my previous post in this series I talked about how I tossed all the soap in our house and switched to Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. I was buying it by the gallon and wondered, "Can’t I just make this stuff myself?"

Where does my story lead to next?

See Part 1 here.    See Part 2 here.   See Part 3 HERE.

So here is Part 4 in my series. So my research into soap making began. I watched YouTube videos, read blogs, read books, and finally I felt ready to try it. I had a crockpot, I had safety equipment (goggles, gloves), I had a recipe I wanted to try, but I needed to find KOH (Potassium Hydroxide). I went to the local hardware store- who sent me to Michael's- who sent me to Hobby Lobby- who suggested my local hardware store. Alrighty then. I headed back to the good old internet and found a few companies that sold it. It's not easy to get I found because people also use it to make drugs. Great. Just what I need, to be on some watch list. I finally bit the bullet and bought it. I made my first batch while watching a YouTube video on repeat. It took forever, but when I was all done I had my very own batch of liquid soap. I was HOOKED. I made a five gallon bucket that seemed to last forever. It was awesome.

It was around this time that I started having issues with cloth diapering. I loved cloth diapering. It was so much cheaper, safer and environmentally responsible. I felt really good about being able to provide that for my daughter. But they started to smell funny when she urinated.

Then, she started to get a rash. Other cloth diapering mamas told me to switch detergent and strip my diapers. Yeah, that is not fun. I had to do this every month. I finally found a cloth diaper safe detergent that worked but it was expensive enough to make me not want to use it on all the laundry. I was so excited to not have to strip the diapers. It only lasted a few months before my poor baby had an awful rash/diaper burn that I just about threw the towel in on cloth diapering..... What do you think happened next?

Yup. In a last ditch effort, I decided to make my own. (to be continued)

 

• Eco-Friendly and US-Made Back-to-School Supplies List, perfect for budgeting early and saving the environment
• Hand Sanitizer: MamaSuds Hand Sanitizer or Poofy Organics Clean Clappers
• Disinfecting Wipes: CleanWell Disinfecting Wipes
• All Purpose Spray: Poofy Organics IAG VESTA Spirited Mint All-Purpose Cleaner or MamaSuds All Purpose Cleaner
• Crayons: Filana Crayons, Crayon Rocks or Crazy Crayons Eco Stars
• Glue: Eco Kids Glue or Coccoina Glue Stick
• Washable Markers: E-Color-gy Washables
• Scissors: Fiskars Kid Scissors (designed in USA, made in China)
• Pencils: Write Dudes USA Gold (wood from sustainable cedar wood trees!)
• Notebooks: EnviroNotes Sugar Cane Paper
• Snack Packs: ReUseIt Snack Pack Set
• Lunch Box: Bento Lunch Box
• Back Pack: Parrot Canvas Company or Timbuk

How did I get here?

In my last post in this series I talked about how while I was pregnant with my second daughter I had a small bottle of commercial baby shampoo leak on brand new nursery room furniture.I wiped up the small drop that leaked from the bottle and the finish came off with it. This sparked a question in my head, "What am I putting on my baby's skin?" Little did I know how much this little question would change my life. So...

Where does my story lead to next?

See Part 1 here.    See Part 2 here.

So here is Part 3 in my series.

I instantly researched the crap out of soap. Soap is.... soap, right? Nope. I do most of my research late at night, long after the hubs is sleeping and I distinctly remember sitting in bed with my laptop on my pregnant belly and learning that the soap I have been using on my three year old, and soap we used on ourselves actually had a bunch of "chemicals" and toxins in it. What!?! Hubs was sleeping next to me and I had no one to look over at and spew this information at! A million questions led to hundreds more and I was soon lost in the abyss of the internet.

A life changing decision

That night (almost 6 years ago!) I made a decision that, in hindsight, changed my life. I decided we were getting rid of the baby shampoos and body wash and I bought Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. I loved it. I only heard one comment from hubs, "this stuff feels different". That was it.

I bought a 16 ounce bottle. Then I bought the bigger size. Then I started reading about all the things you can use castile soap for. I switched out our hand soap, dish soap, made all purpose spray..... it had endless uses! I needed a gallon before long. Then I needed another gallon..... then I had another thought: Can't I just make this stuff myself? (to be continued)

How Did I Get Here?

Have you ever thought, How did I get here? I get asked this question frequently from friends, family, and people who knew me before I arrived at this place in my life. I was visiting with someone I used to work with many moons ago- before we were both married with kids. I just visited her after she had twin girls and I was dropping off her order. She asked, “How did you ever get started in all this?” I told her the quick and dirty version of the story. But later that night, I started thinking about my story. And I wondered:

Where does my story begin?

See Part 1 HERE. So here is Part 2 in my series. So after just one semester of trying my hand at fulfilling my lifelong dream of being a marine biologist, I came home with my tail tucked between my legs to figure out the rest of my life. It took me a year or so to figure out I wanted to teach. In the back of my head it was always the back up plan. After I was done swimming with the dolphins and wanted to settle down to have a family, my plan was to teach. So the long and the short of it- I started into my studies as a teacher. I save money and did my last six weeks of student teaching in New Zealand. It was a life changing experience. I got to do some pretty adventurous things (a helicopter ride, white water rafting, swimming with the dolphins, a cross country train trek, earned my motorbike license in the Cook Islands....) and met the most incredible person and teacher, Lisa. I think of her often and fondly. One day, I will visit her again. (It's in writing so it must be done!)

Soon after graduation I married my high school sweetheart and I found a teaching job not too far from where we lived. I loved the people I worked with. I worked with really great people. The kind of people you make life-long friendships with. A few years later we had our first baby. We did everything by the book. Baby shampoo, lotion, disposable diapers, etc. We did do some unconventional things- we took my daughter (and ourselves) to a chiropractor and we were introduced to essential oils when my daughter contracted hand-foot-mouth disease. My best friend's mom was our daycare provider and she used them in her home and raved about them. I was interested but skeptical. I became a believer when she sent me home with a miserable toddler and some oils. I couldn't believe how quickly she recovered. I was hooked!

While I was pregnant with my second child we bought new nursery furniture. I noticed a small sample bottle of name brand soap lying on its side on a dresser. I wiped up the small drop that leaked from the bottle and the finish came off with it. This sparked a question in my head, "What am I putting on my baby's skin?" Little did I know how much this little question would change my life. (to be continued)

How Did I Get Here?

Have you ever thought, How did I get here? I get asked this question frequently from friends, family, and people who knew me before I arrived at this place in my life. I was visiting with someone I used to work with many moons ago- before we were both married with kids. I just visited her after she had twin girls and I was dropping off her order. She asked, "How did you ever get started in all this?" I told her the quick and dirty version of the story. But later that night, I started thinking about my story. And I wondered:

Where does my story begin?

So here is Part I in my series. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a marine biologist. True story. It wasn't just a wish kids have, like 'I wanna be a baseball player' or 'I'm going to grow up to be a doctor' or 'I want to be a teacher'. From the summer before fifth grade until I left for college, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I had it all planned out. It didn't matter how much money I was (or was not) going to make or where I was going to have to live (away from family). What mattered was that I wanted to swim with the dolphins and I needed to save the ocean. I knew what classes I was going to take in high school, the grades I wanted to earn and where I wanted to go to school. I felt lucky and really smart to know what my "calling" was. 

I have been a total type A since I can remember; fully planning every detail of every aspect of my life. I love planning. Love it. I love planning out and setting goals and then achieving them. I have always felt very driven.

Everything went according to plan. I did great in high school, played lots of sports, did volunteer work, chaired academic clubs and applied to only three colleges. None of them in my home state of Michigan. This is where, looking back, a tiny portion of myself wishes I would have done things differently. But you can't go back, and even if I could, I wouldn't change anything. Because- and I'll probably say this a lot- I wouldn't be where I am and who I am without those choices.

I was accepted into all three colleges and went on a visit to Texas A&M in Galveston. I loved it. It was small, ocean side, and full of people who wanted to do the same thing as me. Perfect.

So as summer ended and moving out of state loomed it started to feel funny. Being only 18 and excited about being on my own and far away and living my dream....

I started to feel funny. I didn't listen to my gut, chalked it up to being nervous/terrified/excited. How could I want something for eight years and then change my mind? I felt real funny when my dad and I arrived in Galveston. I didn't listen to my gut until I was in the stairwell in my college dorm, looking out of the glass wall at my father driving away that I actually said to myself, "this doesn't feel right".

Lesson number 1: listen to your gut.

But- if I hadn't have made this stop in my journey, I wouldn't have met my suitemate Kristin. We both hated being there and commiserated together. She was from Dallas and would take me home with her. Her family is awesome and we are still great friends after 18 years. I love her dearly. And because of her, I would never take back going to TAMU-Galveston.

So after just one semester in what I now affectionately refer to as "hell", I came home with my tail tucked between my legs to figure out the rest of my life.

(to be continued).

• Carol Trimmer is a blogger and co-owner of Pure Living Space, who helps people create safe and healthy homes with simple tips, science-based advice and humor.
• Michelle has recently found her internet doppelgänger in Carol due to similar interests.
• To avoid the nasty fumes from self-cleaning an oven, Carol suggests simply using baking soda and vinegar.
• The process is easy; spread an even layer of baking soda on the bottom of the oven and pour white vinegar over it. Close the oven door for 3 to 5 hours, depending on mess size.
• After the time is up, use a towel to wipe off vinegar and baking soda mixture that has formed from mixing the two ingredients together.

• Tried the "no-poo" method of not washing her hair for over 5 years
• Initially used all natural/organic shampoos but could not afford the price
• Later tried castile soap, adjusting water to soap ratio but was hard to pre-make and measure
• Over 18 months ago, cousin Crystal sent her an article about using baking soda and apple cider vinegar
• Has been using it since then and has seen great results, such as super shiny hair that grows fast and only needs to be washed once every 5 days
• Baking soda solution is 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water and ACV is 8 ounces ACV with 8 ounces of hot water; Hair is rinsed first with BS then with ACV
• Costs 6-8 cents a wash; Comparable to $.12 a wash for Suave shampoo