This is not meant to be a critique, just an observation: for what I've seen so far in many "zero waste" themed channels, I've noticed that many zero waste swaps people made are just the norm in other countries... like cloth napkins, reusing plastic containers, bringing your own reusable bag to get groceries, buying some food in bulk, using a bidet and many more things.
I know the menstrual cup isn't for everyone. But I live in an RV, and we're moving on to a sailboat. Not having gross period garbage around is worth it, even if you're not zero waste. Plus, in some countries it's next to impossible to find pads and tampons. As long as I have clean water, I can wash and reuse. I've been using a cup forcabout 3 years now.
You having your mind blown at the age of your handkerchiefs reminded me of myself a few days ago, I was making toast by placing the bread in a pan and I always put an antique flat iron on it so it toasts evenly, suddenly I wondered how old that flat iron might be and after some research: +-300 years 💀 That thing saw more than just the French Revolution and I’m making toast with it 😭
Love cloth napkins! We are a family of 5 and everyone has a different color. We keep extra colors for guests and have been using the same set for about 12 years.
Honestly some of these swaps are so easy and practical that I don’t even seem them as eco-minimalist anymore lol. I love my French press, my bamboo toothbrush, my reusable straws, my shampoo bar, conditioner bar and soap bar. Cloth napkins are soft and absorb more. Handkerchiefs are a must for me because I also suffer from allergies. I purposefully made the switch on these items to be more minimalist, but through time I simply forgot the why until I watched your video. Great content!
I really like my period underwear because it means i never run out of period supplies. I like Stapless staplers because I never need to worry if I have enough staples. Basically I love things that I don't have to refill or constantly replace, especially when I neeeeeed something asap. I also like my reusable bubble tea cup and straw because it's super easy to transport and idéal for homemade bubble tea, thickshakes, loads shakes, etc.
Really enjoyed your favourites list here. It's great that you've brought back things that really work better, that had been advertised out of existence. A mixture of tried and true methods along with new ideas sounds great.
I will look into the bidet attachment, but my fav zero waste swaps is using flannel wipes after pee-ing. Super easy to wash, I just add a bit of baking soda for ph balance, to my soap nuts that I regularly use, and it saves a ton of toilet paper, and I don’t have to flush as often either. If I combined it with the bidet I might use cloth wipes for everything. I like the glass containers too, but don’t know if my local store would let me use them. Have to check it out. My dad taught me to use a handkerchief all the time, and I definitely think they are gentler. Enjoyed this video, so I will definitely check out your channel! Yes on bar soap, I get it with no packaging at the farmer’s market, and then I’m also supporting a local family business :)
Team handkerchief ❤️ I bought mine second hand and got some from my grandpa's sister. I had around 100 handkerchiefs for less than 30€. So I shared them with my best friend who just had less than 10 and gave her all the ones for kids which I had for her little son. This is definitely my favourite swap Just found your channel and already love it.
I've seen dozens of these videos and honesty, I really like your take on beginner zero waste a lot. Most people don't mention replacements for paper towels and napkins, and that was one of the first things I cut out👍😁😄 so I totally agree we don't need them anymore 💖
You are a girl after my own heart. I do all those things you said. I love my handkerchiefs. When I go on a trip I buy as a memento a canvas grocery bag from the area, a handkerchief, pretty napkins or dish towels. I have a portable bidet that fits on the end of a squeeze tube so I can take it wherever I go. It makes me feel so amazing. I love bar soap and live at a beach town so my soap dish is a pretty seashell from our beach. And the bar of soap looks so cute in there. I slice the soap bar into quarters so it fits in the shell but one bar will last over a year. It really is amazing how these small decisions can add up and actually make life more enjoyable. Thanks for posting
About fountain pens, if you get a decent one, it is a joy to write with it. Years ago, when one was going off to college, many parents/grandparents gifted the student a fine fountain pen. You took your notes with it. (now, of course, it's a laptop). I took all my college notes with a good Shaeffer pen. I loved it! I like getting different colored inks as well. I have a collection of pens, and did you know that you can get left-handed nibs? These are also for Calligraphers, since they do their work in ink. (their nickname are "Inkies"). Go to a good art store or online and you should be able to find one.
Hi Katherine (spelling?), I have become a minimalist over the last three years and looking to become less wasteful. I was SO HAPPY to come across your video. I tend to be behind the trends because I do not like buyers remorse, at all, so contemplate a lot before purchasing something I believe will further my goals. THIS VIDEO IS AWESOME, some of the suggestion you have made were EXACTLY what I had in mind but hadn’t found yet, and even though some I have been doing, its Great to get some confirmation after going through So Much information! Did I say So Happy to come across your video? 😊 You are speaking my language, Thank You! Following
I read a blog post about turning car soap into liquid soap - have you tried this? I have some cute soap dispensers that I'd like to keep using. I'll definitely be trying it!
I LOOOOVE cloth handcercheifs 😍 One more thing they are superior at compared to paper tissues are wiping tears! If you have a good long ugly cry and tears just wont stop they hold the tears much better & don't "melt off" like paper tissues 😁 Hopefully none of you need them for this reason 😙 But just in case - it's the best! Btw. I made mine from old worn out bed sheets. So re-used material that would otherwise be thrown out. Made them about 10 years ago & using them as napkins & handcercheifs & instead of paper towels. When one wear out I recycle it with textiles.
This is a very educational video! I wonder about the period underwear - how do you wash your panties? I don't think that I will need enough during my period to get a full washing maschine load, and I wouldn't like to wash my bloody underwear with regular clothes. Is it more eco-friendly to do a barely filled washing load? And how about the heavier period days? Does it really stay comfortable for like 10 hours? I can't imagine changing my panties in the office and carry a dirty pair through the hallway... I'm confused, but intrigued!
🙋🏽♀️ this lefty needs to check out fountain pens! I, too, luv bamboo toothbrushes. 🦷 I’ve purchase the charcoal bamboo toothbrushes for myself and my family for the past yr. We use thin wash clothes in place of tissues.
In my country bar soaps are the rule, body and hand wash entered the market like 10 years ago and while many people like it, bar soaps are more common is households.
When you throw the bamboo toothbrush out, do the people who sort rubbish know it’s compostable, or do you have to start your own compost heap if you want it to be compostable?
Hey y'all. So I have friends who have bidets but still use toilet paper for "laying a nest" in the toilet to avoid splash. Any zero waste ideas for that one? My proposal was a water less composting toilet, with a seperate bum gun and sink handy beside the toilet.
I don't understand how a tooth brush made of bamboo does something better than one recycled out of the leftover sludge from refining oil by chemical engineers. Do you think that sludge should not get made into plastics and should remain in it's more toxic form?
I'm sorry, but if you hold a ball point pen differently with just your thumb and first finger and make sure your hand is slightly off the page, the ink is absolutely fine. My grandad started doing this after a doctor suggested it (doc was a leftie too, no idea how they got onto the topic) and his handwriting is not smudged and perfectly lovely.
I do almost all of these.. But my oh my, I am way too terrified to switch to a safety razor lol. Soooooo clumsy. Also, for some reason I easily transitioned to cloth period pads, but still haven't made the handkerchief swap :') Is it ok to just carry one? Don't you need 4-5? After blowing your nose, do you just fold it and put it back in you pocket? So many questions hahah.
My bidet was my best purchase last year. Haven't used 1 sheet of tp since. I hate when I go out and have to use tp. I can't believe they aren't hugely popular here in the US.
I have had a few pairs of Thinx for a few years. They hold up pretty well. One pair the lace trim is just starting to separate but that is probably my fault for not always using a lingerie bag in the wash. I love bar soaps a little too much too. I can spend 15 min in the health food store smelling all of them and when I get home I keep picking up the boxes just to smell them for the next couple days...😂
Tarah H For moderate flow, yes. I was having some hormonal issues for a while and had to use them just as backup because my flow was excessive. It is really surprising how much they hold, though, for how thin they are.
I came back here hoping to see your "make coconut oil soap" video for the recipe and sadly it is no longer here and you are liking bar soap (but store bought?) What happened?
Nice swaps! If youre going to use multipul cameras you should use the footage from the camera youre looking at. A few times you were looking at the bottom camera and showing the top camera which was a little distracting. Other than that love the video! Great zero waste swap ideas 💕💕
Is there anything wrong with using plastic packaging as long as it’s recyclable? A lot of my toiletries/cosmetics come in plastic but I always rinse the bottles and toss them in the recycling bin when I’m done with them.
Plastic can't be recycled indefinitely. Usually only a handful of times before it's just not possible anymore, plus the recycling process is pretty energy and resource intensive. Then there's the problem with the plastics that end up scattered around (which happens to a lot, even the ones that get put in the recycling bin often don't go where they're supposed to), these break down into micro plastics that contaminate water all over the world and end up inside living things, including us.
Plastic isn’t recycled, it’s down cycled. It can’t be turned back into the same thing it can only become something of less quality (like a juice bottle turning to a plastic bag) & eventually it is something that can’t even be down cycled.
Also only a small percentage actually gets recycled because either councils don't have the infrastructure in place, or the load is contaminated in some way.
Thanks for the information everyone. I’ve been try to live more environmentally friendly. I started shopping with reusable bags a few years ago and I’m obsessive pulling roommates junk out of the trash can and into the recycling bin. But I feel like I can and should be doing a lot more.
Some great tips but I'm just wondering if it's necessary to have candles lit? I feel those who live in parts of the world without electricity can burn candles, but those of us who have electricity should either use electric light or candles but not both because that seems unnecessarily wasteful and maybe even a bit selfish. Thanks
I LOVE bar soap and bar shampoo. Unfortunately my favorite brand of oatmeal, unscented, undyed soap only comes in a box with plastic wrapping on the soap INSIDE the box. Whyyyy?? It's so wasteful.
The french press you recommended is made with plastic. :'( It would be cool to find a good one that's also shatterproof but isn't made with any plastic...
I find these swaps odd, no bidet attachment nor do I need one, more water eh, no green tea or French press, cafeteria love! Yes fabric napkins, no period underwear, post menopasal and no handkerchiefs. Not great swaps service they
This is not meant to be a critique, just an observation: for what I've seen so far in many "zero waste" themed channels, I've noticed that many zero waste swaps people made are just the norm in other countries... like cloth napkins, reusing plastic containers, bringing your own reusable bag to get groceries, buying some food in bulk, using a bidet and many more things.
I know the menstrual cup isn't for everyone. But I live in an RV, and we're moving on to a sailboat. Not having gross period garbage around is worth it, even if you're not zero waste. Plus, in some countries it's next to impossible to find pads and tampons. As long as I have clean water, I can wash and reuse. I've been using a cup forcabout 3 years now.
You having your mind blown at the age of your handkerchiefs reminded me of myself a few days ago, I was making toast by placing the bread in a pan and I always put an antique flat iron on it so it toasts evenly, suddenly I wondered how old that flat iron might be and after some research: +-300 years 💀
That thing saw more than just the French Revolution and I’m making toast with it 😭
Love cloth napkins! We are a family of 5 and everyone has a different color. We keep extra colors for guests and have been using the same set for about 12 years.
That's a great idea. So easy and everyone can always find their napkins 👍
Honestly some of these swaps are so easy and practical that I don’t even seem them as eco-minimalist anymore lol. I love my French press, my bamboo toothbrush, my reusable straws, my shampoo bar, conditioner bar and soap bar. Cloth napkins are soft and absorb more. Handkerchiefs are a must for me because I also suffer from allergies.
I purposefully made the switch on these items to be more minimalist, but through time I simply forgot the why until I watched your video. Great content!
I really like my period underwear because it means i never run out of period supplies. I like Stapless staplers because I never need to worry if I have enough staples.
Basically I love things that I don't have to refill or constantly replace, especially when I neeeeeed something asap.
I also like my reusable bubble tea cup and straw because it's super easy to transport and idéal for homemade bubble tea, thickshakes, loads shakes, etc.
Really enjoyed your favourites list here. It's great that you've brought back things that really work better, that had been advertised out of existence. A mixture of tried and true methods along with new ideas sounds great.
These are some great swaps that you have made and they are not your usual/typical zero swaps most people suggest.
I like to make tea in a teapot and use a tea strainer to pour it out.
Hey, you should make a video about the hardest parts of going zero waste. Love your channel btw :)
That's a great idea! Adding it to my list. ❤️
I will look into the bidet attachment, but my fav zero waste swaps is using flannel wipes after pee-ing. Super easy to wash, I just add a bit of baking soda for ph balance, to my soap nuts that I regularly use, and it saves a ton of toilet paper, and I don’t have to flush as often either. If I combined it with the bidet I might use cloth wipes for everything. I like the glass containers too, but don’t know if my local store would let me use them. Have to check it out. My dad taught me to use a handkerchief all the time, and I definitely think they are gentler. Enjoyed this video, so I will definitely check out your channel! Yes on bar soap, I get it with no packaging at the farmer’s market, and then I’m also supporting a local family business :)
jayathome tho bamboo ones are good storage containers
i'm embarrassed i hadn't come up with the french press idea myself! So simple!
Omgosh you just blew my mind! I was about to give away my French press but now it’s my new tea pot! Genius!
As a lefty, I hold all of my pens and pencils like you do the fountain pen. I haven't had ink on my hands since grade school.
Team handkerchief ❤️ I bought mine second hand and got some from my grandpa's sister. I had around 100 handkerchiefs for less than 30€. So I shared them with my best friend who just had less than 10 and gave her all the ones for kids which I had for her little son. This is definitely my favourite swap
Just found your channel and already love it.
I've seen dozens of these videos and honesty, I really like your take on beginner zero waste a lot. Most people don't mention replacements for paper towels and napkins, and that was one of the first things I cut out👍😁😄 so I totally agree we don't need them anymore 💖
I also have a glass French press that I initially used for brewing coffee -2 years ago. A few months later I started using it to make tea.
You are a girl after my own heart. I do all those things you said. I love my handkerchiefs. When I go on a trip I buy as a memento a canvas grocery bag from the area, a handkerchief, pretty napkins or dish towels. I have a portable bidet that fits on the end of a squeeze tube so I can take it wherever I go. It makes me feel so amazing. I love bar soap and live at a beach town so my soap dish is a pretty seashell from our beach. And the bar of soap looks so cute in there. I slice the soap bar into quarters so it fits in the shell but one bar will last over a year. It really is amazing how these small decisions can add up and actually make life more enjoyable. Thanks for posting
About fountain pens, if you get a decent one, it is a joy to write with it. Years ago, when one was going off to college, many parents/grandparents gifted the student a fine fountain pen. You took your notes with it. (now, of course, it's a laptop). I took all my college notes with a good Shaeffer pen. I loved it! I like getting different colored inks as well. I have a collection of pens, and did you know that you can get left-handed nibs? These are also for Calligraphers, since they do their work in ink. (their nickname are "Inkies"). Go to a good art store or online and you should be able to find one.
I’m a leftie too! And I love writing with fountain pens!
The bidet is the bomb. I also use reusable wipes which I found on Etsy. No toilet paper at all, just the soft wipes to blot up the excess water.
Hi Katherine (spelling?),
I have become a minimalist over the last three years and looking to become less wasteful. I was SO HAPPY to come across your video. I tend to be behind the trends because I do not like buyers remorse, at all, so contemplate a lot before purchasing something I believe will further my goals. THIS VIDEO IS AWESOME, some of the suggestion you have made were EXACTLY what I had in mind but hadn’t found yet, and even though some I have been doing, its Great to get some confirmation after going through So Much information! Did I say So Happy to come across your video? 😊
You are speaking my language, Thank You!
Following
Great list! Can’t wait to see your speakeasy at wanderlust in SF!
I read a blog post about turning car soap into liquid soap - have you tried this? I have some cute soap dispensers that I'd like to keep using. I'll definitely be trying it!
One of my favorite swaps is the water pik over dental floss. Bees reusable wraps over cling or zip lock bags.
I LOOOOVE cloth handcercheifs 😍 One more thing they are superior at compared to paper tissues are wiping tears! If you have a good long ugly cry and tears just wont stop they hold the tears much better & don't "melt off" like paper tissues 😁 Hopefully none of you need them for this reason 😙 But just in case - it's the best!
Btw. I made mine from old worn out bed sheets. So re-used material that would otherwise be thrown out. Made them about 10 years ago & using them as napkins & handcercheifs & instead of paper towels. When one wear out I recycle it with textiles.
This is a very educational video! I wonder about the period underwear - how do you wash your panties? I don't think that I will need enough during my period to get a full washing maschine load, and I wouldn't like to wash my bloody underwear with regular clothes. Is it more eco-friendly to do a barely filled washing load? And how about the heavier period days? Does it really stay comfortable for like 10 hours? I can't imagine changing my panties in the office and carry a dirty pair through the hallway... I'm confused, but intrigued!
Video all about this coming on Wednesday!
I discovered your channel recently and am already a big fan! Great work! :)
Thank you!!
Oh, I love both of your channels 😍
A fan of both too!
🙋🏽♀️ this lefty needs to check out fountain pens! I, too, luv bamboo toothbrushes. 🦷 I’ve purchase the charcoal bamboo toothbrushes for myself and my family for the past yr. We use thin wash clothes in place of tissues.
In my country bar soaps are the rule, body and hand wash entered the market like 10 years ago and while many people like it, bar soaps are more common is households.
@Rachael Heaney Peru
Tea leaves in a press or a tea ball make the same wet leaves to dispose of. I hope you rinse them into your compost.
Fountain pens are amazing for both right and left handed
When you throw the bamboo toothbrush out, do the people who sort rubbish know it’s compostable, or do you have to start your own compost heap if you want it to be compostable?
I have found all my cloth napkins at thrift stores for next to nothing.
I'm new to you channel and am confused on why you use two cameras in different locations? Its somewhat distracting although I do like your content
I didn’t know you could use a french press for making tea, if i ever get one I’ll definitely do that!
Hey y'all. So I have friends who have bidets but still use toilet paper for "laying a nest" in the toilet to avoid splash. Any zero waste ideas for that one? My proposal was a water less composting toilet, with a seperate bum gun and sink handy beside the toilet.
I wish there were period underwear before I hit Menopause. Great suggestion. I use them for leaks. 😁👍
I don't understand how a tooth brush made of bamboo does something better than one recycled out of the leftover sludge from refining oil by chemical engineers. Do you think that sludge should not get made into plastics and should remain in it's more toxic form?
I'm sorry, but if you hold a ball point pen differently with just your thumb and first finger and make sure your hand is slightly off the page, the ink is absolutely fine. My grandad started doing this after a doctor suggested it (doc was a leftie too, no idea how they got onto the topic) and his handwriting is not smudged and perfectly lovely.
Also shampoo bars are a good idea.
Snapware is the best 😍
I don't use straw to drink water
That's the best idea. Straws are not necessary at all.
This is so helpful 🌿🌱
I do almost all of these.. But my oh my, I am way too terrified to switch to a safety razor lol. Soooooo clumsy. Also, for some reason I easily transitioned to cloth period pads, but still haven't made the handkerchief swap :') Is it ok to just carry one? Don't you need 4-5? After blowing your nose, do you just fold it and put it back in you pocket? So many questions hahah.
Omg yessss! Bidets are life-changing. There should be PSAs about bidets, especially for people who menstruate
AGREED.
My bidet was my best purchase last year. Haven't used 1 sheet of tp since. I hate when I go out and have to use tp. I can't believe they aren't hugely popular here in the US.
This girl is soooo pretty 😍😍😍😍💕💕💕❤️❤️
Hi! Loved this video! I just wanted to know if the bristles of your bamboo toothbrush are compostable as well? Thanks!
I think it is but in an industrial compost system.
I have had a few pairs of Thinx for a few years. They hold up pretty well. One pair the lace trim is just starting to separate but that is probably my fault for not always using a lingerie bag in the wash. I love bar soaps a little too much too. I can spend 15 min in the health food store smelling all of them and when I get home I keep picking up the boxes just to smell them for the next couple days...😂
Tarah H For moderate flow, yes. I was having some hormonal issues for a while and had to use them just as backup because my flow was excessive. It is really surprising how much they hold, though, for how thin they are.
My husband argues that clothes have to be washed and dried which uses resources too. Our compromise is that he uses paper towels and I use cloths
I live in Asia now and idk how Americans do not use bidets. They are AMAZING especially during your time of the month
I came back here hoping to see your "make coconut oil soap" video for the recipe and sadly it is no longer here and you are liking bar soap (but store bought?) What happened?
did your water bill rise w/bidet?
Nice swaps! If youre going to use multipul cameras you should use the footage from the camera youre looking at. A few times you were looking at the bottom camera and showing the top camera which was a little distracting. Other than that love the video! Great zero waste swap ideas 💕💕
Is there anything wrong with using plastic packaging as long as it’s recyclable? A lot of my toiletries/cosmetics come in plastic but I always rinse the bottles and toss them in the recycling bin when I’m done with them.
Plastic can't be recycled indefinitely. Usually only a handful of times before it's just not possible anymore, plus the recycling process is pretty energy and resource intensive.
Then there's the problem with the plastics that end up scattered around (which happens to a lot, even the ones that get put in the recycling bin often don't go where they're supposed to), these break down into micro plastics that contaminate water all over the world and end up inside living things, including us.
Plastic isn’t recycled, it’s down cycled. It can’t be turned back into the same thing it can only become something of less quality (like a juice bottle turning to a plastic bag) & eventually it is something that can’t even be down cycled.
Also only a small percentage actually gets recycled because either councils don't have the infrastructure in place, or the load is contaminated in some way.
Thanks for the information everyone. I’ve been try to live more environmentally friendly. I started shopping with reusable bags a few years ago and I’m obsessive pulling roommates junk out of the trash can and into the recycling bin. But I feel like I can and should be doing a lot more.
Some great tips but I'm just wondering if it's necessary to have candles lit? I feel those who live in parts of the world without electricity can burn candles, but those of us who have electricity should either use electric light or candles but not both because that seems unnecessarily wasteful and maybe even a bit selfish. Thanks
And take care of your soap bars! Dont leave them sitting in water ! That's why they get gross and mushy
I got a Beef ad lol.
I got thinx yesterday! Gahh, I could have gotten $10 off!
I LOVE bar soap and bar shampoo. Unfortunately my favorite brand of oatmeal, unscented, undyed soap only comes in a box with plastic wrapping on the soap INSIDE the box. Whyyyy?? It's so wasteful.
the forlife stainless steel tea strainer will change your life
The french press you recommended is made with plastic. :'( It would be cool to find a good one that's also shatterproof but isn't made with any plastic...
You lost the camera for a minute there 😂
Thank the good lord. My period was gone by age 40 😄 I'm 53 looking 28 yahoo
🙌🙌
Who are u talking too?
Number 2
Muslims have been doing this for thousands of years haha
gotta stop buyin stuff "to go" -0- waste.
Hi! You should not press your tea leaves... 😬
Who were you talking to😂
The second camera, but the quality just wasn't great so I didn't use it.
I find these swaps odd, no bidet attachment nor do I need one, more water eh, no green tea or French press, cafeteria love!
Yes fabric napkins, no period underwear, post menopasal and no handkerchiefs.
Not great swaps service they
The way you talk about bidets made me think of this snl skit. th-cam.com/video/zQx-ZbSQSBM/w-d-xo.html