Monthly Archives: June 2012

DIY Eco-Cleaning Products

Posted in Animals, Eco Home, Environment, Issues, Plastic-Free by

As readers of this site may already know I am taking the challenge to live Plastic Free for July (thanks to the amazing initiative of Western Earth Carers who invented Plastic Free July). In a previous post (click here to see it) one of my 5 Steps to going plastic free was to make your own cleaning products. It is fun, easy and SO much better for the environment.

If you want to investigate all the dangerous chemicals we use in our homes (and the effects they have) then see my preivous post about it here but I can sum it up in a nut-shell. Lots of chemicals we find in home products are linked to major health issues such as cancer, fertility defects, liver damage, kidney damage and central nervous system damage. These are then they are poured straight down the drain into our waterways and oceans where the creatures are ever so delicate. Needless to say, it wreaks havoc on our ecosystems. And worst of all, these products come wrapped head-to-toe in single-use plastic packaging. Yuck. There is a better way… in fact there are lots of better ways!!! (Another benefit is that they are a lot cheaper than the nasty chemicals too).

Your Eco Cleaning Essential

There are a few ingredients that you cannot live without if you want to make your own cleaning products. I try to get most of my ingredients from ‘eco stores’ like Planet Ark but if you aren’t near their every single one of these can be found in supermarkets.

Note: I am aware that some of these come wrapped in plastic – namely the lids of the Essential Oils and the Washing Soda packet. I am trying to source alternatives. Looks like I will be filling the Dilemma Bag. :(

  • Bicarb Soda (aka Baking Soda) - This miracle powder does everything. It cleans, deodorizes, scours and softens water.
  • Lemon Juice - One of the strongest food-acids around and effective against most household bacteria.
  • White Vinegar - Another hero. Cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, stains and wax build-up.
  • Borax (aka Sodium Borate) – Cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors, changes light globes. (Might not do the last thing actually)
  • Washing Soda - Cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Be carfeul though – washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
  • Cornstarch AKA Corn Flour - Can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
  • Soap - Unscented soap in is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. I buy a natural soap bar and grate it before using.
  • Essential Oils – The ‘essential’ Essential Oils for basic house-cleaning are lavendar, lemon and Eucalyptus. Most of these oils have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and they smell bloody lovely. I always keep a lavender by the bed to help me nod off (and to keep mosquito’s away!) .
  • Olive Oil - A great alternative furniture polish (the most basic will do!)

Easy Surface Cleaner

This can be used on any type of counter – I use it in the kitchen, bathroom, wooden furniture/boards. The only thing vinegar shouldn’t be used on is marble as it can damage the surface.

  • Bicarb Soda
  • Vinegar (in spray bottle)

Note: White is most versatile but Apple Cider can be used on surface darker than the vinegar

Method

  1. Sprinkle Bicarb Soda over the surface
  2. Spray Vinegar over the surface (do a little jig while you hear it fizz)
  3. Wipe off with a damp sponge/cloth

If it is a particularly stubborn stain: Make a paste with the vinegar and bicarb and leave for 15 minutes before wiping off.

Dishwashing Detergent

This is care of the Plastic Free July website. Thank you! :)

  • 1 Cup borax
  • 1 Cup baking soda
  • ½ Cup salt

Method

  1. Mix ingredients and store in a reusable and resealable container.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of the mixture to the soap compartment.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar in the rinse agent compartment.

Gentle Microwave/Oven Cleaner

  • 1 x lemon
  • Water
  • Microwavable container

Method

  1. Slice up lemon and place in water
  2. Zap in Microwave for 5 – 10 minutes | Bake in Oven on 200C (390F) for 40 minutes
  3. Then use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe the inside (once oven is cool). The mess will wipe off really easily without the use of harsh, toxic chemicals.

Strong Oven Cleaner

  • 3/4 Cup Bicarb Soda
  • 1/4 Cup Salt (table is fine, sea salt is better, Kosher is best)
  • 1/4 Cup Water

Method

  1. Dampen the oven surfaces with sponge and water.
  2. Mix bicarb soda, salt and water to make a thick paste
  3. Spread throughout oven interior – liberally on tough mucky areas
  4. Let sit overnight
  5. Remove with spatula and wipe clean.
  6. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots

Window or Mirror Cleaner

  • 1 Cup White Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 3 Cups Water
OR if you don’t like the smell of vinegar…
  • 1 Cup Lemon Juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Vinegar
  • 3 Cups Water

Method

  1. Mix vinegar and lemon juice with water
  2. Pour into a used spray bottle
  3. Spray onto window/mirror and scrub with newspaper (don’t use paper towels – they will streak!)

My Crazy Bathroom Cleaning Technique

Whenever I do this I have ‘Maniac’ playing in my head and fully pretend that I am Alex Owens from Flashdance – get my head shaking around and stomping my feet. This is of course not necessary but neither are cupcakes 99% of the time – they’re still fun though.

  • Bicarb Soda
  • Vinegar (in spray bottle)

Method

  1. While you shower in the bathroom you intend to clean close the door, cover bath and shower plugs and allow the room to steam up
  2. Have bicarb in a shaker and put on a shower cap
  3. Sprinkle bicarb everywhere (sink included) – 3Tablespoons should be enough for whole room
  4. Spray all over the room with vinegar
  5. Use a damp sponge to scrub surfaces, sinks and towel racks
  6. Use old stockings to clean around taps
  7. Use on old toothbrush for corners
  8. Even do the walls! Use a broom

Tip: You can upcycle a shaker out of anything… e.g. an old coffee tin with holes in the bottom or a plastic bottle with hole in the lid or just use an old Parmesan shaker. 

Bathroom Mold

  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Water

Method

  1. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle
  2. Spray onto areas with mold
  3. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower/bath

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1/4 Cup Bicarb Soda
1 Cup White Vinegar

Method

  1. Mix Bicarb Soda and Vinegar
  2. Pour into basin and let it set for a 10 minutes
  3. Scrub with brush and rinse

Clothes Washing Powder

  • 1 Liter Boiling Water
  • 2 cups Bar soap (grated)
  • 2 cups Borax
  • 2 cups Washing Soda

Method

  1. Add finely grated bar soap to boiling water and stir until soap is melted (do this on a low heat)
  2. Pour the soapy water mix into a large, clean bucket and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
  3. Add 6 Litres of water and stir until well mixed.
  4. Cover bucket and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry (You will need to stir the soap each time you use it as it does gel – maybe a fun job for kids?)

Furniture Polish

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice

Method

  1. Pour oil and lemon juice into a jar
  2. Stir to combine
  3. Dip a dust cloth or rag into oil, blot the oil by folding the cloth together, and then dust your furniture

Unclog a Drain

  • 1/2 Cup Baking Soda
  • 2 Cups Boiling Water
  • 1/2 Cup Vinegar (if stubborn clog)

Method

  1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain followed by the boiling water.
  2. If it is reeeeally blocked chase the baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar and cover – allowing the crazy fizzing which means it is breaking up all the gunk.
  3. Flush that with 2 litres of boiling water

Carpet Cleaner

  • Vinegar

Method

  1. For pet stink and stains in carpets, mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Apply to affected areas.
  2. Blot with an cloth until moisture is absorbed.
Note: Soda Water also works but it is hard to find plastic free. Perhaps Mineral Water would work as it is the carbonation that lifts the stain. Will keep you posted next time there is a carpet accident at home! :) 

Natural Air Fresheners

All that commercial air fresheners do is mask a smell and/or coat our nasal cavities. I don’t like the idea of that especially when you read the ingredients you find in them. So here are some really simple and natural ways to… well… freshen your air!

  • Mix a bit of Bicarb Soda or Vinegar with Lemon Juice in small dishes around the house – this will absorb odours!
  • Keep a spray bottle with water and 10 drops of lavender oil by the door. Spray before guests come in so they get a beautiful, relaxing welcome!
  • Mix eight tbsp with three drops of your favourite essential oil. Place in a decorative bowl or vase
  • Dab some essential oil on a light bulb. When on, the heat will diffuse the fragrance.
  • Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking.
  • To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
  • If you grind your own coffee keep the grounds on the counter
  • Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove before guests arrive. (I then use left overs in my tea!!!)
  • Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room
  • The greenest tip of all… Get some houseplants!

How I Beat Anxiety Naturally

Posted in Uncategorized by

When you are pregnant it is quite amazing to watch your body morph into this out-of-proportion vessel and feel all the changes that experienced mums warn you about: a sore back, a pain down your thigh or a craving for chalk. What can be even more bizarre though are experiencing changes that you didn’t expect. For me that was finding a ‘cure’ for my Anxiety Disorder – an issue that has governed my life for close to 4 years now. It struck me as odd though considering impending parenthood is a fairly terrifying concept in itself. Surely I can’t be less stressed? So I examined the changes in my lifestyle since learning I was pregnant and BOOM – the solution was under my nose the whole time. What an idiot I have been.

Stress and Health

Stress is incredibly bad for our health and that was what really scared me about my Anxiety Disorder (see below) – I was permanently in ‘the red zone’. A study by Dr Bruce McEwen from the Rockefeller University shows that ‘chronic stress’ lowers the immune system and damages bones, organs and brain cells. Stressed bodies release cortisol and adrenaline – that explains my high blood pressure and racing heart – and cause us to age quicker (hear him talking about his study here).

From Natalie Shell.com

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety is a normal feeling until it becomes a persistent state – when high anxiety, extreme discomfort and tension become the norm. Well-known disorders include Agoraphobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but there are loads of different types – you can click here to see a handy guide provided by the Australian Government.

My Experience

I had Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which is defined as an excessive, uncontrollable, and unrealistic worry about everyday things, such as health, family, friends, money, or career. I would live in constant fear of panic attacks which would occur completely randomly – on public transport, before social occasions, in work meetings or while I was just sitting around minding my own business. Panic Attacks are debilitating and can lead to all sorts of symptoms such as racing heart, difficulty breathing, a feeling of choking (my least fave), dizziness, nausea and tingling extremities. All accompanied by an unwavering belief that you are dying. Needless to say it can make you a little reclusive.  And crazy lookin.

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Doctors suggested anti-depressants, Counsellors suggested some underlying ‘issues’, Naturopaths suggested left-of-field disorders like Pyrrole and friends suggested cuddles (Mark, Sal and Jenna – I love you). None of those shoes fit though (apart from the hugs) and I certainly didn’t want to try brain-altering medications. I would like to state that I whole-heartedly believe that for some people that is an option that should not be ignored – I am only saying that for me I felt that it wasn’t right. It was just so flippantly suggested to me without any investigation into my medical history or mental state. It was suggested to me as if it was nothing – going onto any medication is something. In the end it was a Doctor in the Emergency Department (I told you – it really feels as though you are dying!) cemented my resolve to avoid them by telling me just how dangerous and addictive these medications can be. It really should be a last option. Either way I started resigning myself to the fact that maybe I was insane.

Image from Food Based Nutrition.com

The Cure

With pregnancy came healthy lifestyle changes which let’s face it, I should have been doing from the start! But all of a sudden things started getting better. I have completely stopped having panic attacks, started sleeping better, feel happier, have lost weight (I am lighter at 4.5 months pregnant!) and I am just functioning better in general. I cannot tell you how freeing it is not creeping around my life waiting for the next panic attack to jump out from a corner and absolutely floor me.

So I thought I would share what has worked for me in case you are experiencing the same thing, know someone that is or have just been feeling a little ‘off’ lately. All these habits are good no matter who you are.

Cut Caffeine

From Coffee Scholar

This is the biggest factor in my new, calmer attitude. It is recommended that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to fewer than 200mg a day – the equivalent to 2 cups of instant coffee, 4 cups of tea or 1 cup of café coffee (might even be over 200mg). This led to me living on DIY herbal teas (like this easy ginger tea), warm water with lemon in it and homemade fruit mixes. Immediately I felt a change. I had minor withdrawals and craved a ‘buzz’ still so after a while tried black tea. As soon as I had one I got the funny feeling again; my heart started to race, I felt nervous – the tell-tale signs. Now I just don’t miss it. I have one decaf coffee (only 3mg per cup) in the morning and it seems to act as a kind of ‘caffeine placebo’.  Give it a go.

Only Consume Natural Sugars

Processed, nasty sugars are another trigger. Lollies, pre-made sauces, sugary drinks, (basically anything processed) would send me into the crazy-haze again. But I consider it a good thing – it forces me to cut out an ingredient that is not only addictive but also utterly damaging to my health! I now avoid it as much as I can and try to sate my sweet tooth with fruit, raw honey and maple syrup. My favourite health blogger, the Wellness Warrior, has provided a whole list of alternatives here.

Scary! From Strong Lola Facebook Page.

If you want to completely boot sugar then check out former Cosmopolitan Editor (now healthy guru) Sarah Wilson’s awesome blog.  She quit sugar altogether due to an auto-immune disease and then wrote a great e-book guiding others through it, aptly named ‘I Quit Sugar’ (buy it here). She also recently appeared on a 60 Minutes segment about the dangers of sugar.

Eat Healthy

Lots of fruit. Even more veg. Colourful = antioxidants. Wholefoods. Choose organic wherever possible. Avoid packages.  Steer clear of gluten and lactose where possible. Simple enough.

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Not surprisingly, when you are actually drinking/are drunk anxiety levels are generally low. “Where the hell did my champagne go?” was the extent of my stress on a night out. However for anxiety sufferers (particularly anyone with an Anxiety Disorder) the next day can be torture. This is because alcohol affects the Serotonin levels in our brain (happy gas), dehydrates us, drops our blood sugar, makes us hyperactive and elevates our heart-rates.

I have cut alcohol from my diet completely while pregnant and have definitely felt the benefits but I am not unrealistic about our future relationship. Once I have the bub I imagine red wine will be back on the menu however I have definitely changed my attitude towards it. I don’t need it, I certainly don’t need to get drunk every time I have it and I will savour it glass-by-glass rather than crate-by-crate in future. I will also aim to regularly have a few weeks of being a teetotaler every month or two.

Meditate Daily

Why we constantly look for super pills and magic formulas is beyond me: Meditation is free and flexible – you can do it anywhere! It has recently been shown that meditation (or deep relaxation) changes our bodies on a genetic level – our genes actually become disease-fighting machines. Researchers have shown that this ‘relaxation effect’ as they’ve coined it can be as powerful as any medicinal drug and can fight off cancers and inflammatory effects within the body. People who meditate daily also have greater chances of remaining free of arthritis and joint pain, have stronger immunity, healthier hormone levels and lower blood pressure. I didn’t know all of this when I started (I just wanted to calm down) but now I am hooked!

Search for ‘Guided Meditation’ on Youtube, find one that you click with and see how you feel after a week. You can also buy CD’s, iPhone apps and plenty of books if you get really hooked. Here is a great one I found on YouTube;

Practice Yoga

Meditation is one of the 5 Key Principles of Yoga so everything you read in the above section applies here to. You also get a million other benefits (which you can read here) as well as toning your body up – which always makes me feel better about life.

(I always wear glamorous fuchsia frocks and practice the  yoga atop a mountain by the way. I take my wind machine too).

DEDICATED. RELAXATION.

For at least 30 minutes every day banish technology, throw away your to-do lists and pamper yourself with some devoted you time. I never realised how little I turned my mind off. I would be ‘relaxing’ by walking along the beach but constantly running through what I would have to do as soon as I was off the beach. Then when I was out and about doing those things I would think about how I need to relax more and do calming activities – like walk on the beach. Now I have adopted a different philosophy and I try to appreciate what is going on in the now for at least half an hour every day. Wherever you are, be truly present. Read a book, go for a walk, have a bath, sit in the garden. Feel comfortable within your own skin.

Take some time out to just have fun!

Well – that’s it. Those are the changes I made. I think they are a hell of a lot easier and more enjoyable than medication or the alternative. Do you have a natural solution to beating stress? Have you overcome an anxiety disorder naturally? I would love to hear in the comments.  

That Sophie Monk Ad: Am I Insane?

Posted in Animals, Issues, Media by

Around the water cooler this week there is a lot of talk about that Sophie Monk / Lynx advert. If you have 3 minutes of your life that you don’t particularly care about you can see the ad here. Mama Mia questioned whether it was clever or crass. SMH shrewdly analysed the hypocrisy of Unilever: a corporation that feeds highly sexualised young women to hungry males with one hand (Lynx) and then claim to empower the women that they have just served up with the other (Dove ‘love your body’). Anti-sexploitation campaigners (such as Collective Shout) are calling for consumers to boycott any products that fall under the Unilever umbrella.  And now this lowly blogger poses a question to you;

Am I insane or is everyone mad about the wrong thing?!

Yes, the ad is sexist, ageist and racist but giving the Wash Your Balls campaign the attention it is so desperately craving does nothing but encourage those crafty advertising creatives to go one step further next time (please refer United Colours of Benetton circa 1980’s).  Stop talking about it and it will go away. What cannot be disregarded is the key to this companies undoing – the type of controversy that cannot be manipulated to garner free publicity (the good kind, anyway). Yet this is the information that is being ignored the loudest!

Unilever Supports Animal Testing

Unilever test their products on animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, monkeys, rabbits and rats. These animals are locked in small cages for their entire lives where their only respites are the times that they are tested upon. Ingredients and finished products are tested on animals using a variety of methods which include;

The Draize Eye Test

The toxic substance is dripped under the lower eyelids of rabbits who are then monitored for their reactions.

The Draize Skin Irritancy Test

Animals are put into full body restraints where their fur is shaved and their skin is applied with the ‘irritant’ for a period of 4 hours to verify whether the product is corrosive – displayed through redness, burns or blistering.

The Lethal Dose Test

The lethal dose test measures the amount of a toxic substance that will, in a single dose, kill a certain percentage of animals in a test group. “To avoid interference with results,” no painkillers are administered. During a lethal dose test, the experimental substance is forced into the animals’ throats or is pumped into their stomachs by a tube, sometimes causing death by stomach rupture or from the sheer bulk of the chemical dosage. Substances also are injected under the skin, into a vein, or into the peritoneal lining of the abdomen; they are also often applied to the eyes, rectum, or vagina, or forcibly inhaled through a gas mask.

Please keep in mind that several hundred animals may be used for every substance that is tested. Unilever also chooses to test products that are not legally required to undergo any form of testing.

I am not into shock tactics BUT I do think that everyone needs to see the reality of animal testing. Below is a PETA video called ‘Testing 1, 2, 3…”. If you have not made the link between animal cruelty and the products that you buy please be brave and take the time to watch it;

What Can You Do?

There are two very simple steps that every one can take to end this cruelty.

  1. Boycott any companies that test on animals. If you are not sure PETA has this handy online sources where you can type in the brand/company and see for yourself. Click here to use it.
  2. Tell them about it!!! Write to the company and tell them exactly why you are taking your hard-earned cash elsewhere. Get your friends and family to. Forward details to everyone you know. The more they hear the more likely it is they will change. Corporations listen when something affects their bottom line.

In the end it all comes down to Consumer Power – vote with your dollar and all of a sudden people start listening.

Brands To Avoid… (some will shock you)

It can be hard to discern which brands fall under which companies. Here is the Unilever ‘brand wagon’ that you should avoid if you do not want to support animal cruelty;

Backwards

This is happening day-in and day-out yet the only reason Unilever are in the news today is because they scripted a tacky advert with a whole lot of juvenile double entendres. Yes, it pushes some fairly lack-lustre ideals on an impressionable youth but surely disregarding the barbaric torture of defenseless animals is the more deplorable of the two? I am in no way trying to trivialize the massive and scary issue that is sexism. Then again, I do sometimes feel that we need to apply some Never Ending Story logic to it and let The Nothing swallow it up; ignore the non-consequential assaults like this ridiculous advert and focus our energy onto real injustices. We can all turn off the TV and this ad goes away. It is a very different story for the millions of animals that are tortured and killed each year in the name of cosmetics.

Take a stand for something important today-  Boycott any companies that animal test!

DIY Painted Vases

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Once upon a time I wanted my house to be one of those impossibly stylish affairs where all the palette and textures are earthy and calming and meticulously thought out. One of those places that makes your inner monologue fire up and say;

‘Wow – this person must have it together. You should get it together. I really should have worn shoes today?’

But then I realised I will never be one of those impossibly stylish people, I am a bit grubby and (most importantly)… I LOVE COLOUR! It makes me really happy. This made me look at 3 very drab thrifted vases that I found in an op-shop and decide to get all up in their grill with some colour. The best thing was at only $2 each this was a really cheap and simple project.

Equipment

  • Thrifted Vases
  • Acrylic or Ceramic paint – white is essential and then any other colours you want
  • Paint brush
  • Pencil
  • (If you want to paint lyrics on then you will need a thin brush. Otherwise you could use a paint pen – I have heard they are great!)
  • Masking tape – if you like the stripey vase

Method

Plain Vase

  • Paint your vases white. I only needed 2 light coats.
  • Choose what colour you want your vase and paint.
  • Uh yeah… that’s it! :)
  • I then filled my vase with some sustainable DIY flowers that I made from old magazines.

If however you don’t want it to be a block colour I experimented a bit. Read on…

Lyric Vase

  • I chose a song lyric that made me really happy; “Morning Sun” by The Beautiful Girls. So pretty.
  • I then wrote these lyrics on in pencil. I wrote mine in different sizes and in a scriptive style but I think it would also like great with a simple print.
  • I then painted the lyrics in white. Apparently Paint Pens are really great to use and are available at most craft stores.
  • I highlighted particular lyrics I loved in a complimentary colour.

Dr Seuss Vase

  1. Sad to say this one was a bit of a fail. I like colour but I don’t like to be punched in the face with it. But oh well – it reminds me of Dr Seuss whom I adore and every time my partner and I look at it we laugh… so was it really a fail? I also think that in the right colours it could look really cute.
  2. Wrap masking tape around the vase. Be careful to get it straight. I thought the ‘rough look’ could be alright but in a clarity that is reserved specifically for retrospective thoughts a straight line is the only way to go.
  3. Paint your first coat and leave to dry.

  1. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as many times as you wish.

And there they are. As you can see you can be as creative as you want. Some may turn out brilliantly… others may make you laugh every time you look at them (Stripey… I’m looking at you mate!) but either way it is great fun, cheap and can give an instant colour lift to a boring old shelf. Enjoy.

5 Steps To Be Plastic Free

Posted in Animals, Environment, Issues, Perth, Plastic-Free by

Congratulations! – you have registered yourself for the Plastic Free July challenge! Be proud of yourself for taking the leap. (If you haven’t signed up yet, that’s okay too… just click here to go to the registration page). I can guarantee you that after this challenge you will look at your buying habits very differently. Even the seasoned ethical consumer can trip up on an overzealous plastic addiction because these polymers are just so damn abundant in our society and sometimes very sneaky too! This is why it is great to be as organized as possible for the challenge. I will borrow some pretty words from a Mr Henry Hartman here;

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity”

Thanks to this amazing Western Earth Carers initiative we have all got the opportunity, now we just need to get ourselves prepared! Here are my Top 5 tips on how to get prepared;

Step 1: Audit Yourself

Monitor your plastic habits. Look at everything you consume for at least a few days but ideally try for a week. There are plenty of ways to keep track of how much plastic you are accumulating depending on how pernickety you want to be;

  1. Mark it in your diary.
  2. Keep a notebook on hand.
  3. Keep all your receipts and highlight every product that contained plastic.
  4. Collect it all. One of the rules of the challenge is to have a Dilemma Bag to store every bit of plastic you accrue. Why not have a ‘Before Bag’ and collect all the plastic you use when you aren’t being conscious about it. Then you can compare it at the end of the challenge to see how much you saved. It can be kind of like those infomercial diet adverts – except it would actually be real!

If you want to be particularly fastidious about it be sure to note down the incidental plastics too, things like drinking straws.

Step 2: Highlight Your Problem Areas, Create Solutions

After you’ve monitored your habits you will basically have your own tailored infographic detailing how much plastic infiltrates your life on a day-to-day basis. This is a great way to forecast any problem area’s and ensure that you have a contingency plan in place!

I originally listed every possible problem area I could think of within the article but it is such a heeeuuuuge topic that the post started to look like War and Peace.  So I am formulating that to be a separate article for next week. In the meantime, here are some examples of my problem areas and solutions I am thinking about employing;

Lunch on the run

I always seem to end up with a bunch of Chinese takeaway containers that once carried my salady goodness. It is all down to being rushed and disorganized!

Solution #1: Going to make up a task board at home to be more organised.

Solution #2: Will take my own container everywhere

Solution #3: Will eat at the actual café more – enjoy a good ol’ fashioned plate of salad!

Cosmetics – mascara and concealer especially.

Solution: Researching companies that do not use plastic.

Skittles

I am pregnant and slightly obsessed with these delicious little pebbles…

Solution:  BUT they have no nutritional value so I am happy to cut these out altogether.

Crackers 

Why do they come wrapped in plastic in a cardboard box?

Solution: Investigating how to make my own.

Milk

Unfortunately all rice/soy/oat milk containers come in those tetramilk packs which are lined with plastic and often have plastic lids too.

Solution: I am currently investigating how to make my own.

Step 3: Assemble Your Plastic Free Living Kit

There are a few tools that will make living a plastic free life a hell of a lot easier. I have made the rule that if the only option is plastic I will abstain from buying it – you can draw your own line in the sand on that one – but with this kit you will rarely need to go without. One thing I do recommend is having a slightly roomier handbag, satchel, laptop bag or backpack to accommodate for the extra loot. Here is my list of must haves;

Reusable shopping bags

If you go to the E-String Bags website they have a plastic bag counter in the left navigation column. It shows the Australian and Worldwide Year To Date usage of plastic bags. Watching those numbers fly by really drives home the scale of the issue with plastic bags. I don’t think there is anything more tragic than a major problem that has such an easy solution. Either way, hopefully you already have a few of these but if not you can find them everywhere.

The Original Onya Bag

I can’t go past a WA hero Onya Bags – BONUS you get to support a sustainable local business! They are convenient, colourful and made from recycled bottles. You can buy these online as well as all around the country (in cities and regional areas). See the stockists here.

Onya also have a bazillion other awesome products like a reusable food cover and FINALLY a reusable doggy poo/nappy bag.

String Bags (for fruit and veg)

Using plastic bags for vegetables is really bloody unnecessary. It is a funny one though because I bet most people don’t even realise they are doing it – I certainly didn’t. One day a friend picked me up on the fact that I was wrapping one capsicum in a bag; I was on autopilot. Since that day I just load all my lose fruit and veg into my basket but some people may find it a bit time consuming. If you are one of those people then…

  • E-string bags are perfect and they are only $3.25 each. They’re made of organic cotton and can be bunched up to be really small but are also super stretchy so can accommodate for any surprise shopping excursions too! Buy them here.

E-String Organic Cotton Bags

BYO Coffee Cups

Here’s a mindboggling thought – 500 billion disposable cups are manufactured globally every year; that’s about 75 disposable cups for every single person on the planet! There is no need. Reduce your waste by getting yourself a BYO Coffee Cup. Here are my faves;

  • Onya Bags are back to the rescue. They have a range of colours and sizes of BYO Cups (I am partial to the Olive Green one) and are all made from food safe silicone. See the range here. You can buy everything online too!
  • For international readers there are local options too! Keep Cups have offices in Australia, UK and USA and allow you to not only order online but also customize your cup size and colour into the craziest combination you can think of! Have a play and make your perfect cup here.

Needless waste.

Water Bottle

Here are some interesting stats on bottled water (care of The Gruen Transfer). “It costs more than petrol. It takes 3 bottles of water to make 1 bottle of water. Fill an empty bottle a quarter full of oil and that’s the content of petroleum used to make it. So why is it a $500 million dollar industry in Australia when we have some of the healthiest drinking water on the planet straight from our tap?” Couldn’t of said it better myself!!! Get yourself (and your family) a reusable stainless steel water bottle and take it everywhere you go. They are available at supermarkets, chemists, health-stores, kitchen stores and sports stores.

  • Again (I swear I don’t get commission – I can’t help the companies I love!) Onya have great Reusabele H2O bottles in a massive range sizes and colours. See them here.
  • If you have teenagers that are a bit finicky about their ‘dorky’ mum buying them things then SIGG (another Australian company) have bottles with all sorts of designs on them (see here). Kids will love getting involved and being able to pick out a sustainable style that suits them.
  • Envirosax (based in Queensland) have a great range to (see here). They also sell Internationally!
This is one of those images that really hit me hard. It is an amazing image by Chris Jordan and it depicts 2 million water bottles – that is the amount of water bottles that are used in USA every 5 minutes…

Amount of bottles used in USA every 5 minutes. Image by Chris Jordan

(For the full Bottled Water episode of The Gruen Transfer see the link here. Very, very clever. Did you know Mount Franklin water is not from Mount Franklin? It is just filtered tap water.)

BYO Food Container 

If you know you are going somewhere that will require you getting a ‘takeaway meal’ be prepared and take your own containers. I remember chatting to Jess from Plastic Freo (amazing girl who is going plastic free for a whole year! Read more here) saying that most cafe’s or food vans or whatever were really impressed with her and were more than happy to use her container instead. It is also a great conversation starter in the food line – if you are a chatty type – and again spreads a really fantastic message.

BYO Knife and Fork 

I keep two sets of knives and forks in my bag at all times. I consider plastic cutlery one of the sneaky plastics. Sometimes you don’t even ask for them but before you know it they’re in your hand and out the door. If you don’t want to ruin your kitchen set then just pop into an opshop – they always have mismatched cutlery there which won’t set you out more than $2.

 Metal Straw – optional

While some of us are plenty accustomed to using those funny pink pillows that line our mouths to drink, some peeps are particularly partial to straws – and what’s not to love about a straw. Tubes of yum! Avoid the wasteful plastic varieties though and get your mits on metal straws like these ones from the Ash n’ Jules Eco Everyday Basics.

Step 4: Get Inspired

Aren’t we lucky that we have so many fantastic people to look up to and so many helpful resources available when it comes to fighting for our planet?

Tim Silverwood – Take 3

  • Wise Up - If you want to get a few more tips and tricks (as well as meet like-minded people) then head to any of the free Plastic Free July events that the Western Earth Carers are holding. See the event details here - there are cooking classes, movie screenings and workshops. Fun fun.
  • Tim Silverwood / Take 3 - What a hero. Tim really shows people that one person can make a massive difference. As an ocean lover he founded the  Take 3 Organisation where the message is simple – “take 3 pieces of rubbish when you leave the beach, waterway or…anywhere and you have made a difference”. Follow his facebook page for daily information and inspiration about being plastic free. Why not add the Take 3 rule to your Plastic Free July? 
  • Lisa Griffin / Plastic Free Freo - Again, one girl who made a massive difference. I was lucky enough to be spending a lot of time around Lisa when this initiative was getting off the ground. This lion haired (and hearted) maiden knew that a ban on plastic bags was a huge step towards keeping her beloved community beautiful. So she lobbied. And lobbied. And got local attention. Then national attention. Then won! Check out the Plastic Free Freo website here. Why stop at banning plastic from your life only? 
  • Beth Terry / My Plastic Free Life - The epitome of the ethical consumer. Beth saw practices and effects that she didn’t like and then voted with her dollar. If a company used plastic she would avoid it and then go one step further. She would write to the company, let them know that consumers do care enough about the environment to avoid purchasing the product and would have great success. One company changed their whole packaging from one bit of feedback. Keep that in mind throughout your challenge! (You can see Beth’s amazing story within this post or see her website here).

Step 5: Think Positive – You Are Doing Something AMAZING!

Well – you are ready to go! Before you set out on this crazy mission though make sure you remind yourself of all the fantastic benefits you get from abolishing plastic from your life. Your health, the oceans, money, time – the benefits are endless.

I think the best thing is you can wake up every morning knowing that you are consciously focused on making a difference to the planet and setting a great example for everyone around you. Remind yourself of that every time you say no to a piece of plastic. Good luck!

Leave the world a little better than you found it. 

- Baden-Powell’s Last Message (1941)