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Nifty Thrifty:  Does anyone completely avoid disposables?  |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 28 2009 : 08:50:58 AM
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I made a list once and one by one stopped buying disposables. I sewed all the reusables I needed to replace them if I didn't already have something to replace them
I made new handkerchiefs out of 2 very fine linen shirts I thrifted (one sky blue and one pink).
I use cloth TP made from birdseye. And of course, elasticized bowl covers instead of plastic wrap (handmade from old embroidered dresser scarves.)
What do you use to replace disposables?
http://www.rabbithorns.etsy.com & www.wayofthewife.blogspot.com |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2009 : 09:47:44 AM
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| Allison, your post reminded me of a time I was at Walmart in line behind 2 very young ladies. They were buying disposable diapers. One said to the other, I wish there was a way we could use these more than once. Hard to believe they didn't know about cloth diapers. They would go back to disposables after a couple of loads of laundry and folding. Oh and don't forget, rinsing out the poopie ones. These new mommies don't have a clue. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2009 : 09:56:02 AM
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Actually Belle, I am a new mommy in the sense that I was 24 when my daughter was born and both my husband and I made the choice to do cloth diapers exclusively only recently have we been using more disposables because of taking a huge class load at college, I have less time to attend to household chores. There will always be people who have no clue about the options, but my experience is that a lot more people of my age are returning to the basics. I was surprised at how many of my fellow new moms are interested in cloth and how many of the husbands are really supportive!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2009 : 1:17:27 PM
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Alison~
I have been trying to use less disposables. I like the idea of the elasticized bowl covers. I will be making some. I want to reuse everything I can and throw away less. It will save the planet and save some money in my pocket.
Ruth
Living the farm life in my heart.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ruth
http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/ |
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5 acre Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1007 Posts
~~~*Terri*~~~
WA.
USA
1007 Posts |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2009 : 8:09:29 PM
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I really want to get away from using disposables- food preservation is tricky. Leftovers are pretty easy- bowl over plate, plate over bowl, etc- but I'm having trouble with cheese especially. What do I wrap it in to keep it from going moldy? I get it in plastic, and I've tried to wrap it in wax paper but it tends to harden in that. I don't want to use plastics either... any ideas? I have read in my old housekeeping books about using cheesecloth and vinegar, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to try that yet! :)
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4238 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4238 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 04:10:31 AM
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Meg, I make my own cheese, and have whiped down cheese with vinegar. It helps to take off any mold, and I don't think it affected the taste one bit.
Michele |
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AuntPammy
True Blue Farmgirl
488 Posts
Pamila
williamstown
wv
USA
488 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 04:30:48 AM
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I have tried to cut back on disposables too. For some things I do use aluuminum foil or storage bags. The trick I have found is to wash and reuse them. I cannot tell you when the last time I bought any.If you are dilligent about washing and drying and storing them then they will last a very long time. I do wish I could get away from them 100 percent. Perhaps I will not buy any when I run out!
I remember my mom and aunts saving all these bags and scraps of paper when I was young, I guess that is why I do this.
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow." Helen Keller
www.auntpsalmostheaven.blogspot.com |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 06:13:05 AM
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Hey girls. I have gotten rid of most disposables in our house. One thing I recently did was cut up flour sack cloth into squares to replace paper towels. I also love having reuseable sponges. I crochet them and toss them in the wash.
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 07:47:17 AM
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Dana, you crochet sponges? I'd love to hear about that! Are they just smaller squares than dishcloth patterns?
I've also heard you can swipe cheese with olive oil to keep the molds down and then wrap in butcher paper. It's disposable again, but at least biodegradable. And cheese in a wheel is waxed so less is exposed to the air when opened.
The bowl covers don't get wet. I've also done the plate over bowl thing lots because I'm too lazy to use and wash my pretty bowl covers. My grandparents never had any foil or plastic wrap in the house. They also didn't have lots of unused food. They bought and cooked what they needed and used leftovers at lunch the next day, no matter what.
http://www.rabbithorns.etsy.com & www.wayofthewife.blogspot.com |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 07:58:58 AM
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Allison I LOVE the crochet sponges. Yes they are smaller than dishcloths. They are the size of a sponge. I want to crochet some with tulle added in as a scrubbie element. I can pass on the pattern if you like.
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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5 acre Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1007 Posts
~~~*Terri*~~~
WA.
USA
1007 Posts |
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Suzan
True Blue Farmgirl
659 Posts
suzanne
duncannon
pa
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 10:50:17 AM
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| I made one "scrubbie"; my mother kept asking me to make her some. Well, I gave her the one and told her to enjoy it because it would be the one and only from me! My hands were really sore from making it... |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Jan 29 2009 : 1:22:12 PM
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Terri, the pattern for scubbies I have use a cotton yarn and a netting strip so it's not all netting. I'll get the pattern up tonight!
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
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keeperofthehome
True Blue Farmgirl
154 Posts
Suzanne
Atlanta
Georgia
USA
154 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2009 : 1:11:45 PM
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I am SLOWLY getting rid of reusables. I use reusable bags at the grocery store and cloth towels instead of paper. Also, for all food items I use glass bowls, no matter what it is. My 2 only disposables left are toilet paper and sanitary pads. I don't know if I can give those up yet. Good topic by the way!
Blessings!
~Farrah
http://oldfashionedhomekeeper.blogspot.com
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DearMildred
True Blue Farmgirl
223 Posts
Amanda
Tulsa
OK
USA
223 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2009 : 2:32:57 PM
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Woohoo! I am just learning to crochet and can't wait to make a scrubbie sponge! Thanks Dana!
~~~Amanda in OK~~~
I made an airplane out of stone. I always did like staying home. -Shel Silverstein |
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ChicChick
True Blue Farmgirl
64 Posts
Joy
64 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2009 : 2:53:08 PM
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Do you have the pattern for a bowl cover? I realize that it would need to be sized for my own bowl(s) but I wonder if you have something that would give me the general idea. I'm not very daring on the sewing machine--I don't think I've ever sewn elastic into anything which I'm assuming would be needed for this project. Any ideas?
Visit me online! www.achickwithaconscience.blogspot.com |
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ChicChick
True Blue Farmgirl
64 Posts
Joy
64 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2009 : 2:55:26 PM
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Oh, I forgot to add to the list of non-disposables! We've switched to cloth napkins (love it!) and use rags about 90% of the time for clean ups instead of paper towels. I'm trying to use handkerchiefs instead of tissues though I don't always remember. I haven't tried cloth pads yet and doubt I will. BUT we're getting cloth diapers for the baby that's on it's way--I am a little worried that it will take a lot of time since they "go" so often, but I'm going to try it.
Visit me online! www.achickwithaconscience.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2009 : 4:19:40 PM
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Joy- if you get about 20-30 diapers, you will only have to do diaper laundry about every other day. And it really doesn't take too much time. The ones that I made for Nora (the contoured that act just like a disposable diaper except that you wash them) I just folded in half and put on the changing table. It took about 30 seconds to take care of the whole load and as far as rinsing and such- we never did until her poop was really solid. Until then we just washed the diapers alone and ran a rinse cycle then washed. It saved lots of time. Today's washers are very good about washing away gunk so the extra rinses that older instructions for cloth diapers recommend aren't all that necessary in my opinion.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2009 : 10:11:40 PM
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Alee, you crack me up. My mother bought me 6 dozen cloth diapers the day after I knew I was pregnant with my first. I think it was from the old "wash on Monday" habit of only doing the wash once a week.
http://www.rabbithorns.etsy.com & www.wayofthewife.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Nifty Thrifty: Does anyone completely avoid disposables? |
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Does anyone completely avoid disposables?
