MORE TIPS FOR PLASTIC FREE CHALLENGE

We are about halfway through our 30 day plastic free/waste reduction challenge.

If you have not gotten onboard with the challenge iI's not too late.

This week I thought I would provide some tips for reducing plastic consumption while doing laundry and cleaning our homes.

LAUNDRY

We have all lugged home those big plastic jugs of laundry detergent.

Well, there is a much better, lighter, easier on the planet, all natural alternative: ?SOAP NUTS! These nuts are actually from a tree, not manufactured. ?They come in a paper box, and are easy on our clothes and laundry and on our skin.

Just place 5 or 6 soap nuts in the little fabric bag they come with and toss in the washing machine. Each bag of soap nuts lasts for about 10 or so washings. When you are finished with the nuts, just toss them in the compost.

Soap nuts can be purchased at some grocery stores like MOMS and Whole Foods, online, or at a zero waste store like Trace.

HOUSEHOLD CLEANER

For cleaning your home, there are some really inexpensive, nontoxic, nonplastic products.

Good old fashioned vinegar and baking soda! ?Just mix a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar and you have a window, floor, appliance etc cleaner.

The vinegar does not smell for long but if it bothers you or you want a pleasant aroma while cleaning, just add a few drops of essential oil to the solution, or make your own citrus cleaner. To make an all natural citrus scented cleaner, just add orange or lemon peels to the vinegar water mixture, let if sit for a couple of days, throw the peels in the compost and clean away.

If you need some scouring power try baking soda. Perfect for sinks, tubs, even hard to clean baking sheets and pans. ?Not only does it clean, but it deodorizes as well.

DISH SOAP BAR

Instead of liquid dish soap, there are bars of dish soap. No plastic and they take up less space,

SWEDISH DISH CLOTHS

These dish cloths can be used not only for dishes, instead of plastic sponges, but for almost all household cleaning. They last for months and months. They can be cleaned in the washing machine, making them a more sanitary alternative to sponges.

I hope you give some of these products a try. Would love to know how they worked for you.

Continue the challenge -- we are almost there !

Sustainably yours

Helene