Hello! I am back after about two months of being barely active on here. I had to go to work for some time and then I was taking my final exams at school. I will try to post more from now ;)
I had very little time to declutter at May, so I decided not to make a separate post about it and I decided to put the months together.
Here is the list:
skirt - gave away
stuffed animal - gave away
velvet sweatpants - gave away
toys - 10 gave away
pot plants - 6 gave away
pinafores - 2 gave away
small bags - 10 gave away
photo frame - gave away
a small torch - gave away
a soap bubble liquid - gave away
baking plates - 6 gave away
a thermal mug - gave away
a soap - gave away
scribers - gave away
ink pen - gave away
drawing charcoal - gave away
drawings - 3 gave away
paintings - 2 gave away
badges - 5 sold, 2 gave away
a card game - sold a pair of snickers - sold
Tarot cards - sold
a T-shirt - sold
a shampoo bar - sold
paper folders - 3 thrown away, 1 gave away
stickers sets - 2 thrown away, 1 give away
unfinished sewing projects - thrown away
candles - 2 thrown away
old receipts - thrown away
small pieces of old fabric - thrown away
pair of socks - thrown away
gift cards - 2 thrown away
old oil pastels - thrown away
old (dried) ink - thrown away
lip balms - 2 thrown away
a glass box - thrown away
a lot of sketches and drawings - thrown away (count as 1)old projects (mainly printed graphics) - thrown away
notebooks - 15 thrown away
notebooks covers - 5 thrown away
old documents - thrown away
trousers - thrown away
calendars - 2 thrown away
magazines - 6 thrown away
a newspaper - thrown away
a book - thrown away
a cup - thrown away
puzzles - thrown away
small pendant - thrown away
organiser box - thrown away
a piece of underwear - 1 thrown away a bottle of expired shampoo - thrown away (I wanted to use it up, but I got rash…)
And for now it is 679 of 1000 things.
I will publish another post about decluttering soon where I will sum up my experiences after decluttering for half a year ;)
I’ve cut my menstrual cup’s ring! And it feels much better now ;) I’ve had an continuous feel of it poking me and it was irritating my vagina, now I can’t feel it at all ;)
I wanted to wait with cutting the stim utill I get comfortable with inserting and pulling out my cup. I adapted to this quickly ;)
I’m also considering buying a bit smaller cup, but for now this one is okay.
The list seems to be long, but I got rid of not many items ;)
By the way, I want to mention that I make two kinds of donations. Things that are in very good condition I donate to various foundations and the things that are in worse condition (but still good quality) I put into containers for used clothing. I believe it is enough and even if the thing won’t reach new owner, they will be recycled properly. Textiles recycling is really crucial!
You’re the best! I’m so grateful for your support and I hope my posts inspire you, so we can make small changes everyday for better future (by the way: it is my 100th post!)
What do you think about 2k Q&A? Feel free to send me a question about anything anytime! | smallzerowaste.tumblr.com/ask
Today I made a tortilla dough for the first time in my life! Until now I have been buying ready flours in supermarkets. By making it at home I avoided unwanted packaging and ingredients :)
This is a tough time for many people. At the moment in my country there are 7918 confirmed infections and 314 deaths.
Remember to always make your health a priority.
I want to share with you some less waste tips that may help you these days.
Let’s start with masks - they are not difficult to sew at home (or even make without sewing!) and it is obvious that having a reusable one is better than using lots of disposable ones. After use you can disinfect it with boiling water or just put it into laundry ;) I recommend you having a few face masks.
Hand sanitizer - the world went crazy about it. Try making it yourself, it is easy! Ingredients:
12 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol
5 tablespoons of aloe vera and 3 tablespoons of glycerin which will prevent your skin from drying out and provide extra protection
You can also add some drops of essential oil;)
Most of people started to care about cleaning much more due to the pandemic. Using homemade cleaning products is a goal that I still have not achieved yet. If you feel ready to start using them, go for it, look for the recipes (for example on pinterest) and make your own natural cleaning supplies!
I know that gloves are required to be worn now, but to be honest I do not believe that using disposable gloves will save us and from my point of view we are just making a huge waste with this plastic or rubber accessories. But…
please,wash your hands after touching any questionable surface. It is crucial to keep you and others save.
If you are storing food, remember that using aluminium or metal cans is probably a better choice than choosing plastic or glass due to recycling. Of course you can reuse most of packaging. But again, make yourself comfortable and buy what you need to survive.
Buy fruit and vegetables that stay fresh for a long time as: apples, potatoes and sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, apples, carrots, celery, lemons, beetroots, cabbages, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower. You can also freeze fruits, I often freeze my bananas ;)
Grow your own food and make your own bread, cookies, muesli, pasta etc. ;)
I hope you’re doing great and have everything you need. I wish you good heath! Greetings!
If you follow me and read my post since last year you may know that I obtained a menstrual cup some time ago. The truth is I haven’t got an occasion to try it… until now, thanks to quarantine.
I needed some time to prepare the cup and of course also prepare myself for trying it. Living in a dormitory was an obstacle for me to do it, so when I started bleeding on quarantine at home I though it was a appropriate day to insert my menstrual cup.
Quick backstory: I got my first period when I was turning 10, so according to my calculations I have used about 3360 menstrual pads till today (for almost 10 years). So continuing counting I will use at least 10080 more until I stop menstruating.
“Tampons, pads and panty liners along with their packaging and individual wrapping generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic – in fact, pads are around 90% plastic!” - OrganiCup
One pad decompose in about 500 to 800 years! And burning them causes highly toxic emissions. So please consider switching to more sustainable menstrual products as:
Day 1 | Although I tried doing this before, it didn’t work out then. “Take your time” - I said to myself and began putting in right place. The first day of wearing a cup wasn’t the most comfortable and I wore a pad due to the insurance. I found very little blood inside the cup in the evening, which surprised me.
Articles and videos that helped me at the first day:
Also what I found helpful was medical lubricant, but to be honest I used it only at the first day. I didn’t mention it before but if you want to know, my cup is from the brand calledPerfect Cup;)
Day 2 | I felt really comfortable after wearing a cup at night. Also I didn’t notice any leakage. Although I think the ring was irritating me sometimes.
Day 3 | Again I felt very comfortable all day. I think the cup’s size is appropriate for me.
(sanitizing my cup in hot water while taking shower)
Day 4 | My bottom stomach hurt a bit, I think I put my cup a little too deep. But I reinserted it and then it was okay. In the evening I noticed that the amount of blood inside the cup was low so I decided to take a break of it and try on a cloth pad I sew before.
Day 5 | I stopped bleeding and after wearing a cloth pad for a night I felt a lot more pleased then after using a disposable pad.
Summing up: I loved it from the very first day! The feeling of not having a blood flood inside my pants and having any skin irritation caused by the chemicals inside the disposable pads… Absolutely stunning! Now I feel like: everyone who is menstruating should try that!
Also I have a story here: when I got my cup, I showed it to my boyfriend and he loved it and started playing with it, but when I showed it to my (women) roommates they were like “yuuuck!” and the situation was really shocking for me, because before I hadn’t met anyone who would react that way on a cup…
I’ve also asked some other people what they think about menstrual cups.
“They are problematic and embarrassing in public toilets.”
“I’m afraid I can stain something while putting it out.”
“They are cool. Someday I’ll buy one!”
“At least you don’t waste money on tampons and pads.”
“I think it is a good way to reduce your waste.”
“They seem to be more comfortable than tampons.”
“In my point of view they aren’t made for me, but I’m not sure, because it seems to be better and more comfortable solution.”
And what is your opinion about menstrual cups?
I will finish with mentioning that there is nothing to be ashamed with talking about your period or using a menstrual cup! Love your body and accept everything about it! Youare beautiful and worthy!♥ ♥ ♥
I upcycled a wooden crate using paints that I don’t use anymore and old bubble wrap (I couldn’t find another foil). I put some potting soil inside it and planted some seeds… now I’m looking forward to planting lots of herbs inside my house! Okay, I’m joking, for now it is just a basil ;)
My motivation? I got really irritated with buying basil spice in paper bags every month… you know the small bags you can find in (I guees) every shop. I’ve also seen same looking basil being sold in plastic bottles (similar to ketchup bottles), what’s wrong with people? Anyway, I’m a person who uses a lot of basil while cooking and I’ve finally decided I want to grow it myself. But I have a large garden so why did I plant it in a crate? I wanted to check how it is to plant food inside ;)
By the way, I mentioned a bubble wrap. If you obtain it somehow, don’t throw it out! Always try to reuse bubble wrap, I always collect it and if I have to I use it to pack another package ;) Here are some ideas what you can do with bubble wrap:
Use it to cover wooden crate similar to mine and make your own potting crate ;)
You can use it for window isolation (it is useful especially in winter)
Simply use it to secure what you need
Make a frottage! Cover the wrap with paint and make a stamp
Or use it in a collage! (maybe it won’t save the planet but it’s fun…)
Make some beads! I’m absolutely amazed by the idea!
I upcycled a wooden crate using paints that I don’t use anymore and old bubble wrap (I couldn’t find another foil). I put some potting soil inside it and planted some seeds… now I’m looking forward to planting lots of herbs inside my house! Okay, I’m joking, for now it is just a basil ;)
My motivation? I got really irritated with buying basil spice in paper bags every month… you know the small bags you can find in (I guees) every shop. I’ve also seen same looking basil being sold in plastic bottles (similar to ketchup bottles), what’s wrong with people? Anyway, I’m a person who uses a lot of basil while cooking and I’ve finally decided I want to grow it myself. But I have a large garden so why did I plant it in a crate? I wanted to check how it is to plant food inside ;)
By the way, I mentioned a bubble wrap. If you obtain it somehow, don’t throw it out! Always try to reuse bubble wrap, I always collect it and if I have to I use it to pack another package ;) Here are some ideas what you can do with bubble wrap:
Use it to cover wooden crate similar to mine and make your own potting crate ;)
You can use it for window isolation (it is useful especially in winter)
Simply use it to secure what you need
Make a frottage! Cover the wrap with paint and make a stamp
Or use it in a collage! (maybe it won’t save the planet but it’s fun…)
Make some beads! I’m absolutely amazed by the idea!
This month I have tidied up my bathroom and the pantry! But I am not really glad. I live with my parents, who are not into decluttering so I was not able to get rid of things… So we kept almost everything (including things I perceive as trash).
books - 2 gave away, 1 sold
septum rings - 2 sold
coaster - sold
badge - sold
Tarot cards - sold
barrettes - 2 sold
broken barrette - thrown away
calendars - 3 thrown away
some drawings - thrown away
sketchbook - thrown away
notebook - thrown away
some documents - thrown away
old cosmetics - 10 thrown away
fabric conditioners - 2 thrown away
old bra - thrown away
bowls - 2 thrown away
boxes - 6 thrown away
a lot of small boxes (counted as 1)
disposable razors - 4 thrown away
old toothbrushes - 2 thrown away
old sponges - 2 thrown away
broken hanger - thrown away
scoop - thrown away
dishwashing liquids - 2 thrown away
decorative tins - 4 thrown away
decorative jar - thrown away
hairbands - 3 thrown away
foils - thrown away
some old safety pins - thrown away
charcoal for drawing - thrown away
knife covers - 2 thrown away
expired spices - 7 thrown away
expired eye drops - thrown away
small jars - 3 thrown away
plastic cutlery (random pieces collected over long period of time) - thrown away
toys - 2 thrown away
broken baking mold - thrown away
… and a lot of actual trash. I did not count most of “small things”, but instead I counted it as (for example) “foils”.
I have decluttered 432 things of 1000.
I have also bought a lot of new things this month (about 17 items), so I am planning to declutter more in April, but it is getting more difficult ;)
I didn’t want to believe that it could happen. I’ll tell you how did it affect my life right now. I live in Poland, at this moment (03/15 morning) there are 111 infected people and 3 of them died, the first confirmed case was about 11 days ago.
Since that time for a week(!) no one reacted. Until last Wednesday everything was normal, leaving out people excessively panicking and trying to buy all the food in the supermarkets… Coming back to the story, starting on Wednesday almost all kindergartens, schools and universities were closing. And since that time I’m stuck at home.
On Thursday driving schools were suspended so I didn’t have to worry about my driving lessons.
On Friday the government decided about closing some shopping malls, restaurants, pubs, casinos etc. The groceries are still open so there is no need to panic, the food will be available also the restaurants offer ordering takeouts. Post-office, banks, laundry rooms etc. are still working.
From today the borders of our country will be closed for foreigners for 10 days. Maybe it is not the kindest thing but it somehow forces staying at place, it is really-really important not to travel now.
Some of the things I mentioned should be introduced earlier. But I hope the statistics won’t get very worse shortly.
There is really no need to panic. We should stick to the recommendations, home isolation is a really good idea if you don’t have to go anywhere - please stay at home. Here is a list of things you can do staying at home:
I used some plastic packagings as pots due to the importance of reusing things. And as a substrate I used wadding - it was new but I had nothing do with it and I didn’t want just to throw it away. But if you want to grow watercress you can also use soil!
I’m so glad that it grows so fast! I’m growing watercress for the first time in my life and this year I’m going to plant more herbs and edible small plants :)
I let go to 294 of 1000 things. Those were probably the easiest things to declutter ;)
tops: 33 donated, 2 gave away, 1 sold
trousers: 5 donated, 4 thrown away
underwear: 8 thrown away, 6 donated, 2 gave away
other pieces of clothing: 5 donated
accessories: 19 thrown away, 1 donated
30 CD-boxes - gave away
old camera - gave away
phone holder - gave away
13 magazines - thrown away
old tokens - thrown away
2 small balls - thrown away
2 shop member cards - thrown away
3 pens - thrown away
pencil sharpener - thrown away
2 toys - thrown away
4 stickers - thrown away
basketball ball - give away
2 notebooks - thrown away
35 tourist guides and leaflets - thrown away
old notes - thrown away
bookmark - thrown away
3 CD’s - thrown away
23 drawings - thrown away
1 stress ball - thrown away
old charcoals - thrown away
6 small pencils - thrown away
3 tortillons - trown away
7 broken brushes - thrown away
2 markers - thrown away
2 batteries - thrown away
fidget spinner - gave away
pumice - thrown away
broken glasses - thrown away
13 body creams - thrown away
2 nail polishes - thrown away
body sponge - thrown away
old toothbrush - thrown away
baby porridge after date - thrown away
30 pyssla images - thrown away
13 old letters - thrown away
broken vibrator - thrown away
a lot of photos - thrown away
2 needle pillows - thrown away
crochet hooks - thrown away
needles - thrown away
2 needle boxes - thrown away
some ugly or broken buttons - thrown away
some pins - thrown away
ribbon leftovers - thrown away
some confirmations from post office - thrown away
2 mugs - thrown away
photo album - thrown away
medal - thrown away
old condoms - thrown away
toothbrush holder - gave away
old glue - thrown away
pencil case - gave away
… and lots of actual garbage. I can’t believe that I collected so much things in my life. Sometimes it is difficult to get rid of something, but I really feel better after starting decluttering.
Of course pre-owned from someone who didn’t want to keep it. My pyjama is completely worn out and I became to hate sleeping wearing it. And the second onesie is used by me as party costume, I rarely sleep in it.
I doubt if I’ll become a minimalist someday. Or a true zero waster. But I swear I’m trying to live more sustainably and I’m doing best I can do.
At this point in my life I’m in continuous confusion and I must face many stressful events in the next few months. More and more often I feel anxious and alone with problems. Sometimes I even feel suicidal.
So many things I love to eat! Mostly chocolate, bananas, pasta, tomatoes and eggs :D
If you have a chance to grow some of the plants, do it! Tomatoes, cabbages, lettuces can be easily grown even in flats ;) I saw some materials on the internet proving it. For example here is a TED about it.
Bread, pasta and pizza also can be made at home but remember you still need products to make it.
In that case it is an indisputable argument for buying the things second hand, taking care of them, repairing and making sure they will last you for many years. Okay, maybe if it comes to bed sheets we don’t really want to buy it second hand, but that bought this way are usually in very good condition, furthermore you can find unused bed sheets in second hand shops or in an online auctions ;) I buy pre-owned bedding if you want to know ;)
And let’s be honest the top 3 things are very expensive so not many people can afford it new ;)
Large cotton rounds for removing heavier makeup and light exfoliation Made from GOTS certified organic cotton and sewn with organic cotton thread~ HotaruOrganic on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/HotaruOrganic hotaru.organic on instagram
One of the great things about big businesses is their knack for doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable energy resources and eliminating waste. You can continue this tradition at home by creating an eco-friendly remote office that will pair productivity with smart choices to help our environment thrive. Let’s look at how we can do just that.
