Make Do, or Do Without
“Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without”
Reducing the amount of waste I produce and living more simply has been something I have been working on for the past few years. It’s been a slow and steady type of process, which is fine because I find those are the ones that really last. It started with a compost bin and has blossomed into beeswax paper and DYI cleaning products for the house. I like to think of it as a lifelong commitment to help the planet and continue to learn and grow. This has included asking myself “can I make do, or do without?” when I’m about to hit buy on Amazon (they make it so easy!). There are so many books on the subject of waste reduction and minimal living these days. The one I dove into was Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson. The hardest part for me was knowing where to start. Do I go all Marie Kondo and declutter my space? What do I do with the things I’m discarding? Do I buy new eco-friendly products? It was a bit overwhelming. So I wanted to share some of my insights with you, and if like me, this is something that is important to you in your life, then hopefully it can help.
1. GET CLEAR ON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
Understanding why you want to create less waste is a good place to start. Are you passionate about saving the planet? Do you want to save money? Do you want to feel less attached to stuff? Do you want to join the new trend? All of these are perfectly fine answers. But before reading on, take a moment to reflect on this and get clear. Better yet write a paragraph about it or talk to your partner or friend. Once you have a personal connection to something and really understand that this is also helping a cause greater than yourself, it will be easier to make the changes and to commit.
2. PICK A PLACE TO START
It can be easy to declare that you will never order online again or buy anything plastic. Putting that into practice is another beast entirely. For me, I first read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and then did just that. Once I was left with the things I used and loved, I could more easily focus on what I had left. Now, this starting point is not for everyone. Instead, you could simply focus on not creating more waste and on using what you do have instead. I find it’s best to pick a place in your home to start. This may be the kitchen, your cleaning products, the bathroom, or kid’s stuff. Pick one area to begin to make a change and then stick with that for the next week/month before diving into other areas. I recommend starting wherever you create the most waste. Or if your space is already cluttered and overwhelming, then first declutter (again I love Marie Kondo for this) and donate or sell what you no longer need or want so that others can enjoy it. Below I have outlined some simple ways to create less waste and save money:
THE KITCHEN:
Finish off that roll of plastic wrap and then buy beeswax food wrap instead or re-usable silicon lids.
Compost your food scraps. Boostrap Compost and Black Earth Compost are both excellent options for anyone living in the Boston area (and they are super cheap!).
Get a reusable water bottle (stainless steel or glass is best) and then do just that, re-use it. Stop buying single-use plastic bottles.
Instead of using sponges and liquid soap in a plastic bottle to clean your dishes, switch to a natural fiber brush and solid dish soap.
THE BATHROOM:
Buy a bar of soap instead of body wash and use a natural sponge or washcloth instead of a loofah. The same goes for your facewash. Cambridge Naturals (for Boston area peeps) or Package Free Shop online has some great stuff!
Use biodegradable dental floss. The normal stuff is not only bad for you but really hurts the animals out there (as most of it ends up in the ocean).
Stop using plastic-cased deodorant, especially if it is also an antiperspirant. Little Seed Farm deodorant comes in a glass jar, has yummy scents (or non-scented), is baking soda free (for those with a sensitivity), and they have awesome bamboo applicators. I’ve also found that just rubbing some plain old baking soda on my underarms also does the trick!
Instead of cotton balls, buy washable cotton rounds. These work great for everything from applying topical medicine, to removing makeup. Also for removing eye makeup, try natural coconut oil instead of makeup remover (it’s a great all-over moisturizer and won’t sting if it gets in your eyes!).
KIDS STUFF:
Do your best to choose wooden toys instead of plastic or better yet, buy previously owned toys on Facebook Market or at yard sales.
Sign up for TerraCycle to recycle your kid’s pouches for free!
Using reusable diapers is obviously WAY better than disposable diapers, but if like me that is not in the cards for you in this lifetime, then at least throw the poo down the potty and not in the trash where it will emit way more ozone-depleting fumes and take way longer to break down.
Teach your little ones how important all this is. Explain to them the importance of recycling, composting, and saving the environment and creatures.
DIY CLEANING PRODUCTS:
Re-use plastic cleaning bottles you already own after they are empty with the following DYI cleaning product recipes (or buy new glass ones):
Glass Cleaner (1 cup distilled water + 1 cup white vinegar + 2 tbsp rubbing alcohol OR vodka) optional add in 8 drops grapefruit or lemon essential oil.
Toilet & Sink Cleaner (2 tbsp baking soda + 2 tbsp Castile soap + 2 tbsp vinegar + 10 drops clove, tea tree, cinnamon, or orange essential oil + enough water to fill container) I am a huge fan of doTERRA’s essential oils. They make an On Guard oil that is just for cleaning and immunity too!
Disinfectant Spray (1/2 cup white vinegar + 1/2 cup vodka + 10 drops lavender oil + 10 drops lemon oil + 1.5 cups of water).
Hand Soap (use a bar of soap instead of liquid) OR make your own liquid (1/2 cup Castille soap + 1/2 cup distilled water + 1 Tbsp almond or jojoba oil + 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil).
CLOTHING:
Use a washable facemask. All those disposable ones are going to end up in a landfill and the ocean. Etsy has some great options.
Use an eco-friendly laundry detergent that is not sold in a plastic single-use bottle. Drops, Tru Earth, and The Simply Co are all examples of companies that offer this alternative. Wool dryer balls are also a great replacement to dryer sheets.
See if you can buy second-hand clothing from stores like the Boston based store Revolve (which also will resell your unwanted clothes) or buy from eco-friendly zero waste companies.
To make clothes last longer and save money and energy, try to hang dry some of your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer. For special items that you usually dry clean, I have found that using Soak has worked great for everything I used to dry clean. One bottle will last me for like a year or more. I use it on everything from silk to cashmere sweaters. Plus, buying it here will support my sister’s local business!
EATING HABITS:
Consider becoming a vegan or vegetarian. Not in your cards? Then try meatless Mondays and do your best to get your meat from a reputable local farmer where the animals are treated well. Codman Farms in Lincoln, MA is opened 24 hrs a day and has a frozen store of locally raised meat and self check out.
Whenever possible skip the plastic takeout bag and plastic silverware.
Consider buying in bulk whenever possible. This is not only more eco-conscious but also saves money. Some stores which do this in the Boston area are Pemberton Farms in Cambridge, Cambridge Naturals, and Whole Foods. Don’t forget to bring your mason jars and natural fiber bags!
Make a game out of trying to eat most of the stuff you already have. I have found that I only really want/need fresh fruits and veggies which I can get at the local farmers market or from a food saver like Imperfect Foods. The rest (legumes, grains, etc) I already usually have enough of.
3. USE IT UP
Do your best to use whatever you have to its full potential. Add some water to the last of your dish soap or shampoo to make it last the extra mile. Go through your living space and take inventory of what you have so you don’t accidentally buy extra’s you don’t need. I love Marie Kondo’s book for this purpose. If you haven’t heard of her, she is a master of minimal living, decluttering, and surrounding yourself with things you love that bring you joy. Her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is worth both the read and the effort (and you can get the audible version, kindle or take out from your local library in the spirit of creating less waste).
4. WEAR IT OUT
Once you start to organize and declutter, you will actually use everything in your home and wear the clothes you own. Did you know that most people only wear the same 25% of their wardrobe over and over? Enjoy what you have. Use those special wedding wine glasses you store away for “special occasions”, bust out the nice china, wear your special occasion dress for the day. If you not using it, there’s no point in keeping it - it’s not going to serve you once your no longer here, so you might as well enjoy it or let somebody else enjoy it. This includes buying high-quality items when you do need something so that it will last the extra mile.
5. MAKE IT DO
This is one of my favorites. I think of it as a fun challenge or game. If I find myself “needing” or wanting something now I try and see if I can make do with what I already have. I try to put this into practice whenever I can. My son Clark loves his toy cars and having them race. I really wanted to buy him a little ramp. Instead, I used my yoga mat with some pillows to create one. I even made another out of cardboard which he loved for a few weeks. Other examples could include using mason jars for pantry storage, Tupperware, drinking glasses, toothbrush holders, pen holders, etc. Mason jars can be used for so many things! Other ways to make do in our household include using old towels or T-shirts for cleaning rags, taking favorite shoes to a local cobbler to resole or fix, or doing small sewing projects to fix clothing. Instead of tossing things that break, channel your inner handyman (or woman!).
6. OR DO WITHOUT
This one is the most important. Usually, the simple question of need vs want is enough when contemplating buying a new item. I have definitely bought many an item I did not need, and it did not make me happier or make my life easier for having it. After a lifetime of excess, I now realize that the less I have, the more freely and happily I live. I do not usually need most of the things I try to convince myself that I do need. Instead, see if you can go without it for a week or a month. If you then decide you really do need it, then maybe buy it. Or if it’s something you can borrow from a friend, or get second hand, even better.
7. 1% BETTER IS ALL YOU NEED
I just finished reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. If you haven’t read it, it is a great quick read. One of the points he made is the 1% rule, which I think can really apply here. Instead of making huge changes all at once, see if you can just improve yourself by 1% each day. This seems small but adds up over time, creating lasting habits, and helping you to become the best version of yourself. This same one percent rule is how the earth became so covered in trash in the first place. So many of us are in the mindset that their small amount of waste (1 plastic bottle, 1 plastic bag, etc) won’t make a difference, but it does. Add all these one percent’s up and you have the great pacific garbage patch. In contrast, we can make a seemingly small one percent difference each day which will do the opposite. Today say no to the plastic bag, bring your own water bottle, and choose to recycle even if it is not as convenient as the trash. In his book, Mr. Clear broke this rule down in a way that really spoke to me. Eating a cookie occasionally won’t hurt you. But if you have “just one per day” or even every few days it will add up and there will be that one cookie that takes you from healthy to no healthy. At some point in the process that one cookie does’’t become just one, but becomes the cookie that breaks the bank. It’s like voting. You think your voice might be tiny and not matter, but it does!
Now, recycling in itself is definitely NOT the answer. Recycling takes a lot of resources and energy. Plus so much of what we put in the recycling bin feeling all good about cannot actually be recycled. It’s best to do some research on your own to understand what can be recycled and how it works in your town. Also, TerraCycle offers recycling for different products, often for free! But even with all this recycling, we are still creating waste. Instead opt for high quality, natural material items whenever you can that are reusable and compostable.
In a perfect world, we would only shop at local stores, buy things in reusable containers, and that are made locally. When beginning do not beat yourself up. Be gentle and give yourself credit. As you get more into this process you will also learn more and get better at it. I’m still in the beginning stage myself. Just remember your small choices do make a difference!
“Refuse what you do not need; reduce what you do need; reuse what you consume; recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse; and rot (compost) the rest”