Can we have another eco products rant/rave thread?

[redheadbaker]

Since the last one was a little over a year ago, I'm curious about any new products you've found, etc. I'm interested in trying shampoo and conditioner bars (are they safe for color-treated hair?). 

I love that some Grove products are now sold at Target. I love their kitchen floor cleaner concentrate. 

Also, now that we have a yard, I'd love a resource on composting for dummies  

[quesyrah]

I recently started using these laundry sheets and have been very happy.

www.earthbreeze.com

[formerlyak]

We like Dove body wash and they now have refillable bottles and the refill concentrate at Target. DH likes Dial Foaming Hand Soap and they also started selling a concentrated refill.

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

[katfco]

I use Lush bar shampoo and conditioner and I love them. They have some that work with color treated hair. I dye my hair using overtone and have never had an issue.

By the way, if anyone is looking for an eco-friendly hair dye, I love Overtone. They’re also cruelty free and 100% vegan.

[VillainV]

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

We like Dove body wash and they now have refillable bottles and the refill concentrate at Target. DH likes Dial Foaming Hand Soap and they also started selling a concentrated refill.

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

Ceiling fans and keeping curtains closed makes a huge difference! Even better if they’re blackout or room-darkening. I know people think ceiling fans are ugly, and I guess they are, but I can’t imagine living in the South without them. Gotta keep that air moving!

[heliocentric]

I just discovered the Ball aluminum cups and I love them, especially for use outside.

[susiebw]

Jul 19, 2022 17:51:57 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

I just discovered the Ball aluminum cups and I love them, especially for use outside.

We have season tickets to a concert venue this year, and these are our new tailgate staples.

[scm1011]

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

In the same vein, with hot summer days I've started line drying my laundry in the backyard and on days like today (90+ and sunny) it dries in the same amount of time as the dryer, saves energy, and doesn't heat up your already hot house. 

[MixedBerryJam]

I have a rec and a question. Question first. I’m using a bar (not bad; that was a typo and completely changed the assessment!) shampoo and generally like it. It cleans my hair, not super perfumery, and rinses out easily. But my ends are getting really dry - does anyone have a rec for a solid conditioner? One reason I picked this particular item is that it says it’s combined shampoo and conditioner, and my wet hair does feel conditioned after I use it but I really need something more. This is me solid shampoo:
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07K8QBPSF/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A8F960CG7K6GG&psc=1

And I heartily rec these laundry detergent sheets. The box might weigh 8 oz and does up to 160 loads. The only caveat is that I’m not sure how well it will work on super soiled work/kids clothes. I don’t generally get too dirty in the course of the day and my laundry seems clean and smells nice and fresh. It’s not dryer sheets like bounce that, at the end you still have the used non-compostable sheet to dispose of, these must be cornstarch based bc they dissolve completely. I really like them.
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09B35YB5C/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2OTIKUIL7G1MB&psc=1


ETA And speaking of Bounce, get thee some wool dryer balls. So much easier. The only use for essential oils I have is that every couple of weeks I sprinkle a couple of drops onto one of the balls. I don’t like UNscented so this just imparts a really mild sceny you have to look for. I can’t stand really overpowering laundry scents

[savan]

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

We weren’t able to run our ac last year due to a rat infestation and employed the same method.  Outside of a few nights where it was warmer than I prefer for sleeping, it worked well.  We can run our ac this summer but haven’t needed it yet.  But I think we live in the same area as you.

[mala]

Jul 19, 2022 13:09:18 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Since the last one was a little over a year ago, I'm curious about any new products you've found, etc. I'm interested in trying shampoo and conditioner bars (are they safe for color-treated hair?). 

I love that some Grove products are now sold at Target. I love their kitchen floor cleaner concentrate. 

Also, now that we have a yard, I'd love a resource on composting for dummies  

What kind of hair do you have? Im testing formulas for solid shampoo and conditioner to add to my shop and i am almost at the point of needing testers

[mala]

Please if you're refilling a cleaning product with a concentrate that needs to be diluted, use distilled water.

[fortnightlily]

Jul 20, 2022 15:57:57 GMT -5 mala said:

Please if you're refilling a cleaning product with a concentrate that needs to be diluted, use distilled water.

Why?

[mala]

Jul 20, 2022 17:08:23 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Jul 20, 2022 15:57:57 GMT -5 mala said:

Please if you're refilling a cleaning product with a concentrate that needs to be diluted, use distilled water.

Why?

Bacterial contamination. The concentrates sometime dont have enough preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Best to use distilled water as an extra measure that you're not growing a science experiment.

[dancelnow]

Jul 20, 2022 13:49:44 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

I have a rec and a question. Question first. I’m using a bar (not bad; that was a typo and completely changed the assessment!) shampoo and generally like it. It cleans my hair, not super perfumery, and rinses out easily. But my ends are getting really dry - does anyone have a rec for a solid conditioner? One reason I picked this particular item is that it says it’s combined shampoo and conditioner, and my wet hair does feel conditioned after I use it but I really need something more. This is me solid shampoo:
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07K8QBPSF/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A8F960CG7K6GG&psc=1

And I heartily rec these laundry detergent sheets. The box might weigh 8 oz and does up to 160 loads. The only caveat is that I’m not sure how well it will work on super soiled work/kids clothes. I don’t generally get too dirty in the course of the day and my laundry seems clean and smells nice and fresh. It’s not dryer sheets like bounce that, at the end you still have the used non-compostable sheet to dispose of, these must be cornstarch based bc they dissolve completely. I really like them.
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09B35YB5C/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2OTIKUIL7G1MB&psc=1


ETA And speaking of Bounce, get thee some wool dryer balls. So much easier. The only use for essential oils I have is that every couple of weeks I sprinkle a couple of drops onto one of the balls. I don’t like UNscented so this just imparts a really mild sceny you have to look for. I can’t stand really overpowering laundry scents

Do the dryer balls really remove static? We use dryer sheets because any static on our clothes attracts radon at work. On weeks I forgot we’ve gotten stuck at the portal monitors.

[VillainV]

Jul 20, 2022 13:42:43 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

In the same vein, with hot summer days I've started line drying my laundry in the backyard and on days like today (90+ and sunny) it dries in the same amount of time as the dryer, saves energy, and doesn't heat up your already hot house. 

I hang-dry about half of our laundry (any sport or technical fabric, jeans, most t-shirts….almost everything except socks, underwear, and linens. It also helps your clothes last longer!!

[MixedBerryJam]

Jul 20, 2022 17:39:23 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

Jul 20, 2022 13:49:44 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

I have a rec and a question. Question first. I’m using a bar (not bad; that was a typo and completely changed the assessment!) shampoo and generally like it. It cleans my hair, not super perfumery, and rinses out easily. But my ends are getting really dry - does anyone have a rec for a solid conditioner? One reason I picked this particular item is that it says it’s combined shampoo and conditioner, and my wet hair does feel conditioned after I use it but I really need something more. This is me solid shampoo:
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07K8QBPSF/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A8F960CG7K6GG&psc=1

And I heartily rec these laundry detergent sheets. The box might weigh 8 oz and does up to 160 loads. The only caveat is that I’m not sure how well it will work on super soiled work/kids clothes. I don’t generally get too dirty in the course of the day and my laundry seems clean and smells nice and fresh. It’s not dryer sheets like bounce that, at the end you still have the used non-compostable sheet to dispose of, these must be cornstarch based bc they dissolve completely. I really like them.
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09B35YB5C/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2OTIKUIL7G1MB&psc=1


ETA And speaking of Bounce, get thee some wool dryer balls. So much easier. The only use for essential oils I have is that every couple of weeks I sprinkle a couple of drops onto one of the balls. I don’t like UNscented so this just imparts a really mild sceny you have to look for. I can’t stand really overpowering laundry scents

Do the dryer balls really remove static? We use dryer sheets because any static on our clothes attracts radon at work. On weeks I forgot we’ve gotten stuck at the portal monitors.

Def not 100% effective for static, but I'll often just spritz anything clinging with a little plain water in a spray bottle. It also  helps if your don't overdry. But for a health thing (I assume attracting radon is a bad thing!) I'd probably stick with Bounce.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 20, 2022 17:11:42 GMT -5 mala said:

Jul 20, 2022 17:08:23 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Why?

Bacterial contamination. The concentrates sometime dont have enough preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Best to use distilled water as an extra measure that you're not growing a science experiment.

I’m not sure I follow this? Distilled water removes minerals from tap water, so are the minerals from tap water somehow reacting with the concentrate creating bacterial growth (which doesn’t make sense to me but maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you’re saying)?

[macmars45]

Jul 20, 2022 13:42:43 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

In the same vein, with hot summer days I've started line drying my laundry in the backyard and on days like today (90+ and sunny) it dries in the same amount of time as the dryer, saves energy, and doesn't heat up your already hot house. 

I can't wait until I don't live in an active construction zone anymore! They're building the houses directly behind me so my backyard is covered in a layer of dust at all times this summer. Hopefully next summer I can hang dry clothes outside.

[VillainV]

Jul 20, 2022 20:43:27 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Jul 20, 2022 17:11:42 GMT -5 mala said:

Bacterial contamination. The concentrates sometime dont have enough preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Best to use distilled water as an extra measure that you're not growing a science experiment.

I’m not sure I follow this? Distilled water removes minerals from tap water, so are the minerals from tap water somehow reacting with the concentrate creating bacterial growth (which doesn’t make sense to me but maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you’re saying)?

The distilling process makes water sterile. That’s why it’s recommended for things like sinus rinses or mixing baby formula. Whatever comes out of your tap is definitely not sterile.

[aspentosh]

Still loving:
-BITE toothpaste bits. Everyone uses them and I love that the refill bags are compostable.
-laundry sheets (Tru Earth)
-Hello hibar shampoo and conditioner bars
-Who gives a crap TP, though we tried the bamboo and will likely stick with that now.

New rec, I think? ECloth cleaning cloths. I love love love the windows one, the stainless steel, and the bathroom. Only need water, though I'll use cleaners for the bathroom.

[mala]

Jul 20, 2022 20:43:27 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Jul 20, 2022 17:11:42 GMT -5 mala said:

Bacterial contamination. The concentrates sometime dont have enough preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Best to use distilled water as an extra measure that you're not growing a science experiment.

I’m not sure I follow this? Distilled water removes minerals from tap water, so are the minerals from tap water somehow reacting with the concentrate creating bacterial growth (which doesn’t make sense to me but maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you’re saying)?

Honestly I'm probably being paranoid. There's less likely to be bacteria in distilled water vs tap water. The preservative(s) in the diluted product may or may not be enough to kill the bacteria. Using distilled water just gives you a little extra insurance that the preservative in your product is going to be enough to do it's job.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 21, 2022 2:02:49 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jul 20, 2022 20:43:27 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I’m not sure I follow this? Distilled water removes minerals from tap water, so are the minerals from tap water somehow reacting with the concentrate creating bacterial growth (which doesn’t make sense to me but maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you’re saying)?

The distilling process makes water sterile. That’s why it’s recommended for things like sinus rinses or mixing baby formula. Whatever comes out of your tap is definitely not sterile.

I know what distillation means but for some reason I wasn’t even comprehending basic chemistry (I blame the meds from my tooth extraction) last night. I now see she’s saying that that there’s bacteria in tap water that could lead to more bacterial growth.

How embarrassing for me. 🥴

[wawa]

redheadbaker, re: composting, I'm relatively new to it as an adult (thought we always had a pile when I was a kid) but was pleasantly surprised that it was easier than most resources I read make it sound. But for me, I'm a lazy composter and I don't really care how long it takes to be "done" so I'm not fussing about things like my ratio getting off a bit and stalling out or being a smidge stinky for a few days if I went too hard on the greens. I'm not much of a gardener, so I'm not trying to use the finished product on a regular basis, I just want my kitchen scraps to not be in the trash.

How you set yours up is going to depend on how you want to use the finished product and what your restrictions are. Do you want to be able to have "finished" compost on a regular basis or is that secondary? How much space do you want to dedicate to this? Are you good with using a pitchfork to aerate (no back problems, etc)? Do you have yard waste you want to compost too, or just kitchen scraps?

[macmars45]

RAVE: There's a composting service in my city. She drops off clean buckets and takes your full ones weekly or bi-weekly (whatever you set up with her). She also sells native plants in the spring and summer. She partners with or owns a farm as well.
I know another poster has a similar service in her city in a different state than me so it might be worth looking up for other posters.

[quesyrah]

Jul 20, 2022 13:54:20 GMT -5 savan said:

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

We weren’t able to run our ac last year due to a rat infestation and employed the same method.  Outside of a few nights where it was warmer than I prefer for sleeping, it worked well.  We can run our ac this summer but haven’t needed it yet.  But I think we live in the same area as you.

We don’t have AC.

We run our fans at night and use those cooling towels and sleep great. The room is a little warm when we first go to bed but the cooling towel helps a LOT and once we are asleep we sleep fine.

Our room is usually about 85* at bedtime.

[wawa]

Jul 21, 2022 9:06:03 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

RAVE: There's a composting service in my city. She drops off clean buckets and takes your full ones weekly or bi-weekly (whatever you set up with her). She also sells native plants in the spring and summer. She partners with or owns a farm as well.
I know another poster has a similar service in her city in a different state than me so it might be worth looking up for other posters.

Along these lines, my county has been rolling out municipal composting bit by bit (I anxiously await when my town gets green bin service, the map keeeeps getting closer and I think we're next), so that's something to bring up to your local electeds to ask for if you have municipal trash pickup (rather than private contractors)!  It's becoming more and more common and is an awesome service.  Also means that there's super cheap compost to buy from the county at the dump...

[scm1011]

Jul 21, 2022 9:06:03 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

RAVE: There's a composting service in my city. She drops off clean buckets and takes your full ones weekly or bi-weekly (whatever you set up with her). She also sells native plants in the spring and summer. She partners with or owns a farm as well.
I know another poster has a similar service in her city in a different state than me so it might be worth looking up for other posters.

Yup, we've been doing this for a few years and there are quite a few services in my area (Boston). We pay $15 a month for weekly compost pick-up and get unlimited composted soil in return. Its an amazing deal.

I also didn't realize how much food was going into my trash, because we're actually really good about food planning and eating all leftovers. Things like banana peels, strawberry tops, coffee grinds, egg shells, peach pits, etc add up quick and my 5 gallon bucket is generally 75% full each week.

[anodyne]

Jul 19, 2022 14:31:41 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

We like Dove body wash and they now have refillable bottles and the refill concentrate at Target. DH likes Dial Foaming Hand Soap and they also started selling a concentrated refill.

Not a product, and not an option everywhere, but we have also done well with ceiling fans and opening windows strategically and keeping shades closed on the sunny side of the house that we haven't needed to use our air conditioner.

I wasn't aware of this until we had a days long power outage in the middle of summer, but double hung windows are made to raise the lower sash and lower the top sash.  This will greatly increase the air flow.

[Poppy]

Jul 21, 2022 10:15:30 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Jul 20, 2022 13:54:20 GMT -5 savan said:

We weren’t able to run our ac last year due to a rat infestation and employed the same method.  Outside of a few nights where it was warmer than I prefer for sleeping, it worked well.  We can run our ac this summer but haven’t needed it yet.  But I think we live in the same area as you.

We don’t have AC.

We run our fans at night and use those cooling towels and sleep great. The room is a little warm when we first go to bed but the cooling towel helps a LOT and once we are asleep we sleep fine.

Our room is usually about 85* at bedtime.

Can you elaborate on the cooling towels? Are you using them on your body or on your fan somehow?