I have been kicking around the idea of getting reusable paper towels for a while. I know they would be great for cleaning, and odd jobs like that. My main concern is can you use them to drain grease off fried bacon or cool cookies? Or I guess better yet, are they easy to clean after? Do you soak them before washing?? Tell me how you use your reusable “paper towels”

Hi there, I receive a refrigerated medication in these Styrofoam boxes each month. I have utilized a few as coolers but frankly I can't use anymore.

I've checked with the local community and no interest. I'm waiting on a call back from the speciality pharmacy to see if they will accept them back but I am doubtful. Any ideas to keep them out of the landfill?

https://imgur.com/a/OiA2Dsf

Now for something a little different: what can I do with all this scrap metal cutoffs? Level of difficulty: no welding skills or tools

I have read that there are over 20 million touchless paper towel machines in use in the world.  They regularly burn through four D cell batteries several times a year. These machines typically operate at 6 volts, 500 milliamps (half an amp).  They get replaced when the machine sluggishly and slowly pushes out paper towels.  These batteries test out at nearly full voltage. They will power lower current devices such as some flashlights. 

They can be paired up with solar lawn lights that would normally be thrown away when the internal battery will no longer recharge.  Running the internal circuit off of a D cell battery will, from my experience, using the smaller lawn lights, power the LED light 24/7 for about 6 – 7 weeks.  This pairing of two throw away items makes them ideal for use as:

Portable night lights.

Art projects that you want to add light to.

Emergency light at home, camping, or in the car.

Point of sale displays etc.   

See it here: https://www.instructables.com/Sims-Dead-Cell-Candle-Runs-on-Dead-D-Cell-Batterie/

So I bleached a design into a shirt and I love how the main part came out but then messed up on the sides. Is there any way I can dye just the part I messes up without ruining the part I like? All the fabric dyeing methods I know of are just putting the whole thing in, if not im just gonna cut it and make a tube top and put eyelets on the side to lace it.thanks in advance

I was interested in finding a single moisturizer I could use for everything, and ended up trying several. Below are my experiences with them. I chose to post this in ZeroWaste instead of a skincare focused group since my goal was to reducing cost, plastic waste, and the number of products in my bathroom. I selected lotions based on them being relatively inexpensive, marketed to be safe for face, and available in large pump bottles.

YMMV: everyone’s skin is unique and changes over time (due to season, other products being used, age). This describes what these lotions were like when applied to my face: a combination-type face (slightly oily, slightly dry) with mild acne. My favorite ended up being the CeraVe daily lotion, but yours might be different!

1. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin ($1.02/fluid ounce)

Consistency & feel – fairly thin lotion, spreads easily and dries quickly

Scent – mild (it does not have fragrance but the ingredients themselves do have their own odor), not particularly off-putting

Irritation - none

Other – This is a very popular body lotion moisturizer that I see get recommended a lot. It was the one I initially bought and will mostly be the point of comparison for the other moisturizers. Active ingredients of note are ceramides and hyaluronic acid, but these don’t have a large impact on my decision making as I am not starting with super dehydrated skin.

1. La Roche Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Body Lotion Unscented ($1.48/fluid ounce)

Consistency & feel: very similar to the CeraVe lotion, just slightly thicker such that it appears white while CeraVe’s is slightly transparent (when initially pumped out, both are clear when applied)

Scent – immediately off-putting, enough that I knew I would not be using this on my face long term. I gave it around a week to see if I adjusted to the smell, but no go.

Irritation – none

Other - I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately the smell was not something I was willing to deal with. Short term, this is otherwise not discernable from CeraVe’s. Long term it may be different as unlike the CeraVe Daily Lotion it contains niacinamide. This is one of the actives that I’m particularly interested in because it 1) has some of the better scientific support for its use 2) the evidence shows impact on a broad range of things (hydration, redness reduction, oil regulation, etc.), and 3) it is reported as less irritating that many other actives. Still, not worth it for that smell in my opinion.

1. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion – For Normal to Dry Skin ($0.91/fluid ounce)

Consistency & feel: Initially it appeared similar to La Roche Posay’s lotion in consistency and it glides on easily, however it doesn’t actually ‘dry’ or soak into the skin. It feels like Vaseline on my face even when using the smallest amount, and my hair kept sticking to my face

Scent – minimal scent, less even than CeraVe’s, and the only descriptor I have for it is ‘lotion’

Irritation – slightly irritating to my face (slight stinging that persists long after application and led to a bit more acne than usual). This did not happen when using it on the rest of my body

Other – I had hopes for this one as my other niacinamide-containing moisturizer after the LRP lotion. This one never actually suggests you use it on your face, so I can’t be mad at them for the face irritation I experienced.

1. Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion ($0.63/fluid ounce)

This one is not an actual contender. I was originally planning to try this one because it is supposed to be lighter weight and thus likely better for the face relative to the normal Aveeno lotion (the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion, listed below). However, I had learned my lesson with LRP and smelled this one in the store before purchasing. I disliked the smell enough that I instead decided to try the regular Aveeno Daily lotion (below). I don’t think the scent was as bad as the LRP’s lotion, but it’s hard to compare the scent to the other since I did not actually bring it home with me.

1. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion For Dry Skin ($0.64/fluid ounce)

Consistency & feel: This one had a much denser texture – it stands upright in a little sphere before you spread it out. I found this to be detrimental as it took more effort to spread a small amount across my face. This was only a problem because the slightly higher pressure was irritating to the acne on my face. I also seemed to need less of it than previous lotions, though it’s hard to compare volume used when the consistency is different. Despite the thicker consistency, it does appear matte a few minutes after applying, even when using a decent amount.

Scent - It has a slightly stronger scent than CeraVe’s, but not enough that I automatically disqualified it. 

Irritation – This maybe caused a slightest amount of irritation. It may have just been due to the harder rubbing that was required to smooth it across my face.

Other – If I hadn’t happened to have a slightly irritated face from acne, I would have considered this one more. It’s nice to be able to apply a larger amount without the feel or look of it tending towards Vaseline, but I’d rather have something I can quickly slap on without having to smooth it out a lot (which is something all the other options provided).

1. Eucerin Daily Hydration Unscented Body Lotion for Sensitive Dry Skin ($0.70/fluid ounce)

Consistency & feel: Lightweight with smooth application, but again it’s shiny, though not as bad as Cetaphil’s. If I apply the absolute minimum, it’s not noticeably shiny. However, when my skin was feeling just a bit dry from a cold front, I applied a more normal amount of lotion and it left my face shiny.

Scent - The best smelling of the bunch. It’s again a very light smell, but this is the only one where the ‘neutral’ smell tends towards a nice scent as opposed to an off-putting scent.

Irritation – No irritation

Other - None

I wish now that I had also kept a list of the lotions I considered and then decided not to try. This mostly happened for lotions with fragrance or whose reviews mentioned they were thick & heavy (not what I wanted for daily use). These are also limited to what was pretty easy to access for me - i.e., available in the US at Target, Walgreens, or CVS.

If you’ve found a multipurpose lotion that works for your face and body – let me know! Conversely, if you have one to add to the ‘not recommended for the face’, please also share!

New to this community, looking for guidance please 🙏🏼

Looking for loose tissue or toilet paper to refill a holder in my office at work. I found myself getting sniffles more often and need disposable because I share a small office with coworkers.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Preferably if they were already stacked and pull out like a normal tissue box would.. softness is negotiable lol.

Thank you in advance!!

I want to use this candle jar as a small plant pot but I'm not sure how to take the wicks out. I also realized the color on the jar comes off easily so I have to find a solution that doesn't ruin the color.

Help! I need some ideas for snacks, treats and gifts for clients.

I work as a manufacturer rep that calls on architects and designers. As a rep, snacks, lunches and swag items are a part of business. I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that is taking sustainability seriously, and this includes how we conduct day to day business and market ourselves. I want to challenge the traditional business practices within my industry and not only sell a product I feel good about but also be conscious about cutting back on unnecessary waste while promoting the brand.

So far on my list I have mason jars filled with trail mix, gummy bears, and other snacks I can get from bulk bins. Add tags with my contact information and use the jars as a way to visit offices and swap them out for new snacks. For lunches, I want to provide food from local businesses who do not use a lot of packaging, but so far all I can think of are sandwiches. For swag items, I plan to purchase thrifted items and use our products on the items as demos and gifts. For branding, I ordered a rubber stamp and a paper embosser with the company logo instead of relying on business cards and stickers.

As a manufacturer rep for a large company, I believe we don't have to be the bad guy. How I spend the company's money is up to me and I want to funnel that money towards meaningful and helpful ways to my local neighborhood and communities. I want to be an example for this industry that has normalized excess and waste. Help think of some creative ways we as sales reps can do better!

Also let me add that I know anything being sold does create waste but before anyone jumps on me for wanting to sell an item, it is an essential building material not some frivolous unnecessary item. Be kind. :)

What am I doing wrong? How long should this take to dissolve? It only minimally dissolved, maybe 30-40%. Does the fact that we have hard water affect the process? I’m puzzled. It does dispense a foam, smells and feels fairly soapy… but I’m skeptical.

Hello! I’m hoping to get some suggestions for a bulk lotion to buy. I use the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing lotion which works great for my face and body, but it only comes in a 16oz plastic tub. I’d love to find something similar that comes in a larger size, or hear any suggestions for a more sustainable and cheap lotion option. I saw Bulk Apothecary has a large tub, and would love to hear if anyone has experience with their base lotion.

Thank you!

I work at a restaurant and the fridge has recently broken and they are throwing it out. I’m trying to start a bakery at home and needed to buy a bench. I figured it would be a good space to store things also. Just wondering if you think there’d be any harm in keeping a broken fridge?

I just bought an Ozark trail 1 gallon water jug, but I'm having problems finding a sling for it. 7.5"/19.05cm across and 13"/33.02cm tall, including lid. Everything I'm finding so far are approximately 6.5"/16.51 at the base I would prefer to have a sling that is tactical or at least hook and loop/velcro areas (I love patches) and an outer pocket. Anyone able to help? Thank you@

Tired of buying a $6 can of whipped cream that barely has any whipped cream, but I also would like convenience.

Ive thought about restaurant whipped cream things, but that seems like it wouldn't be worth it for one person eating pancakes for breakfast.

Hi all! My Mom (RIP), used to take hard boiled eggs and put them in the brine left over from jarred pickles. I have some left over beet juice and am thinking of doing the same thing. Do you ever do this? Is there anything else you do with beet juice? Thanks in advance!

Hi y'all,

I'm back with my third month of progress towards my New Year's Resolution of living more Zero Waste.

Here's January and February, which have a lot more interesting stuff. This month I just didn't really run out of things or have a need to make a lot of swaps. I do have a few updates on some topics from previous months though.

Swapped this month:

• I swapped to a different plastic-free deodorant brand called Dessert Essence. (I got Vico back in January, but ran through it fairly quick since I'd have to re-apply.) I haven't seen anything about it online, but they just happen to carry it at a local eco store, so I gave it a try. I like it better, but Vico is probably also fine for many people. Deodorant is so individual.
• I'm including this one again this month in this section because I actually got a chance to try them: Cloth menstrual pads. Honestly, I don't think I could ever go back to the disposable ones. It's just such an insane difference in dryness and comfort. And this may be TMI, so I'll block it, but they just smell so much better. And I'm sure anyone who's worn pads will understand. I believe I will prefer them to period underwear because I have quite a heavy flow, and I think it's easier for me to just change a pad than a my whole underwear. I couldn't recommend this switch strongly enough. The sustainable alternative isn't just better for the environment, but WORKS so much better.

Failed this month:

• To keep it transparent, I backslid a lot this month when it comes to food. I got very busy and ate a lot of fast food, and bought several bagged salad mixes. I will try to be better next month. I would love some suggestions on what y'all eat when things are crazy and you're trying to be as zero waste as possible on very little time.

Swaps I plan to make next:

• All same as last month. Haven't run out of laundry detergent or toilet paper yet.
• Mascara, after the complete fail with the Lush ones. I tried using it in my eyebrows, but even that's difficult because it runs down my face by mid-day. Any ideas what I can do with the pigments?

So yeah, sorry this month's update is a little slim! I'm about to run out of TP, so I can update on that soon lol. As always, I'd love to hear any advice or tips, and I'd also love to hear what recent swaps you've made as well!

Hello Everyone, I'm Praise and this is my Streetwear type Armor made from 2mm PVC pipes.

The graphics are simply cartoon character doodles I drew by hand with a marker.

It's a modular design and whole thing is put together using zip-ties, the tightness of the ties determine the rigidity/flexibility of the armor.

Uh, yeah. I hope you like it 🌼

I have an old (old) bed frame that came with a headboard for a queen bed. It's similar to this, but without a middle bar and without the 4th side (since the headboard was that side).

I may offer it on Buy Nothing, but since I'm keeping the headboard for a different project I don't think there will be many takers.

Anyone have ideas for ways I can upcycle or repurpose the frame? I live in a house and do have a backyard. Was thinking maybe something for gardening? I'm at the beginning of my gardening journey so I'm not sure how I'd use it.

Open to all suggestions! TIA

i found these old shoes my mom had and wouls like to continue wearing them/not throw them out. does anyone know how this shoe could be fixed/saved?

The first time I heard of so-called "advanced" recycling, it sounded like simply burning of plastics.

A quick google indicates it's supposed to return the plastic to like-new, like-nurdle quality. At the cost of producing toxic/noxious fumes & the risk of water contamination.

What has anyone else heard?

I know a similar post was made about a year ago, but curious if anyone has had any revelations haha.

I’m looking for a solid face moisturizer.

I have acne prone skin, and that seems to make things more difficult.

I saw that ZWS has an acne prone solid moisturizer, but the one review is not great lol.

Any help, please!

I had this razer headset for almost 10 years. The microphone is broken but the sound quality is still great, so I use it. But the leathers all fell apart and the spongy ear cover is about to fall out. I want to make it look good again. Does anyone have ideas ?

Hello! I have a large (56 fluid ounces / 1.6 liters) container of coconut oil I have been using for cooking, haircare, and skincare. I've been using it for the past year and have used about half of it before it expired this past month. Is it safe to use expired coconut oil? What are some other uses for it? How do I safely dispose of it?

I love this sub because sometimes people post about history, and how people in the past did things in a way that was easier and less wasteful than we do today. As a culture, we have forgotten so many easy ways to live more sustainably in just one or two generations.

A good example is ironing clothes. I recently saw a meme about ironing clothes and how it is silly and a waste of time. I agree, that washing clothes and ironing them after washing is a waste of time.

People have completely forgotten what a clothing iron was invented to do, and how it was supposed to save time, money, energy, and waste. It's no one's fault individually. As a culture, we failed to preserve this knowledge.

People in the past used the iron to refresh clothes that were too delicate to be washed. Clothes had embroidery, were hand stitched and made of materials that could not be washed in hot water with harsh soap (silk, linen, wool) without losing their shape.

How do you clean clothes you cannot wash? First, to get rid of the smell, clothes would be aired. Then, any stains would be treated locally. To remove any lingering smells and germs and to freshen up the look, the clothes would be misted lightly with water and ironed. Giving a dress a quick ironing saved time and it saved waste. Clothes that were ironed, instead of washed every time they had been worn could last years and still look decent.

People ironed clothes INSTEAD of washing them. It's silly to do both.

If you have clothes made of natural fibres, consider giving them a quick ironing instead of a wash every second or third time you wear them. A clothing iron is hotter than the water you would use to wash your clothes and the heat kills germs and smells more effectively. Save water, laundry time, soap, and clothes. Your clothes will last longer and stay in shape longer.