See original blog from EcoSalon here: 20 things we throw away
Counter Wipes
You are basically just using a wet paper towel. Counter wipes are worse than a wet paper towel because of all the chemicals (usually bleach, yucky!) that are on the wipes plus the paper they are made of. It is a double nasty product. Are you making things clean, or just "dirtying" them with chemicals? As stated in my previous entry, we have switched to Shop Towels
in our kitchen. For extra cleaning power we use Method Multi-Surface Cleaner
which comes in many yummy, made from nature fragrances. Another great option is Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner in Lemongrass & Thyme 
which smells like a lemon field in the Spring. Awesome!Paper Coffee Cups
I have a TON of reusable mugs that I have bought from various coffee places and I never have them on hand when I get some Joe. This is mostly a function of me not being a regular coffee drinker so, when I do get something while out, it is usually on a whim. If you hit up your local Starbucks every morning, you should have one, since you know you will be going, right? I hope so! What I do always have with me is a reusable coffee cup sleeve. I got mine from a fun little site called Cup Couture. They have fun prints and are machine washable. You can also find many options on amazon like these Koolkup®
brightly colored numbers. Love it!Cotton Balls
Years of working in the beauty industry has taught me that cotton balls are just a waste of time. They shed, their size is troublesome, and if you use a liquid on them, they soak up way more of it than is needed. Not only are you wasting money on buying more cotton balls, you are also going through whatever liquid you are using (toner, eye makeup remover, nail polish remover) twice as fast. For years I used regular cotton rounds, doing the same job as a cotton ball while using less product and leaving no fuzzies on my face. I switched to rounds made of organic cotton when I discovered them. I reasoned that at least they were not polluting the earth in production, even if I was throwing away one or two every day. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a revelation introduced to me by my sister; reusable cotton rounds by Better for Grownups
. This is the same company that makes the reusable tissues I mentioned in the first "trash" blog. They are so awesome, made from organic cotton, in bright colors and packed in their own easy to use storage box. Here is a pic. I am in love with them.
Plastic Utensils & Paper Plates
From the EcoSalon blog: "Laziness is not a sufficient excuse for using paper plates. So, when you throw a big party, suck it up and wash a massive load of dishes instead. Or, our favorite, put the kids to work!"
I put the last two items of this installment together because they are typically partners in Eco crime. Just plain wasteful. A few years ago I planned my sister's bridal shower. Wanting it to be a extra special event, I needed to have the food on regular plates, the forks to be stainless flatware, and the napkins to be cloth. Little did I know I would start a little revolution. Since that party we have passed these plates and utensils around to many a family party, as I opted to buy and not rent them. It was really easy for me to get these items for cheap because I worked at a restaurant supply company at the time. Since then I have seen lots of plates and forks at thrift stores and they are super cheap! I know, you may not have the space to store them but, I ask you, do we really have the space on this earth to keep "storing" disposables in our landfills? It's a tough call but I guarantee you your next party will feel much fancier with a real plate and your guests will be super impressed. It takes a little extra effort for clean up but it is so worth it! So, make a little space, and get some plates for entertaining. Maybe you can put them where you are currently storing your extra paper towels you will no longer be using. Its a win-win!
Outside of parties, when I am on the go I use my little utensil set from Sigg, the Sigg Outdoor Cutlery Set
. It looks like a swiss army piece with a pop out fork, spoon and knife packed in a nifty little pouch. I also recently got a cute picnic set for four by Picnic by Ascot
. Perfect for that summertime movie under the stars or a concert in the park. The blanket is included but, you have to buy your own wine.
on your kitchen faucet. Just $21 on 
. It holds more water than the traditional pitcher and she keeps it in the fridge to always have cold water on hand. My parents have a whole house water filtration system by 
(I have this one in purple), and my new favorite, 
, favored by Iron Man himself.
. They come in a box that is also reusable so you can have that "tissue box" ease without all the waste (instructions on folding included). I ordered one yesterday, can't wait to use it. 
. While on-the-go I stick to my 
(we have these in hot pink). At only $3.99 for a 12-pack and unlimited usage, think of how much money you will save. Keeping paper towels out of our landfills is an extra super bonus. Just like the napkins, we wash these guys with the towels and sheets. When confronted with paper towels in public bathrooms, don't forget the 
. I feel a little less guilt with these because I am throwing away just the head, not the whole thing. It's better than doing nothing at all but, I guess I will have to look into switching to a straight razor and sharpening it on a strap. Maybe I will pick up wood widdling and start a jug band too. Here is a starter kit, if you are interested, 