The more I think about the chemical potentially carcinogenic environment we grew up in, the more I believe it is very likely I lost both my parents to such types of harmful chemicals as dioxins, voc's and benzenes. Harvesting crabs, oysters, and clams in proximity to the pulp mill before the dioxin treatment centre was installed? New car smell? Deep freezer odours? Microwaving food in plastic lunch containers? Mothballs? Synthetic air freshners? Mom's shoe polish for her work shoes? My mom used bleach (I never do) in laundry and even on white formica kitchen countertops and we might have even had our sofa fabrics and carpets treated with scotchguard; the worst thing I tried to do was treat my winter jacket with scotchguard to keep it water-repellent.
Do the little things matter? Certainly, they can add up...
In my home environment, it certainly does! It smells clean, not synthetic!
Can we do without plastic and noxious chemicals in many cases? What can we substitute in place of plastics? Will glass, or ceramic, or wood, or bamboo, or textile fibres, or stainless steel be better in place of many plastic items?
Instead of bleach, I put 10-20 drops of tea trea oil into 2 cups of water and shake it up to clean my toilet and bathroom. Tea Tree Oil is a natural plant-based antiseptic.
Instead of chemical cleaners, I use baking soda, vinegar, and detergent in a 1:1:1 ratio to clean heavy grease stains.
I still use Vim liquid to clean my bathtub about once every 3.5 weeks; does anyone have alternative suggestions?
I've switched from bottled dish detergent to cube/block dish soap in concentrated solid form
No plastic bottles of body wash for me; I use bar soap instead; unfortunately, I have not weened myself off of hair shampoo in plastic bottles, yet, but I am quite willing to try unpackaged solid bar soap hair shampoo as soon as I can get my hands on some and give it a try.
I support my bike sharing community (ShawMobiGo), and I hope to support my car sharing community (Modo/Evo), too, once I reinstate my DL, but only as undeniably needed.
When something breaks, like my blender, I buy a used version of what I already have so that I can salvage all the spare parts for repair or replacement.
I sleep on the floor, Korean & Japanese style, on a 4 inch thick floor mattress - the floor serves as an immense side table for books, drinking glasses, eyeglasses, tissues, etc. I don't need furniture for my bedroom beyond a floor mattress with pillows/blankets. It's also safer for infants (they won't fall or roll off the bed), toddlers, children and especially seniors who want to maintain mobility by using their balance and coordination every morning and night to get up and out of or get down and into bed! Same applies to sitting on the floor at low tables!
Any other ideas and suggestions? I'd love to hear them!
I've discovered - not by choice, but by circumstance - that I much more value the luxury of time than having lots of money!