Need suggestions for greening four of my habits, please!

[atpeace]

I need some suggestions for the following ways to make my home less toxic, more eco-friendly, etc.

1. Dishwasher detergent - we use a very mainstream, conventional tab detergent that is probably filled with chemicals.  What can we use instead?

2. Scooping cat litter - what can we use instead of plastic bags?  (at least we reuse old baggies and produce sacs, but still, I'd like to get away from plastic bags altogether).

3. Cling foil ("saran wrap" or "plastic wrap") and plastic lunch baggies for food storage - what can we use instead?

4. Tooth floss - I realized recently how much of the stuff we throw out...insane!  What can we use instead? 

Thanks!  

[deditus]

1. I have found that dishwasher soap varies with the type of water you have, but overall I have been very happy with Ecover tablets.

2. Hmm, our cats went outside. Even in the winter, we had to shovel a spot out in the snow for them. But we didn't train them to do this, it was just what they preferred.

3. You can make or buy reusable sandwich wraps and pouches. Like these:

http://wrap-n-mat.com/

4. Floss - wow, I never thought about that one! I use a Sonicare brush and I don't need to spend as much time flossing now and don't use as much floss. Waterpik maybe?

Originally Posted by atpeace 

I need some suggestions for the following ways to make my home less toxic, more eco-friendly, etc.

1. Dishwasher detergent - we use a very mainstream, conventional tab detergent that is probably filled with chemicals.  What can we use instead?

2. Scooping cat litter - what can we use instead of plastic bags?  (at least we reuse old baggies and produce sacs, but still, I'd like to get away from plastic bags altogether).

3. Cling foil ("saran wrap" or "plastic wrap") and plastic lunch baggies for food storage - what can we use instead?

4. Tooth floss - I realized recently how much of the stuff we throw out...insane!  What can we use instead? 

Thanks!  

[NikonMama]

1 - I agree with the Ecover tabs.  We use them and I love them.  IMO they get the dishes cleaner and leave behind less residue (none here, actually) than regular dish tabs or detergent.

2 - You could just use non clumping litter, which is actually better for your cats.  (Scooping litter has more dust, which gets into your cats lungs when they dig around.  Non clumping isn't completely dust free, but has MUCH less.)  Either just change it completely once a week, or if you want to scoop the poop to stretch the litter out longer than you could scoop it straight into the garbage or keep a box/bag out in the garage that you always scoop into and don't throw it out until it's full.  

3 - We only use glass Pyrex storage containers.  They have them in all sizes with lids that are pretty much air tight.  We've managed to get away from using plastic storage altogether.  

4 - I have NO clue, sorry.   
 

Originally Posted by atpeace 

I need some suggestions for the following ways to make my home less toxic, more eco-friendly, etc.

1. Dishwasher detergent - we use a very mainstream, conventional tab detergent that is probably filled with chemicals.  What can we use instead?

2. Scooping cat litter - what can we use instead of plastic bags?  (at least we reuse old baggies and produce sacs, but still, I'd like to get away from plastic bags altogether).

3. Cling foil ("saran wrap" or "plastic wrap") and plastic lunch baggies for food storage - what can we use instead?

4. Tooth floss - I realized recently how much of the stuff we throw out...insane!  What can we use instead? 

Thanks!  

[Smidge]

Originally Posted by atpeace 

I need some suggestions for the following ways to make my home less toxic, more eco-friendly, etc.

1. Dishwasher detergent - we use a very mainstream, conventional tab detergent that is probably filled with chemicals.  What can we use instead?

2. Scooping cat litter - what can we use instead of plastic bags?  (at least we reuse old baggies and produce sacs, but still, I'd like to get away from plastic bags altogether).

3. Cling foil ("saran wrap" or "plastic wrap") and plastic lunch baggies for food storage - what can we use instead?

4. Tooth floss - I realized recently how much of the stuff we throw out...insane!  What can we use instead? 

Thanks!  

DW deter - I use 7th gen powder and put white vinegar in my rinse aid thing.  WORKS AWESOME even in hard water

Food storage - These are on my Christmas list and these are my fave style of sandwich baggies

We use Tom's floss with real wax

HTHs :)

[talia rose]

We scoop our cat litter right into the toilet and flush, but if you were needing to use bags you could try Bio-Bags which are made from Non-GMO corn plastic and completely bio-degrade.

We use stainless steel sandwich containers.....

[Lisoula]

I don't really have any advice other than when I tried 7th Gen. dishwasher detergent it DID NOT work well for us.

[atpeace]

Thanks everyone.  Great suggestions.  It turns out that my city allows pet waste in our compost collection service, so from now on, I'm composting the cat poop!   

A few more questions:

1.  Anyone know where I can get reusable bread storage bags (we bake all of our own bread, and have been using giant Ziplock bags to store it in, which we reuse, but I'd like something more durable/reusable)?  

2.  Has anyone made/sewn these items themselves and can point me to a good tutorial: lunch/sandwich baggies, those great bowl covers a PP posted a picture of.

3. If I can't make them myself, does anyone have suggestions on where I can buy them (Canadian preferred)?   

[FillingMyQuiver]

Here's a tute for the bowl covers:  http://allysonhill.typepad.com/allyson_hill/2010/05/eco-travel-lid.html

Here's some for the reusable bags:  http://wewilsons.blogspot.com/2009/02/reusable-snack-bag-tutorial.html

http://frenchsleepdeprivationstudy.blogspot.com/2009/06/snack-bag-tutorial.html

http://pukingpastilles.com/?p=760

http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/03/tutorial-recycled-reusable-sandwich-bag.html

[cristeen]

For dishwashing, we recently switched to Mrs Meyers, and it works far better.

For the litter, if you're going to compost it, you need to be using a compostable litter. Same w flushing, you need a flushable litter. Our cat wont use anything but clay, so we're stuck. We have a dedicated trash can w lid for litter. It gets scooped into there and the whole thing goes to the curb when its full, maybe once a month.

[redvlagrl]

For us, none of the more natural dishwasher things worked so we're back on the tablets. We figured that we were washing everything twice and using a heap more water with the natural stuff, so we're using the nasties. I use some abeego covers for bowls and glass tupperware No cat, sorry and don't know about the floss I made some reusuable sandwich wraps using just a square of PUL which is apparently food safe. Just cut it quite big and fold over the sandwich. We also bake our own bread but do use plastic bags and reuse them to death. When I get around to it I will make some PUL bags and use a clip on them rather than snaps or a zipper.

[mommaof3boz]

For DW I use a mix of borax, washing soda and lemon kooaid.

[emmaegbert]

I use reusable containers for lunch but also buy paper snack/sandwich bags. They come waxed and not. (at least here in the US).