Anyone gone totally plastic-free? - Page 5

[xenabyte]

Originally Posted by Lucysmama

Diaper pail. (Can't find a big enough one that isn't plastic)

I recently saw thes HUGE glass 'ball jar' containers at Hobby Lobby for $40 bucks apiece....looked them up, and found them online for much less. I was thinking the 4 gallon size one might do it! Either way, lots of various NON PLASTIC storage options.

If you seriously want a large, glass container to store diapers, or other stuff in, try this website. I'm thinking of getting some for dry sundries to store in them!


http://www.goodmans.net/get_list_531_2.htm

[Bohemian]

Alternative to Diaper Pail

You can get very large crocks that they used to make pickles in. They are a stoneware, not plastic. Kinda heavy though and you would have to be careful if you fill it with water.

[MelMel]

what about one of those metal/enameled crab boil pots? that would be lots lighter and non-breakable..it would hold a few days worth of diapers....it would have to be enameled so it wouldnt rust...and they have lids.....i dont know, just brainstorming for something lighter

[siddie]

I am bummed. I just put a Vita Mix on layaway and found out the container is polycarbonate. I e-mailed the company to ask why they would use polycarbonate in a product that is supposed to help you to eat healthy and become healthier and they said polycarbonate is safe and they are sending me stuff from the fda that says so.

[MelMel]

I bought a metal red trike (with one of those awesome 'briiing, briiiiing' bells!) and some more metal hangers at a garage sale (spent a whole $1 for them all) so am slowly phasing out plastic hangers....

also, going to a few garage sales, I cant believe how much plastic there really is, out there...the one with the trike had a whole baby doll 'nursey' set, in horrid pink and all BIG and round, and molded plastic...changing table, highchair, crib, vantiy...ugh! little tikes, it was...

we have a HUGE box of plastic dishes/cups/bowls/trays that we take out when we have parties...we have been using them for years and its enough to have a party for like 50 or so people and not have to use anything disposible. they are all different types, and some are really funky vintage dishes, and mess hall trays, etc. these will be the hardest to affordably phase out and part with...I know we used to get this 'sportsmans guide' catalog, and they had miliatary surplus items, like mess hall plates, cups, that are metal (maybe aluminum, though...) I could look into those.

here! I found a link http://www.sportsmansguide.com/

I used to get alot of my shoes (if I bought them new) from here too..and most of our camping stuff.

they do sell quite a bit of hunting merchandise, so if you oppose that kinda stuff, you may not want to give them your patronage. I am gunna browse around and see what kinda gear they have these days

[Lucysmama]

Pam and Abigail -

We used to use shot glasses for dd to drink out of when she was small, too. By the time she was 12 months, we just taught her to use a real cup. We skipped over the whole sippy cup thing. We have some around that we will take to the zoo or whatever if we need them, but I don't think sippy cups are necessary at all. I can count on one hand the number of times dd dropped/seriously spilled her glass of liquid. She learned from real glasses, so she has always known to be careful with them.

Oh, and this works at resteraunts, too...! Sometimes places say they don't have smaller cups for my toddler. I just ask them for a shot glass or a rocks glass. They always seem to have those! But rocks glasses are perfect for little hands, even if the other patrons may think your kid's having a vodka on the rocks.

[Amydoula]

I am so glad that I found this thread! I new plastic wasn't good but this is really making me deal and get rid of the stuff. We always have gotten the large 5 gallon water jugs w/ the cooler to go with it and I am going to stop service on Monday and start drinking our well water from a glass pitcher in the frige to keep it cold. I am also going to recycle/sell all of the plastic food containers that I have always used, we never microwaved them but still.....pyrex makes inexpensive glass containers and I will just not let the food touch the plastic lid. So that I have out of the way. We already all drink out of glass drinking cups but my biggest question is where do i find a large glass water bottle for myself. I usually take a tuperware #5 30oz. tumbler with a lid when I go on my doula jobs but would love to replace it with something glass, a plastic lid would be ok. I don't care for metal b/c I have always gotten a "metal" taste from water that has been in it awhile but if anyone has a suggestion for a large metal container that has a lid and you don't get that taste I would be very open to that. Thanks for all the great info!!

[MidnightCafe]

Amy, I saw these at a local kitchen store:

http://www.villagekitchen.com/mfg/ar...g/working.html

They are drinking glasses/tumblers & come with plastic lids. They seem really heavy duty, too. I liked the looks of them when I saw them. Luminarc (that's the brand name) also sells some great heavy-duty food storage containers with plastic lids.

[Amydoula]

Thank you so much! I am going to order a set of the 21oz with lids for work.

Amy

[angelove]

I love this tread, so much great info !!!

I was thinking of reusing the jars with the metal lid the food came in (such as pickles, jam, baby food, ... ), it would be a good way to remplace my plastic containers and to recycle also

Does anyone know if there is any health concern with them if I wash them properly ??

Thanks in advance for your help.

[MelMel]

Originally Posted by angelove

I was thinking of reusing the jars with the metal lid the food came in (such as pickles, jam, baby food, ... ), it would be a good way to remplace my plastic containers and to recycle also

Does anyone know if there is any health concern with them if I wash them properly ??

Thanks in advance for your help.

eek! I hope not..i have been doing this too, since I have been buying so much more bulk, and didnt want to spend the money on new storage ware. I even switched brands on a few items that offered a glass container instead of plastic (like the wild oats brand peanut butter is about 2.49 but in a plastic jar, I can get smuckers natural at a local discount food store -Marcs-in a glass jar for about the same price, ,maybe 20 or so cents more or less)

I am really eyeing those produce cloth bags from that link someone posted before, they are so expensive, but probably can be used forever...hmm...better start budgeting

also, my dh was being thrifty, and came home with some new shower curtains he found on sale for $2.50 each (we always just use the clear vinyl ones, wash them in the washer for a year or so, till they tear up too bad, then get new ones) and he put them up while we were gone today, and I went pee in there and got a headache after being in the bathroon only a few minutes, the smell of the newly opened plastic curtains is TERRIBLE!! that cant be good. now, can I just buy fabric and hang it up there? the only thing we really need to do is keep water from showering all over the bathroom, so wouldnt any physical blocker work? just to stop the direct spray?

what do some of you use for the shower? are the fabric ones specifically sold for shower curtains tread with anything to seal them? that may not be good....

[mommystinch]

Hello. I've only been watching this thread, but I found a website that maybe of interest. It is www.reusablebags.com. They sell reusable mesh produce bags for under $3. I am going to order a few to try out. Hope that helps!

[Lucysmama]

Mel -

Try getting a hemp curtain. Hemp is naturally anitbacterial, much like wool. It is also very hardy. You can just throw it in the washer evern so often, and line-dry.

Also, www.tootsweetbaby.com has cloth produce bags, but I think Tabitha is still babymooning right now.

[juliebelle]

i got a started set from www.reusablebags.com and i love love love them!

here's the link

grocery bags and produce bags

[pilesoflaundry]

I have a nylon fabric shower curtain I bought about 4 years ago and I toss it in the washer every so often and it is still working and for the post part looking great. There is one small mildew spot on it that I could probably get off if I tried but I keep forgeting because the pattern hides it. I think I paid $25 on sale at jcpenny's, it's been worth it since it has lasted this long and no vinyl stink!

[angelove]

Also you get always reuse the Fruitopia glass bottle instead of using the plastic ones ....

[MelMel]

today we were using a jack daniels 'rock's glass that we always use for dd to rinse her mouth out after we brush her teeth, and the little nut looked right at me, and tipped out the contents on the floor, and let it drop too

well, of course it shattered and her foot and ankle got cut. (but we have old tiled bathroom flooring that is like a rock or marble material) even on the rest of the house, which is wood, she broke a few saucers (fiesta stoneware : : ) and plates. she even broke a hard plastic plate my niece left downstairs. so now I am looking into wood. we have some glazed or coated wood plates, bowls, cups, etc. and I always see more at the thrift stores. but what is the coating on them??? I better try to find out.

guess I will stick to the speckled metal camping cups for her till then.