Naturally Goode

Category: How To

  • How to be a more eco friendly traveller this holiday season.

    How to be a more eco friendly traveller this holiday season.

    We are now into the Australian summer and speeding towards peak holiday season at an alarming rate. I thought it good timing to provide some tips about how to keep your traveling as eco friendly as possible with as little waste as possible.  Whether you’re flying to the farthest corners of the earth or roaming the outback in a caravan, there are small things you can do to make sure you tread lightly on this great earth of ours.

    Flying High

    If you are flying:

    • purchase carbon offsets
    • make your trip for as long as possible and fly as little as possible to reduce the carbon footprint.
    • Do your research and make sure areas you are visiting have fresh water available. If not, take a drink bottle with a built-in filter.
    • If you have to buy water, buy in the largest size possible and use that to refil your day to day drink bottle.
    • If you are staying in accommodation, look for venues that are eco friendly and employ sustainable practices.

    Going Bush

    If you are camping:

    • Take food and water with you and pre-prepare travel meals and snacks to reduce the need to purchase take away.
    • If you have to eat out, eat in the restaurant to reduce packaging waste.
    • Take reusable containers to reduce your need for single use wrappers. I have a set of tupperware just for the caravan so we can pack sandwiches and snacks for any day trips we take during our holidays.
    • Take a portable loo and empty it at proper dump points in the nearest town. Don’t leave your ablutions and TP all over the bush, buried or not.
    • Make sure your waste water is let out far enough away from the nearest body of water.  Check local regulations to see how far that needs to be.
    • Use Tri Nature products so your waste water won’t cause harm to the environment or wildlife
    • Don’t wash (clothes or yourself) in waterways, dams, rivers, oceans, etc.  Using soap and personal care products in waterways causes pollution and harm to aquatic life, not to mention sending your bodily fluids to everyone downstream.  Get in and get wet, then get out and take a bucket of water the appropriate distance away to soap up and rinse off.
    • Take all your rubbish with you and dispose of properly.  Have everyone do an emu parade at the end of packing up to make sure you don’t leave anything behind.  You each get allocated a certain area of your camp site and you walk that area and pick up any pieces of rubbish within.  Don’t forget tent pegs, ropes and bits of fishing gear!

    No matter where you are:

    • If you are taking your washing home with you, take a travel size enhance pre-wash spray so you can get onto stains asap. Enhance won’t wreck your clothes and it will make sure the stains don’t set before you have time to wash.
    • Pack some cloth bags.  I have about 5 that roll up into almost nothing and they live in my handbag.  They are so handy for so many things, like when you go to the shop for one thing and end up buying about 10.
    • Snack on fresh fruit wherever possible so there’s no packaging waste.
    • If you need to do your own washing while you’re travelling, take a small container of laundry powder, so you know you can be more eco-friendly than a hotel laundry or in a laundromat.
    • Take a travel size Sphagnum Moss Disinfectant with you for emergencies like cleaning a public loo seat before using it, or spraying stinky teenage boy feet and shoes when they take their shoes off in the car on long road trips.
    • Take your refillable drink bottle with you. There are some excellent squishy ones around that fold/roll up nicely when empty so they don’t take up too much space in your luggage.  Most airlines don’t count drink bottles or coffee mugs in the weight of your carry on, if you are holding them.
    • Take your coffee travel mugs with you or order in and sit down for your coffee.  Research ahead and find cafes that let you bring your own mug (although most do these days).
    • Take a travel cutlery set everywhere, including metal straws, so you don’t need to use any single use sets.
    • Make a list of any ideas you have for next time.  Remember, you don’t have to get it right and be perfect with zero waste.  This is just about making better choices and getting better each time.  And if you have ideas I haven’t listed, please get in touch and let me know so I can add them to this post for all to share.
    • Have fun!!
  • Water Saving Tips for Summer

    Water Saving Tips for Summer

    How to save and recycle water around home

    As we head into what’s shaping up to be a long, hot and very dry summer, I thought it was a good time rehash and extend my list of water saving tips for you.  I have added to this list as people have shared their ideas and tips with me so please, keep them coming and I will keep adding to the list for you all!

    Obviously, my number one tip is to use all Tri Nature products throughout your house.  That way, ALL your grey water can go on your garden!

    Laundry

    • In our house, the washing machine hose goes out the window of the laundry and all water from the washing machine goes straight onto the grass and the garden.  This isn’t an issue for the grass or plants because I use Tri Nature products. The hose we have is really long so I can move it around as needed.
    • An alternative is to have the hose, and all the water, go into a wheelie bin with a hose connection fitting on it.  Then you can wheel the bin around the house and use the water wherever you need it on the garden.  We made our own version of this but you can buy these wheelie bins with hose fittings on them from Bunnings and other hardware stores.
    • Always do full loads in your machine.  Don’t waste water to wash one or two things.  It’s never hard to fill up the washing machine in our house.
    • Soak stained clothing in a bucket instead of the sink.  Use Tri Nature and then you can throw the water onto the grass or garden when you have finished soaking, instead of down the drain.

    Bathroom

    • Keep showers to a minimum.  4 minutes is always the goal.
    • Bath or shower small kids together.
    • Have a bucket in the shower with you, or more than one, if you have them.  This will catch lots of shower water before it goes down the drain.  You can then use it to water the garden or flush the toilet (you can “bucket flush” the toilet by just tipping the water into it with the same force as a flush would use).
    • If you have a motorised pump rig, you can pump water from bath into a wheelie bin for use on the garden.  If you don’t have one of these, you can bucket the water out onto the garden.
    • When it comes to the toilet, in our house, we apply the saying “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.  If it’s brown, flush it down.”.  We don’t flush unless the loo is getting too full of toilet paper or it’s smelly.  Flushing less often saves water and using the half flush at every opportunity saves a bit more.
    • Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth.  Wet your toothbrush, turn it off, brush your teeth and the turn it on to rinse your toothbrush.  Use a cup with some water in it to rinse your mouth.
    • When washing your hands, apply hand wash and rub all over, then turn on the tap to rinse off.  Don’t leave the tap running while you apply soap.
    • Turn off the shower while you shampoo your hair or lather yourself.
    • Replace shower heads with water saving models.  Many water companies and councils have these available for free if you swap them for existing ones, or at a reduced price.
    • Hang your towels up to dry and reuse instead of increasing washing.  You don’t need a clean towel every time you wash.  You have only used it for drying off clean water.

    Kitchen

    • Use your dishwasher for everything.  Dishwashers use much less water than hand washing your dishes does.
    • Don’t rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher.  Use cutlery to scrape off any excess food and then load them up in the dishwasher.  There’s absolutely no need to rinse something clean before if goes into the machine designed to clean it.
    • Again, full loads only.  Or half loads if you have a machine that only washes half.
    • If it takes a while for your hot water to come through, catch the cold water in a jug or a bucket and use it on the garden or in the kettle instead of letting it run down the sink.
    • If you can, set your dishwasher up the same way as the washing machine above.  Send the hose connection outside so the water goes onto the grass or garden or into a wheelie bin for distribution later.
    • Put your glass under the tap before you turn it on so you make sure you catch every single drop.
    • Reuse water from boiled or steamed food for other food, or wait til it cools and use it on the garden.
    • Put leftover ice cubes from your drink into a pot plant instead of in the sink.
    • Soak all your fruit and veggies in one sink together instead of rinsing each piece as you are about to eat it.

    Garden

    • Any water that hits our roof goes into rain water tanks and is used on the garden.  We have evaporative cooling which dumps water onto our roof every 3 hours when it’s on, so even though it hardly ever rains here, we still get water in the tanks.  It’s easy and affordable enough these days to buy IBC’s (old 1000L plastic shipping tanks in cages) off marketplace or Gumtree and divert your rainwater into those instead of the drains.  You don’t have to invest in big, expensive water tanks and a plumber.
    • For any plants in pots, put a saucer or tray underneath.  This will catch any water that drains out and the plant roots can suck it up as they need.
    • Water your plants at night.  Watering in the morning or during the day means you run the risk of much of the water evaporating before it can be absorbed by the plants.  Wait until the earth has cooled down of an evening and water your garden then.
    • If you mulch around your plant base, this helps retain moisture in the soil.
    • Many studies have been done that show planting into grassy ground, instead of tilled and harrowed soil, actually benefits the plants you’re planting.  Grass, rather than competing with your plants, actually helps to put more nutrients back into the soil and improve the soil’s water retention.  This can be harder to get your head around, especially because it looks messier than your conventional garden.
    • Indigenous plants are generally less thirsty than imports.
    • Native grasses are also less thirsty and far more drought tolerant than others.  If you know what to look for, you can gather up seeds from the side of the road and spread around your grassy areas to encourage it to grow.
    • Mow your grass long.  Taller grass retains it’s water better so you don’t need to water as often.
    • Fertilizers increase water consumption so use the minimum amount required if you must use them at all.  Consider making your own fertilizer with a worm farm.

    General

    • Leave your flowers growing in the garden rather than cutting them for display.  Fresh cut flowers can use up a lot of water to keep them alive. Consider living pot plants instead.
    • Check all your taps, hoses and fittings for leaks and repair them as soon as you can.
    • Eat foods with a higher water content to help keep you hydrated without needing to drink as much!
    • If you are washing your car at home, make sure you do it on the lawn so the grass benefits from the run off.  And make sure you are using Tri Nature products so you don’t kill the grass.
    • Wash pets and cars using a bucket, instead of a running hose.
    • Use a broom instead of a hose for cleaning tiles, driveways, etc.
    • Turn taps on slowly, not straight to full blast like my kids seem to do every time.
    • Teach your kids to be mindful of their water use and to be less wasteful.
    • If you have a pool, get a pool cover to reduce evaporation.
    • Report any broken pipes in public areas.
    • If you have to buy any new equipment or machinery, consider and compare water efficiency.

     

    Try doing just one thing each day and remember that Every Drop Counts!

  • Killing it in the Kitchen

    Killing it in the Kitchen

    5 eco-friendly tips to save hours of time, stress and mummy-guilt each week.

    Time for me to let you in on some secrets about how I kill it in the kitchen.  In our house, meals are my responsibillity.  This is, at least in part, by my design.  If it were up to my partner, we would be eating store-bought meatloaf with a side of two-minute noodles every night.  I was raised on a lot of veggies and salads and I wanted my kids to have the same, so I took over meals.

    I work 3 days a week in my job, a least another 2 days a week on my business, volunteer for canteen duty and school excursions where I can plus try and keep on top of the rest of the housework for a partner, 2 kids and up-to 4 part timers.  In other words, I’m as busy as every other mum out there.

    My kids have been in childcare since they were 7 months old, when I had to go back to work full time after each of them.  My job back then demanded long hours and we were often not home until after 6pm for the dinner/bath/bed routine.  We were getting up at 5.30am to start the next day so they really needed to be in bed by 7pm.  Frozen, ready-to-eat meals were a staple.

    While things have improved sightly over the years there was still a large amount of pre-preared foods involved.  I have still been wracked with mummy-guilt that I don’t give my kids enough of the right foods, that I don’t prepare their food from scratch so that I know exactly what’s in it, that I am contributing waaaaay too much packaging to landfill, etc. etc.

    I made some big commitments to myself for this year that I would cook from scratch, eliminate as much pre-prepared food and packaging as possible, feed my kids more veggies and the right kinds of foods.  I have had to make some big changes to achieve those goals.  I’m pretty happy with how things have turned out so far.

    1. Meal Plan

    I know, I know.  Super nerdy and one of those tasks that sounds like just one more thing on the never ending to-do list.  BUT I spend less than half an hour on this once a week and it saves me at least that much time on a daily basis.  I know what we are having for dinner each night for the next 7 days.  No more getting home from work and spending ages staring into the fridge or pantry trying to figure out what I’m going to make for dinner.  The decision is already made so I can just get on with it.

    I have thousands of recipes.  For someone who never really cooked much before kids, I seem to have accumulated quite the collection of cook books.  Each week I pick 3 books and I flick through and choose our week’s meals.  I generally go for some meat based meals, some with eggs, beans or lentils, one from another country (my youngest “visits” a different country in her class room each week so we talk about the food and which country it came from) and, especially in winter, a soup.  Friday night usually involves something easy and not necessarily healthy like home made pizza or sausages.

    2. Shop to a list

    I make my shopping list while I am doing my meal plan.  “Hello Fresh” love telling everyone how much their food packages save wasted food.  Well, so does meal planning and shopping to a list and you don’t have to pay extra for it.  I reckon I have knocked between $50 to $100 per week off the cost of our weekly shop just by meal planning and shopping to a list.

    I used to go to the shop and wander the aisles while I tried to remember what we needed plus work out what we might eat for the week and what I needed for that.  I would always end up forgetting something, spending too much time in the store and getting frustrated and just grabbing whatever was easiest because I didn’t want to think anymore.

    With my list, I buy only what I need to make the meals for the week.  I don’t end up grabbing stuff off the shelves “just in case”.  It saves wasted food, it saves wasted money and it saves me so much time in the store because I know what I need to get.  Having a list also stops me impulse buying a bunch of stuff that we will never use, just because I was hungry while I was in the shop.

    There are a couple of exceptions worth noting here.  I will sometimes buy bulk or a whole item instead of just what I need, to save getting additional packaging.  For example, if I need 500g of pumpkin for a recipe, I will buy a whole pumpkin so I don’t have to deal with the plastic wrap and the styrofoam tray (not to mention the additional cost per kg).  I find that the produce I buy whole seems to keep much longer than any pre-prepared produce from the stores.  There are also some great reusable produce bags you can get that make your fruit and veggies last even longer in the fridge.  Then I’ll make sure next week’s recipes include those ingredients so nothing is wasted.

    3. Tools

    4 years ago, my uncle and auntie bought me a 5in1 multicooker.  It does slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, steaming and soup.  I don’t think I really appreciated the value of this little gem until this year.  It is bloody fantastic.

    The 3 days I work, we generally have slow cooker meals.  I can’t tell you how good it is to come home after a day of work and an evening of rushing kids between dancing and karate to a cooked meal ready to be served.  The amount of stress this has taken out of my life is huge!

    I have a bumper womens weekly slow cooker cook book ($20 from the book man at before school care, thanks very much) and another slow cooker 365 cook book.  Between the 2 of them, I haven’t run out of new meals to try yet.  There are so many amazing things you can do.

    On my non-job days, the pressure cooker function still lets me whip up a risotto in less than half an hour including prep.  I also have a Thermomix which has been a terrific complement to my kitchen and helps me cook some amazing meals from scratch in under half and hour.

    If you can’t afford to splash out on the 5in1 or a Thermomix, a plain old slow cooker is a must have.  I would also highly recommend a good food processor.  You can save a lot of time, money and waste by preparing your own veggies.  For example:

    • chopping up your own tomatoes instead of using tinned ones
    • growing your own herbs, drying them and blitzing them and keeping them in old vegemite jars for whenever you need them

    Blitzing onions in the food processor has also saved me many tears and cut fingers.  If you want to get even more eco friendly, Tupperware have the Smooth Chopper, which is a people-powered food processor, no electricity required and you can work out while you’re cooking!

    4. Re-purpose the left overs

    I have 2 kids of my own plus between 0 and 4 part-timers.  Especially in the 4 years after my first daughter was born, my partner would turn up with up at dinnertime with any or all of them without notice.  I got really good at the fishes and loaves trick, making a meal for 4 into a meal for 8.  Perhaps as a hangover from then, I still tend to over-cater for dinner most nights.  This actually works out really well because we re-purpose our left overs.

    Generally, my partner and I will take some for work at lunch for at least one day.  Where there is a lot left over (like when I make soup), I divide it up into portions in containers and freeze it.  That way, we have ready meals for days when there are no leftovers for lunch and for times we may be away for the weekend and come home to no food.  This also gives me a backup options for the nights I can’t be bothered fighting my kids to eat on the meal I have cooked.  If the freezer ever starts to get too full, I just plan a few less meals for a week and use it up.

    5. Use your Dishwasher

    I know I say this often but honestly, if you have a dishwasher, you’d be mad not to use it.  In our house, everything goes in the dishwasher.  If it doesn’t survive the dishwasher, it has no place in our kitchen.  The dishwasher saves time and is more environmentally friendly.  Dishwashers use less water than hand washing dishes, as long as you don’t rinse the dishes frst.  Scrape food off into the bin and load the dishes up.  Use an eco friendly powder like Tri Nature Citrus Dishwasher Powder (then you don’t need to worry about toxic residue on your plates or killing the fishies).  I also use Tri Nature Rinse Aid. I have solar power so the dishwasher goes on one the eco cycle right before I walk out the door each day.  By the time I get home, the dishes are clean and dry and ready to use again or be put away.

    So there you have it!  My top 5 on how I get through the days and weeks without totally losing my mind over meals.  I would love to hear if any of this helps you or if you have any other tips you would like to share.  Please feel free to comment or get in touch and let me know!

  • Folding and Storing Sheet Sets

    Folding and Storing Sheet Sets

    Here’s a quick video about one of my life hacks.  This is how I fold and store my sheet sets to save myself some time and sanity.  I hope it helps you too!

     

  • Happy Camping

    How I stay Green when travelling

    Tonight I am typing to you from my caravan currently sitting along side the Murray River in a town called Walwa in rural Vic.  We are camped here ready and raring to go for the Bush Market in Corryong tomorrow and Saturday as part of the Man From Snowy River Bush Festival.

    It’s a few days past the Easter long weekend and I realise I really should have written this post at the start of last month, or even 2 weeks ago.  It would have been much more helpful BEFORE the Easter long weekend, when so many of us head bush.  But I was busy getting ready for my own Easter road trip, so now is the time I have to write it.  Sorry about that…

    I digress.  The purpose of this blog is to tell you how I keep things Green in the bush and which products I have in my caravan to help me do that.

    First of all, if we are heading somewhere we have to take our own water, the tank in the caravan isn’t always big enough.  I have about 4 of the Coles 10L water containers.  You can unscrew the lid and refill them and the lid has a tap on it for easy access.  I fill these up from the tap and bring them along.  I always have my reusable water bottles and I fill these out of the 10L bottles.  Easy peasy and no single use plastic required.

    I always carry a roll of WGAC TP (Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper) and Paper Towel in the cupboard for emergencies.  I am comfy in the knowledge that, worst case scenario, it all breaks down quickly and contains no bleaches or eco contaminants.  Plus profits go to build toilets in 3rd world countries so #winning!

    I have an entire set of collapsible tupperware containers and bowls I keep in the cupboard for leftovers.  I don’t know about you but I always over cater, no matter how carefully I plan.  Maybe because the number of kids travelling with us can change anytime up until 3 minutes before we leave and I am getting really good at the fishes and loaves trick.

    I can’t stand wasting food (and therefore money).  Since feeding human food to wildlife can make them very sick, and also since most places beg you not to do it and make unbearable pests of some animals, into the containers it goes and into the fridge/esky.  Leftovers make great lunches and a nice variation on sandwiches or wraps in our camp.

    Another handy Tupperware item I love to keep in my van is the TupperChef (I think the smaller version may be called the TurboChef?  I’m not great with the names).  Anyway, this thing is like a food processor but it uses a pull cord instead of electricity so it’s people powered and you get a free workout at the same time (which is worth at least one glass of wine I reckon).  No need for packet food.  This gadget is absolutely perfect for quickly and easily chopping onions and garlic but also for mincing veggies for “hidden veg” dishes.  And it takes nary more than a rinse to clean it up.  It’s a ripper (get it?  Ripper…Rip cord….sorry…it’s late).

    And speaking of cleaning up, of course I have some Tri Nature products in residence.  Chamomile Dishwashing Liquid is a given for the dishes.  It doesn’t dry my hands but it does a terrific job on the dishes in hot or cold water and it won’t hurt the earth when it runs out the drainpipe of the caravan onto the grass below.

    A spray bottle of Supre Multipurpose Cleaner is always on hand in the caravan as well.  This is good for cleaning the stove and fridge but also getting scuff marks and general mess of walls and cupboards.  It can also be great for getting bug guts off the caravan outside and off the car headlights and windscreen at a pinch.

    Next is my spray bottle of Enhance Pre Wash Stain Remover Spray.  Most pre wash sprays contain up to 80% kerosene.  This is why you can’t leave them on the clothes for too long before they start to eat the fabric and stain your clothes beyond repair.  Not so with enhance.  No petrochemicals at all or anything else toxic or harmful.  So if we’re away for 4 or 5 days, or even 2 weeks, and I don’t want to do any laundry on my holiday, Enhance saves me time when we get home.

    I spray any stains on the clothes before they get thrown into the washing bag.  Stains that I know can be tough if not dealt with upfront (like hot chocolate or pasta sauce), I rub the Enhance in roughly.  90 to 95% of stains either disappear before my very eyes or they are gone before we get home and I have to actually launder the clothes.  This little trick has saved me mountains of time and even bigger mountains of sanity.  It doesn’t have to be just when camping either.  I absolutely use this trick at home as well.

    Next up is the air freshener.  This is vital when travelling with young kids, teenagers or men.  At the moment I have the Baby Air Freshener going.  I like the smaller bottle (250ml size) and it doubles as a bit of a disinfectant because it has tea tree and lavender oils in it.  You could also use Sphagnum Moss or Sanazone (original or Lemon Myrtle) as perfectly good substitutes.

    I use this to get rid of BO/fart/general-smelly-children smells but it’s also handy if you have a musty old caravan or tent that needs de-odorising.  I use the spray on fabrics as well as in the air.  And if you are using shared toilets, this is an essential item for cleaning the seat before you have to use it.  If you have a loo in your caravan, air freshener is always going to be in demand.

    If you do have a caravan with a toilet, you can also use Sphagnum Moss disinfectant concentrate in the bowl instead of whatever they tell you to buy to break down the contents.  It’s the travelling and slooshing around that does all the breaking down, you just need a good disinfectant to help it along and cover up the stench.  At least with Sphag Moss you know you aren’t polluting the earth with products when you dump your waste.

    I always have a bottle of hand wash or body wash in the van.  I use these interchangeably for washing my hands and my body.  If we are somewhere with bathroom facilities, bonus.  If not, we are usually by a river.  So I get wet and then get out.  I soap myself up and then use a bucket to rinse off, but not near the water source.  I don’t want to upset the drinking supply for anyone downstream.  As I am using Tri Nature body wash or hand wash, I know I won’t harm the grass or plants by rinsing on them.  This makes me happy.

    I always travel with my essential oil first aid kit as well.

    I hope that this list is helpful for you all on your next adventure!

    What do you do to stay green in the bush?  Let me know in the comments below 🙂

     

  • 9 ways to be a more eco friendly Gift giver

    9 ways to be a more eco friendly Gift giver

    9 ways to be a more eco friendly gift giver

    It’s that time of year when we are all in a gift giving frenzy.  The shops are designed to entice us to buy with all things shiny and new.  It’s also a great time of year to put on the eco responsible hat and look for some little ways to help reduce our contribution to landfill.  Here are a couple of suggestions about how you can be a more eco friendly gift giver this Christmas.  Of course, these tips apply any time of year for any gift-giving occasion.

    1. Use your kids’ artwork or the local newspaper as gift wrap.
    2. Make your own gifts such as food or something from recycled materials
      1. truffles,
      2. cupcakes,
      3. fudge,
      4. shortbread or for kids,
      5. gift the dry ingredients and a recipe in an old pasta jar with some home made labelling
      6. Make the kids’ artwork into a book showcasing some of the highlights from the last 12 months
    3. Choose gifts that are useful and will be used quickly rather than something that might become clutter
      1. body wash
      2. shampoo & conditioner
      3. Moisturiser
      4. Bath Salts
      5. Skin Care
    4. Gift an experience instead of “stuff”.
    5. Gift something pre-loved.  Opp shops have some amazing things in them that you cannot find in other shops.  You may find a beautiful old tea set that’s just right, or that you could use to make your own candles in for gifts.  You just never know until you look!  Gumtree or FaceBook Marketplace can be great for a scroll too.  Opp shop tea towels make great wrapping paper or you can turn them into a replacement for cling wrap with some beeswax and an iron.
    6. Stick with brands that won’t harm the earth and who tick some or all of the below list:
      1. non-toxic ingredients
      2. recyclable packaging
      3. ethically sourced ingredients
      4. ethically made goods (workers paid fairly and have good conditions)
      5. locally made.
    7. Give a gift that helps someone else become more eco friendly such as eco safe personal care, a reusable cup or water bottle, reusable grocery bags, etc.  Tupperware or reusable containers are especially handy for Christmas leftovers and help people cut down on waste.
    8. Gift your time.  This could be in the form of volunteering at a charity instead of a gift, or blocking out a day to spend with a loved one where the day is all about them. This works especially well as a gift for kids.
    9. Gift a donation to an eco charity such as wildlife conservation.

    If you have some tips you would like to share, please get in touch or leave them in the comments below.  I would love to hear from you!

  • 7 cleaning hacks to get your house holiday ready in a hurry!

    7 cleaning hacks to get your house holiday ready in a hurry!

    I think we have established by now that I am super efficient (lazy) when it comes to domestic duties but I lack the financial ability to hire someone to do it for me.  Plus they wouldn’t do it the way I Iike it done.  So, here are some of my favourite cleaning short cuts to help you get and keep your house Christmas/Holiday/Visitor ready this summer!

    Fridge and Pantry

    Use old tea towels and pillow cases to line shelves in your fridge or pantry.  If something spills, you can just throw the pillow case or tea towel in the wash instead of going through the trauma of cleaning the shelf.  Fabric will soak up the spills on the shelf where they happen so you have a better chance that only 1 shelf will be dirty, instead of the back of the fridge and every shelf below it as well.

    Tea towel fridge shelf liners
    Tea towel fridge shelf liners

    Upcycle your old jar lids and use them upside down as coasters for new jars in the fridge and pantry.  These will catch any drips before they get to the shelves. This comes in especially handy in the pantry if you have an ant invasion.  Just put some water in the lid before you place the jar in it and the ants can’t get across the water and into your honey or jam!

    Recycled Jar Lid Coasters
    Recycled Jar Lid Coasters

    The Loo

    Keep a little disinfectant concentrate in the bottom of the toilet brush holder to keep it as germ-free and odour free as possible. If you choose Sphagnum Moss or Sanazone Lemon Myrtle, you get the added bonus of an air freshener as well!

    If you need to clean the limescale out of the bottom of the toilet bowl, don’t worry about scrubbing or bleach.  Tip about 50ml of descaler into the water and let it sit (the longer the better so overnight at least).  Then flush and you’re done!

    Disinfectant in Toilet Brush Holder
    Disinfectant in Toilet Brush Holder

    It’s amazing what you can put in a dishwasher!

    Your dishwasher is much more of helper than you realise.  There are so many things you can throw in the dishwasher for cleaning and sanitising.  It saves a whole lot more water than washing the old fashioned way in the sink.  It uses much hotter water than your hands can stand for improved germ killing power.  And you don’t have to stand there while it’s on.  What’s not to love about that?

    Here are just some of the things you can toss into the dishwasher for a clean and freshen up:

    • the sponge!
    • plastic brushes
    • stove knobs
    • mop heads

      Dishwasher Crocs
      Thongs and crocs go in the dishwasher no worries.
    • kids plastic toys
    • soap and toothbrush holders
    • plastic flowers
    • light cover fittings
    • potatoes and root veggies (don’t use detergent in this cycle)
    • plastic or metal gardening tools
    • thongs and crocs

    For any metal or glass that needs an extra boost, add descaler to the load.  This is a great way to get rid of some rust, calcium and limescale build up in your machine as well as on your stuff.  You can do this with:

    • the shower head
    • cloudy glasses
    • the shower caddy
    • metal gardening tools

    Shower

    If you can’t get the shower head off to get it in the dishwasher, put some water and descaler into a strong bag and tie it over the shower head.  Leave it there for as long as possible (overnight or a day or two if you can).  This will clean up the outside and inside so any little holes blocked by calcium, limescale or rust buildup will clear up as well!

    Showerhead bagged with descaler and water
    Showerhead bagged with descaler and water

    Microwave and Oven

    Nuke a glass of water in the microwave for 2 minutes to get everything damp and steamy for an easy clean, then wipe it out with a cloth.

    Half fill a deep baking tray with hot water and bake it till the inside of the oven is damp and steamy.  Wipe out with cloth.  For extra dirty ovens or microwaves, spray with multipurpose or oven cleaner once it’s all steamy, then leave for at least 10 minutes before wiping out.

    steamy microwave
    Nuke a cup of water to steam up your microwave for an easy wipe out

    Food Processor/Blender/Thermomix

    Clean your blender or food processor quickly using this trick I learned from my Thermomix consultant.  Once you’re finished using it, add drop of dishwashing liquid and half fill it with water.  Then turn it on full blast for 3 seconds.  The quicker you do this after you have finished using it, the better, especially if you have been making dough.  Then whoosh the scrubbing brush around inside to get any extra sticky bits off and rinse.  If you use eco responsible Dishwashing Liquid like me, you can tip this water on your garden instead of down the sink!

    Rangehood Filters

    Put a couple of inches of hot water into the bath and mix in some dishwasher powder or pre soaker.  Throw in your rangehood filters, jiggle them around a bit and then leave them for a few hours.  You will come back to sparkling filters.  Rinse off, let them dry and put them back in the rangehood!

    If your filters aren’t that bad, you could put them through the dishwasher instead, provided they are not too big to fit.

    Citrus Dishwasher Powder Rangehood cleaning trick
    Citrus Dishwasher Powder Rangehood cleaning trick

    Got any tips?

    If you have any cleaning hacks you don’t mind sharing, please leave them in the comments below!

  • How to cut down plastic use around the home and office

    How to cut down plastic use around the home and office

    There has been much in the news about the issues surrounding single use plastic.  Lately, some air time has been given to the problems we are having with being able to process recyclable plastics at the rate we are recycling them.  Most recently, it has emerged that in Victoria and NSW, there are even major issues with the volumes of glass being recycled.  The processing plants are unable to find a market for most of the glass and it is just sitting in storage, which isn’t really helping anyone.

    While smarter folk than I figure out what to do about those issues, I focus my attention on what I can do to prevent it happpening in the first place, at least in my own space.  There are several small changes I have made, that I have mentioned previously, to avoid single use plastic as much as I can.  These include using Onya Mesh bags for loose grocery items, not buying any fresh produce that is pre-bagged or wrapped, always remembering my green shopping bags, using beeswax cloth wraps instead of glad wrap and carrying metal straws in my handbag for the kids.

    It occurred to me the other day that there is something else I do which I don’t think I have mentioned.  Whenever I can, I buy BULK.  This can apply to nearly everything we consume and the definition of bulk can be different for every household, depending on the number being catered for.

    By way of example, I currently have an enormous whole watermelon on my kitchen bench.  I know it will get eaten within a week and I can chop it up into edible size pieces and keep it in containers in the fridge.  I buy baking flour in 10kg bulk because I know we will use it and I have a big pantry so we have the storage space.  Half my family have a dairy fetish so I buy milk in 3L bottles.  I would buy bigger if it were available.

    I also get my (Tri Nature, obviously) cleaning, laundry and kitchen products in bulk. This saves me quite a bit of money as well as reducing the amount of plastic and packaging we recycle.  Below, I have broken down a couple of examples of the bulk size I use of Laundry Liquid and how it benefits the environment and me.

    I tend to use the Laundry liquid more than the powder.  This is largely because I am efficient with my time (read: lazy) and it’s easier to pump liquid into the machine than fiddle around with the bucket and scoop.  I have a 5L laundry liquid on my laundry bench.  By buying the 5L ($74.95) I save over 17% when compared with buying the 2L bottles ($34.95 * 2.5 = $87.38). It takes me 8-12 months to use the full 5L but there’s a 2 year shelf life so I am still well within that.  This not only saves money but it saves 1.5 extra empty bottles of packaging.

    For argument’s sake, let’s say I used 5L in less than 6 months.  I could buy the 20L ($222.90).  All Tri Nature 20L quantities actually come as 4 * 5L (this is for OH&S purposes so no one is lifting a 20kg or more bottle).  While this doesn’t save on packaging compared with the 5L on it’s own, it does save multiple shippings so it’s still a greener option.  Plus, most 20L prices are heavily discounted so now I am only paying $55.75 for a 5L bottle, which is 36% lower than the 2L price.  Of course I buy the 20L because I sell what i don’t use myself, but there’s no reason why 20L can’t be shared between 4 households, businesses or departments.

    Most of the Tri Nature products come in bulk sizes such as 5L, 20L and 10kg.  The biggest sellers include:

    • 5L and 20L of Multipurpose Cleaner
    • 5L and 20L of Disinfectant (especially popular in businesses such as cafes, child care centres and commercial kitchens)
    • 5L and 20L of Floor Cleaner
    • 5L and 20L of Dishwashing Liquid
    • 5L and 20L of Moisturising Handwash (used in mining and other industries as a body wash)
    • 10kg Laundry Powder
    • 10kg Dishwasher Powder

    Next time you are ready to reorder, have a think about whether bulk could benefit you and the earth.

    If you are not sure what size Tri Nature product you may need, write the date on the next bottle you open and see how long it lasts you.  If the bulk size will be used up in under 2 years, then it will be a worthwhile investment.

    If you’re not sure if the product you need comes in bulk, get in touch with me and I can help.  Don’t be shy, it’s what I am here for.

  • How GREEN are you?

    How Green Are You?
    How Green Are You?

    The other day, as I was hopping in my 4 wheel-drive soccer-mum car that I purchased brand-new and runs on diesel, I pondered just how green I really am.  I like to think I am pretty environmentally friendly but, without question, there are many areas in which I could improve.

    While my car isn’t the greenest choice, there are other reasons why I drive it.  I have to be able to tow a horse float, which limits my options.  Within that small group of cars, I absolutely look at fuel economy as one of the most important factors.  I do a lot of driving.  Picking a car with good fuel economy is one of the ways I can improve my “greeness” and it also improves my budget.

    I tell you this story because I believe that it’s not how green we are that matters most.  It’s about how we factor our concern for our environment (whether just in our homes, or the earth in general) into our lives each day.  It’s about constantly making changes and adjustments to improve the way we impact the planet, each other and our future generations.  Every little bit helps.  It doesn’t matter what you change or how big a change you make, it just matters that you make start.  Do what you can in the space you are in and with the resources you have.

    Each day I find a different way to approach things in my life that will improve my impact on the planet.   For me, any changes have to tick 3 boxes.

    1. Must be better for the planet than what I’m doing now,
    2. Must not negatively impact my family, and
    3. Must not be more expensive than what I’m doing now.

    Here are some examples of big and little changes I have made:

    • I use Tri Nature products everywhere I can (obviously)
    • We changed over our 2 electric hot water services to heat pump services which slashed our energy consumption and bills (you can read more about this change here)
    • I use green/reusable shopping bags for any shopping.  I have the smaller ones that fold up into tiny bundles in my handbag at all times so I am never caught without.  These are also great for using in the supermarket instead of plastic bags for items like apples and tomatoes.
    • I buy in bulk where possible to save on packaging
    • I buy “nude” wherever possible.  I can’t stand the trend towards packaging on fresh produce. Drives me crazy and I would rather buy a whole pumpkin and find ways to use it than just a half wrapped in glad-wrap on a styro-foam tray.
    • I always ensure packaging is recyclable on everything I buy
    • I grow my own food as much as possible with the time and space I have available
    • I buy locally made wherever I can (if I can’t get Australian fruit and veg I won’t buy it at all, which really hurts with avocados and asparagus and I am now growing my own garlic)
    • I reuse as much as I can, especially packaging, for example:
      • I donate all cardboard to kinders – it’s amazing what they can make out of a cornflakes box
      • packing material from Tri Nature is shredded paper which I use to line my chook house and then compost once they’re done with it
      • glass jars and solid plastic containers are washed and used for
        • gifts (filled with home made goodies or decorated and filled with other gifts)
        • leftovers or home made food
        • temporarily housing “pet” bugs from the garden
        • home made slime storage
    • recycle everything I possibly can that can’t be reused
    • I carry a small bag with a metal travel fork and spoon so I never need plastic or take-away cutlery
    • I recently invested in some metal straws which live in my handbag so the kids never need to get the plastic ones (because it’s never just one of the plastic ones either)
    • I take my 1L refillable water bottle everywhere so I don’t need to buy bottled water
    • I take my 2 travel mugs with me everywhere so I don’t need to use disposable cups for tea or hot chocolates
    • I recycle as much water as I can from our house
      • the washing machine hose goes out the window of the laundry and all water from washing goes straight onto the grass and the garden.  This isn’t an issue for the grass or plants because I use Tri Nature products.
      • any water that hits our roof goes into rain water tanks and is used on the garden.  We have evaporative cooling which dumps water onto our roof every 3 hours when it’s on, so even though it hardly ever rains here, we still get water in the tanks.
      • bathrooms and kitchen I have yet to figure out.

    Hopefully I have given you some ideas about what you can do differently that will help you and our planet.  I would love to hear your ideas!  Please comment below, email me or drop me a line on facebook and let me know what you have done in your space.

  • How to Use Your Tri Nature Sensitive Pack

    How to Use Your Tri Nature Sensitive Pack

    Alpha Plus Laundry Powder As the products were created and are made in the Hunter Valley in NSW, all directions are for hard water areas.  So with the laundry powder, you only need to use half of the suggested amount on the back of the pack:

    • In a top loader you need one full scoop per wash only.
    • In a front loader you need half a scoop per wash only.

    This may not seem like enough if you are used to supermarket brand quantities but Tri Nature powder is a 100% herbal concentrate with no fillers or extenders so every little grain is active and working to clean your clothes.

    Fillers and extenders from previous products can stay in your machine and come out during a wash cycle with Tri Nature’s powder.  In order to get the best results from, I recommend you finish off whatever else you have, descale your machine before you start using Tri Nature and don’t use anything else once you start.

    If you don’t have any descaler, you can run an empty hot wash with the recommended dose of Tri Nature’s laundry powder. This helps to clear out any build up of fillers and extenders from your machine from previous products but it won’t be as effective as a good descaler, such as Maxim.

    Similarly, vinegar may have an impact on calcium and limescale, but it will not breakdown any build up on fillers and extenders.  Additionally, many modern machines are made using plastic and rubber components and vinegar will, over time, break down and destroy these parts.

     

    Moisturising Handwash

    Tri Nature’s handwash is loaded with coconut oil so it is very moisturising. It is gentle enough to use as an overall body wash with a pH of only 7.5. You can put it on neat before gardening or working on the car and it acts as a barrier. Tri Nature’s handwash is ideal for people with dermatitis of the hands or dry skin.  No soap or SLS means it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.

    Once you have finished your Handwash, keep the bottle and purchase a 1L, 5L or 20L refill and save!

    Body Wash

    Tri Nature Body Washes have a pH of 5.5, the same as your skin.  With no soap or SLS, they don’t remove the natural, protective layer of oils from your skin.  All smells are made from plants and essential oils so no synthetic perfumes.  These qualities make them ideal for the most sensitive skins.

    For those who prefer baths, put a pump or two in while the water is running for a gentle bubble bath.

    Soothing Lotion

    Follow a shower or bath with Soothing Lotion daily ensures the Chamomile and Lavender essential oils get the best chance to soothe any itchy and irritated skin and help it to heal.  Soothing lotion is terrific on nappy rash, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, mozzie bites and heat rash.  It also works well as an after shaving lotion.

    Gentle Face Wash

    The Gentle Face Wash has a pH of about 6.5 and contains no soap or SLS.  It acts as a foaming cleanser and is perfect for removing makeup and the days’ build up without taking any of your skin’s natural oils.  Gentle Face Wash is suitable for all skin types and skin of all ages.  Gentle face Wash can also be used as an overall body wash if preferred.