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What do you use that other people don't?
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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culpepper



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 05 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

nettie wrote:


Hurrah! Another twin tub fan!! Wish I could find one in the shops. You have complete control over how much water and energy you use. Things get really clean because of the agitiation. And you can use the grey water on the garden


Im saving our grey water for the watering.We have an automatic washing machine that empties into a drain outside,so I've got a large tin with a spout bent into the rim using pliers ,under the pipe,then that feeds into a second the same and then into a washing up bowl.I do have to go and empty the bowl part way through the wash . That and the rainwater butt mean I dont need the mains water at all for watering.
Ive been using it to colect the washing up water too.

Lozzie



Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 05 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We ran out of kitchen towels and it occurred to me that to mop up spills - not oily ones, necessarily, but most other stuff, I could use old cotton sheets that have long passed their sell-by date, cut to an appropriate size.

Cotton is good because it can be washed at high temperatures or even composted if it gets too soiled for words.

This Christmas none of my family is going to have their presents wrapped - instead, I will be putting them in old pillowcases

Suz



Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 05 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There's not a bottle, jar or can that gets thrown away in our house - opening the kitchen cupboard door gets more and more tricky every time though.

Only thing I can't seem to keep a hold of are egg boxes. Every time I trade our hens eggs with our neighbours (for various vegggies etc) I never get the box back - it's very annoying. And I haven't discovered anything to do with egg shells yet. I've tried them as slug deterents but it made no difference.

Most recent recycling venture was when our neighbours got a new central heating boiler put in. We snaffled their old copper one, cut it in half length ways and used the two half as planters/troughs. They look lovely in the garden full of nasturtiums, now that they've gone all verdis gris.

nature's child



Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 194
Location: Midlands
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 05 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Used egg shells can apparently be made into chalk, (only for use outdoors, on pavements etc) I will let you know it's one of our half term projects, along with decorations for the C word.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've tried eggshells for slug deterent, and it didn't work for me either - I use them crushed up in the worm bin now, to keep the acidity down.

I also have loads of egg boxes that I give to my mother in law (who has six black rocks) and mother (who has six unidentified flffy bummed chickens!)

What about putting peoples names on the box, so they can just leave the box on your step (maybe even with the money in) and you can refil them - perhaps that would get the message accross.

Suz



Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The chalk sounds like an idea, my twelve year old would definately be interested in that

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work I guess people are just so used to throwing things away unfortunately.

And no money changes hands, but we have a group of neighbours who all grow their own fruit and veggies, so we have a nice little barter thing going amongst us, which works out well. Half a dozen eggs gets us some onions (cos our didn't do very well this year) or some kale for the chooks. Jams and jellies get us some nice homemade wine - it all works out great.

Lozzie



Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Suz wrote:

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work


Sometimes in charity shops you can pick up little baskets that have held flower arrangements or table decorations for a few pennies. Could your neighbours have a different one of these each for eggs? You could even line them with straw or shredded paper. They would perhaps be less inclined to throw them away.

jamsam



Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

my god...i could print the last 4 pages and use them as christmas presents, any chance of a downsizer book here??????

for years my mum embarressed us by doing all those things, and now i find my self with pockets full of stuff at the end of the day as my kids constantly appear with 'stuff for sticking' or 'tubs for lego' or something else

jamsam



Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

did any one else 'borrow' some of the free nappies in supermarket changing rooms???
no i didnt think so...but wet wipes have been used in my house for years to polish and wipe the wooden stairs, then my mum does the unthinkable....and washes them!

jamsam



Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 2560
Location: erm....i dont know, its dark.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:51 pm    Post subject: scrap store Reply with quote
    

i just realised thsi is the perfect place to drum up some help...any one living in carmarthenshire( close to camarthen) who wants to help set up a scrap store???
i have contacts from aberwystwth( badly spelt) who can help.
jamsam ( email me a reply if it has phone numbers etc)

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Suz wrote:

I've tried everything to get the egg boxes back Wellington Womble, but short of thinly veiled threats of violence, nothing seems to work I guess people are just so used to throwing things away unfortunately.

And no money changes hands, but we have a group of neighbours who all grow their own fruit and veggies, so we have a nice little barter thing going amongst us, which works out well. Half a dozen eggs gets us some onions (cos our didn't do very well this year) or some kale for the chooks. Jams and jellies get us some nice homemade wine - it all works out great.


Your egg boxes are probably being used to chit potatoes, protect small seedlings and aeorate compost and things! I think thats lovely, though!

Mrs Fiddlesticks



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 05 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Lozzie wrote:
We ran out of kitchen towels and it occurred to me that to mop up spills - not oily ones, necessarily, but most other stuff, I could use old cotton sheets that have long passed their sell-by date, cut to an appropriate size.

Cotton is good because it can be washed at high temperatures or even composted if it gets too soiled for words.

This Christmas none of my family is going to have their presents wrapped - instead, I will be putting them in old pillowcases


i knitt dishcloths, from simple plain cotton ( sometimes called dishcloth or craft cotton - about £1.85 a ball and it does 3 cloths) and use them instead of those sponge things. And yes once falling apart they can be bunged on the compost heap.

Lozzie



Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 05 8:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Would you knit me some?

I am soooo fed up with OH buying the sponges from the supermarket and them me trying to figure out what to do with them when they reach the end of their natural life.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 05 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Lozzie wrote:
I am soooo fed up with OH buying the sponges from the supermarket and them me trying to figure out what to do with them when they reach the end of their natural life.


If you can't convert him to knitted dishcloths, then at least nudge him in the direction of the cellulose sponges. I mostly use those - they go from sink to dog bowl to floor and finally to compost heap, where they decompose beautifully!

I know I ought to use something more permanent, but I just don't get on with knitted dishcloths.

Lozzie



Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 05 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I didn't know you could get cellulose sponges! I shall have to do some research

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