I’ve always struggled with tossing stuff and getting rid of things. If I spent money on it, I somehow feel like I have to keep it, even if I’m not using it anymore. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but it’s something I’ve been working on, and lately I’ve been making a lot of headway.
Over the last couple years, I’ve shifted away from using commercial cleaning products, makeup, hair products, etc. I haven’t used any of them for at least a year, much longer for some things. But they were all still sitting under my sink, and in our bathrooms. I had bought them when I was less educated about chemical toxins, and they were still hanging around. This process of switching to organic and non-toxic products has been very satisfying, and it keeps growing on itself. I’m never going back. So why was I still hanging on to all this stuff? I don’t know, but I know it felt good to clear it out.
I started going through our under-sink cabinets yesterday. The intent was to start baby proofing, since our little guy will be on the move by the end of the year, and I’d rather stay a few steps ahead of him in this process. So I got a big box, and started filling it up. Cans of Comet and Ajax that I think were here when we moved in. Carpet cleaner that was definitely here when we moved in. Bleach, perfume, facial masks, sunless tanner that I honestly think I’ve had since college (had no idea that was still hanging around. I only used it once, and it turned me orange. I don’t think the technology was so great back then, but what was I thinking anyway?) I found lotions with sparkles in them, cuticle cream, antiperspirant, lipsticks, nail polish, bubble bath… it was quite the pile by the time I finished. I’ve packed it all up to take to the local recycle center. They have a program for safe disposal of household chemicals, and I think my pile fits the bill.
So what am I left with? Cocoa butter that I use as lotion. Baking soda that I use to clean everything, including my teeth and hair. Vinegar that I also use to clean, and as a hair conditioner. Some Burt’s Bees and California Baby sunscreens that I use on my hands – I just keep the rest of me covered up when I’m outside (haven’t used it on the baby yet – we just keep him out of the sun). Some Calendula baby oil. Coconut oil. And some Burt’s Bees deodorant. I think that’s about it. Less is truly more sometimes. Of course we’ll keep all of that out of the baby’s reach anyway, but it feels good to know that if he did happen to get into my cleaning supplies, and took a swig of vinegar, we wouldn’t be heading to the emergency room.
I had to laugh when I saw the huge pile of crud that I cleaned out from our bathrooms. I hadn’t used any of it for ages (had to be at least 10 years for the sunless tanner) and yet it was still hanging around. Probably because I had paid for it all, and felt some sort of weird need to use it up in order to not feel like I had thrown my money away. But here’s the thing – I threw my money away the day I bought all that stuff. Hanging onto it wasn’t going to get my money back. And I was never going to use any of it again. It’s a very freeing feeling to just get rid of it all.
I’ve begun working my way through the whole house, taking a closer look at our stuff. I’ve loaded several bags into my car to take to the thrift store, and I’ll be adding to that over the next few weeks. If I find something that really is worth something, I could always sell it on ebay. But most of it will probably be small stuff – and chances are I got it second hand to begin with. We have a finite amount of space and time on this earth. I don’t want to be filling either one with useless remnants of my past that no longer have a place in my present or my future. Just because I spent money on them some long-ago day doesn’t mean that I still have to be dragging them around with me. And at least I’m not still spending money on them.
harper says
Just did a bunch of cleaning out today, so I can relate.
Out of curiosity, what do you use for deodorant?
Trixie says
Hello!
I so know what you mean. I have so many things that I just need to let go of. Yet, because I paid for them, I feel like I ‘have’ to keep them!
Funny how that works,
Trixie
Alissa says
I did something similar not long ago. I despise clutter, so I went through the bathroom quite ruthlessly, and started clearing out. I guess there was a small part of me that was concerned that going \
Alissa says
Sorry, I seem to be having trouble with your blog these days… whenever I scroll down to view comments, half of the page disappears, and I can’t view it… and half of my comment didn’t appear when I posted it! Strange… anyway, I’m trying a new browser now and it seems better!
… I was just saying that there was a small part of me that was concerned that going natural might be a phase, and that I would eventually go back to rubbing chemicals all over myself! When I finally realized that I was never going back, I packed everything up and posted it on Freecycle. I said that while I didn’t condone the stuff, if someone was going to buy it and use it anyway, they might as well use mine… at least it would be slightly less consumption. And I got a huge response, and the lady who took it was quite grateful. Although I think it would have been more cathartic to treat it as toxic waste. :)
Kacie says
Totally know what you mean! I’m bad about holding on to useless things because they once had sentimental value.
I have plenty of old bottles of junk I no longer need. Time to get rid of it all!
April says
I used to buy very expensive shower gels, lotions, etc. Now that I’m switching to natural, organic stuff, I’m trying to let go of the half-full (or more) bottles of stuff. I think I’m going to donate mine to the local women’s shelter.
Kelly from Almost Frugal says
The lotion with sparkles made me laugh! I’m not a makeup sort of girl, and I had the same sort of clear out a while back. Most of the stuff I just tossed. As for the chemical cleaning products, I gave them all to a friend who isn’t really Eco. It felt good!
Michelle says
I can relate to this post. I just did the same thing last week. It’s amazing the amount of useless products I wasted my money on and kept under that sink for years.
taylor says
You can also use that baking soda as deodorant. Just a pinch under each armpit and you’re good to go.
neimanmarxist says
i’m going to google how baking soda works as a cleaning supply, i am interested to wean myself from my mr. clean addiction. i am sure it feels wonderful to be using only natural, simple products, you are really an example in this regard! one doesn’t need to buy the $8 eco detergent- there is much cheaper natural stuff to be had, as you have shown.
if you put vinegar (i imagine you use white vinegar) in a downy ball and put it in your wash, will that do the trick as softener?
Jenny says
“I threw my money away the day I bought all that stuff.”
Wise words. Thanks for this entry; I needed to read that!
Amy says
I feel that way about gifts, which logically I realize is silly, but there is some part of me that feels bad about getting rid of (especially selling) a gift. It’s not that I think people are going to walk into my house and want to know where their gift is, but I feel guilty that they took the time to give me something that I am now wanting to sell or donate. If I could get past that, I would get rid of a lot of stuff that I don’t really want.
FrugalBabe says
Thanks for all the comments – it’s nice to know that other people are in the same boat! Harper – I’ve tried just about every “natural” deodorant out there, since I gave up my Secret Platinum a few years ago. I’ve been very happy with a Burts Bees product that uses sage oil. I’ve also been happy with tea tree oil deodorants, but they irritate my husband’s skin, so they’re not for everyone. As Taylor has pointed out, baking soda works too.
NeimanMarxist – I started putting vinegar in a downey ball with my son’s diapers, in order to remove any traces of detergent, and as a deodorizer (I use baking soda too).
I’ve started doing it with other loads of laundry too, because I do think it makes them softer. I line dry everything, so nothing is “downey soft” but now that I know how much energy the dryer wastes, and how many chemicals are on clothes when commercial fabric softners are used, I actually prefer the feel of line dried clothes.
I’ve sorted out any bottles of stuff that someone else could use, like laundry detergent and hand lotion, and I’m planning to put that on Craigs list in the free section. The stuff I’m taking to the recycle center is expired products (like that tanning lotion!!) and things like mascara and eye shadow that probably shouldn’t be shared.
Sara - pension comparison says
Clearing out old clothes and products is great for de-cluttering your house as well as your mind.
Frugal Trenches says
Well done you! What a great post!!
Rebecca (Green Baby Guide) says
It’s great to hear of all the ways people are getting rid of toxic cleaners and beauty products without actually throwing them in the trash. I especially like Alissa’s Freecycle approach. When we had a toxic chemical purge, we did what Frugal Babe did and gave it to the hazardous waste facility.
As for vinegar in the laundry, my washing machine has a fabric softener drawer, so I put vinegar in that. It releases it in the last rinse, I think. I am looking forward to hearing how plain old baking soda works in the dish washer. I’ve heard it works fine! (I don’t have a dishwasher yet, but we plan to get one, so I want to be prepared!)
Thanks for joining the carnival at Green Baby Guide!
Green Me says
Baking soda in the dishwasher, now that would be affordable! We recently started using vinegar for the rinse aid (newer dishwashers work better with it, we’ve tested) and the vinegar is working A-ok! It runs out faster, but heck, when a gallon jug costs lest the 1/3 of a tiny bottle of rinse aid, that is no problem!