One day this will be over. And we will be grateful for life in ways we never felt possible before
Matt Haig (Author)
In amidst the chaos that is Covid19 and the uncertainties we face as a nation, we at The Waste-Free Home are going to use this time to try and be positive, resourceful and resilient. Imagine if this is the wake-up call that gets people to understand the importance of using up what is already in our homes, living with less and appreciating what we do have.
We all have an amazing opportunity to really rethink what is important to us. We are being forced to slow down, think of others and adapt to new situations. Many people during this time will be living with less. We want to show you some ways in which you can be resourceful and inventive with what you’ve got.
We hope that people can learn to cherish the coming together of communities, express their creative sides, grow their resilience, and explore their resourcefulness, and that once we are released into the world again, that we hold onto these things. We believe that if we are mindful, deliberate, and reflective during this unprecedented time, that maybe, just maybe, out of this madness there could be a silver lining.
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.
Kitty O’Meara
And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”
Here are just a few ideas we have to get you thinking about what can be done differently.
This is a great opportunity to reflect on whether or not you really need a household product or if there is another way you can make do. You can use up every last bottle and sample pack you have and then decide if you really need to replace them. Maybe you could discover something else that serves multiple purposes. For example, oil (whether this be jojoba, coconut, almond or even olive oil!) is a great base for many products. Make up remover, face & body moisturiser, hair oil, baby oil, massage oil – the list goes on. You can mix the oil or a blend of oils with different essential oils to differentiate each, but you can also just use one oil for all and omit the use of essential oils entirely.
Another idea is to use up all of those many different cleaning products and start fresh with baking soda, castile soap, and premium white vinegar – you will be amazed at what you can make! And more amazed at what you DON’T need. All of these items can still be purchased though the supermarket or pharmacy.
Also, reusable wipes for babies seem to be widely accepted but less so once they are out of nappies. If there is a toilet paper shortage you can most certainly utilise reusable cloths for grownups too. These can be made with old sheets or towels and kept in a basket in the bathroom. Once used, rinse and pop in a bucket until you are ready to do laundry. I often wash nappies and wipes twice on a hot wash.
