Author Topic: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products  (Read 14328 times)

lauraredcloud

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Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« on: October 16, 2013, 11:54:43 AM »
I started this list to help wean myself off of throwing money in the trash - anyone got any good ones?

Aluminum foil … Store food in containers; line pans with silicone baking mat
Batteries … Rechargeable batteries
Bottled water … Water bottle + tap water + thinking ahead
Cupcake liners … Silicone cupcake liners, or use a silicone cupcake pan without liners
Dryer sheets … Dryer balls or tennis balls
Kleenex … Handkerchiefs, cloth baby wipes (soft cotton or flannel - just started this, so much nicer than paper)
Kotex/Tampax … Diva cup, cloth pads/“mama cloths”
Paper towels … Microfiber cloths, rags, hand towels, retired bath towels, retired T-shirts
Parchment paper … Silicone baking mat
Plastic wrap … Store food in containers, cover rising bread with a plate
Shopping bags … Cloth tote bags + thinking ahead
Swiffer inserts … Damp or dry microfiber cloths, wrapped around the mop
To-go cups … Be “that guy” and see if the coffee shop will fill up your travel mug or mason jar
Toilet paper … Bidet + cloth baby wipes/”family cloth” to dry off (admittedly have not enacted this one yet!)
Tupperware … Replace flimsy disposables with heavy-duty containers, mason jars, or Pyrex
Ziploc bags … containers; mason jars; waterproof wet bags

smalllife

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2013, 12:16:24 PM »
-Glass milk jars (to save on the not really recyclable plastic jugs)
-DIY or homemade versions of my food staples... no food wrappers
-Online bill pay....no paper bills (one left, but if I go paperless I have to give them access to my bank account)
-bulk food ... packaging
-butter sticks instead of spreadable butter...saves the plastic container
-popcorn popper ....no popcorn bags
-searching for cardboard boxes/glass rather than plastic containers wherever possible ... recycling is not the best solution
-cut out juices and on the go drinks
-bars of soap .... shower gel, hand soap, lotion (real soap doesn't dry you out)
-safety razor ... no more disposable razor heads

I'm sure I'm forgetting the ones that I don't even think about anymore!

jfer_rose

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2013, 12:18:05 PM »
Great list!

I've been working on reducing my use of disposables and someone gave me a great tip for the one thing that was vexing me about giving up paper towels.

I have a cat and she sometimes throws up--this is always a gross job and I didn't like the idea of using reusable rags for this. Now I use two spackle knives to scrape up the vomit or hairball. If it is a hairball, it goes in the trash, liquidy vomit gets washed down the sink. I haven't bought paper towel in probably a year and it is working really well!

lauren_knows

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2013, 12:19:32 PM »
Other than stuff you already mentioned, biggest ones in my house are:

- Cloth diapers (note: we used disposables for the first 2 weeks while our sons umbilical cord stump was drying out, holy hell do they create a lot of trash)
- Safety Razor for shaving (blades are insanely cheap and you never throw the head away)

yolfer

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2013, 02:11:02 PM »
FYI, you can simply cut dryer sheets/balls out of your life. The clothes feel stiff for the first few washes but you get used to it. And w/o dryer sheets, your dryer lint is compostable. (And of course, always hang dry laundry when practical)

I think there's a thread around here that's just stuff for baby, but washable rags as baby wipes comes to mind.

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2013, 02:23:42 PM »
Does anyone on here also look at the Zero Waste Home blog?  Or have any of you read her book?  She's got some great tips on how to avoid trash and the disposable mindset.
http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/

lauraredcloud

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2013, 06:39:04 PM »
FYI, you can simply cut dryer sheets/balls out of your life. The clothes feel stiff for the first few washes but you get used to it. And w/o dryer sheets, your dryer lint is compostable. (And of course, always hang dry laundry when practical)

I think there's a thread around here that's just stuff for baby, but washable rags as baby wipes comes to mind.

Sure, yeah. I actually don't use dryer sheets at all - the one time a USED dryer sheet was left in the dryer by my roommate, the residual whatever chemical is on it made me itchy all over. I find them intolerable. But people seem to like them, and I liked the idea of the ball trick though I haven't actually tried it myself ("dryer balls" in this case are not anything disposable or chemical, but just some actual physical balls that bounce around in your dryer and hit your clothes to make them softer, so there is no reason they would make your lint noncompostable.)

Lauran75

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2013, 06:53:57 PM »
I use aluminum foil to bake potatoes in my oven. Other than microwaving (which just doesn't taste the same) is there another way to bake potatoes w/o using foil?

Also, I rarely dry my clothes in the dryer. During the wash cycle, I add 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar. Works great (no smell!)
« Last Edit: October 16, 2013, 06:56:05 PM by Lauran75 »

lauraredcloud

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2013, 07:06:16 PM »
Yeah, the aluminum foil thing isn't perfect. There are a lot more uses for aluminum foil. Also, I don't have a solution for using plastic wrap or wax paper to hold dough together while chilling refrigerator cookies.

For my laundry, I also use vinegar in the bleach receptacle, and homemade laundry detergent in the main soap receptacle! It works great and is so, so cheap. I'm trying to reduce dryer use - we put a clothesline in the house (it's getting too cold/dark to dry things outside in New England), but it takes a long time for anything to dry.

perthcyclist

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2013, 08:15:36 PM »
I have a question for the frugal - do you line your trash can with anything? I usually use supermarket shopping bags for this job but since I have been getting less and less of them it's not really viable, but if I just chuck stuff straight in the bin I'll have to wash it more often and use more water. Suggestions?

Gin

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2013, 08:21:46 PM »
I use aluminum foil to bake potatoes in my oven. Other than microwaving (which just doesn't taste the same) is there another way to bake potatoes w/o using foil?

Also, I rarely dry my clothes in the dryer. During the wash cycle, I add 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar. Works great (no smell!)

You can cook them unwrapped in a crockpot.  Just scrub them clean, poke couple of holes, pat dry and cook on low 6 hrs.  I find the cooking time varies with size of potato anywhere between 4-7 hrs.

For the cruncher skin potato you can cook them directly on the oven rack after you clean, dry, and spray with misting oil or Pam spray. 
 

meadow lark

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2013, 06:05:18 AM »
For potatoes, I just put them in the oven by themselves without covering them with foil.  Tastes good to me that way. 

chicagomeg

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2013, 09:54:53 AM »
Lush bar shampoo is my favorite indulgence & has the added bonus of being good for the environment. It's also really nice when you're traveling because it's so light & doesn't spill!

swick

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2013, 10:05:09 AM »
 - Loose leaf tea and a strainer instead of tea bags
 - reusable coffee filters or french press instead of buying paper coffee filters
 Okay that's all I can think of right now that hasn't already been said :)

Matt K

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2013, 10:25:45 AM »
To-go cups … Be “that guy” and see if the coffee shop will fill up your travel mug or mason jar

Around here, many coffee shops either give you a 10 cent discount, or fill a large mug for the price of a small or medium if you bring your own travel mug. Not sure I want a hot coffee in a mason jar though...

Quote from: smalllife
-popcorn popper ....no popcorn bags

I was raised with an air popper, but my wife showed me a better way (better in this case means not having a popcorn popper taking up storage space). Put a TBSP of oil and your normal amount of bulk kernels (1/2 or 1/3 cup I think, I can't recall off the top of my head) in a glass/pyrex casserol dish with a lid, stir, and put in microwave. Set for 10 minutes and pull out when the popping drops to 1 per second or less (same as you are supposed to with bagged popcorn). I've found that my microwave is perfect at 7 minutes, so now I just set 7 minutes and walk away.

No bags, no extra space taken up by a single-purpose-gadget, same great taste.

smalllife

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #15 on: October 22, 2013, 10:33:43 AM »
Quote from: smalllife
-popcorn popper ....no popcorn bags

I was raised with an air popper, but my wife showed me a better way (better in this case means not having a popcorn popper taking up storage space). Put a TBSP of oil and your normal amount of bulk kernels (1/2 or 1/3 cup I think, I can't recall off the top of my head) in a glass/pyrex casserol dish with a lid, stir, and put in microwave. Set for 10 minutes and pull out when the popping drops to 1 per second or less (same as you are supposed to with bagged popcorn). I've found that my microwave is perfect at 7 minutes, so now I just set 7 minutes and walk away.

No bags, no extra space taken up by a single-purpose-gadget, same great taste.

Hmm that's interesting.  I'm trying to get away from using the microwave so I hadn't thought to try that.  It would be one less thing to clean (currently I have bowl plus melted butter container) . . . .

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #16 on: October 22, 2013, 12:11:44 PM »
To-go cups … Be “that guy” and see if the coffee shop will fill up your travel mug or mason jar

Around here, many coffee shops either give you a 10 cent discount, or fill a large mug for the price of a small or medium if you bring your own travel mug. Not sure I want a hot coffee in a mason jar though...

Quote from: smalllife
-popcorn popper ....no popcorn bags

I was raised with an air popper, but my wife showed me a better way (better in this case means not having a popcorn popper taking up storage space). Put a TBSP of oil and your normal amount of bulk kernels (1/2 or 1/3 cup I think, I can't recall off the top of my head) in a glass/pyrex casserol dish with a lid, stir, and put in microwave. Set for 10 minutes and pull out when the popping drops to 1 per second or less (same as you are supposed to with bagged popcorn). I've found that my microwave is perfect at 7 minutes, so now I just set 7 minutes and walk away.

No bags, no extra space taken up by a single-purpose-gadget, same great taste.

In Germany, it's common to use a deep cast iron skillet for making popcorn. Add a bit of oil, add salt and sugar if you want some added flavour, put a glass lid on and let 'er pop. Just another method to eliminate "uni-tasker" items like an air popper. I like your microwave method though - more hands off. :)

Oooh!  This sounds like it would be within my skill range, and I have a great cast iron skillet.  I'll try this, as I always tend to burn microwavable "recipes" for popcorn.  ('Hands off', for me, tends to mean that I forget about it until I smell smoke!)

Bruinguy

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2013, 10:52:35 PM »
Similar to the cast iron pan, try one of your large metal mixing bowls over the burner with oil, salt, and popping corn...I use aluminum foil over the top with holes poked in for venting and to keep the popcorn in.  I'm sure there is a way to eliminate that part though.  (also see, and hat tip to, Alton Brown's Perfect Popcorn Recipe)

Beats microwaved by a mile in my book.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2013, 11:28:33 PM »
I have a question for the frugal - do you line your trash can with anything? I usually use supermarket shopping bags for this job but since I have been getting less and less of them it's not really viable, but if I just chuck stuff straight in the bin I'll have to wash it more often and use more water. Suggestions?

Not REALLY a solution, but: have you seen that there are biodegradable bin bags available at the supermarket? So if you are going to line your bin with something, you've run out of plastic bags and you don't want to contribute to plasticy landfill goodness, that's an option.

And now I have shameface because we're still using plain old plastic bin liners.

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #19 on: October 23, 2013, 12:52:54 PM »
Similar to the cast iron pan, try one of your large metal mixing bowls over the burner with oil, salt, and popping corn...I use aluminum foil over the top with holes poked in for venting and to keep the popcorn in.  I'm sure there is a way to eliminate that part though.  (also see, and hat tip to, Alton Brown's Perfect Popcorn Recipe)

Beats microwaved by a mile in my book.

Do you think my ceramic lined but otherwise cast iron dutch oven might work?  I mean, I'll probably give it a try (deeper than my skillet, now that I think about it) but I wondered if anyone else would know how successful that would be.
I will +1 anything Alton Brown.  :)

Matt K

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #20 on: October 24, 2013, 08:29:30 AM »
In Germany, it's common to use a deep cast iron skillet for making popcorn. Add a bit of oil, add salt and sugar if you want some added flavour, put a glass lid on and let 'er pop. Just another method to eliminate "uni-tasker" items like an air popper. I like your microwave method though - more hands off. :)

Given how big of a bowl of popcorn I usually make, I don't think (actually, I know) I don't have a frying pan big enough for that. Also, I like walking away...

I'm glad I convert pass along this trick. Popcorn is the greatest snack food :)

Seppie

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #21 on: October 24, 2013, 10:31:53 PM »
Also, I don't have a solution for using plastic wrap or wax paper to hold dough together while chilling refrigerator cookies.

I use a ziplock bag, which I then wash and reuse.  Seems to work fine!

Bruinguy

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #22 on: October 24, 2013, 10:40:13 PM »

Do you think my ceramic lined but otherwise cast iron dutch oven might work?  I mean, I'll probably give it a try (deeper than my skillet, now that I think about it) but I wondered if anyone else would know how successful that would be.
I will +1 anything Alton Brown.  :)

I'm sure it could be done!  It might work just like a regular cast iron pan, which could be different than the Alton Brown recipe (I'm thinking mainly about the shaking the bowl part).

For those that use the cast iron pan, do you shake the pan while the corn is popping? 

Redbluefish22

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2013, 08:54:23 PM »
We make popcorn in our Dutch oven on the stovetop all the time. It turns out great.

Melody

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #24 on: October 30, 2013, 09:44:35 AM »
I recently got on board with faceclothes - I was previously using make-up removal wipes *facepunches*
These do the job perfectly and have already paid for themselves. I expect they will last many more years.

netskyblue

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #25 on: October 30, 2013, 10:02:03 AM »
I have a question for the frugal - do you line your trash can with anything? I usually use supermarket shopping bags for this job but since I have been getting less and less of them it's not really viable, but if I just chuck stuff straight in the bin I'll have to wash it more often and use more water. Suggestions?

I do use trash bags, and I use supermarket bags for throwing away the cat waste out of the litter box.

But for a more frugal approach, my mom always had a slops bucket, which was just a large plastic tub (like an ice cream bucket, but not see-through) where all food waste got scraped into.  Not that there was a ton, but there is often some fat that you cut off a piece of meat, or corn husks or whatever.  The stuff you don't want rotting & stinking up your garbage can.  When it's full, compost it.  Shred your junk mail, cardboard from food boxes, etc, and compost that, too.  Use it on your garden.

The actual trash doesn't need taking out nearly as often if it's not stinky.  Only throw away dry things.

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #26 on: October 30, 2013, 11:47:27 AM »
We make popcorn in our Dutch oven on the stovetop all the time. It turns out great.

Thank you!  I'm going to try this sometime this weekend.

kkbmustang

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #27 on: October 30, 2013, 07:55:06 PM »
Does anyone on here also look at the Zero Waste Home blog?  Or have any of you read her book?  She's got some great tips on how to avoid trash and the disposable mindset.
http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/

I read the blog and I have the book. I've written in the margins, tagged it, etc. LOVE it.

Also, reusable cotton pads instead of cotton balls. Search vendor called Monkey Buttons on amazon.

oldtoyota

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #28 on: October 30, 2013, 08:02:54 PM »
I use aluminum foil to bake potatoes in my oven. Other than microwaving (which just doesn't taste the same) is there another way to bake potatoes w/o using foil?

Also, I rarely dry my clothes in the dryer. During the wash cycle, I add 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar. Works great (no smell!)

Wash them, stab several times with a fork, rub them with butter, bake. That's how I do 'em.


Mrs3F

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #29 on: November 01, 2013, 09:04:36 AM »

Do you think my ceramic lined but otherwise cast iron dutch oven might work?  I mean, I'll probably give it a try (deeper than my skillet, now that I think about it) but I wondered if anyone else would know how successful that would be.
I will +1 anything Alton Brown.  :)

I'm sure it could be done!  It might work just like a regular cast iron pan, which could be different than the Alton Brown recipe (I'm thinking mainly about the shaking the bowl part).

For those that use the cast iron pan, do you shake the pan while the corn is popping?

It will absolutely work.  That's what I use to make stove-top popcorn and it comes out great!

abhe8

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #30 on: November 02, 2013, 08:17:28 AM »
lots of great ideas! I agree with:

baked potatos right on a cookie sheet, no foil needed
compost all food scraps, cardboard, dryer lint, crumbs from the floor, hair from brush/drain
popcorn: SS soup pot with corn, oil and a lid. shake every min or so. its great!

i still use plastic bags for the trash cans. usually the small shopping bag size (since they are free) but i have also bought about 15 gal size in the past. i take mine out about every day, as we still use some overnight disposable pullups and can't/don't compost meat scraps (and won't put down the sink due to septic system).

i would more then love to ditch the pullups, but my 5 y/o is such a heavy wetter, i tried a bunch of cloth options (we use all cloth diapers until that point) and still ended up with a wed bed every am.

BC_Goldman

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #31 on: November 02, 2013, 03:46:03 PM »
I live in a condo so I don't have the opportunity to compost. I don't generate much trash so I only use a regular kitchen bag every month or so. For stuff that can go bad I store it in my freezer door until I'm ready to empty the can. It eliminates the problem of having a foul smell coming from the trash can.

m8547

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #32 on: November 03, 2013, 10:08:54 AM »
I recently discovered that synthetic fabric shower curtains are waterproof enough without a plastic liner, and you can wash them with the regular laundry when they need it (plastic ones become nearly impossible to clean after a point). Mine is woven nylon or polyester or something like that.

I've completely eliminated nonstick stovetop cookware. Teflon stuff seems to last just a couple years before it wears out, and it can't be particularly healthy. My pots are stainless steel, and my frying pan is carbon steel which gets seasoned like cast iron. The seasoning makes it nonstick as long as some oil is used, but it's great for eggs, pancakes, vegetables, and other things that tend to stick. Meat will stick, and at some point I will probably get a stainless skilled for meats. Cast iron works well and it's really cheap. Carbon steel is also cheap but it can be hard to find.

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #33 on: November 03, 2013, 03:28:01 PM »
Yesterday my husband and I made kettle corn in our dutch oven and it turned out fantastic!  We brought it to a party to share, we were so pleased with it.  After eating about 1/2 of what we'd made, of course.  :)
Thanks for the tip!

Ottawa

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #34 on: November 04, 2013, 07:27:07 AM »
You can cook them unwrapped in a crockpot.  Just scrub them clean, poke couple of holes, pat dry and cook on low 6 hrs.  I find the cooking time varies with size of potato anywhere between 4-7 hrs.

For the cruncher skin potato you can cook them directly on the oven rack after you clean, dry, and spray with misting oil or Pam spray.

Pam Spray (or any oil spray) is not something you want to own.  Do you know what the propellant they use is? 

We bought this http://www.amazon.com/Misto-Brushed-Aluminum-Olive-Sprayer/dp/B00004SPZV quite a while ago.  This will eliminate the need of buying disposable propellant-based sprays.  Fill it up with whatever oil you like to use...a few pumps using your muscles and you are good to spray!

yomimono

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #35 on: November 08, 2013, 04:07:07 PM »
I have a question for the frugal - do you line your trash can with anything? I usually use supermarket shopping bags for this job but since I have been getting less and less of them it's not really viable, but if I just chuck stuff straight in the bin I'll have to wash it more often and use more water. Suggestions?

Not REALLY a solution, but: have you seen that there are biodegradable bin bags available at the supermarket? So if you are going to line your bin with something, you've run out of plastic bags and you don't want to contribute to plasticy landfill goodness, that's an option.

And now I have shameface because we're still using plain old plastic bin liners.

I use plastic grocery bags for can liners (I also just use a shallow bucket for a trash can).  I don't ever get plastic grocery bags myself, but I always have friends who have a ton of them they're looking to get rid of.  My friends get rid of a big bag full of bags, I don't have to buy trash bags for another six months.  Win-win!

SisterX

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #36 on: November 12, 2013, 05:16:49 PM »
You can cook them unwrapped in a crockpot.  Just scrub them clean, poke couple of holes, pat dry and cook on low 6 hrs.  I find the cooking time varies with size of potato anywhere between 4-7 hrs.

For the cruncher skin potato you can cook them directly on the oven rack after you clean, dry, and spray with misting oil or Pam spray.

Pam Spray (or any oil spray) is not something you want to own.  Do you know what the propellant they use is? 

We bought this http://www.amazon.com/Misto-Brushed-Aluminum-Olive-Sprayer/dp/B00004SPZV quite a while ago.  This will eliminate the need of buying disposable propellant-based sprays.  Fill it up with whatever oil you like to use...a few pumps using your muscles and you are good to spray!

I've been meaning to buy something like that, after a friend got me one.  Then I pushed off the purchase and started using a silicone pastry brush and that works really well.  Plus, it's a multi-tasker so in my small kitchen I don't have to take up space with two items when one will do just as well.

AllChoptUp

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #37 on: November 14, 2013, 09:56:39 AM »
Saran wrap alternative:

http://www.abeego.ca/

Been using them for a few weeks and so far am pretty happy.

mollyjade

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #38 on: November 14, 2013, 03:26:46 PM »
Also, I don't have a solution for using plastic wrap or wax paper to hold dough together while chilling refrigerator cookies.
A damp tea towel (the nonfuzzy kind that's just a bit thicker and sturdier than cheesecloth) works well for this.

C. K.

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Re: Reusable Replacements for Disposable Products
« Reply #39 on: November 14, 2013, 04:37:57 PM »
I have a question for the frugal - do you line your trash can with anything? I usually use supermarket shopping bags for this job but since I have been getting less and less of them it's not really viable, but if I just chuck stuff straight in the bin I'll have to wash it more often and use more water. Suggestions?

People would line their trash cans with newspapers in the early- to mid-20th century. I don't know how often they had to wash the can. You could probably use any scrap paper lying around. I've never tried this.