It’s easy to crave less. Less to buy. Less to clean. Less to store. Less to chose from. Less to throw away. And we’re those people who get a rush from consolidating two items down to one or earning more space in the drawer/cabinet/closet by paring down, so this is our idea of a good time (why buy ten bottles to do ten things when one product can do it all?). Three years ago I wrote a post about how we try to keep things simple in small ways, so after more than a few requests for an update/extended list, here it is. Happily, three years after embarking on Project Simplify, we probably have fewer cleaning/grooming/hygiene products around the house than we did back then – even with a third person in the house to care for. The “magic products” that work for us are probably going to be different than the ones that work for you (so there’s no pressure to conform to organic stuff if that’s not your jam), but hopefully it helps to see how we try to keep things simple.
Back in 2009, John and I realized that we don’t mind using the same shampoo and conditioner (Avalon Organics from Target) and could also share the same body wash (we currently use Say Yes To Cucumbers, also from Target) so why not stop buying our own bottles – for a total of 6-7 containers in the shower at all times – and share? Purchasing a single bottle of each breaks the constant cycle of someone needing shampoo or conditioner every time we go to the store, and three bottles (total) in the shower at all times is pretty darn refreshing. We don’t have other bottles of shampoo/conditioner/body wash in the vanity or linen closet – this is it. When it gets low we get a new bottle. It’s nice and uncomplicated.
Thanks to a lot of our eco-related changes from a few years back, pairing down in a few other areas has gotten awesomely automatic. Relying only on Seventh Generation Free & Clear laundry detergent (without any fabric softener) makes shopping for laundry products few and far between (and makes storing a single bottle a breeze). We used to use Charlie’s Soap for diapers but alternated with Seventh Generation whenever we ran out, and eventually just stuck with Seventh Generation (diapers are still doing great and it’s easier to find and use one thing on everything across the board). We ran out of fabric softener a few years back and did some loads of laundry without it and didn’t even notice a difference, so we just stopped buying it.
We use this in the dishwasher. We have talked about making homemade laundry detergent and dish detergent too, but haven’t tried it out yet (we’ll blog all about it if we make the switch someday). We have some great recipes in this post of yore.
When it comes to cleaning everything else around the house, from floors to counters and tubs and tile, we use these two cleaners 99% of the time (along with the occasional homemade recipe from this post). No buying window cleaners and tile cleaners and wood floor cleaners each to do an individual job. We usually just water down some Mrs. Meyers (the “all purpose cleaner” label really means it works on counters, wood floors, etc) and use a moist microfiber cloth to rub down whatever it is that needs scrubbing (floors, counters, tabletops, windowsills, etc). For glass, I just use vinegar and water (5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar). Here’s a post with more of our cleaning routine broken down for ya.
We also water down our Dr Bronner’s soap (it recommends that on the bottle, which is awesome since it goes twice as far) and use it for all the hand-washing in the house (kitchen sink, bathrooms, etc). We do one part water to one part soap and it’s great. It’s also what I use to wash my face/remove makeup. It’s nice and mild. And we wash Burger with it. So it’s pup approved.
I think I got bitten by the simplicity bug back in NYC, when I lived in the tiniest studio, with no room for anything. Ladies (and gents?), I give you my makeup bag. I’m not proud of my $5 Chinatown bag from nine years ago (I can’t believe the zipper still works) but the point is that virtually all the makeup that I own lives in this little bag. It’s not a travel bag, it’s my only bag – which makes it easy to pop into a suitcase. It actually lives in the car for the most part since John’s the driver and I get to “put on my face” as we go wherever we’re going (since I can never seem to get it together and do it at home).
It holds:
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear bronzer/blush (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear two-toned eye make-up (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear concealer stick (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear mascara (from Target)
- An eyelash curler (from Sephora)
- A blush brush (from Sephora)
- One lone contact (just because I am known to lose them randomly)
I’ve used all of the above products exclusively for the past 2-3 years. And I love them. I’ve never been great with anything like liquid liner or fake eyelashes, so for those of you who are, maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. But either way, my simplified makeup bag facilitates super speedy makeup application, which actually results in me looking more polished. I’d never slap on make-up if it was too complicated or took too long – I’m just a wash and go girl (hence my ponytail tendencies). And now that I only use a few organic things, my skin is a lot better, and I find that I don’t amass a pile of new products (no more impulsive purple eye shadow or bubble gum pink lip gloss purchases that seemed like a good idea at the time).
As for what we do use in the name of hygiene, John has hair stuff (Crew from Target after he couldn’t find his favorite old stuff, Got2be – which we later learned got new packaging so it was hard to spot) and shaving cream and aftershave (Burt’s Bees). I actually just shave with a little bit of conditioner in the shower. We both use the same type of razor (we have two of them, mine is in the shower and John’s is in the drawer) so that buying refill blades is nice and simple (we don’t have to buy two types for two different razors). And we both use Tom’s of Maine deodorant and toothpaste (the kind with fluoride since we tried the fluoride free kind and both got cavities and then switched back and have had none for the past two years).
That’s about it when it comes to beauty/grooming products that we buy beyond shampoo, body wash, and conditioner (John’s not a cologne guy and I’m not a perfume girl). We also use sunscreen and lotion, but just try to buy one container and restock only when it runs out. We like Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Organic Lotion (from Target or Whole Foods) and Bullfrog Sunscreen SPF 30 (Target, CVS). We keep a tube of each of those in our travel bag under the sink and in our car’s middle console. I don’t even use face cream now that I use mild makeup and Dr Bronner’s soap (it doesn’t strip my face so it’s not dry and in need of lotion anymore – which used to make my sensitive skin break out anyway).
In high school I was kind of a slave to beauty products (you should have seen my stash – I probably had a million bottles) but since I no longer get home from school at three pm and play with my nails/hair/face for hours, this new “grown up busy mom” routine works for me. For the past three years I’ve actually not used hair spray, pommade, or perfume. This is definitely one of those to-each-his-own things, but I like the smell of my shampoo and body wash enough to be cool with that being “my scent” – and thanks to my ponytail propensity, there’s no need for any hair stuff beyond shampoo, conditioner, and a good old fashioned brush. It’s a look I like to call low-maintenance chic on a good day (and messy momma on a bad day).
One of the nicest things is that there are sections of magazines about makeup and perfume that I can gloss over entirely (in high school I was kind of an “ooh I want that!” kind of girl, which is probably why I had approximately 500 bottles and samples and cans of things on my vanity) so I can’t tell you how nice it is to not always want everything I read about. I just flip on by. Oh wait, but there’s nail polish.
I didn’t paint my nails or toes for a while just to keep it simple, but I do have occasional yearnings for a bright pop of color, so I do have a few polishes made by Zoya and Honeybee Gardens (they’re free of some of the fumier chemicals in some other brands). I have ten nail polish bottles total, which all fit into our freshly organized drawer. It’s nice to keep it to that number, so I won’t impulsively buy any more. I probably had 50+ bottles in high school, but now ten is the new number – no buying any more unless one runs out.
Oh and I love this stuff. It’s in my purse, a box next to my desk, on my night table and in the glove compartment of the car. You don’t want to see me when I can’t get my hands on lip balm. I’m a total baby. You’d think my lips were falling off or on fire or something. Seriously, it’s not pretty. So I learned that keeping one stick of it in four key places is the simplest solution for me. I never completely run out since I have a few stashed around the house, and because I have so many in rotation, they tend to last a while so I’m not always buying it a stick at a time.
Oh yes, but within the last three years we had a baby! So we must have amassed a ton of products for Clara, right? I mean we are pretty attached to the girl. But when it comes to keeping Clara moisturized, clean, diaper-rash-free, and sunburn free, instead of registering for twenty creams and lotions we decided to scan three things and take more of a wait-and-see approach. We knew we could always purchase more/different products once Clara came along (who knows if she’d have an allergy to something anyway) so we started with:
- California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash (for bathtime) from Target
- Badger Baby Sunscreen (for sun protection) from Whole Foods
- California Baby Calendula Cream (for face, body, diaper rash, cradle cap, eczema, dry skin, etc) from Target
That’s it. No baby powder, no face lotion and body lotion and diaper cream (just one that does it all), and no body soap that differs from hair soap. Just three basics. And miracle of all miracles, that’s still all we use! After almost two years. Seriously, those three products are our entire arsenal. So you can imagine that when it comes to storing them it’s no biggie (they all slip into the top drawer of her dresser except for the shampoo which we keep in the closet in her bathroom with the washcloths and towels). So we don’t have a big basket of products or a stockpile of extra bottles. Just those three things. And when they run out we get more. Just one more though, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. Haha. Who knows when things could change. But so far, so good. Off to knock on some wood…
By making an effort to covet less (and trying to focus on natural things or a small amount of items) it cuts way down on the products that can jump into my cart on a whim. And it doesn’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. It feels like I’m gaining closet and cabinet space, more moolah in my wallet, and extra time that I can spend doing things other than restock various bottles. I’m dying to know what you guys do to make life easy and live with less. From sharing products and even making your own to forsaking certain things and purchasing specific items in bulk, I’d love to hear what works for you.
Update – Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint colors we used? Just click on this button:
Staci @ My Friend Staci says
We just picked up some Tom’s deodorant for my hubby who was running out of old spice. I heard from someone they didn’t think it was as effective, but decided we wouldn’t know for sure until we tried it out. When mine runs out I’ll try one out for myself too. Can’t hurt to stay away from that aluminum!
Oh, something else funny! This morning my hubs texted me (he leaves home earlier than I care to be awake) that he had a dream we had twin girls and one of them was Clara! I thought it was hilarious that he’d have YHL in his subconscious from my constant sharing of Clara videos. The Moves Like Jagger one was toooo funny, btw.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s so funny!
xo,
s
laura says
Did you know that CA Baby added sodium benzoate to their shampoos and body washes, hand soaps, and bubble products?
They also changed some of the main ingredients in their calendula creams recently as well, they now contain less calendula.
Tom’s toothpaste (specifically the children’s fluoride free) contains SLS, which is not known to be dangerous when it comes in limited contact with the gums and is spit out… but my toddler still swallows his toothpaste
Instead we use Kiss My Face Kids fluoride free (bright orange tube, can be found at whole foods) Its SLS free as well as the other things that Toms is free of too
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tips Laura! Didn’t know that! We’ll have to check out Kiss My Face Kids for Clara when she’s old enough (the doc still has her brushing with water until she’s 2).
xo,
s
Caroline says
What did you guys do with accumulated bottles and tubes of stuff when you simplified things (if, that is, you had accumulated a bunch of toiletries)? I have so many random things, many of them given as gifts–weird when someone will give you something like “foot cream”–or makeup that I tried but ended up hating. I just feel bad throwing it all out.
YoungHouseLove says
We just tried to use up stuff and replace it with eco stuff as we went. Maybe try craigslisting a “lot” of cleaning or grooming stuff if you want to replace it and feel guilty tossing it? Or see if you can donate cleaning stuff to a local thrift store like Goodwill?
xo,
s
Bonnie says
Goodwill!
Chrissie says
Also check with local refuges and shelters. My dad’s Rotary Club runs a program donating bags with basics like shampoo, cleanser, moisturiser to local women’s shelters because often when women leave they have nothing. Having those little things can make a huge difference in the early days.
YoungHouseLove says
Such a great tip!
xo,
s
Katy says
You might like to have fun with piggy paint! I’m planning to buy some for my little girl when she is older.
http://www.piggypaint.com/
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!!
xo,
s
Ted says
A couple of tips. My wife is allergic to many chemical fragrances, so we’ve gone predominantly fragrance free for many products.
For shaving, I found there are virtually no fragrance free shaving creams out there, so I started to use my Vaseline intensive care fragrance free hand lotion to shave. I’ve been doing it about 10 years now and it works well and actually is better for my skin. That’s one of the few “two uses for one product” that I do.
Second, we used to use California Baby, but a couple of months ago, they quietly changed the formulation. The new formulation has sodium benzoate in it which some babies/children react to with skin irritation. Also, it can be a carcinogen and potentially cause DNA damage We switched to “Babyganic Foaming Fun Foaming Shampoo and Body Wash – Fragrance Free” for our twins. It works well for us. Just in case you have concerns about sodium benzoate you might want to change from the California Baby shampoo. There was quite a stink on Facebook and a few parenting forums about this back in Feb/March.
YoungHouseLove says
Eeks, you’re the second person to say that about California Baby. So scary! Thankfully our tub of it is really old (from before the switch) but we’ll have to look into Babyganic stuff! Thanks so much!
xo,
s
Ted says
FYI, if anyone wants to read more about what happened, there are a couple of threads in the DCUM forum that describe the changes and also the disingenuity of California Baby. They changed the formula without changing their labeling, then they tried to say that they hadn’t changed the formula, later they admitted that they had changed the formula and finally, they changed the label. As part of the aftermath, they ended up deleting the whole dialogue between users and the CB customer support staff on their Facebook page.
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/215264.page
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/212581.page
YoungHouseLove says
Oooh, that’s low! Thanks for spreading the word Ted! I can’t imagine they would even try to tell people they hadn’t changed things if they had! So scary!
xo,
s
Brynn says
I love this blog. I didnt mention this the first time I commented, but I originally found your blog about 2 years ago while trying to plan a cool DIY on the cheap backyard wedding. Anyway, I absolutely loved your ideas and would have done them if things had gone differently. (I am still happily married though!) Then I had a baby (shes 14 months today!) and lost track of the site, and now we are buying a house and I found this blog AGAIN! And I honestly feel like we are living parallel lives (but I am just a bit behind you.) We are trying to pare down, and be more natural and eco friendly and more organized. Reading your blog is like reading into my (more organized and minimalistic) future. Thank you so, so, so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Brynn! You’re so sweet!
xo,
s
Hillary says
We have pretty much the exact same makeup bag contents. Love keeping it simple and easy!
Sarah says
Do you use the Mrs. Meyers for dusting? I’ve converted in every other aspect, but can’t find something (besides Pledge) that gets the job done well.
It’s fun to see how similar the products you use are to what I use – sharing razors is the best, because you can buy them in massive quantities for way cheaper. And I love Burt, again I buy in quantity so I have many places to keep them (you never know when you’ll need it)!
YoungHouseLove says
I actually just use a moist microfiber cloth. It sucks up dust by some sort of static magnetism. Haha.
xo,
s
hi-d says
I love how you guys are so good at simplifying things. I JUST recently discovered Dr. Bronners Soap. At our local New Season’s Store, we can pump what we need into a container…and by diluting it…it’s CHEAP! Love it!
My little guy uses California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash. Plus my husband started using this for his shampoo and is hooked. It helps with dry scalp.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I might have to check out that Mrs. Meyers cleaning stuff.
Heidi (hi-d)
Heather W says
Sherry, what do you use to dust furniture. Any products or just a dry rag?
YoungHouseLove says
Just a moist microfiber cloth. It grabs all the dust.
xo,
s
Kristen says
I thought I was the only one who kept all her beauty products in a makeup case that was always in my purse! It just makes sense to me (although admitedly I have a few more products than you!). And I also hate bare lips. I use a couple of different tubes of things (all locations, so I don’t get bored), but when my lips are dry I get a little crazy too! My only question about this post…so you take your makeup (even eye) off with Dr. Bronner’s? Also, don’t you need any eye cream or face cream or you know, wrinkle products? I’m guessing the answer is no, so might I be the first person to say YOU ARE LUCKY! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, I just take off my makeup with Dr Bronner’s (watered down in our soap pump by the sink) and I actually don’t use any wrinkle lotion/products. Haha. I have sensitive skin, so too much face cream usually makes me break out. But I definitely think that it also helps that I use mild makeup and soap (Dr Bronners is really mild and moisturizing) so I’m not stripping my face dry with harsher stuff (in which case I’d totally need a face lotion of some sort). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Carolyn says
Sherry, I noticed in your drawer the other day you have some Physicians Formula tinted moisturizer (which I use). How does that compare to the stick or concealer you have in your bag? (Ok, I think i’ve met my comment quota for the day! … that was #4!)
YoungHouseLove says
I really don’t use that tinted moisturizer much except for big events when I want extra coverage whereas the stick is good for zits and undereye-blueness all the time. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Erika says
Ah…this post has inspired me! Time to clean out some junk :)
I LOVE Dr. Bronner’s soap – I buy the Almond scent by the gallon.
I have also switched to only Aveda haircare products. Sounds silly, but buying a more expensive brand makes me more aware of how much I use, and for some reason, keeps me from buying store bought brands. So I now have one hairspray, one bottle of shampoo, etc. instead of 15 half used bottles of drugstore brands. That’s what works for me :)
Keep these simplicity posts coming! I need more inspiration :)
Jessica says
Some good ideas to really de-clutter and free up some of your daily routine. Have you seen the articles in Real Simple or even features on the Today show? Where they have like 7 or 12 clothing items that you can rearrange full outfits for either a full week or a whole month? I have always been in awe of being able to simplify your wardrobe…Maybe this is next?? Although I remember you taking about your extensive shoe collection haha – so maybe not ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hah, I love those articles! I probably have ten shirts, three pair of jeans, five cardigans/sweaters, one winter coat – so simplified. It’s just shoes that I have a problem with. Haha. Although I did recently consign a bunch of them! So much fun.
xo,
s
Mary K says
Have you ever seen any of the 30 for 30 challenges? Check out kendieveryday for those…she and other people who take up the challenge pick 30 total items to remix into different outfits for 30 days. So inspiring!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds like so much fun!
xo
s
Andrea says
Sherry- Do you not use a facial moisturizer?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope! Since Dr Bronners and my makeup are so mild (Dr Bronners is even moisturizing) my skin doesn’t feel all dry and tight anymore. Yay! This is awesome since I have sensitive skin so face cream usually just made me break out.
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Wow, that’s impressive. I’ve been thinking about purging all my beauty products since I don’t even use most of them. What did you end up doing with all your barely used products after project simplify? I feel wasteful just throwing them all out.
YoungHouseLove says
We just used things up and went eco over time (replacing empty things with new eco things) but maybe you can sell a “lot” of products on craigslist for $10 or something and then someone else will use them and you can put the money towards something new?
xo,
s
Jessica P says
What kind of products do you have for Burger (shampoo, oral, ears)? I don’t have kids but I do have a pup and am curious of some great products to downsize to for him. He has way too many right now because I can’t find ones he/I like and that we want to stick with.
YoungHouseLove says
We use only Dr Bronners on him! He loves it! So mild and gentle. For teeth we use some natural toothpaste with citrus flavor. Wish I could see the name but the tube is rubbed off- we have had it forever- it lasts!
xo,
s
Roeshel says
Spring cleaning in full swing! Definitely something I need to do too. I’ve been slowly swapping out usual brands for something more natural. Great suggestions! :)
Nicole says
I too have been trying to go the less is more route the last coupe months.
I have started just using antibac microfiber cloths for everything, floors, mirrors, counters, and even just a cloth for my face and have seen a huge difference. And this is coming from a girl you loves herself some face cleaners! Do you use any moisturizer or acne treatment?
YoungHouseLove says
I don’t now that I use mild makeup and Dr Bronner’s soap it doesn’t strip my face so it’s not dry and in need of lotion (which used to make my sensitive skin break out anyway). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ryan says
“You don’t want to see me when I can’t get my hands on lip balm. I’m a total baby. You’d think my lips were falling off or on fire or something.”
HAHA! I am the same way and also hooked on Burt’s Bees, the mango one : )
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
I love this post! You guys are my heroes! I have SO MANY cleaning supplies and use so few. I want to get rid of all the stuff I have but don’t want to just throw it out. I was thinking of maybe donating it to the kennel down the road, but I know they don’t need a lot of the stuff. I, too, have been trying to pare down our hygiene supplies. It’s tough. This post is a great tool for me to head in a direction, especially since we are being an organic household. We have already converted to eating about 99% organically, so makeup/cleaning supplies are next.
Susan says
Hi – Just wanted to comment- I made my own laudry detergent and my own dishwashing detergent and I really didn’t feel like it was worth the time, and effort. I laudry detergent was ok, but honestly I missed the nice smelling detergent that you can buy, and since it’s just hubs and me right now, we didn’t really use that much to begin with, so i don’t mind spending the money. Also my stepmother told me that you really don’t need to use the amount that they say on the bottle, so I use about half of that and the clothes come out fine. As for the dishwashing detergent, we have really hard water, so for us it just doesn’t work. I was also dissappointed to read in the receipe I used that you ‘have’ to use it with this stuff called ‘Lemishine’ and they were totally right, so now i had to use two products instead of one. Bummer. So in my opinion it’s just not worth it, if you are happy with what you use. I am using up the homemade dishwashing detergent and then I can’t wait to get back to the other stuff.
YoungHouseLove says
Good to know!
xo
s
Leigh Anne says
I agree about the DIY laundry detergent. I used a recipe from Pinterest and didn’t feel like it properly cleaned our clothes. Plus, shaving the Fels Naptha laundry soap into the mix gave me claw hands. Now, I just add a little to each load with my normal detergent so I can use it up. You may have a different experience with another recipe – just my two cents!
Maegan says
We actually use the Dr. Bronner’s for our body wash, for hand soap, and for cleaning. Love it that one product does so much!!
Also, I noticed that you use loofas in your shower… just and idea, but I got rid of those about a year ago. I just decided that I needed to stop rubbing plastic all over my body (plus I have sensitve skin, and not using those has helped so much). We now use the little baby wash cloths (even though we don’t have kids) because they are thinner and easier to lather the soap than regular wash cloths. Plus, you don’t have to buy a new loofa every few months or so and throw the old ones away (seems more “green” to me). My sensitve skin thanks me every day! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that idea! I actually don’t use the loofah, it’s all John. Haha. Yes, he’s a loofah man. I just suds up my hands and rub around. That sounds really weird though. Might have to get a washcloth. Haha.
xo,
s
Anya says
Sherry,
I love this post.. I am also a small make-up bag girl, as I just started regularly wearing makeup recently.
One question for you: what kind of razor do you use to shave your legs? I’ve been using Venus for years (I like how you only need to replace the razor), but it still leaves me with a bit of a razor burn if I shave too frequently. I haven’t thought of using conditioner to shave; I usually just use my Dove soap. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We use Gilette Mach something. John had two (one in his travel bag) when we got married, so I tried it and loved it. Now we both use one and only have to stock up on one set of blades.
xo,
s
kim says
What do you use for face moisturizer?
YoungHouseLove says
I actually don’t use one. Scroll back in the comments for more info (my soap and makeup is so mild it doesn’t strip my skin and make it dry, so I don’t find that I need one).
xo,
s
Claire says
Love all these products! We use mostly the same things! We make our own laundry detergent and it works on cloth diapers – you just can’t use too much or it will build up residue on them. I use this recipe http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm (I know, super awesome website) and use half a cup in the diaper load. We also use charlie’s soap but this is much cheaper and a great back up!
Another thing I’ve seen but haven’t tried is taking a bar of Meyer’s soap and extending it by making it liquid. I just think it’s brilliant! http://www.thefarmersnest.com/2011/11/liquid-hand-soap-diy.html
YoungHouseLove says
So smart!
xo,
s
luann says
loving all of these tips, the happiness project is downloaded on my kindle just waiting for a few free minutes to read it.
Veronika says
I love that you share all this. It’s truly helpful. I stopped using fabric softener too.
I just have a question about how you tackle stains. Sometimes with my baby around i get weird stains on my clothes that I noticed the detergent does not get rid of. What do you use for that?
YoungHouseLove says
We just spot treat things before they go into the wash and check on them to make sure they come out (before they go into the dryer and get locked in) and if they don’t we spot treat again- always with Seventh Gen. So far so good! Sounds like I’m jinxing myself. Haha.
xo,
s
Bekka says
We are starting to simplify and go more natural as well! We’ve switched to cloth diapers for baby #2 (#1 is recently potty-learned!) and I’ve been making a lot of our “stuff.” I started with laundry detergent-it could not be easier! We also use wool dryer balls in place of fabric softener or dryer sheets-they decrease static and soften without any gross chemicals! I’ve also recently started making our own chapstick (can’t beat $.50/tube! and lasts way longer than any store-bought brand I’ve tried) as well as lotion! I also could not live without my white vinegar, I buy it by the gallon for various cleaning applications! I still struggle with my makeup as I’m a product junky :-) Great post!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome Bekka!
xo,
s
Hannah says
This is inspiring! And here I always thought East Coasters were high maintenance ;)
Karla@TheClassyWoman says
We have a lot in common product-wise and in terms of keeping things simple. :) I’m all about reducing clutter, my makeup bag is one small bag with the essentials too. I use earthy tones also which makes it easy and all organic mineral makeup.
In terms of the toothpaste, the natural one we are in love with at our house is Nature’s Gate Creme de Mint and my new fav is their anise flavor-LOVE!! The best part for me is no fluoride.
In terms of dishwasher detergent, we have an older d/w so it never worked for us. If you love the 7th Gen, you have to try Method Smarty Dish tabs! We buy the pink grapefruit, oh my gosh, best thing we’ve ever used!!
I pick up a lot of things at Target, CVS and Whole Foods also but if you want to buy all of those products for a fraction of the cost, I recommend Vitacost.com. I’ve been buying all of my supplements there too for years and the shipping is always free over $49. It’s my favorite online one-stop shop. I pop by Mrrebates.com first and also get a 4% kickback on everything I spent. I know how thrifty you guys are, I thought you might be interested.
Have a wonderful day! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Karen F says
I second the Method Smarty Dish tabs! Love the Pink Grapefruit! We recently switched to the Seventh Gen dish paks because they’re cheaper, but I miss the grapefruit scent when I open the dishwasher (is that weird?)
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
I love how you just stop buying stuff that you know isn’t you anymore. I’m thinking about that Alba body scrub that I bought thinking I needed but I’ve never used it and it’s probably been a year!
We’ve been using the Alba pineapple enzyme face wash (no animal testing is what I’m looking for) and their face lotion (for me only) for years! I love this stuff but it is super expensive so thinking about switching.
I also kept chapsticks all over the house but they’ve slowly, one by one, ended in the trash after a certain little person uses them and sticks her finger in them. Lol. Time to restock.
P.S. Have you heard that sunscreen loses it’s screening capabilities (for lack of a better term) after a year? I once heard that so I buy new sunscreens for the kids every year.
YoungHouseLove says
Such a great tip about sunscreen! I forget that sometimes, but it’s always great to remember.
xo,
s
Elieth says
Baby clothes…i remember from a previous post that you had mentioned that you washed Clara’s clothes with vinegar before she arrived..is that correct? What was the reason? And did you just use plain ol’ vinegar?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we heard it gently stripped out excess dyes and chemicals to make un-organic clothes closer to organic ones. We just do that for the first wash of all clothes (still do) just to strip out any extra stuff. It’s just regular old white vinegar without any detergent and then we use detergent for the next wash after she wears things.
xo,
s
Pam C says
iherb.com has those products much cheaper than you can find them in stores – plus they reward referrals and have free shipping for orders $20 or more. If you check them out, I hope you’ll use my referral code – GOZ448. They have wonderful customer service!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Pam!
xo,
s
katalina says
I am officially letting you buy a snazzy new makeup bag.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- thanks Katalina! I’m overdue!
xo,
s
Jessica says
Excuse the gross factor on my question, but does a mild cleaner like Meyer efficiently clean the toilet?
YoungHouseLove says
You can also use tea tree oil or vinegar if you’d like (those are disinfectants) but I have found that just like washing your hands with regular ol’ soap and water, most germs don’t like any sort of soapy lather, so once you flush it, down they go.
xo,
s
Jennifer says
A little random, but where did you find the Zoya nail polish? I love the colors!
YoungHouseLove says
I ordered them from their site (they have great Facebook promos like free polish if you pay shipping).
xo,
s
Dawn says
My dermatologist recommended Cetaphil for washing your face and body. Products with scent are not good for your skin. The whole family including two teenagers use it (you can get it at Costco which makes it more affordable). We also use microfiber rags instead of paper towels for clean ups – less paper in the trash.
Jamie says
I am so inspired by this post! I have been working on paring down my “products” and you’ve given me some great ideas for how to get even better at it. I too keep a small zip up makeup bag which is so convenient, especially when you’re last minute packing for a trip! One product that I have become completely hooked on that has made my skin so much clearer and smoother is organic rosehip oil from whole foods. its my day and night moisturizer and not oily-feeling at all. Great post! I want to go home and clean out my bathroom cabinet now :)
Tiny and True says
I’m definitely bookmarking this for later. A note on the laundry soap: we’ve been making our own for 2 years, and it’s SO EASY, cleans just as well, and if you love to have a smell you can just add an essential oil. Seriously, it was one of the best decisions we made, because I don’t know if you’ve noticed but laundry detergent is CRAZY expensive. I say DO IT, because it’ll give you more money for crafts ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks for the pep talk! I’ll have to give it a try!
xo,
s
Ruth says
I just discovered the EWG site a few weeks ago! But sadley, seventh generation productions and Mrs. Meyers do NOT rate well! I discontinued using both of those brands. I love Dr. Bronners and that replaced everything seventh generation/mrs. meyers except laundry detergent. Switched to Biokleen for laundry and so far really like it.
Amy says
Ruth (or anyone!), where on the EWG site can you check on cleaning products? I can only find the Cosmetic Database. :(
YoungHouseLove says
We hear it’s coming, so maybe it’s not out yet?
xo,
s
Amy says
Great, thanks! :)
May says
For glass, I use just water and then dry it up with newspaper. Sure, my hands get a bit dirty with the newsprint, but I have newspaper lying around to use and I don’t need to add anything to the water. My windows and mirrors sparkle afterwards. Maybe you could try that and if it works for you, you can save the vinegar for something else! Thanks for the decluttering reminder :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tip!
xo,
s
Jenn T. says
Wish I could give up the number of products in our bathroom, but all 5 of us use different things due to different hair types/skin types/preferences. Grr.
My daughter doesn’t need many products, either (she’s 2 1/2). We’ve used the calendula cream, and liked it, but she couldn’t use the body wash because of her eczema. Her product list? Curel Itch Defense Lotion, Cetaphil cleanser, Johnson’s medicated powder, Weleda diaper rash cream for the very rare rash.
Alexis says
I also have a tiny make-up bag and I think it makes life so much easier! I started making our own cleaning products a few months ago and I am completely hooked now on getting rid of chemical laden products, and switching to more natural stuff. Even so many of the “green” products out there can be pretty harmful. I now have all-natural homemade household cleaners, laundry soap (which we LOVE), bug spray, dog shampoo and body splash (one with lavendar essential oil and the other with vanilla extract – awesome!) to name a few. The best part is that you only need a handful of ingredients on hand to make all of these things! Next up on the “homemade” agenda will be to try deodorant (makes me a little nervous ;-) and dishwasher soap. I’m sure I won’t stop there as we are expecting our first baby in a little over a week!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! So excited for your wee one on the way! Good luck and enjoy!
xo,
s
Bonnie says
Love all these ideas! I love Mrs. Meyers as well! My family raised us on an (almost) all organic diet…before organic was cool ;) Now my husband and I try to live the same way. We use the EWG database as well.
Question though–do you not use face moisterizer or eye cream? I use Weleda from Target and I like it…I don’t think I could live without it! I am like another girl that posted…I tend to feel like I “need something new” sometimes. When a friend got me birchbox for a year as a gift, I saved all of the products in a container instead of using them right away and now whenever I feel like buying something I go to my container and grab something from there! It has been really fun and saved us alot of money, I’m sure.
Thanks for sharing your life with us! These tips seriously improve our lives! You guys are awesome :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oddly enough I don’t use face cream! I used to break out from it (sensitive skin) and now that I use mild soap and makeup my skin doesn’t feel as stripped and dry, so it’s not something I use.
xo,
s
Bonnie says
Oh, just saw your answer to this in earlier comments…oops! :)
YoungHouseLove says
No worries!
xo,
s
Elizabeth M. says
If you ever see it on sale try Burt’s Bee’s baby bee wash and shampoo for Clara. It is the ONLY thing I will use for my body since I have very sensitive skin. And it smells yummy :) It is also a bigger bottle than CA baby ( my old body wash)for roughly the same price. I use Dove unscented face soap per my dermatologist’s suggestion, as well as Dove shampoo and conditioner, which I stock up on when I have coupons. Nail polish is my weakness though! Have WAY too many. But as for make up I am the same way, one small bag. Just chap stick, eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara. LOVE MRS MEYERS cleaning stuff!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks for the tip! Baby Bee sounds adorable.
xo,
s
Karen F says
the baby bee smells realllly good – sort of like johnson’s baby shampoo, but better!
courtney says
Where’s that glass soap pump from?? Love it.
YoungHouseLove says
Target! It’s made from recycled glass. We love them so much we have three!
xo,
s
Rob O. says
We -LOVE- Dr. Dronner’s Peppermint soap! I liken it to bathing in Altoids! It’s especially refreshing after a sweaty bout of yardwork, spending the day outdoors at kids’ sporting events or such.
I re-use foaming hand soap dispensers for the Dr. Bronner’s soap, which makes the soap seem more substantive since it’s kinda thin and watery even before diluting.
Meredith says
So you even use the Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Organic Lotion on your face?
YoungHouseLove says
I don’t usually use lotion on my face since I have sensitive skin and it makes me break out. Now that I use mild soap and makeup I don’t feel as stripped and dry, so I’m good without!
xo,
s
Jen says
What do you use for face cream and body lotion? I am still searching….
YoungHouseLove says
We have the body lotion we use in the post (Dr Bronners) and I actually don’t use face cream (it makes me break out, and organic makeup and milder soap don’t dry me out).
xo,
s
Carly G says
Two things:
1. Our local CVS just had a ton of Got2Be hair stuff on clearance and my hubby snagged a bunch (with coupons!) John might want to try there. Wonder if it’s all being discontinued?
2. What do you wash your pots and pans with, and other sink things?
YoungHouseLove says
No way! Thanks for the tip! John is totally going to want to look into that! He misses it already!
We wash our post and pans and other non-dishwasher things like knives with Dr Bronners. It’s in the soap pump right there and is plant based so it’s non-toxic!
xo,
s
Carly G says
That’s what I figure- thanks!