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:
Steph says
I loved the smell of the Avalon Organics, but was surprised to see that EWG rated it a 5. I did some online searching and found out that they changed their formula for the shampoos and conditioners (I think they got acquired a few years ago – bummer!). We opt for Yes To Carrots (Target) or Hugo Naturals (Whole Foods) now.
My boyfriend was a long-time loyal user of the Crew pomade, but when we started becoming more ingredient conscious we saw it contained parabens and tried to find a more natural solution. He made the switch to a clay-based one that we buy online for the same price as Crew at Target.
Everyone has their own level of comfort with this stuff, but we tend to think “why not?” if we can reduce the scary-sounding chemicals!!
YoungHouseLove says
We just heard that from someone else about Avalon! So sad since we EWG’d them a while ago and they were great. I think we’ll switch over to Yes To Carrots since it’s still so well rated! And thanks for the clay-based tip for John’s hair stuff!
xo,
s
Ryan Elizabeth says
Hey guys!
I’m a hairstylist and wouldn’t recommend buying anything that is supposed to be sold exclusively in professional salons. (john’s crew product) A lot of the time it’s not what it says it is and there are additives and other junk in it. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
I also use tom’s of Maine. In love.
Ryan
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Ryan! A few other folks have offered up better alternatives (John was in a panic and grabbed it since his favorite Got2Be stuff was missing- haha).
xo,
s
Sue says
Oh wow, I’m so inspired. The space under my kitchen sink is absolutely crammed with every conceivable cleaning product (most of them haven’t been used since my husband and I merged households a year ago).
Have you ever read the label on the Dr. Bronner’s bottle? Kind of wild…but in any case, he makes some awesome soap! I use it for handwashing too, and I love that it comes in different scents.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes it’s such a zany label (my eyes can’t even focus to read it) but it’s the best soap!
xo,
s
Ally says
This was a PHAT post, $herdog :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- thanks Ally.
xo,
s
Beth says
There is nothing better than purging and paring down! Thanks for the suggestions. Living in VA I know you must have a need for bug spray. Do you have any that you like for Clara?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually don’t use anything on our bodies but have these great incense sticks from a natural store that we stick outside and burn to keep the mosquitoes away!
xo,
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
After a very buggy dinner at an outdoor restaurant, I bought the Jason Quit Bugging Me Spray last year for our toddler but didn’t actually test it out. I like to overprepare when it comes to kid stuff I guess. I just checked on the EWG website (never been there before and it gets a 1).
YoungHouseLove says
That’s awesome!!
xo,
s
Annalisa says
It’s nice to know my husband and I are not alone with sharing products! I swear by the EWG’s recommendations for a lot of everyday stuff. I think mostly because I am frugal, I do a lot of DIY/homemade products. I just started making my own detergent — you can also use dr. bronners baby soap with the homemade for cloth diapers and it’s the SAME as rockin’ green (FYI it’s 2 cups borax, 2 cups washing soda, 1 grated bar soap of your choice and a load of clothes is 2 tbsp. of soap, diapers is the usual 1 tbsp).
I love olive oil or coconut oil for moisturizer when it’s cold out! and cheap vodka is great for sanitizing sinks or toilets – use like lysol.
Yulia says
Annalisa, try rubbing alcohol for sanitizing. It’s probably even cheaper!
melissa says
Love the simplicity of it all! Having less products definitely makes life (and closet space) easier. We don’t have many stores close by that sell affordable natural products, so my husband + I have been buying our body products from Swanson Vitamins online. You can usually find coupons and deals for free shipping and all their stuff is a lot cheaper in the first place! Orders arrive quickly as well. We’ve been buying Dr. Woods castille soap from there and it’s awesome–and half the price of Dr. Bronners. I second the nomination for Everyday Shea…we use the lotion and body wash and it lasts forever. It might be worth checking out the site!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Melissa!
xo,
s
Kala M. says
I think in some ways we are relatively simply in our grooming products. The hubby and I both use Head & Shoulder 2 in 1 for our hair. We by the big bottle from our BJ’s (bulk store probably much like a Costco I’m guessing). I do have another bottle of just conditioner in the shower that I use sparingly, too much weighs down my hair. But I need it in the winter because my hair just gets too much static. Andrew like bar soap and I use body wash, though he sometimes steals some of my body wash. I use my body was to shave and Andrew has shaving cream. There are a few other products I use on a regular basis but not much. I really need to go through the other stuff because we have just amassed these products over the year and now they sit there unused. I think I see a de-producting post in my future.
Kim says
I’m so excited about this post. I’ve been making everything myself lately and love it. White vinegar is great as a rinse agent in your dishwasher. Just started making my our laundry soap and it works the same as the store bought stuff for pennies a load. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water for a facial tone.(2 parts water for oily skin) I make an exfoliating skin scrub with just sugar and olive oil. Bronzer is easy too, just either coco power or cinnamon with powdered sugar or baby powder. All of these things work great as gifts too.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all of the tips everyone! Thanks for sharing what works for you!
xo,
s
Kelly says
*GASP* You two haven’t made it out to Trader Joe’s?! Ellwood Thompson’s is probably a lot more convenient for you, but you should make the trek out to Short Pump anyway, even if it’s just the once. You could swing by Whole Foods, too, since it’s right around the corner. And Frostings for cupcakes … om nom nom. :) I do about 2/3 of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, although I’m getting ready to try Relay Foods service to get some local meats and things outside of farmer’s market season. The thing about Trader Joe’s is that they have rotating stock – it’s possible you may not see the same product again – but because they’re private label, everything is super inexpensive.
I’m loving the O-R-G theme this week – it’s incredibly timely for me. I just moved and am trying desperately to start off my new house right! Playroom notwithstanding, I aspire to the level of organization seen throughout your house! I’m a hopeless packrat, but am working hard to overcome it by using the “would I buy it again” method of purging.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we’ve made it out to TJs a lot! We just buy food there and don’t really look at products as much. Haha. We only buy them when we’re out, so we’re not always looking in those aisles, you know?
xo,
s
Gretchen says
Haha, I could have written that line about my similarly small makeup bag living in the car most of the time! It seems like that’s the only time I for sure put makeup on, when my husband (also a John) is driving! Plus, the car is a great place to groom eyebrows because of all that natural light. It’s just taken me a little while to get used to the bumps and turns so I don’t stab myself with my tweezers! Thanks for the extra contact tip–good idea.
Kristen says
Where can you find the Miracle Soap? I’ve never seen/heard of it before… And is the diaper cream cloth safe or do you use a liner?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, we’ve used our cloth dipes and cream for the past two years. As for the miracle soap, do you mean Dr Bronners? It’s from Target. Same with Mrs Meyers.
xo,
s
Carla says
This was a great post. We use almost all of the same products. The biggest challenge I had in my transition to natural products was deodorant. I tried everything, but nothing seemed to block odor all day, and everything left a white residue. But then I tried Tom’s of Maine “Long Lasting” in Lavender and use that exclusively now. It goes on creamy smooth and feels and smells really nice.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, that’s a good one!
xo,
s
ali says
I’m in the same boat, and I found that the only thing that worked for me was the salt crystals (http://store.thecrystal.com/crystal-body-deodorant-stick-p2.aspx). It sounds crazy, but it works!!
JA says
Great post, thank you! We’re very similar in our approach. We also try to avoid fragrances in our products. Lavender, etc. We’ve read that it is safer for you.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, non-natural fragrances can be irritating, so we go only with naturally derived ones (like those in Dr. Bronners, which are essential oils instead of chemical fragrances).
xo,
s
Julie says
Love all of these! You definitely need to try to make your own laundry deteregent, it’s awesome! I do have a question about the Dr. Bronner’s as hand soap though. Does it have a strong odor? My oldest girl won’t wash her hands with a soap with an odor. (especially if she’s going to be eating)
YoungHouseLove says
There are different scents, and I love the almond one most. Very mild and not much odor (peppermint and lavender are stronger and those are John’s faves).
xo,
s
emily @ thirtyeight20 says
We keep a similar (very small) arsenal of products. We are big fans of California Baby (for our baby and ourselves!), Dr. Bronner’s and good old fashioned vinegar… all products dye and fragrance free if at all possible (allergies!)
Sadly, we have such hard water that we need THREE different products to get our dishwasher to clean our dishes properly. A water softener is on the list, so hopefully one day we’ll be able to eliminate two of those! (And then my hair will be nicer too.)
Donna says
I use Dr. Bronners as well. I didn’t realize you should water it down – I will try that. I have a problem with the soap building up on the pump portion of the bottle and the spout – maybe because I did not water it down? I wonder if it would work better in one of the bottles for foam soap.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I bet that’s why!
xo,
s
Karin K says
Perfect timing! I actually switched to a lot of these products after I read your last post on this subject, and so far I like everything. Except, and this is my own mental issue, I bought Mrs. Meyer’s handsoap, which smells exactly like the cleaning stuff (nice), and I just get weirded out thinking that I’m washing my hands with a housecleaning product. I know I’m not, but it is in my head. Anyway….I have looked all over Target for the Physician’s Formula makeup, and I can’t find it! I was afraid they’d discontinued it, but apparently not. Is it in a special place? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s usually in the aisle with the Burt’s Bees stuff or on the back wall behind it in some stores (I always look for the green mascara in that leaf-like tube and the rest of the stuff is there near it).
xo,
s
Meg@ Green Motherhood says
I LOVE that you bring organic and eco friendly product information to the masses. Living with less and using organic goods are a huge step to cleaning up our bodies and the world (I sound really crunchy right now, don’t I?)
We’re trying to get away from floride in our house and have switched over to a toothpaste with xylitol. Even the husband likes it! (and he hates all those natural toothpastes). Also, a diet rich in omegas is supposed to help fight off cavities.
Thanks for sharing word on the good life!
Kelsey says
My boyfriend and I moved in together about 3 years ago, and we had SO MUCH stuff. It was ridiculous. When we bought our house last April, we made the decision to “simplify”. We use the same toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and razors like you. We actually have the same toothbrush as well, just different heads (its an electric toothbrush). Its so easy to know when we need to buy something, because we BOTH know its gone.
Melissa says
Your Monday post was the kick in the pants I needed to motivate myself to start tackling clutter at home. I tackled the bathroom last night and realized I could really pare down my personal hygiene products and make a lot more space for myself. Tossed a bunch of dated/underused makeup products, lotions I didn’t like (because they made my super-sensitive skin very unhappy), and hair-related products that I just don’t use or need. I’m so happy with the extra space/less crammed feeling that greeted me this morning, thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Congrats Melissa!
xo,
s
Jen says
Sherry – check out the “oil cleansing method” as an alternative face washing routine. I started it about 6 months ago and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to using soap on my face. I don’t even use moisturizer anymore!
Loved this post – we use most of the same simple products and make our own laundry detergent as well.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Jen! I actually don’t use face moisturizer either since Dr Bronners is so mild/moisturizing!
xo,
s
Kim says
We use Mrs. Meyer’s, too-love it. With the refill, what proportions do you use to dilute it? I totally guess at refilling the little spray container.
Also, I wanted to love bon-ami, but I found it hard to rinse and hard for my teens to use properly. So back to soft-scrub I went. This is for sinks and tubs-what do you use for those? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We do 1/1 water and soap. Seems to work and lasts forever!
xo,
s
Larissa says
All these Dr. Bronner’s comments are interesting to me because my husband and I (both admitted grease monkeys) had to stop using Dr. Bronner’s as body/face wash because it dried us out. I guess it has to do with pH balance or some such scientific thing that I have no clue about. Annndddd, I have the same glass soap dispensers from Target that you use, but they just don’t work very well. We have to pump about a million times to get anything to come out. I have two and they both do that. Have you experienced that?
YoungHouseLove says
I think those pumps work better with thinner stuff (like watered down Dr Bronners) since it doesn’t get gunked up! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Shreya says
What a great post! I’m so inspired to simplify just about EVERY-thing!
maribel says
Thanks for sharing…I’m a werid-o, but your home looks like it smells fresh. Do you use any candles or room sprays…any suggestions
YoungHouseLove says
We like soy candles with essential oils (there’s a local guy at our farmer’s market who sells the best ones) so they’re eco!
xo,
s
Donna says
I really loved this post. I believe that sometimes less is more, and that cleansing is good for the soul. We, too, try to use organic whenever possible, so I really appreciated the product recommendations. One question: where can you buy that nail polish, and do you use a special nail polish remover? Thanks, Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I use the best nail polish remover from Whole Foods. It has a lady’s name on it. Ack, can’t remember. It’s like Miss Layla’s Potion, but that’s not it. It comes in a small white bottle and works just as good as the normal stuff. I get my nail polish from the Zoya website since they give lots of Facebook sales and coupons that draw me in! Haha.
xo,
s
Nora says
Zoya is also sold at a lot of salons! I got mine there and it’s usually the same price or cheaper than OPI/Essie.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, that’s a great tip!
xo,
s
Sarah K says
So inspired! I don’t think we’ll ever get it down to so few products – I don’t think my husband and I will ever agree on the same shampoo / bodywash! But I’m planning on not over-buying any more. Just get what we need, when we need it!
Andrea Stewart says
I’m a Burt’s Bees lip balm addict too! I have stashes of it everywhere as well! If I don’t have it and I’m out for the night, it wil literally ruin my whole evening! Then when I put it on, its like I was justtim the dessert for hours and finally found water! What do they put in that stuff? LOL!
Julie B. says
We have been using California Baby for our daughter (14 months) and love it. But I am bummed to hear that they have re-formulated their products as of January 2012 and added sodium benzoate. My bottle of the original formula is almost gone and I am unsure of purchasing the new formula. Just an FYI.
YoungHouseLove says
Someone else mentioned that! So sad! Thankfully we think our containers are older than that and will switch when we run out. Have hear good things about BabyGanics and are also wondering if just using Dr Bronners (lotion and soap) might be the better alternative since it’s already in our house! Will have to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Abbey says
I’m enjoying reading your tips, as well as the ones left by other readers. I’m slowly but surely working towards less products overall and more natural products in general. A funny thing is that I assumed my husband’s Speed Stick deodorant was bad for him, but since it’s a deodorant only and not an antiperspirant, it doesn’t contain aluminum which was my main concern. That was a cool discovery! It’s much harder to find a woman’s deodorant-only product among the major brands and stores. I might switch to Speed Stick myself! Haha.
My favorite so far that I’ve used has been an easy, homemade cleaner to get really tough hardened food and grease off the stovetop (we have gas and I guess are really messy cooks). I made a paste of baking soda, peroxide, and water and let it sit on the offending areas and it loosened all the junk really well!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I remember seeing that deodorant with a really good rating on EWG since it doesn’t have aluminum! So lucky for your husband!
xo,
s
Kim says
Does anyone have experience with natural cleaners on tile and stone showers? We were using a natural product that just didn’t cut the soap scum. We have porcelain (I think-it’s the better of the two kinds, I thought ceramic was not as good?) tile walls and river rock on the floor.
YoungHouseLove says
Mrs Meyers makes a shower spray that’s pretty great (we used it in our first house on white porcelain tile with white grout).
xo,
s
S'Mo (aka Sarah) says
I used to love Burt’s Bees…until I started having an allergic reaction to it. My lips would burn and swell up when I applied it. :( Since then, I’ve been looking for a quality alternative, but I haven’t found anything that feels light AND heals/prevents my perpetually dry, chapped lips. Any suggestions for other products to try?
YoungHouseLove says
What about Dr Bronner’s lip balm. I used to use it until my Target stopped selling it (maybe it’s still at some others or at Whole Foods or online?) – it’s really mild and plant based!
xo,
s
S'Mo (aka Sarah) says
Thanks, $herdog! I’m “treating” myself to an afternoon of errands as soon as I finish deep-cleaning the kitchen, so I’ll be sure to look for it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re welcome! Good luck!
xo,
s
ellen says
nothing makes me leap up and start purging unnecessary possessions like these posts of yours. such inspiration. thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet. I’m so glad!
xo,
s
Leatitia @ The Sweetest Year says
Your post yesterday gave me the cleaning bug and I’ve been purging like crazy in the bathroom. I trew out a grocery bag of expired/never used makeup, jewerly, soap, lotion, etc. It’s so freeing! I love seeing my small container of like 5 things for my morning routine. Thanks for the inspiration and the Dude Get On That Already cleaning push. :)
Megan says
Scaling down has been my running goal for the last year and I’m almost to a point where I can call it good. The one thing holding me up is I’m attempting to use up all of our cleaning products so I can end up with just one or two bottles. Of course, my mom-in-law is a garage sale fanatic so almost every time my husband comes back from seeing her, he has another thing of laundry detergent or an idustrial sized bottle of windex that she picked up for nothing. Having a husband who can’t say no to anything free makes scaling down a challenge at times….he’s lucky he’s so cute.
I refuse to scale back on chapstick though. Tubes are stashed everywhere so I’m never more than 3ft away from sweet lip relief.
Anne Gore says
Thanks so much for this post! I found out that I can’t eat gluten, and I’m so sensitive that I even need to use gluten-free shampoo and lotion. That discovery FORCED me to cut my products down to ONE brand of shampoo, ONE lotion, ONE toothpaste, etc. I’ve convinced my husband to use the same shampoo, because I’m also chemically sensitive and the fragrance of the stuff he used to use really bothered me. He also just uses whatever sunscreen I have. But, he resists on the toothpaste. He is convinced that he HAS to use Crest Pro-Health or he’ll get gum disease and his teeth will rot. :) Fortunately, he’s a die-hard greenie who is always very enthusiastic and encouraging when I go through a clutter-clearing binge. So, I’m going to show him this post because I think he’ll be inspired.
By the way, one of the best things about being more environmentally friendly is that it comes with these other benefits, too, like saving time and money! Thanks for making that point so clear and inspiring all of us to at least think about the consumer choices we make! Oh, and thanks also for mentioning EWG. I don’t know what I’d do without their beauty products database. Did you know they are starting a cleaning products database, too?
YoungHouseLove says
I didn’t know that! I can’t wait for that!
xo,
s
Yulia says
Anne, is there gluten in toothpaste? My son has Celiac and I didn’t think about checking on toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner.
Jenny says
Hi guys!
I just started reading your blog about a month ago and I absolutely love it! I read every day! You guys are awesome! I was just curios about that “zoya” nail polish. I have been wanting to try it, but I am wondering if it is long lasting and worth the 8 bucks? Also the “Physician’s Formula Organic Wear” is that the product brand?
Thanks
Jen
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes! Read back through the comments where a few people mentioned it chipped even less than Essie and OPI! It’s the best. As for the PFOW, that’s the name of the brand, so each product might be “bronzer” or “blush” or something. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jessica O. says
Okay, this may be TMI territory, but how do you not use a menstrual cup? It is cheaper, healthier, better for the environment, and takes up less space than other feminine products. Also, you can go muuuuuch longer without having to empty it (like 12+ hours). I use a Diva cup, but a friend of mine loves her Luna cup. I think if you can get over the “ick” factor that some people have, you’ll find it a good fit for your lifestyle. Also, this post has totally inspired me to dump all the stuff and start simplifying. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Jessica! I use organic tampons (just cotton without additives, so they’re very healthy) since my mom had TSS when she was younger. I just haven’t ventured into the whole menstrual cup thing (sounds messy and scary if I’m being honest) but someday I hope to have the bravery to give it a go! I did use fabric nursing pads (washable and reusable) but for some reason that didn’t make me as squeamish. Hah. I’ll get over it I hope!
xo,
s
Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says
That’s funny you mention the DivaCup. I wanted to bring it up, too, but didn’t know how. I just used mine for the second time and absolutely love it! For the first time EVER, I went swimming while ‘surfing’ and it was so freeing.
Since I cloth diaper with our daughter (thanks to Sherry for the inspiration & tips!) I thought, why am I not using something reusable myself? I passed on the mamapads and found the cup and can’t believe how easy it is to use. Yes, you get a little more ‘in touch’ with your parts but it’s worth to me.
I did a post on the cup recently & actually found there are a lot of women out there that use some type of cup!
http://crunchyhotmama.com/2012/04/03/the-divacup/
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jess! Off to check it out!
xo,
s
Katie says
For me convenience usually wins out. Hence the bottles of bleach & chemicals under our sink, and the crowded shower caddy.
So reading this was really encouraging & inspiring. I don’t just need to pair down, I need to make sure the few things I have are worth it. And by ‘worth it’ I mean that they not only do the job, but also fit the eco-friendly & organic boxes too. And if I’m not spending money on separate bottles for every little job, I can afford to spend extra on all purpose items.
Thanks for sharing.
Nickie says
Love your blog so much! You guys have great style and taste!
I just wanted to give you a head’s up that a dishwashing detergent with citrus in it is not good for your flatware. It smells great but the added acidity can be corrosive over time. Just thought you might like to know.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Nickie! Never heard that!
xo,
s
Paulina J! says
Amen!! This is an awesome post. We have been trying to simplify also and are trying to conceive. I’m so impressed by the baby products and how you have kept it simple with Clara. Definitely refreshing ideas in our “buy more” society!
Lisa says
I’m a fan of all of the brands you mention in your post!
I just wanted to give a shout-out to Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. I don’t often paint my fingernails (but I indulge in pedis on a regular basis), and this cream is awesome for keeping them from looking like a wreck. I wash my hands about 18 million times a day and a quick swipe of this cream keeps my cuticles soft and tidy-looking. Bonus, it smells amazing.
brooke says
I think it is great to simplify! Everyone always thinks the more you have the happier you will be…not so much! lol! You guys should check out Norwex. I clean my windows with no chemicals just water and two cloths and they come out awesome!
Kim says
So I am going back and forth from cleaning to reading comments-any ideas how to pair down on shoes? I have waaaay fewer than most women, but I can do better. I think I like them because it’s easy to feel like you have an outfit when you have shoes. But I am also practical, I like to have the right kind of shoe for the right “job” (water sport shoes, beach/pool shoes, walking shoes, hiking shoes, working in the yard shoes, cute summer sandals, warm winter boots, rain boots)-ack!
YoungHouseLove says
Amen- it’s the hardest thing! I have way too many! The best thing I did recently (I consigned a bunch) to pare them down was to just pluck out any I hadn’t worn in the last year. Didn’t matter if I thought “someday I’d have the perfect place/reason to wear them” because I hadn’t worn them in an entire year! Time to say goodbye. Still was very hard though. I love me some shoes. Haha.
xo,
s
Alexis says
Ditto on the Burt’s lip balm…I’ve got a tube everywhere – bathroom, hallway, kitchen, car, purse…
Paige says
Have you guys ever heard of Vitacost.com? I’m pretty sure they carry almost all the products that you mentioned in your post! I started purchasing natural home products and foods from them about two months ago. It’s a money-saver because there’s no sales tax and shipping is free if you spend $49.
Here’s a referral link if you’re interested!
http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=60300229
BTW I love Avalon Organics. Most hand soaps dry out my hands, but theirs is so mild and natural… and their scents are fantastic too!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Paige!
xo,
s
Melissa says
I used to be the girl who had 18 different shampoo/conditioners in my shower because I had to use something different every day otherwise my head would itch like crazy. Then I switched to organic shampoos and now down to one set of shampoo & conditioner. I have to say I have noticed a huge difference since the switch. I used regular shampoo once (I found a random bottle in my bathroom cabinet of Avon shampoo I thought I’d try), my head itched like crazy for a week..Also, for nights out on the town, I highly recommend using Organix Moroccan blow out cream before you blow dry…it’s amazing!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that sounds glamorous!
xo,
s
Melissa says
While I love the calendula cream (we like the lotion and rash cream), just as an FYI, they reformulated the product last year. If you just google it there is a ton of info about it- calendula is like one of the last ingredients now. I have heard a lot of people having reactions to the new product, so you may keep an eye out next time you have to stock up.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we heard that and are so sad! All of the stuff we have is from before the reformulation, but when it runs out we’ll probably go with BabyGanics since we hear good things about that!
xo,
s
jen says
I used to use Charlie’s too. I started it for diapers and then soon was using it on all our clothes. I have been cloth diapering since 2004 and it was a lot easier to get charlie’s way back when, cheaper, free shipping (no local places here carry it) but it has gotten so expensive to get it now.. I needed some a couple weeks ago and it would have been $60 for 3 canisters, and I’m finding a canister does not last a month with us (3 kids = lots of laundry!) That’s not cost effective at ALL. For $15 I got washing soda, borax and some bars of soap and the hardest part of the whole ordeal was shredding/food processing the soap. (I made powdered detergent) I put it in some old charlie’s canisters and it works just as good, and you can even grate up a dr bronner’s bar as your “soap” component.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a smart solution!
xo,
s