aleta’s Recent Comments

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  I'll second the safety razor, my sweetie uses it for his thick stubble and it's a little less of a commitment to the risk of cutting and maintenance that goes into a straight razor. 

  No matter what blade you use, though, using hard soap with a badger-hair brush (purists say the artificial animal hair doesn't work as well but for animal lovers that may not be an option) does wonders for getting a longer-lasting, clean shave as well as the lower environmental impact.

  On Ask Umbra's video advice on shaving posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Responses

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  I've searched for quite a while and so far I have not been impressed with most "natural" commercial deodorants.  The above commentors have had success with alcohol (ethanol) and vinegar, and if you look in the comments for the original Grist article you'll see that many also like baking soda.  They all do the same thing - they kill/inhibit growth of bacteria.  Check out the recipe in the comments of the deodorant review article for a stick deodorant made of baking soda & coconut oil.

  I've never had success with stick deodorants, and propylene glycol is the industry standard primary ingredient to give it a "stick" shape.  All the "natural" stick deodorants either have pg or they have tried to find an alternative - some brands have been more successful than others.  Personally, I think the easiest way to get around this whole dilemma is to just use spray or roll-on deodorant.  Some also like the rock crystal which I would not put in the stick deodorant category though it has a similar shape.  Note, though, that it has Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, so it does not pass the aluminum-free test.

  I wash my pits with baking soda in the shower, then in the daytime I use Weleda spray - it's just essential oil and alcohol.  I add lavendar essential oil to the sage scent that it comes with, and it combines with my natural scent to make a nice, mildly spicy, inoffensive (at least to me) odor.  I've come to a place where I've learned to accept that there is no way to eliminate the stink completely without harming myself in the process.

  A really healthy diet can also improve your b.o. greatly.

  On Ask Umbra on how not to sweat your deodorant posted 6 months, 1 week ago 6 Responses

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  Find a friend or do it yourself

  Instead of waiting for a municipal service to start taking away your food waste, why not start inquiring to find out if any of your friends or neighbors have a compost and could use your scraps?  My office is right next to a community garden and they allow us to contribute our food waste to their compost bin.  Another option is to start your own worm bin!  It can be pretty compact if you live in a small place and all it takes is a plastic tub, some worms, and your food scraps.On Umbra on food-waste collection posted 1 year ago 2 Responses

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  Reusables save money!

  Redambrosia - I hear you on the cost factor.  However Gladrags and other reuseables such as the cup options that we are holding our breaths to hear about in Part 2 will save you a TON of money in the long run, even if they are a more expensive investment up front.  I've been using a cup for 7 years now, and only replaced it once a few months ago because I accidentally dropped it into a porta-potty.  It cost me $30 - doing some quick math that comes to 35 cents/month!On A review of eco-minded feminine products posted 1 year ago 46 Responses

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  Alternatives to non-stick coating cookware

  Absolutely ditch any non-stick cookware with Teflon brand or any other coating that feels plastic-y.  These pans kill birds when heated - they're our canary in the coal mine.  Stainless steel also has some concerns.  My hodgepodge collection of cookware primarily consists of cast iron and Pyrex (glass).

  A fantastic resource for those looking for alternatives is Debra Lynn Dadd's website and book Home Safe Home.  As someone who experienced multiple chemical sensitivity and recovered, she does very thorough research on what we know about safety of the things in our homes and provides a wealth of information about what alternatives are available.  Debra on CookwareOn Umbra on green cookware posted 1 year, 1 month ago 12 Responses