Loofah Sponge For Dishes

theres rags in the bathroom for washing your body, theres washrags in the kitchen for cleaning. instead of using dish sponges(they are vehemently against using dishwashers)we use washrags and replace them at least daily, before you put the washrag in the dirty clothes you are supposed to wring it out and wipe off the counters and the stove if needed. we do sometimes use clorox wipes but not often. when i tell people this the response is always “ew”, i get wiping the counters with them kinda does seem bad but the washrags arent ever super dirty(we rinse our dishes good) and theyre still full of soap. imo using rags to wash your body and washrags on the dishes is so much better than using a sponge or a loofah, they just mold and accumulate so much bacteria, i could never do it. submitted by /u/CycleSimilar8324 to r/DoesAnybodyElse [link] [comments]

DT (okay, I) am out of control. This is completely unhinged. Countless stores and easily find 5-10 items at each store that aren’t at the others. We all know if you don’t grab them, you prob won’t ever see them again. All thanks to seeing so many good finds on this page! Well… this is the aftermath of bags I just dumped out to try to find something. Bad part? I know I bought all 4 scents of the body perfume oil but can only find 1, so there’s a missing bag somewhere 😩 Worst part? ALL I set out to truly find were the Modess disposable washcloths, as I want to stock them at our AirBNB for ladies (so my white washcloths stop getting ruined lol) and didn’t find a single pack of them 😭 Also cannot find Ioni nail glue which is superrrrrr frustrating 😖 submitted by /u/Secure_Ad_2676 to r/dollartreebeauty [link] [comments]

Brand new (left) vs 3-month old moderate-use (right) Been using Scrub Daddy for 2 years and I’ve never considered going back to a regular sponge. We don’t have a dishwasher so I wash the dishes manually. It’s gentle on surfaces but tough on whatever is stuck to it. My use is simple. I usually soak the utensils for a few minutes in soapy water (I skip this step when I’m in a rush), Scrub Daddy the dirt/grime, and then I use the complimentary sponge that comes with the dishwashing paste to clean it off. I think if I were to do a half-assed job, just scrubbing with this sponge with the soaked soapy water would have been okay, but I feel like there might be a thin layer of grime left so I’d rather them squeaky clean since I eat off these utensils. I buy this for $3.30 every few months. Edit: I hear y’all with the microplastics and now I’m considering the natural loofah. I just haven’t tried it on dishes. I’ve also tried those metal scrubbers but they don’t last as long. submitted by /u/absltlyanon to r/CleaningTips [link] [comments]

Hi! Does anybody have any recommendations for a dish sponge that works great and is non toxic. I tried loofah sponges and reusable sponges and both just didn’t do the trick. submitted by /u/learning_about_stuf to r/moderatelygranolamoms [link] [comments]

I'm going to preface this by saying I am not an anti-vaxer. I actually work making vaccines. I'm also not referring to antibiotic resistance which is a serious problem. What I can't stand is people online who practically berate others for using a washcloth or a loofah in the shower. Not washing their towel after one use. Or people who religiously washing their hands. The argument is always the same "dish sponges hold billions of bacteria" bacteria this bacteria that. When have you ever heard of someone dying because they used the same washcloth all week long? Or because they use a sponge to wash their dishes? It's completely absurd that people are so worried about these things because they actually aren't problems at all and never have been. The real issue behind bacteria is it creates foul odors. Yes some bacteria can cause infections and disease, however that is only a fraction of the total bacteria around us. Furthermore those bacteria that do cause disease don't grow on sponges or towels. They grow in dirty water, raw meat and animal products, things that are actually dangerous. Now here is where I may lose some of you, I think people wash their hands too much at home. Unless you have soiled your hands taking out the trash or just finished up in the bathroom there is no point in washing your hands. Every single surface in your home is covered with bacteria, the amount of bacteria in your home is literally incomprehensible. Wash your hands before you prepare food sure, but washing your hands before dinner so you can pick up a fork is stupid you don't eat with your hands. Refusing to use a cup because it's been out all day, stupid. Especially your own bacteria though, you aren't getting sick off the bacteria already in your body. The only way you are getting yourself sick is by eating your own poop. I could lick my hand up and down right now and go to work on Monday fine and dandy. I won't because that's gross, but i really just don't get what everyone is so worried about. There are real things to worry about, things like ecoli, salmonella, strep, but again those come from other people or food. Not dirty sponges, not from touching your keyboard and then your face. submitted by /u/MyBedIsOnFire to r/The10thDentist [link] [comments]

Thought I should share this since it has worked so well for me. I use loofah sponges and dish soap bars for washing my dishes. Works well, good scrub power for such a small “sponge” and dries quickly so no gross sponge. Also, so much better than bamboo brushes which I have tried repeatedly and they always get moldy/gross from moisture. The sponges and dish soap bars last me 1-2 months at a time (cost effective!) and my little ceramic dish holds them perfectly while letting the water drain. submitted by /u/DullGlowstick to r/PlasticFreeLiving [link] [comments]

Hey folks, Saw u/chubby_mommy_2020’s post earlier asking for plastic free sponge recommendations, and I figured I’d finally share the results of a deep dive I did a few months back. I got obsessed with figuring out whether “plastic free” cleaning tools were actually plastic free, and I tested way more than any sane person should. A lot of the popular ones still shed microplastics, use synthetic binders, or come wrapped in plastic anyway. After way too much research, the only thing that held up under a microscope (literally and figuratively) was the Blueland Cleaning Companions sponge. No affiliation, no sponsorship, nobody sent me anything. I just wanted to stop washing plastic dust into my sink every day. Here’s what I found when I looked into it: Material breakdown actually checks out Most brands use “cellulose blends,” which quietly means they mix wood pulp with plastic fibers or polymer glues. These sponges were one of the few that were just cotton, plant based cellulose, and loofah. Nothing synthetic hiding in the structure. When you soak them, they don’t release the cloudy microplastic shedding you see in PET based sponges. The chemical profile matters more than people realize During the deep dive, I learned that a lot of cleaning tools are pretreated with preservatives or antimicrobial coatings. These contain parabens, VOCs, ammonia derivatives, phthalates, chlorine bleach, or other stuff that off-gasses into your kitchen every time the sponge dries. Blueland’s sponges are explicitly free from all of that. It sounds small, but removing daily exposure sources makes a real difference long term. Packaging is the most overlooked part I noticed that even companies that brag about plastic free sponges will ship them in polybags or compostable plastic that still leaves microplastic residue. Blueland’s packaging is legitimately plastic free, no sneaky thin films, no “bioplastic” that sticks around for 200 years. This is the first sponge I’ve bought that didn’t bring a plastic wrapper into my house. Longevity without synthetics is unusual Pure cellulose sponges usually fall apart fast unless they’re reinforced with synthetics. These held up for months without turning into mush, and the loofah side softens instead of shredding. It actually performs like the plastic sponges without the environmental consequences. The long term impact is underrated This is the part I care about most. Switching to natural, non toxic cleaning tools cuts down your microplastic load, your indoor air pollution, and your chemical exposure in small daily increments. These small increments accumulate. After a few months of tracking it, my kitchen sponge waste dropped, my sink runoff tested cleaner, and the weird chemical smell that I thought was my dish soap disappeared. Not trying to hype up a brand. I have absolutely no affiliation with Blueland. I just got tired of thinking I was being “eco friendly” while still scrubbing my dishes with petroleum based fibers. If anyone else has done their own tests or knows of other fully plastic free options, I’d genuinely love to compare notes. The market is a minefield, and the more actual data we share here, the bette submitted by /u/SACtrades to r/PlasticFreeLiving [link] [comments]

I have been using natural loofah sponges for the shower and dish washing for years now. I ran out this month and realized that the prices for a while dried loofah have gone up faster than housing. Anyone local grow some and are interested in selling? I don’t need them processed or bleached but that can be? I’ll take what I can get. I’m looking for whole loofahs like 7-12 inches dried. DM me if so. I figure if ima spend some money, it might as well be to someone local vs an online retailer. submitted by /u/No_Vegetable7280 to r/rva [link] [comments]

This had been covered but I'm wondering what folks are using to scrub dishes by hand. Maybe you're not using any sponges. It appears many "all natural" scrubbing sponges still contain a petrochemical ingredient. Some use natural bristle & wood brushes. It's nice to have something that scrubs crud off plates etc. I'm gonna try these. I also love this bamboo scrubby. It's about 10 inches long and all the cut pieces (about 2/3 of it) scrubs my steel pan very well. I wash the pan right after use since the hot surface with plain water and the scrubby bits cleans the pan really well. Then I place it back on the hot burner to dry. I hope to use this pack of 30 loofas to hand wash drinking glasses. Thanks! submitted by /u/richardricchiuti to r/PlasticFreeLiving [link] [comments]

[Check Latest Arrivals sponge gourd on amazon.] Best Sponge Gourd 2025: reviews & How to Choose The Sponge Gourd, also known as Loofah Gourd, is a versatile vegetable with a myriad of uses, ranging from culinary applications to its renowned use as a natural exfoliating sponge. Its popularity stems from its sustainability, eco-friendliness, and multiple health benefits. For consumers seeking a natural alternative to synthetic products and a healthy addition to their diet, the sponge gourd presents an excellent choice. Given its growing demand and the increasing variety available in the market,selecting the best sponge gourd can be a challenging task. This review aims to provide a thorough guide to help you choose the perfect sponge gourd for your needs in 2025, covering key features, benefits, and considerations. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] Key Features Analysis The selection of a high-quality sponge gourd involves evaluating several important features that contribute to its overall value and usability. Fiber Density: The density of the fibers within the sponge gourd directly impacts its exfoliating properties and its durability. A denser network of fibers ensures more effective scrubbing and a longer lifespan, preventing premature disintegration. A High-quality sponge gourd exhibits tightly packed, yet flexible fibers. This allows for effective removal of dead skin cells and debris without causing irritation or discomfort. Lower-quality gourds frequently enough have sparse,brittle fibers that break easily and provide less effective exfoliation. Gourd Maturity: The stage of maturity at harvest is crucial for both culinary and exfoliation purposes. Sponge gourds harvested at a younger stage are typically ideal for consumption, offering a tender texture and mild flavor. A Mature gourds, on the other hand, are more suitable for use as sponges. When selecting a sponge gourd for exfoliation, it should be fully mature, as indicated by its dry, hardened outer shell. Immature gourds will not have the necessary fiber structure to function effectively as a sponge. Gourd Size and Shape: The optimal size and shape of the sponge gourd depend on the intended use. For culinary purposes, smaller to medium-sized gourds are generally preferred. For exfoliation,a size that fits comfortably in the hand and provides ample surface area is desirable. An Irregular shapes can affect the ease of use and the effectiveness of exfoliation. A Consistent cylindrical shape is typically the most practical for both handling and reaching various parts of the body. Organic Certification: Given the increasing emphasis on sustainable and eco-kind products, the presence of organic certification is a significant factor. Organic sponge gourds are cultivated without the use of synthetic pesticides,herbicides,or fertilizers,ensuring a healthier and more environmentally conscious choice. An Organic certification guarantees that the gourd has been grown according to strict organic farming standards. This reduces the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals,both during cultivation and in the final product. Look for certifications from reputable organizations to ensure authenticity. Processing Method: The way a sponge gourd is processed after harvesting can significantly impact its quality. Natural drying methods, such as sun-drying, are generally preferred over artificial drying processes. Sun-drying allows the gourd to dry slowly and evenly, preserving the integrity of the fibers and preventing them from becoming brittle. Artificial drying methods, on the other hand, can damage the fibers and reduce the sponge's lifespan. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] Core Benefits The sponge gourd offers a range of benefits that make it a highly desirable product for various applications. Effective Exfoliation: The natural fibers of the sponge gourd provide gentle yet effective exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and promoting circulation. This results in smoother, healthier-looking skin. A regular exfoliation with a sponge gourd can help to prevent clogged pores and reduce the occurrence of blemishes. It also prepares the skin for better absorption of lotions and moisturizers, enhancing their effectiveness. sustainable and Eco-Friendly: As a natural product, the sponge gourd is inherently sustainable and environmentally friendly. It is biodegradable and compostable, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. A Compared to synthetic sponges and exfoliating products, the sponge gourd offers a more sustainable alternative. Its natural origin and biodegradability make it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious consumers.Enhanced Bathing Experience: The textured surface of the sponge gourd provides a stimulating and invigorating bathing experience.It can be used with soap or body wash to create a rich lather and gently massage the skin. A The gentle scrubbing action helps to cleanse the skin thoroughly and remove impurities. It also promotes relaxation and can definitely help to relieve muscle tension. versatile Culinary Ingredient: Young sponge gourds can be used as a appetizing and nutritious vegetable in a variety of culinary dishes. They have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a tender texture. A In Asian cuisine, sponge gourds are often used in stir-fries, soups, and stews. They can also be steamed, boiled, or grilled. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them a healthy addition to any diet. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] FAQs Section How do I prepare a sponge gourd for use as a sponge? To prepare a sponge gourd for use as a sponge,you must first remove the outer skin. This can be done by soaking the gourd in water to soften the skin, then peeling it off with your hands or a knife. Once the skin is removed, rinse the gourd thoroughly to remove any seeds or debris. Allow the gourd to dry completely before using it. How often should I replace my sponge gourd? The lifespan of a sponge gourd depends on how frequently it is used and how well it is cared for. With proper care, a sponge gourd can last for several months. It is indeed recommended to replace your sponge gourd every 4-6 weeks, or when it begins to show signs of wear and tear, such as discoloration or fraying. How do I clean and maintain my sponge gourd? to clean your sponge gourd, rinse it thoroughly with warm water after each use. Squeeze out any excess water and allow it to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Periodically, you can sanitize your sponge gourd by soaking it in a solution of water and vinegar or baking soda. This will help to kill any bacteria and prevent mold growth. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] Competitor Comparison Product Comparison Overview Premium Organic Sponge Gourd fiber Density: High, tightly packed fibers for effective exfoliation Gourd Maturity: Fully mature for optimal sponge texture Organic Certification: USDA Certified Organic Standard Sponge Gourd Fiber Density: Medium, moderately dense fibers Gourd maturity: Mature, but may have some immature sections Organic Certification: Not Certified Synthetic Loofah Sponge Fiber Density: Uniform, synthetic fibers Gourd Maturity: N/A (Synthetic) Organic Certification: N/A (Synthetic) Key Differences Summary The Premium Organic Sponge gourd excels in fiber density and maturity, resulting in superior exfoliation and a longer lifespan. Its organic certification ensures a healthier and more environmentally friendly choice. The standard Sponge Gourd offers a more affordable option but lacks the density and quality of the premium option. The Synthetic Loofah Sponge provides a consistent texture but is not as eco-friendly or sustainable as the natural sponge gourd. For users prioritizing quality,sustainability,and effective exfoliation,the premium Organic Sponge Gourd offers the best value despite its higher price. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] Ideal User Profile Eco-Conscious Consumers: Individuals who are passionate about sustainability and reducing their environmental impact will find the sponge gourd to be an excellent choice. Its natural origin, biodegradability, and compostability make it a perfect alternative to synthetic sponges and exfoliating products. Health- and Wellness-Focused Individuals: Those who prioritize their health and well-being will appreciate the sponge gourd's natural exfoliating properties and its ability to promote healthy skin. Its gentle yet effective scrubbing action helps to remove dead skin cells, prevent clogged pores, and improve circulation. [Explore Top Rated sponge gourd on Amazon.] Buying Recommendations & Conclusion When choosing a sponge gourd, consider your specific needs and preferences regarding fiber density, maturity, and organic certification. If you prioritize quality, sustainability, and effective exfoliation, opt for a premium organic sponge gourd with tightly packed fibers and full maturity. For a more affordable option, a standard sponge gourd may suffice, but be aware of the potential trade-offs in quality and durability. the sponge gourd represents a versatile and beneficial product for both personal care and culinary applications. Its natural exfoliating properties, sustainability, and versatility make it a worthwhile addition to any household. While it may require some initial readiness and maintenance, its benefits far outweigh the effort.the sponge gourd stands out as a superior choice for those seeking a natural, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional sponges and exfoliating products. [Shop Budget-Friendly sponge gourd on amazon.] submitted by /u/JosephMitchREYI to r/SkinDeepSonderInfo [link] [comments]

I asked this question in comments before but got no answer. Which is better for Indian men? Does Indian climate/weather, geography and diet have any influence, or am I overthinking? My friends say body washes are much better, but I personally find soaps handy. (I personally use Mysore Sandal, Cinthol Original and Yardley Gentlemen) The reasons why I find soaps better: Cleansing: Effectively removes dirt, oil, and sweat. Convenience: Easy to use, store, and travel with. Variety: Available in various scents, ingredients, and skin-type formulas. Cost-effective: Generally cheaper than body washes or specialty cleansers. Eco-friendly: Often comes with minimal or no plastic packaging. Exfoliation: Some contain scrubbing agents beneficial for rough male skin. But my firends argue that: Hygienic Packaging – Bottle design reduces contamination compared to bar soaps. Moisturizing Formulas – Often enriched with hydrating ingredients, ideal for dry or sensitive skin. Less Residue – Rinses off cleanly without leaving soap scum. Convenient Use – Easy to lather with loofah or sponge, especially in gyms or travel. Targeted Formulations – Available in specialized versions (e.g., for body odor, acne, oily skin). More Fragrance Variety – Offers long-lasting, masculine scents not typical in bar soaps. No Soap Dish Mess – Eliminates the slimy residue and buildup common with bar soap storage. All-in-One Options – Many body washes double as shampoo or face wash, reducing the need for multiple products. Gentler on Skin – Less likely to strip natural oils due to pH-balanced formulas. Modern Appeal – Seen as a more contemporary and stylish grooming option. Should I shift from soap to body wash? Or should I change my soap? Or am I just overthinking? submitted by /u/Traditional-Class904 to r/onexindia [link] [comments]

We closed on Friday and we got a big basket with all day one necessities, including even toilet paper WHICH I thought it was super weird until I NEEDED IT because we didn’t have any. Lol. We had soap, loofah, dish washer soap, sponges, all the essenciais really and she added a box of floaties for our new pool too. A friend of mine closed a week ago and got a cutting board with their name engraved and another friend who closed 6 months ago got a gift card from Starbucks (this i thought it was a bit random lol). I also have an uncle who closed in 2022 that got a TV as a closing gift!!! That i think it was wild, but he did close on a very expensive home in very expensive times (2022). Just curious about what you got as your closing gifts. submitted by /u/PorcupineFlan to r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer [link] [comments]

As one of the first steps I took to make my home “cleaner”many years ago, I switch from plastic dish sponges to these ones (picture). It says that it’s “plant based” so we should be good there, yes? NO. If you’ve used one of these, you know that there are two layers to them— one is a holey spongy side (wood cellulose), the other side is more scrubby. Over the years, I’ve often wondered why the texture looked artificial after extended use… until I read the box. “Recycled fibers”— one of the materials that’s mixed with the coconut fiber, is literally plastic. Plastic shreds, plastic fibers. This sponge is not 100% plant based, and it is not compostable (to minimize waste, you’ll have to cut the wood cellulose part out to compost). I was so angry when I discovered it— there is so much greenwashing in this world that even those with the best intentions can get it wrong due to INTENTIONALLY misleading claims. I have since switched to plant based luffa gourd fiber (look for natural loofah). You can grow them and you can find them through local markets— the plant fiber works well and is fully compostable. Keep your eyes peeled, people! Update: I found a product I like-- Floofah kitchen sponges, made with luffa fibers, and yes fully compostable! submitted by /u/garrusntycho to r/ZeroWaste [link] [comments]

You don't need a loofah or a sponge to actually get clean in the shower. Your hands and soap are enough. "But you need to exfoliate!" - Your dead skin cells naturally fall off on their own. Most of the dust in your house is dead skin cells. You don't need to forcefully rub yourself in order for this process to happen. Soap and your hands will wash away the dead skin cells on your body. Human skin is sensitive, you are not a snake trying to shed its skin. "You wouldn't wash your dishes without a sponge" - Sebum doesn't harden onto your skin like cooking oil does to dishes. Soap is more than capable of removing the oil on your skin and the bacteria on its own. You also usually don't have food stuck on your body as we tend to remove that with a napkin asap. Loofahs and sponges are plastic waste that need to be regularly replaced as they are absolute bacteria bombs. Even if you wash them in the washing machine, that is just a way to release microplastics into the world and they will eventually degrade and break apart anyway. Natural loofahs should be considered a torture device. My cat's claws are more gentle on the skin. I refuse to believe anyone can stand actually rubbing that onto their skin every day. The shower gloves start smelling weird really fast, should probably be washed after every shower meaning you would need a minimum of 3-4 different pairs depending on how fast you can wash and dry them, they don't lather properly and I couldn't notice a hygiene increase, actually left feeling dirtier than washing with just my hands. The people who actually need to scrub their skin are blue collar workers, doctors and anyone working with the sickly, bodily fluids, chemicals or actual dirt and mud. The people who swear by the loofah or the sponge are usually impeccably clean city people who only get muddy once a month when it rains. It just feels like a ruse to get people to spend more, buy more and waste more products when they don't need it. I do own an exfoliating sponge that I sparingly use and it's an okay product. I still enjoy using my hands much more and everyone is entitled to their own way of cleaning themselves, as long as they actually do. Where I draw the line is when people start shaming others for not using these products and basically calling us dirty sewage monsters when it really isn't the case. As long as you use water and soap, you will come out cleaner than you went into the shower. Striving to be the perfect clean entity is weird and damaging to your skin in the long run. submitted by /u/cchihaialexs to r/unpopularopinion [link] [comments]

•I've been seeing a lot of discourse online about washclothes and hygiene •I see a lot of people say you CAN'T get clean without exfoliating so you NEED a washcloth •I also see a lot of people say you aren't a dish, your hands are fine and will clean you This is MY perspective and experience, feel free to add your experiences or add to the discussion •At my partner's place they only have loofahs which just sit there collecting bacteria (an ideal environment for it) and they’re not even my personal loofahs so when I shower there I just use my hands to clean myself any smells sebum or oil come off just fine with regular soap when I lather it into my skin and I come out unquestionably clean You don’t actually need a washcloth to get clean just like you don’t need a sponge to remove oil from a dish (assuming nothing is caked on and hard, I've had to do this while camping) a sponge works better but if you lather up a dish with soap and scrub it in with your hands it absolutely works, you're definitely clean after •At my own home, unless I am speeding to get out, I use a washcloth, it cleans you better and exfoliates you better, especially overtime but that doesn't mean not using one leaves you dirty, you're just not cleaned as WELL I have seen people claim to not bother showering without a washcloth or luffa cause you "aren't clean and will still smell bad" which is absurd to me, most of the time you don't know how someone cleans themselves, only if they DON'T clean themselves and those people have much bigger problems than washcloth/no washcloth I see the dirty dish example often and like I find it lacks critical thinking cause the soap will remove the grease and bacteria if lathered in with hands but a sponge (so a washcloth on a body) will help scrub things off much easier •But also your cleaning utensils need to be cleaned, so washing your luffa or washcloth (that's why I prefer washcloths, so easy to wash I hang them up to dry after use, and wash them every few uses) Id rather wash dishes with my hands than an absolutely filthy sponge, most people who use luffas don't clean them •And sometimes your body doesn't need things to be scrubbed off "better" sometimes all you need to do is lather up, rinse off and get out, especially if you shower a lot I hope this perspective of mine is nuanced cause whenever I see this argument there's NOOOONE TLDR: Your hands are not dirty!!! You can clean with your hands!! But they aren't very good at removing excess dead skin or other things that may be "caked on" so washclothes are also fantastic to use regularly! but if you don't have one available you'll still be clean! There is still a point to showering and I clearly have a grudge against luffas submitted by /u/Hot_Accident_3817 to r/hygiene [link] [comments]

I’m looking to transition to natural sponges for dishes and in place of a plastic loofah for bath time. Currently don’t use one but I want to teach my daughter to use one and don’t want to use plastic. These days even natural seeming things have plastic in them and wanted to see if anyone here has any good brand recommendations ? submitted by /u/mysterytome120 to r/moderatelygranolamoms [link] [comments]

ive been using dried loofah plants as my dish sponges for over a year or so now and im curious on how i should go about disposing of it. it seems counterintuitive to just chuck it in the trash so i have just been holding onto them for the time being. any suggestions? submitted by /u/automatedmilkshake to r/ZeroWaste [link] [comments]

I have so much grime when I'm showering. I use dove unscented soap, hot water and a salux towel I got from Marshalls. I soap up and scrub multiple times but when I scratch, the grime still collects under my nails. It just never feel clean enough. What can I do? Please help 😭 Ok I'm thinking maybe it's the hard water? So far: Exfoliate with loofahs, scrubs, bath sponges and towels but not too much. Use a different soap, maybe with glycolic acid. Some mixed responses here. Some say that I should just leave it be because it's skin I'm scratching off and others say I need to exfoliate because it's dead skin. That one suggestion: dawn dish soap 💀 Updates! Not sure if it's too soon to say anything but.... Idk So, I tried the dr.bronners Castile unscented soap and used it for the last 3 showers and moisturized. Unfortunately, that did not work 😞 It's still there but now I'm just dry-er I still haven't tried the exfoliating mitts because they weren't at my local Safeway and I don't have enough in my cart on Amazon- submitted by /u/Iam_confusedd to r/hygiene [link] [comments]

My husband and his family are, in my opinion, unhygienic in many ways. However, they don’t appear so to people who don’t witness their cleaning habits. I think it has a lot to do with their obsessive frugality (they use the tiniest amount of everything to preserve it). Their hygiene habits and household cleaning habits make me cringe, but if you saw them in real life, they appear clean and well put together. Here are the things that they do that I struggle with: My husband’s family will use the same dish sponge for years. And while I don’t think that in and of itself is that bad if they ran it through the dishwasher every now and again— they don’t clean their old sponge. They think since it’s meant to “clean” it must always be clean. What I think used to be a blue sponge is a dark olive-brown and falling apart. My MIL will fill up the sink, use the tiniest amount of soap (not enough to create any suds/ literally a dime size) and use that for the entire day to clean the dishes from breakfast/lunch/dinner. The water will get murky brown and start to smell, but she will still use it and think the dishes are clean afterwards, and then use that same water to wipe the counters. She’ll even sometimes just wipe a plate with an old rag and put it away if there was only dry food on the plate. They rarely use the dishwasher, if ever. And if they do, they have never cleaned their dishwasher and it smells foul. All of their dishes, cups, silverware, pots and pans strongly smell like wet dog. To the point where I bring my own silverware to eat with when I visit them. Their house has this lingering musty smell that is tough to get used to. This truly may be nothing, but given their cleaning habits with everything else, I think there may be more to it. THEY RARELY WASH THEIR HANDS. And when they do wash their hands, they do it for like 2-3 seconds. My MIL will prepare food, LICK HER FINGERS, and continue making food without washing her hands. She even once tried popping a zit on my husband and then resumed cooking without washing her hands 🤢 She is the one of the reason why I can’t trust homemade food at other people’s houses anymore. My husband has been using the same loofah for over a year now. He has acne all over his entire body (arms, legs, back, stomach, literally everywhere), and I keep telling him he needs to throw out his loofah, but he doesn’t want to buy a new one. I threw out his old one and replaced it before but he got upset with me because it was an “unnecessary cost”. My husband will use the same towel forever, and often uses my towel, unless I take the initiative and change it out for him. He just grabs whatever towel he sees. When my husband brushes his teeth, it’s only for a handful of seconds and he NEVER brushes his tongue. I will credit him though that he does sometimes floss. But I struggle to kiss him because his breath smells awful and his tongue is always this brownish white because he won’t brush it. This is just some of the stuff that I can think of at this moment (because I dealt with all of the above this past weekend) but overall, I just don’t think they’re being hygienic enough. Both my husband and his parents go through the motions of being clean (they still shower, do the dishes everyday, house is relatively organized, etc.), but they don’t actually clean anything. In fact, I sometimes feel like they make things more unhygienic. I’m willing to accept that I may be overreacting, as I am really adamant about things being disinfected to be considered clean. I have lightened up a bit since switching my cleaning supplies to all natural & refillable products rather than harsh chemicals. But my level of cleanliness has even caused some rifts between my MIL and me because she thinks I’m over the top with my cleaning. She has even said “I’ve done xyz this way my whole life and my kids and I all turned out fine.” I’m sure there’s a middle ground somewhere in all of this, but am I overreacting to their lack of cleanliness? EDIT I was not expecting this post to blow up! Furthermore, I was certainly expecting people to tell me that I AM overreacting, considering I’ve been told by him and his family that that’s exactly what I am doing. It is so validating to know that this is actually as disgusting as I initially thought!! Oddly enough, this makes me so happy to know that I am not the crazy one, since that’s how I’ve been made to feel. To clear a few things up though regarding my husband and his family: My husband and I are relatively young and have only been married for 6 months (together for 3 years prior). His parents almost always came to our place but very recently, we decided to travel to stay with them for a weekend, which is why I needed to vent. They live two hours away and they usually come to us. We’ve been to their place before, but only for one night, a dinner, or a holiday. My husband and I nor his family are struggling financially. In fact, his family is likely in a better position than most, but they attribute their financial success to their frugality. My husband’s mother’s parents grew up during the great depression and became extremely frugal because of this. My in-laws and husband APPEAR to be very clean and tidy. If you were to meet them, you would NEVER suspect that they were this unhygienic. Their house is rarely, if ever, cluttered. The issue is how they go about cleaning which upsets me, to which I’ve been told I’m overreacting to. They are otherwise great people, so I figured this was something I could get over. My husband does not smell bad (usually) and still uses body soap and deodorant, but he uses a loofah he’s had since college and never washes (until I replaced it) and whatever towel he can get his hands on and will never change his towel until I do it for him. He’s an incredibly kind and attractive man, and these issues were things I thought I could fix initially, but then slowly was convinced by him that I was overreacting to. Furthermore, he’s out my league looks-wise, so I think I convinced myself that he’s the best I can do and I should be grateful to have someone as loving and attractive as him. But lately I have found that I am almost repulsed by him, and yet am told that it’s a “me” problem. submitted by /u/Sad_But_ok619 to r/AmIOverreacting [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/nvosky to r/ZeroWaste [link] [comments]

Thank you 🙏 submitted by /u/trashbay to r/ZeroWaste [link] [comments]

Ever notice how expensive plumbers are? There’s a reason for that. Cheap labor isn’t skilled, and skilled labor isn’t cheap. They’re worth it. Let me tell you about one of my scars that constantly reminds me of this fact. I was barely eighteen, and my weirdo friends and I had just rented a city block of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. 26,800 square feet of the most decrepit real estate in the industrial ghetto. It was an old, ugly, brick monstrosity that had a style all its own. We loved it. We were also young, inept, and dangerously naive. The last thing the landlord did after I signed my life away was point at a hatch just inside the front door and say “that’s where the main water valve is” as he jogged, giggling, to his car and got out of there as fast as possible. The building had sat empty for well over a year, inhabited by a dozen homeless people who were burning barrels of trash for heat and using every nook and cranny as a toilet. Don’t worry, they had used the toilets too. There were several of them scattered around the south end of the building across several floors. Every last one was a moldy heap of dried shit layered over a foot high above the seatless rim. How the fuck do you even DO that? I cannot imagine the thought process that leads someone to look at a toilet, with no water, no hope, and a bowl already full of a dozen other people’s shit and say “yeah, there’s room, I can do this”. I don’t know who you are, freakshow-champion-vaulting-shitter, but cheers to you mate. I also knew that I would see you in hell before I was the one to clean those motherfucking toilets. I grew up in farm country and I’ve mucked stalls with the best of ‘em. I’ve experienced the warm joy of having a deluge of cow shit sprayed down my back in a milking parlor. I’ve cleaned plenty of toilets before, but this was a whole new level of shitpocalypse. I don’t believe there’s any job that’s “beneath” me. But there was no way in hell I was going to clean those. If I had to handle it myself, I’d just bag and tag those fuckers and toss them wholesale in a dumpster. But I knew what it cost to replace one, and I had to find a cheaper way. We had already run all the homeless guys out, so I had to do a little looking. It took perhaps five minutes. I found a little man in his 40’s sitting under the back loading dock. He was literally in his 40’s, he had a tiny fort of empty 40-oz beer bottles that he had used to wall off the two open sides. “Wanna make a couple bucks?” I asked, as I knelt down and caught a glimpse inside. If he wanted privacy he shouldn’t have built a glass house. “For...uh…. what?” he said cautiously. I imagine his mind was going to dangerous and disgusting places already, but he certainly wasn’t expecting what I was about to offer. “The toilets inside, I need someone to clean them. You want the job?” “What’s it pay?”, he said. I thought for a moment, I tried to imagine what it would take to compel me to undertake such a task. Tyvek biohazard 5-layer pressurized full-body suit with a battery powered ventilator, double nitrile gloves, layers of tape sealing, booties, boots, one of those big yellow city vacuum trucks they use for cleaning out storm drains, 500 gallons of bleach, 50 gallons of quaternary cleaner, fifty-thousand dollars in my pocket, a bottle of The Balvenie, and a nymphomaniac midget to aid in my recovery from the mental trauma. “I’ll give you a hundred bucks.” “Each.” You little motherfu- “Sure, deal. When can you-” he was already moving and bounding through the loading dock door before I was even standing up. He walked through the back door, straight through the entire building, and right out the front door without saying a word or slowing down. He foraged perhaps 20 feet into the empty lot across the street and came back seconds later with an empty coffee can. He marched directly into the first bathroom, just off the lobby in the corner of the stairs and with no gloves, no mask, no hesitation, and no fear used that rusty old coffee can to get a big scoop of dried human shit and carried it across the street into the field. I tried very hard to just keep lunch where it was intended, standing well away, and upwind as much as possible. I told him to holler at me when he was done and made sure to stay well to the other end of the building for the next few hours. I had to get this man some water, he was going to need it. I enlisted the help of a couple of the guys, we stationed one man on each floor; we had a foolproof plan. We were going to open a faucet in a sink or something, on each floor. Then I would crack the main valve and slowly fill the system with water. Once the air had all vented out and the water was running smooth and clear, each person on each floor would close their valve and we’d be set. Easy, simple. I got this. I opened the old wooden hatch inside the front door. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but a 2 foot wide hole, deep enough to stand waist deep in…...that wasn’t it. Deep, down inside, about a foot off the bottom, was a pair of valves with a meter in the middle. The pipe was massive. I was used to living in a house, with a main water feed that was perhaps an inch in diameter at most, usually ¾ inch. This fucker was as thick as my arm. I hadn’t yet learned that the building was originally a brewery, a century ago. I gently, slowly, opened the outer valve, upstream of the meter. It clicked a couple times, but nothing scary happened. I opened it slowly, turn by turn, until it gave me enough resistance to know I was all the way there. “Everyone ready?!” I yelled up the stairs. Several shouts came back, it was time. It was also rigidly stuck. I turned it gently; it didn’t budge. I tried harder, and the valve made it quite clear that my 130lb intellectual frame simply didn’t have enough lead in my ass to make this happen. So I hollered for Mikey. Mikey, well...he’s a big sumbitch, and that’s exactly the kind of guy I needed at that moment. I showed him what was going on, he laughed at me, and hopped down in the hole. It held on his first attempt so he tried again with two hands. I told him to hang on a second and I was going to let everyone know it was finally time, as we’d been screwing around for several minutes to get to this stage. I walked over to the stairs and gave a shout. Several bored and mildly irritated guys hollered back. “Go for it,” I told him. And he did. Mike gave a grunt, the valve gave a snap, and he started cranking for Jesus. We heard the water flow in the pipes, the meter made a tikatikatika sound and we just heard the quiet rushing of water for several seconds. We thought everything was working just fine. That’s when the screaming started. A lot of screaming. From several people, on several floors, all at once. The unintelligible cacophony was immediately understood and I shouted at Mikey to close the valve. He did, but not before the waterfall started to descend the staircase. It’s like seeing your teacher at the grocery store dressed in leggings and a t-shirt. It’s something you’re totally familiar with, absolutely normal, and yet it just fucks with your head. I’m fine with water. I live in Michigan, water is what we do. I’ve seen lakes, rivers, creeks, and even a waterfall or two. Stairs, groovy, seen tons of ‘em. I can go up, down, I’m even ok with the spiral ones. Being a man of grace and poise I have even accomplished the rare and difficult trick of falling up the stairs. Stairs and I, we go way back. But this was the only time I’d ever seen a waterfall cascading down a staircase. That…..that’s fucked up, man. I was not in any manner prepared for the sheer volume of water that came down the stairs. It was easily in the hundreds of gallons. It filled the valve hole, overran it, and poured out onto the sidewalk. It’s ok, it’s just a broken pipe, I can do this. I can fix this. I got this. So we went to the hardware store, and I figured it out. Copper was the fancy stuff, that shit’s expensive. Ok, so that’s out. This white stuff though, PVC, this is cheap. We can afford this. I had a long talk with the sales dude and he taught me everything he knew about how to do plumbing with PVC pipe. It took about five minutes. I got a pile of pipe and fittings, a can of glue, and all I needed was a tape measure and a hacksaw and I already had both of those. We’re set. We’ll have working water in a couple hours. “Fuckin’ plumbers, what do they know. This isn’t that hard. I’m a goddamn genius of plumbing.” I thought to myself. The plumbing system for the building was super simple. The feed came into a bathroom on the ground floor, then passed by into the White Room just behind it. That’s where the one and only water heater was, a fifty-gallon contraption that may have been there since Vietnam and made for the only part of the job I was scared of. Lighting the pilot on a water heater just puckers my ass and always has. But I’m a rugged man, a manly man, and I can light a water heater, dammit. The water heater twin pipes (because now we have hot water!) launched vertically up through the ceiling to the second floor. They just pass on through to the third so that’s easy. On three I had my apartment, kitchen sink, toilet, bathroom sink, shower, done. It wasn’t everything in the building, but it was enough to get started and establish basic life support. Also….I’d definitely run out of pipe by then, so it would have to do for now. Sure, all the pipe was exposed, just anchored to the brick wall. It may have looked like it was done by a one-armed blindfolded twelve year old with ADHD while cranked out on meth. But it was done, and I did it. I was radiantly proud of myself. Fuckin’ plumbers, what do they know. We slowly turned on the water, and only had one leak. There was a spot where the plastic PVC pipe had to thread into the metal water heater and it leaked like hell. Clearly I hadn’t gotten it tight enough. But now that it was all glued together, I can’t turn the pipe. Ok…….cut the pipe with a hacksaw, then turn it. Glue in a coupling and it’s all back together a few minutes later. Turn the water back on…...and it leaks even worse, what the fuck. Ok, cut it apart again, this time we make a whole new end (because it was getting short now), put it all back together, bring it up slowly…..no leaks! SUCCESS! It worked great, and I was thrilled. The stinking masses were thrilled too; finally we could have real showers! The warm glow of success lasted maybe two whole hours. But at least that was long enough to let Shea finish the toilets, and for that we were all thankful. I gave the little fucker a hundred-dollar-bill every time he started hollering and proudly showcased a clean toilet. By the end of the day he’d made five-hundred bucks, and I never told him that it’s a damn good thing we didn’t have six toilets. I had about forty bucks left to my name. After he was done we forced him to go get a “clean”-er change of clothes and take a shower upstairs. He looked like the floor of a dairy barn that needed mucking. He didn’t need a washcloth, he needed a squeegee and a pressure washer. He came down looking like a new man. Right about then was when the fountain started in the White Room. The cold water line just launched right the fuck off the top of the water heater, leaving the fitting still inside. I was a floor above it and heard something, followed by a lot of yelling. We got the water turned off and started fixing it... again. Thankfully, the White Room was empty except for the water heater off in the corner. It was about the size of a two-car garage, with brick walls painted stark white, and a floor drain in the middle of the room. The mess wasn’t a big deal to clean up. The good news was that we had enough parts to fix it. The bad news is, we didn’t have enough parts to fix it properly. So now we only had water to one toilet, and the White Room. The only running water in the building was the water heater itself, the lavatory sink for the bathroom next to it, and that one toilet. We had no money for more parts, and it was Saturday night. Even if we did have money for the parts we needed, nothing would be open for days. But, we had a garden sprinkler. One of those with the arched bar about a foot-and-a-half long that has a row of holes in it. They spray a fan of little streams that sways back and forth. We found it in one of the many random piles of debris left by a century of previous tenants, complete with about twenty feet of only slightly crusty garden hose. This was a wonderful discovery, because we quickly realized that the only hot water source we had in the building was the hose spigot on the bottom of the water heater. With a bit of nylon construction twine we tied the sprinkler vertically to the steel support column in the middle of the White Room, at about five feet off the floor. The hose ran down and across the room to the water heater, which was now cranked up to somewhere between Tea Kettle and Saturn-V. We could all get showers! But we only had about ten minutes of hot water, with no temperature control, and it came from a sprinkler. The solution was simple. We all got naked. There comes a point when working together that you can all get so filthy and everyone stinks so bad that you just don’t give a fuck anymore. Modesty goes right out the window and nobody cares about dignity at all. Everyone stripped down right there and stood in a circle around the sprinkler. We opened the valve on the water heater and the sprinkler cracked to life, spraying a blast of water hot enough to fill the upper half of the room with steam in the first couple minutes. We walked, slowly, around the pole like some strange naked pagen cleansing ritual and quickly worked out a system. You adjust the temperature by how close you stand to the sprinkler. You stand there, spin around a couple times to get wet, and as you step out of the water the person ahead of you hands you the bottle of dish soap - it’s what we had. Then the next person gets the sprinkler, while you soap up with a healthy handful of Palmolive For Pots And Pans, and once they step out of the water, you pass it to them. You scrub like hell, everywhere you can, as you walk around the circle. No sponge, no washcloths, and this ain’t a loofah kind of place. You use your fingertips like God intended, and try to scrub as much crud as you can. Eventually, right around the time you’re freezing to death, about half dry/half crusty with soap, you get to the sprinkler again and rinse as much as you can. If you need, repeat the cycle. With this system, twenty-three highly motivated people can have a hot shower that’s reasonably decent before the tank goes completely cold in about nine or ten minutes. If you just use the hose, and no sprinkler, the water goes cold in about three minutes and then you’re fucked. It worked surprisingly well, and we all got some hilarious memories from the week of sprinkler showers. There’s no way you can endure such a thing and not get a few laughs out of it. I would not recommend this as a typical corporate team building exercise in today’s world, however. It took a week to be able to get a couple bucks for plumbing supplies, but I pulled it off eventually. I fixed the water heater connection, and even built a proper shower in the white room and one on the second floor as well. With three seperate showers we were now living in luxury. We had hot and cold running water to the kitchen, and life was awesome. One nice aspect of abject poverty is that you quickly learn to appreciate the little things. Hot and cold running water that is clean and safe to drink is pretty damn awesome, and the overwhelming majority of people in America take this for granted every day. After a week or two, we did as well. Fuckin plumber’s, what do they know. It was a beautiful June morning as dawn broke over the city. My gigantic arched-top windows in what was now my third-floor apartment were four feet wide and twelve feet high. They all faced south and west. With the sun itself blocked, dawn appeared as a wash of light crawling down from the west into the Grand River Valley and flooding the world with hope. I crawled down half-awake from my pallet-rack and plywood bed and stepped into the shower. I turned on the water and in my zen state eased into consciousness with wonderful hot water and a bottle of some random green Amway body wash that my girlfriend’s parents had given me. All was good in my world. Then...I woke up, very cold, in an awkward position laying on the tile floor of my single-stall shower. There was a lot of blood everywhere. The water was spraying in a single giant stream like from a garden hose, straight from a hole in the wall where the shower head had been a moment ago. I hurt in places you don’t even know you own, and I was somewhere between scared as hell and pissed right the fuck off. I wasn’t sure whether to cry or to kill the next motherfucker I saw with a clawhammer. Either option felt like a perfectly acceptable choice at that moment. I managed, with no small amount of difficulty, to stand up. I turned off the water, stepped out of the shower, and looked in the mirror. I looked like the drippings from a drunken fuck. I was covered head-to-toe in goosebumps and way too much blood to be only mildly concerned. The shower looked like a Manson Family Christmas Special, and I had no idea just what the fuck was going on. It took me a while to piece it together, but as near as I could figure out, this is what had happened. The shower head had exploded off the wall when the fitting broke where it turned horizontal from coming up the wall. The old metal shower head smacked me in the forehead, and it was either that, or when the back of my head hit the wall when I fell down, that knocked me out. I was bleeding from both sides, so it’s anyone’s guess on the details. Fuckin’ Plumbers, what do they know? They know that you have to use purple fucking primer when you glue PVC pipe together. Because the glue is a solvent, and while it can and does bond directly to the pipe, the joint won’t last and can pop apart after a while if you don’t use the purple primer to etch the smooth surface first to give the glue something to grab on to. They know that you have to use teflon tape and pipe dope on threaded fittings, and which ones to use each for. They know a thousand things that I didn’t. It turns out that there’s a lot more to being a plumber than just knowing that shit flows downhill, payday’s on Friday, and “don’t chew your fingernails.” It took me a week’s work, and another few hundred bucks, to tear apart the whole plumbing system and rebuild everything - this time with primer on all the joints before I glued them. Still, none of it was anywhere near code, but it worked, and it got us through a couple years until we could get the experienced help that we needed. I still have that scar on my forehead. It serves as my daily reminder that “Skilled Labor Isn’t Cheap, and Cheap Labor Isn’t Skilled”. Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters, HVAC Techs, and all of the other skilled trades are far too often looked down upon in our society as idiots that didn’t go to college. I want you to remember that the next time you’re sitting there missing some manner of fundamental service in your life. When the heat won’t work, you’re sitting in the dark, or you’re standing there ankle deep in shit. They’re expensive, because it’s a hard job that pays well, you can’t do it, and they’re a hell of a lot smarter than you gave them credit for. They’re worth it. submitted by /u/ChrisBoden to r/Plumbing [link] [comments]