Eco-Friendly and Minimalist Things I Do That People Might Find Kind of Weird

This is an odd title for a post, but it basically sums up all the things I do that people (who don’t know me) might find kind of weird.

For the record, I am NOT doing any of the following to be frugal — I’m doing it more for eco-friendly/green reasons, or because I prefer it.

The saving money part, is just a nice bonus.

I DON’T USE LAUNDRY DETERGENT 99% OF THE TIME

Frankly I think the last time I used laundry detergent was on some oily kitchen towels. Otherwise, I don’t bother using laundry detergent. Just a warm wash (even cold), gets all the dirt out.

I was skeptical when I first tried it, but it works like a charm.

If I feel like I need an extra boost to clean and soften my laundry, I throw in a cup of white vinegar just before the last rinse cycle.

This goes without saying that I also don’t use commercial fabric softener.

I only use detergent when we wash the cloth diapers for the baby, super greasy or dirty towels that go in, and anything that NEEDS detergent.

In fact, cloth diaper tags even tell you: Don’t go crazy with the detergent. Use a moderate amount.

I use soap nuts, which are THE BEST things to really scrub out stains of all kinds. They worked great on my cloth diapers, and didn’t leave a fragrance or a gross film on them which made the diapers super absorbent and soft.

Soap nuts are natural, biodegradeable soap berries from a tree as well.

I DON’T USE DRYER SHEETS TO REMOVE STATIC OR TO SOFTEN MY CLOTHES

Did you know that they use animal fat to coat those things?

Or at least, some brands do.

So the next time you take your clothes out of your dryer, give them a sniff to see if you can smell beef tallow (fat) on them.

Just kidding.

Still, it kind of grossed me out to realize that (THANKS vegans!….)

I use wool dryer balls instead! And they work great, they are a natural fabric softener, they cut down on drying time, it’s amazing.

I DON’T USE TOOTHPASTE

I am not sure if I ever mentioned this, but I don’t.

I use a bit of baking soda on my toothbrush, and if I want some fresh-mouth feel, a drop of peppermint oil.

I haven’t for the past 5 years, and my dentist has actually recently complimented me on how well my teeth looked. I don’t spit out blood when they clean my teeth any longer.

I tried using a dab of toothpaste a while ago, and it absolutely dried out my mouth to the point where I felt like I had cottonmouth. Awful.

I actually do more than just brush my teeth as well. I floss, and I also use interdental brushes to massage my gums, and I have had stellar dentist checkups ever since.

I DON’T SLEEP ON A REGULAR BED

A Japanese futon on the floor is way more comfortable to me than a bed. (This is where I bought )

I tried sleeping on just 2 blankets on a floor (out of desperation because I was traveling and the bed was awful), but it was too hard for me. I need a futon.

I tried sleeping on a bed after I got used to the futon, and I couldn’t adjust. It was too soft and bouncy in the middle.

I felt like my whole body sank down, and my back curved to the point where I felt very uncomfortable.

Similarly, if I sleep on a hard bed, I can feel the springs.

Give me an on the floor, any time!

P.S. You can buy an , free shipping worldwide with a few country restrictions, or here if you want an all-cotton one made in the U.S. instead.

I don’t have a fear of falling off, rolling off the bed, being pushed off the bed, monsters hiding under my bed, or having to carry this massive mattress, boxspring, headboard and bed frame everywhere I go.

WE CLOTH DIAPERED BABY BUN

People give me the weirdest looks when I say this.

I love cloth diapering him and I never have to worry about running out of diapers, nor do I feel terrible about having to change him a second time RIGHT AFTER I changed him because he pooed.

If I used disposables, I’d feel psychologically a little bit mad that he pooed on a perfectly clean, fresh diaper when he could have done it before on the dirty one, or as I was changing him…

Stupid, but true.

I also just really like cloth diapering. I don’t think it’s any more or less disgusting than not cloth diapering him, and he has even taken to pretending to diaper his toys.

I DON’T USE ANYTHING BUT SOAP, BAKING SODA, WHITE VINEGAR, AND WATER TO CLEAN

I don’t buy those commercial cleaners to clean anything.

White vinegar is a great product that disinfects and lets you clean anything pretty easily. It even works really well in dishwashers to get water stains out (no need for fancy chemicals, just throw in a little vinegar with the soap you use).

There are plenty of ways to use it once you do a little Googling on the internet.