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Five things to "Waste" in the Name of Safety

Those trying to live a waste-free lifestyle do not want to throw away things that seem perfectly usable, but when it comes to being safe, there are some things that need to be replaced periodically due to potential hazards or hidden dangers. Here's a list of some of those things, how often they need to be replaced, and why:

1. Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle helmets should be replaced after three to eight years, depending on usage and environmental conditions. Your helmet may look fine, but microscopic deterioration of the foam occurs over time and with certain uses, making it potentially less protective in an bicycle accident. 

I know it's tough, but if you own a regular, commercial bicycle helmet, it needs to be thrown into the regular garbage within eight years of use; it's not likely to be something that can be recycled. There are some alternative bicycle helmets coming on the market now that may have different replacement schedules or may by recyclable.

2. Fire extinguishers

Household fire extinguishers should be replace every 12 years. The proper functioning of the extinguisher cannot be guaranteed for longer, despite the gauge saying that the extinguisher is full. To throw away a household fire extinguisher, pull out the pin and let it depressurize before disposing. I suspect that fire extinguishers are not considered to be recyclable even though they are metal.

I should say, there is some good news with fire extinguishers. You can actually buy one that is refillable if there is a business in your area that sells and refills fire extinguishers. These companies usually sell and refill fire extinguishers to other businesses, but may also provide services to the public.

3. Spare tires

Luckily, cars are changing so that this is not as much of an issue, but if you have a car with one of those small donut spare tires, you should replace it every ten years . Talk to your auto mechanic or tire shop about getting a new spare and having them dispose of your old one.

For vehicles that have the space, you can buy five full-sized tires and rotate them in a way that wears out all five evenly. Talk to your tire shop about this. Also as I mentioned before, new vehicles are changing. Auto/tire companies are eliminating spare tires by improving the design of tires, giving you more of an ability to drive on a punctured tire until you can get it replaced.

4. Health and Beauty Products

If you look on the label of your health and beauty products you may see a little symbol that looks like a jar and a lid with number on it like "12 months". This is how long your product is guaranteed to be fresh for once you open it. I say heed this warning; this is how long the preservative in the product is expected to be effective. It's often hard to detect when health and beauty products have started to become overrun with microbes, so don't take a chance and give yourself an infection.

5. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced sooner at six years. These devices simply lose their effectiveness after some time. The batteries should be properly disposed of and if the plastic has a recycle symbol, it may be recyclable.

Easy Plastic-Free Shower Curtain System

#ZeroWaste #BuyItForLife

Traditional shower curtains are made out of PVC, a plastic that has a lot of downsides. Some newer shower curtains are made out of PEVA or EVA, which is better, but still plastic. A good alternative is a cloth shower curtain that can be washed in the washing machine, but what about shower curtain rings?! 

Shower curtain rings are generally plastic and even non-plastic ones are designed for plastic shower curtains, not cloth shower curtains that have to be removed regularly for washing. It takes forever to remove and rehang a shower curtain on traditional shower curtain rings! That’s why I love shower hooks. But do you know what I love even more?! Double-sided shower hooks! That way, you can still have a decorative shower curtain on the outside. 

My decorative shower curtain is a very neutral linen one. I plan to have it for a long time. I imagine my towels will wear out before my shower curtain, so I’d rather play with color with my towels and leave the shower curtain neutral. Here's my set-up. We've been using it for four years now and it's still in great shape.

Sustainable Wardrobe, Part VII, Clothing Choice and Maintenance Strategies

#ZeroWaste #Minimalism #BuyItForLife

Color:
I tend to go with black for my cardigans and blazers, black for my socks/shoes, neutral colors for bottoms, and colorful for my tops. This strategy allows me to have fun without worrying about anything clashing. Everything goes together.

Layering: 
I wear very simple clothes so that it is easy to layer. I wear summer tops and bottoms in the winter by wearing one of my base layer underneath. If I need more warmth, I add a sweater or cardigan. I have thin, finger-less gloves for a little bit of warmth in and outside and then warmer gloves to go over the top on cold days outside. My dresses are a simple style that allow me to layer them with sweaters or a vest, for example

Washing:
I generally wear each clothing item I have at least twice before washing (except underwear, of course!). I keep track of this with a hanger system that I have: Every item has a specific spot in the closest based on item type and color (arranged by ROY G BIV). Clean clothes are hung with the hanger turned correctly. When I put away an item I wore that day back in the closet, I turn the hanger backwards. When I wear an item for the second time, I see that the hanger is backwards and throw it in the hamper, inside-out.

My hamper is a minimalist pop-up hamper that I line with a cotton canvas laundry bag. I don't have a lot of items or drying rack space, so I wash my clothes about twice per week. I pull the canvas laundry bag out of the hamper and take it downstairs to the washing machine. I don't sort my clothes; I wash darks and lights together in cool water on gentle cycle. Some items are washed inside lingerie bags. I've never had a problem with my clothes changing color from washing everything together. I think it is because I buy high quality items that don't bleed, wash with cool water, and use quality detergents. When my clothes are washed, I hang them on my drying racks.

Washing on gentle cycle in cool water, washing clothing inside-out, washing delicate items in lingerie bags, and air drying clothes on a drying rack makes them last longer. I sometimes do a deep clean of my clothes by adding diluted orange oil with disinfecting essential oils and/or washing on hot/regular cycle (depending on the item).

Mending/Stain Removal:
Learning proper mending and stain removal is important for making one's clothes last. I have a small mending kit that includes an array of small spools of thread in many colors, so I can always match the color of the item that I'm mending. My favorite stain removal products are diluted orange oil or Bac-Out. They both work so well, it's amazing.