My friends and I got into a debate about this on both the environmental and gross out factors.

I’m on the side of peeing in the shower. I see no problem with it on cleanliness since urine is basically sterile and I’m peeing on the drain, not spraying it all over the walls, and it’s all being washed down anyway. I also think it’s more environmentally friendly since I’m already using the water and am not wasting a flush.

Unfortunately, everyone else disagreed. With arguments running from “OMG EW!” to pointing out that by spending an extra 10 seconds peeing you’re probably wasting more water than flushing, it was clear that I wasn’t going to win the debate.

So what do you think? Do you pee in the shower? Why do you think it is/is not a good idea?

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There are plenty of smug wannabe hippies out there on the internet bragging that they only buy the organic produce in the supermarket and that everyone else is killing the environment and poisoning their children blah blah blah. The self-righteousness makes me want to slap them upside the head with a garden spade, so here’s some of the real truth about organic produce.

“When you buy food with a “USDA organic” label, do you know what you’re getting? Now is a good time to ask such a question, as the USDA just announced Monday it was putting 15 out of 30 federally accredited organic certifiers they audited on probation, allowing them 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation. At the heart of the audit for several certifiers were imported foods and ingredients from other countries, including China.”
- Alternet.org (August 2008)

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I’m still ‘Poo Free and loving it. Little by little, baking soda has also been sneaking it’s way into the other things I do in the bathroom.

1. Bath Soak – ~1/4 cup in the bath water (I know, I know, baths are a waste of water, but we all deserve an indulgence every once in a while.)
2. Shampoo Substitute – Duh
3. Exfoliant – Make a thick paste of baking soda and water for a gentle exfoliant. I like to use this below the belt before shaving to help prevent ingrown hairs.
4. Gargle – A weak baking soda solution is often a good remedy for food induced bad breath.
5. Toothpaste Substitute – Instead of paying extra for baking soda in your toothpaste, dip a damp toothbrush into a little baking soda and then brush to keep your teeth white. Just don’t forget to also use commercial toothpaste, because baking soda doesn’t fight cavities like fluoride does.
6. Drain De-clogger/De-oderizer – Put ~1/4 down the drain followed by white vinegar, wait until the fizzing stops and then pour in some boiling water.
7. Bathtub/Sink Scrub – Use like Comet on a damp spunge. For grout, mix a thick paste of baking soda and water.
8. Trash Can Deoderizer – Obviously changing the bag more often works, but sprinkling a little baking soda in the bottom of the can will help keep the smell down in between changes.
9. Shower Curtain Mildew Remover – Soak the offending curtain in a baking soda solution and then scrub like crazy.
10. Toilet Cleaner – Every time you leave a ‘deposit’, flush, and then sprinkle a little baking soda in and do a quick scrub with the toilet brush. Takes 30 seconds and keeps any odors or stains from happening. If there already is a stain, use about 1/2 cup of baking soda and let it sit before scrubbing.I’m sure the ‘experts’ could give you more uses, but some are a little more granola than I’m willing to go (like using it as deodorant.)

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No, this is not a post about my record breaking constipation.

I’ve been gradually trying reduce the chemicals in my life, and I took the leap to removing as many extra beauty products out of my routine as I could. Two weeks ago (two weeks and 2 days, actually) I decided to see if I could remove commercial shampoo and conditioner from my life.

I was quite hesitant to try it because my hair was so greasy as a teen that it looked like I hadn’t washed it hours after my shower. My hair is also ridiculously unmanageable. It’s half curly and half straight (no, not wavy, half of my hair is stick straight, the other half does spiral curls) and so far nothing has been able to tame it.

I do admit to not going completely cold turkey. Some of the more granola among us choose to just stop all treatments. I’ve been using a weak baking soda wash every other day or so and an occasional cider vinegar or beer rinse.

The results, thus far, have been wonderful. There’s usually a transition period where your hair looks a little gunky because your scalp is still overproducing oil, trying to make up for what gets stripped away when you shampoo. For most people it takes a few weeks to a few months to get past this stage. Mine was over in about three days. I’m not sure if it’s done anything about making my hair more manageable, but since I don’t have to wash my hair everyday anymore, it’s a lot less pouftastic on the second day.

I’m not sure if the savings are significant because I used to use a $.99 bottle of Suave anyway, but I’m using less water and I feel a little better each time I take another baby step towards going greener.

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There is no need to spend a ton of money on expensive, nasty smelling, caustic commercial cleaners in order to keep your pad clean. You can get the same results with environmentally friendly items you can pull out of your cabinets: white vinegar, baking soda and water.

The next time you finish off a bottle of commercial cleaner (it wouldn’t be frugal to just chuck it, after all) thoroughly rinse out the container and fill it with a solution of 1/4 parts white vinegar to 3/4 water. This can be used as an all purpose cleaner. More uses for white vinegar.

Baking soda is an effective deodorizer and scouring agent. It’s especially effective for tough scrubbing in the bathroom. More uses for baking soda.

You can also avoid wasting paper towels and commercial cloths by cutting up your old towels and t-shirts for rags and dusters. Leave the ‘cleaning systems’ at the store and remember that a clean dustrag and a good old-fashioned mopping will work just as well.

I admit I was skeptical the first time I tried cleaning with homemade cleaners. But after a few weeks of not needing gloves and a mask to clean, having a house that smelled clean and not like chemicals and having fantastic results, I won’t use anything else.

stock image from stockxchng

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A lot of urbanites are concerned about ‘going green.’ While preserving our environment is a worthy goal, organic goods and green services are often higher priced, forcing those of use with frugal intentions to choose between frugality and our sense of morality. This is never a good thing.

Luckily, there are many ‘green’ things you can do that either won’t cost you any money or will save you money, like conserving water. Even if you’re not paying for utilities or pay a flat fee, these are all good habits to get into.

• If you drink tap water, keep a pitcher full in the fridge. That way you’re not tempted to run the faucet to get the water cool.
• You can reuse the water used to boil pasta or vegetables. In fact, the vegetable water will contain vitamins leeched from the vegetables themselves.
• Turn the water off when you’re not directly using it. Turn it off while you brush your teeth, soap up your hands, or scrub that pan.
• Shorten your shower time. If you have a product that needs to soak in, do it first and let it sit while you finish the rest of your shower. Try turning off your shower while you shave various body parts.
• If you have a leaky faucet or runny toilet, get it fixed immediately. You’d be surprised how much water that little drip can waste.
• If you are replacing appliances, look for low water volume washers, toilets and high pressure showerheads.
• Don’t run a half-empty dishwasher or washing machine. If you have to run a small load in the washer, make sure you change the water settings to the appropriate level.
• Before you water any outdoor plants, check the weather. No sense watering a lawn if it’s going to rain for the next two days.
• Check your garden hose for holes and spigots and connections for leaks. Make sure you turn the faucet all the way off when you are done with your outdoor work.

These are just a few of the ways you can save water. With a little forethought, you can put a big dent in your water bill and save the environment and your finances at the same time.

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