Proposals for more solutions in the house

Use white vinegar and optionally add a few drops of essential oil.

For taps as shiny as new

Keep your used lemon halves in the freezer for this! Sprinkle some baking soda on a tap that has hard water stains, and then rub it with a used half lemon. Baking soda reacts with citric acid from the lemon, getting rid of any calc/lime deposits. Baking soda is also slightly abrasive, but not so much that it will damage your tap. After rubbing, compost the lemon, clean the tap with water and shine it dry with a cotton cloth. If you don’t have a lemon half handy, worry not! An alternative is to rub it with a piece of cotton cloth moistened with some vinegar.

Getting rid of yellow sweat stains

These are a nightmare, especially on white shirts. The trick is to wet the stain with water and gently massage with a decent amount of baking soda. Let it sit for at least an hour, and then wash as usual. Not only does this get rid of yellow stains, but the baking soda neutralises smells.

When starting a Zero Waste journey, one may feel overwhelmed by all those perfect Pinterest photos, Instagram accounts and blogs. Suddenly our Tupperware is not enough, our water bottles must be metal or beautifully designed glass ones, every piece of plastic must be removed from our house, etc. But buying a new item Tara Golubić

just because it looks pretty is missing a core message of the Zero Waste movement. You should always try to use things you already own, or maybe find a new purpose for them, and avoid sending perfectly good items to the landfill.

If you have already started the journey, here are a few ideas for making your home as Zero Waste as possible:

Living room

• Choose your furniture wisely – pick classic shapes and materials that will last, so you don’t have to replace them every few years according to trends. Dark materials are often coloured with toxic dyes, so try to choose natural (cotton, hemp) materials that are light in colour, or not coloured at all. The same goes for decoration: try to avoid cheap plastic, and go for natural decoration (e.g. dried flowers, wood,).

Recycling what you already have and making decorations out of it is also a good idea. • Everybody loves a sweetsmelling place. However, scented candles often contain artificial scent and colouring, and evaporating paraffin is not something we should inhale. A good substitute would be oil lamps (essential oils) or making your own water-based scent (lemon, oranges). • If possible, avoid carpets and curtains. The materials from which they are made often contain micro-plastic, and they are also a collection place for dust. • The living room is often a place for snacking in front of the TV. Some Zero Waste snacks include homemade popcorn, nuts (peanuts, almonds), dried fruit/vegetables, homemade cakes and desserts, homemade hot chocolate (made of cocoa, plant-based milk and honey).

Kitchen

biodegradable one. There is also the option to buy a hard dish soap in a block so you don’t have to worry about plastic waste after using it. • If you use a liquid soap, try to reuse the same container: buy refillable soap.

• Use a natural-fibre sponge instead of a plastic one. They can be made of coconut fibres, luffa (loofah), linen or cotton. Metal ones are also recyclable but are hard to wash, get dirty very easily and can damage your dishes. • Use glass containers to store your food (if possible). Not only are they better for keeping your food fresh (and plastic free), they are also convenient because you can easily see how much food is left. For lunch, use a Tupperware if you have it, or invest in a high-quality metal container which will last you for a lifetime. • Upcycle your old textiles for cleaning/drying dishes, and/or make bags for fruit and vegetables.

Bathroom

• Be mindful about washing your clothes.

Try not to wash them too often – not only is the textile damaged, but it also uses a lot of water and energy. Your clothes also like to hang out for a while now and then! Choose biodegradable detergent (it can be bought in paper packaging) or even better – see if there is a refill option nearby. If you feel really motivated, you can make your own out of nuts (chestnut). See the Cleaning DIY chapter for recipes.

• Use soap blocks instead of liquid for washing hands. They are really cheap, last a long time and can be found in any shop. (Note: keep in mind they can be artificially coloured and scented, so try to avoid these).

• Upcycle your old textiles or towels into bathroom rugs or makeup removal pads.