Okay, so I finished with my A Week With No Lights Challenge and I’m on the path to finding more things I can do to save the environment!
So, a little background on this weeks ‘challenge’..
Plastic scrubbies are something that almost everyone uses these days. And I get it, I use them too! They are cute, you can choose what color you want, and they make the soap get all bubbly on the surface! But we go through more plastic bath scrubbies than we think!
Dermatologists recommend changing out your plastic scrubbies every few weeks! That’s a lot of plastic scrubbies we’re throwing away in our lifetimes! Not to mention that they are a breading ground for so many germs that it would make you queasy.. (Seriously, don’t look it up..)
Like I said before though, I have used these scrubbies all my life and I turned out pretty okay, right? That being said, I love crocheting and I wanted to challenge myself to make a homemade scrubby and use it for a week. (Although that week had turned into two weeks, which then turned into three, and so on..)
Onto crocheting I went to try to see if I could actually crochet a scrubby in the first place.. It wasn’t too hard to make the scrubby I have now. In fact, it was quite fun to make my scrubby and I ended up making a few afterwords to sell on my Etsy! (See link down below)
With the scrubby made, it was time to test it out..
After the first time of using it, I was honestly skeptical that it would actually work as a scrubby. Thankfully, I’m not one to quit that easy. I was so used to the constant bubbles that the plastic scrubby makes that I was half expecting the homemade one to do the same! (Silly me..) Instead, the homemade scrubby just soaked up all of the soap and left me scrubbing with nothing but yarn..
The second time I used it however, the soap actually foamed up a little more and I was able to use it almost like a ‘normal’ scrubby. Not only that, but I felt like I was getting a better clean with the crochet scrubby. The scrubby wasn’t just gliding across my body like the plastic one does, but instead it was actually scrubbing it! (You know, it’s job..)
After two-three weeks of using it now, it works and soaps up just like a ‘normal’ scrubby does! I actually prefer it over the plastic scrubbies now! I can throw it in the washer every once in a while to give it that nice clean feeling and then I go right back to using it!
Not only am I not throwing away plastic scrubbies month after month, but I’ll be saving money and the environment in the long run!
Crocheted scrubbies aren’t the only thing you can use to save the environment from plastic waste! Other thing you can use in place of plastic scrubbies are:
- Cloth Washcloths
- Sea Sponges
- Crocheted Scrubbies
- Bars of soap with covers over them
- Wooden brushes with bristles
- Etc.
What are YOU doing to save the environment today? Have you ever tried an alternative to plastic scrubbies? Comment below on what it was and how it worked!
As always; smile, have a great day, and remember to wash behind your ears. 😉
Read Also:
Why I Switched to Bamboo Toothbrushes, And Why I’m Never Going Back!
If you’re interested in getting a crochet scubby of your own for you to try (or you want to support me here on the homestead) check out my Etsy here!
Farm Girl Homesteading 
I crochet and knit my own dish cloths out of pure cotton. They can take longer to dry but hang them up out side in the sun or near your heater in winter as you would your towels at least I do to make sure my towels are dried. You can also make wipes. knit or crochet small squares and instead of toilet paper (for urination) you use thee. Then wash them. I also found changing to a menstrual cup saved me a huge amount over tampons or pads they also save the environment heaps. Face washers are also great as ‘scrubbies’ if you are not a knitter or crocheter.
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I’m actually currently working on some cotton washcloths to sell at a local craft fair this year! They are super soft and I love them. And I’m actually looking into ways to waste less on ‘that time of the month’. You’re right, switching to menstrual cups or reusable pads save both your money and the environment over time. Us humans waste so much, it’s great that so many people are starting to wake up and find reusable alternatives for everyday things.
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I found the cup a little tricky in the beginning so used a panty liner too just until I was really comfortable with how to ensure it was in place. I had a rubber one in the beginning but found when I bought my second(10years later) the silicon was so much eaiser to clean and use. It was softer and more flexible. It is coming full circle in a more current way. back to my grandparents era. Mind you they had so much less than any of us have today. I am so inspired by the coming generations that I feel if we plant our trees and grow gardens of food and flowers no matter if you just have a window or two where you can grow someting. Herbs or flowers or just greenery. Build homes with cross ventilation windows that open and let air in . Sigh Im on a rant..I feel when You are my age you will have been a positive influence on so many people.
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Lol, rant away! If nothing else, someone will be inspired by these comments and change their lives for the better as well! I too believe that if everyone could just focus a little more on saving the environment and planting trees and their own food/herbs and traded goods with neighbors, we wouldn’t have a lot of the problems we have today.. But alas, the governments wouldn’t have much control then would they? And they would probably do something to stop or tax our gardens.. (Or at least the US government would.)
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As bad as things are with the virus, I do feel that it may just make western countries realise that they should not have all their manufacturing off shore. I do totally agree with the control the governments have over us. Here in Australia we have federal state and local governments all wanting a slice of the pie of control. I really feel for you younger folk. So much harder in many ways for you. I love seeing so many of you breaking away from the conventions I was brought up with. You are amazing.
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I have only just been following your blog today, which I am enjoying reading.
I am hoping one day, (next year would be good if I can,) to save a deposit and buy a house. I then want to get back onto growing my own food, like I once did when I was in a house renting, except grow more than before. At the moment, I am in an apartment.
I have been wondering about using something alternative to the plastic scrubbies. I certainly don’t replace mine to the recommendation though. 😬 But I feel it is time to replace now and I certainly did not want another plastic one.
I like your crotchet versions and I shop via Etsy, so next pay day, I will be looking at ordering from you. Until then I shall use my flannels.
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Haha, I too am saving up for my own place so that I can start my OWN homesteading journey! (I’m currently living with my grandparents.) 😅 I’m am also just now figuring out how long it’s going to take to save for a down payment and closing costs.. Best of luck to you in your homestead search!
I wanted to find a better (more eco friendly) scrubby for me to use too. That’s when I found out about crochet scrubbies! I liked them because they were easy to make and close enough to ‘traditional’ scrubbies that it would be an easy transition to make when switching over. I have been using mine for a few months now and I absolutely love it! It took about a week to ‘break in’, but it’s works just as well as using any plastic scrubby, but it cleans better and it is nicer to your skin.
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I know personally I have had enough of the plastic scrubbies.
When I come to having my own place in my local area, I hope to find a townhouse with a medium size garden. Enough to grow my veggies and some fruit, while continuing what I do already to minimise my impact on the planet.
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I think that those are great goals for your future property! I myself hope to have enough space to grow food for myself, as well as for the community. I have a few gardens here where I live now, but it’s nowhere near what I wish I could have.
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You have good goals too and what I have been reading of your blog so far, you are doing great.
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Aww thanks! 😊
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Also, I’m sad to add that my poor little Etsy shop does not yet ship internationally.. 😟 It is an option that I was hoping to have added by now but I just don’t have the funds to be able to ship outside of the U.S. quite yet. I would still highly recommend finding a scrubby on Etsy however, as there are plenty of hard working small business owners that make great items, including scrubbies!
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I hadn’t looked closely at your shop to see if you did, or not. So thank you for letting me know. I shall look for one in the UK then. There is certainly as you say, plenty doing this sort of thing.
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