Zero Waste? When?

A difficult subject. I hate these garbage cans in the kitchen, they are hidden in the kitchen cabinet, still I hate them. To take out the trash every day, blaaa… Always lot of garbage. So I read through some topics and also my cousin is working as an environmental activist or something that. I thought I would manage that in no time, living without trash. Hahaha… It’s not easy. The hardest part is the weekly food shopping tour in the supermarket when somehow plastic comes to home, always.

I decided to begin with the way I clean things. I ordered 5 kg washing soda, 5 kg natron (sodium bicarbonate), 2 kg citric acid. All of them came in a plastic can. Why? That’s my mistake. I didn’t read it ordinary, as always. I made a research. I can have natron, citric acid refilled in the pharmacy, OK, and then I found an online shop, where I can order washing soda in a paper bag, ok. I would somehow reuse these plastic cans.

I wanted to begin with mixtures for washing clothes and replacing dishwasher tablets. These home appliances are fantastic. They are saving time. Housekeeping is simpler with them. But they also need the best (expensive) powders or tabs to do their job. But there is a downside. Somehow, at least for me, these things keep messing up the machines in the long term. I don’t want to spend time with cleaning these cleaning machines.

Take our washing machine for an example. I know I had to clean it at least once in a month, but thankfully it has been doing its job for eight years without major problems. One year ago it stopped with the code ‘clogged pump’. I thought it must be the usual, some coins or buttons or something else in the pump area. I did the usual procedure, found one of these glow-in-the-dark stars (not star, but moon), it was 5 cm, no idea how that thing got to the pump area. Whatever. Just one hour and I got it. It was out. But no. It still didn’t want to work. Code ‘clogged pump’, still. Google. Search. Dirty washing machine tube (residues of washing powder). Search. Husband. Found. Please take the washing machine in little pieces. He was very nice and did it just for me… What I’ve found there, in this tube, boaah. I asked him, maybe he wants to see that, too. But he didn’t. It was exciting. I cleaned it and works fine again. Since then I am just using washing soda and vinegar. From time to time I run a cleaning program. The smell it had while using washing powder is also gone.