6 Zero Waste Changes for Beginners (from a beginner) + Minimalism and Moving Boxes Recycling

Did you catch the hot wheel stuck to the wall? There was nothing there and the car wasn't sticky. Weird! The movers have packed up the remainder of our belongings and are sending 195 boxes to our new house. That number doesn't feel very minimalist. I have to imagine they put one or two things in a number of these boxes, but how can we still have so much stuff? Something feels amiss, but I won't know until I've unpacked. The amount of boxes they used made me wonder about the recycling process for the boxes and the best choices to make after we've unpacked.
Zero waste would be to reuse and share the boxes with others. We will certainly do that, and we will put some out for recycling. I talk about that a bit in the beginning of the video, then talk about 6 zero waste changes that we've made recently to our daily and weekly routines.
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// ERICA LUCAS
Erica Lucas is the owner of Begin and Believe, LLC, a company focused on encouraging, motivating, and inspiring people to declutter, purge, and minimize. We do this through various forms of media including videos, books, social media, speaking engagements, digital downloads, courses, and more. Visit Erica's website for more information and follow her on social media.
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[@EricaLucasLoves]

Did you catch the hot wheel stuck to the wall?! 😂😂

[@firesign4297]

Bet You the kids🥰 haven't saw that car in....YEARS!😄 p.s ...or atleast...Played!😳with it!🤣

[@bunnylover6481]

I thought it was a bigger car! How is the world did the boys attached it to the wall? I always check to see if you have posted a videos. I love them. I hope the moving in process goes smoothly for all of you. I bet the kids are loving the pool.

[@Roos_Loves_Parrots]

Yes I saw him 😁 I also have a reusable coffee filter. I buy coffee, but I take it in my own pot. I also buy as much as possible in bulk and for a while we have had products in glass jars such as rice, pasta, nuts and the like in jars with a deposit that are taken care of at home. The delivery person takes the empty pots back and this is then settled with your next order. I washed with walnuts for a while, but I happily switched to a laundry egg. Here in the Netherlands you have been paying for bags in the supermarket for a few years. You are really doing very well.

[@roxanaconception]

That was so funny! It was probably smashed against the bed!😂

[@annaschffr]

“i do believe in the power of small changes” so true & so important!

[@rebeccasargent1795]

If we all made the same small change it makes a huge impact

[@suzanneroelofse5970]

Reusable period products are life-changing. It is a bit of a mind shift to try them, but MY WORD, I could never go back to toxic period products ever again. I alter between a cup and reusable pads (but I altered between tampons and pads as well). Both are fantastic and not NEARLY as gross as you'd imagine. I have, in fact found them to be way less messy and fussy. I've heard great things about period panties as well, but can't find them in my country. Femmehead has great videos about reusable period products.

[@andreakissinger2165]

I have also been using period panties and a menstrual cup for a few years. I don't buy any kind of disposable period products. Would never go back!

[@maryflynn5336]

What would you recommend for reusable pads. I currently use cups but still using pads occasionally.

[@username00009]

What material do you prefer for pads?

[@anaalves3658]

I love my period cup, best move EVER!!!👍👍👍👍😊

[@wenzworld]

I used to work in the moving business, and if I recall correctly, 60 boxes was average for a one bedroom apartment. Congrats on the move. I love dropps! I’ve used their dishwasher soap. This is very inspirational. Bless you.

[@pnwflipper2089]

We made lots of zero waste changes about 7 years ago and have no regrets! However, I tried dryer balls and they didn’t seem to do anything. What ended up working was just line drying synthetics and reducing the drying time for everything else by 5 minutes. No static! We also use cloth napkins instead of paper and cotton rags instead of paper towels. We use containers with lids instead of covering things with plastic cling wrap or using ziploc bags. We use a silpat mat instead of lining pans with aluminum foil or parchment paper. I dress my kids in second hand clothes ( check out the impact of a tshirt!). What I struggle with is buying food package free. Especially right now with my grocery store’s bulk section closed down for COVID. I am excited to see you go through this process too!

[@tammymorgan1541]

I have a crib mattress for a dog bed. Two years and it’s still going strong. My lab loves it and it’s easy to clean. Just throw the sheet in the washer and wipe down the mattress. I bought it used for $10.

[@silverlining7112]

I don't know if you usually use fabric softener, but if you do, look it up a bit - it's a completely unnecessary product. Also, vinegar is the bomb for pretty much all household cleaning. So you can look at actually minimising the number of products you use and then choose sustainably for the products that are left. Love from the UK

[@ColleenMarble]

Yes, we stopped using it completely here. And we make most of our cleaning products using vinegar, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, etc. It's saved us a ton of money.

[@EricaLucasLoves]

No! I don’t use fabric softener but static is an issue. Doesn’t bother me though.

[@silverlining7112]

@@EricaLucasLoves I had no idea that softener is unnecessary :) dryer balls do pretty well for static but I don't mind it either

[@crystalwaldroff5097]

@@EricaLucasLoves static typically means you're over drying. Maybe try to reduce the length of dry time.

[@jillneer7305]

@@EricaLucasLoves vinegar as fabric softener - also helps remove excess detergent. That's all I use.

[@sharipotter6137]

I appreciate the conscious effort of zero waste - it doesn't need to be perfect all of the time, but you are teaching your children a powerful mind shift! Recycling also uses tons of harmful chemicals - reusing the boxes by giving (or selling) to others is a much more environmentally friendly option. :) I love following your journey. Reduce and Reuse!!!

[@motherhenn8850]

Remember, you are not only moving your family's home, but your school as well. That accounts for a lot more boxes.

[@amandastone348]

When the kids were little we used wash clothes as napkins. They were sturdier and easier. Being in an apartment, we went to paper towels because they were “easier”. No Landry. When I seen your dry towel bin for dirty towels-I was like how genius. Then you shared the reusable napkins. It was the sign I needed. We just got them yesterday. I am so excited. Good vibes create ripples. Your ripples are spreading and doing good. And bringing me joy! Even the hubby was on board when they came in the mail. He agreed that switching back will be so much cheaper, easier and better.

[@audreysavard3248]

I growth using a share wash clothes in the center of the table as napkins. When I move in appart with my coloc, he was insinsting on having napkins so I show him how to use the wash clothe.

[@ANNtique]

One of my favourite dog beds when we had 2 big dogs were crib mattresses. I bought fleece crib sheets. The mattresses didn’t get smelly and the sheets were easy to launder frequently. I bought used crib mattresses that looked brand new.

[@ColleenMarble]

that's actually brilliant!

[@alohaeverafter6886]

Ann C That’s what I use, also. Mattress can be cleaned off easily and sheets are easier to wash than the covers of a dog bed.🐶

[@nathaliemann3145]

That is really a great idea . Thank you for sharing Ann.👍🏻🐶❤️

[@ANNtique]

They have great support, and the ease of washing and drying just a crib sheet is great

[@virginiamiller4207]

Yes I loved the hot wheel stuck to the wall. Your kids are the greatest. They have such imaginations. You will never have to worry about entertaining them. Never.

[@pollydowdlepolly]

When I moved to university I had 10 boxes and didn't need to buy anything other than food the entire year. So 60-70 for a family of 5 is definitely possible but I imagine it would be a very minimalist move.

[@Joy-zp5lv]

I always kept my boxes - and when we moved into our forever home 4 years ago I donated them. No need to recycle good moving boxes - they can be used over and over again. I must say we are a family of 4 and we had less than 60 boxes. So it´s possible. =) Love from Germany ♥

[@rosettagrey2851]

People keep repeating that the most of the waste in the world comes from factories and induestries,not from individuals. It is true! However, I don't understand why individuals shouldn't hold themselves responsible as well, while calling out the biggest offenders. The chnages you've made are wonderful! I envy your drops deliveries, no such thing available where I live but I'll keep looking. Thanks for sharing!

[@AtHomeWithJill]

Wow I love this victory! The fact that it only took 1 day!!!!!

[@emilypacheco2074]

For our move we used free recycled boxes from the grocery store and the liquor store down the street. I figured they were already being used so I can get sturdy boxes 📦 for free.

[@iaJENKA]

same, we've never bought boxes for any of our moves, we bought lots of tape to reassemble them and that's it.

[@anaalves3658]

We moved continents last year and only bought a extra large bicycle box, the rest where from the grocery store, that is how I have always moved. Seems so wasteful to buy new cardboard boxes to move 🤦🤦🤦🤦

[@shelbys2750]

Love all your changes toward lower waste, I think you have started in the right places!

[@dagnoliablossom1928]

So far, the last few moves I have been very grateful for the people who take the time to put boxes on CraigL. I know it is a pain not to put them directly to trash but THANK You!

[@wieczor25]

I like in the UK and not many families use a tumble dryer - and we have wet weather - is it possible you could hang laundry out to dry - environmentally this will make a huge impact. We also do not use a dishwasher - most families don't use one here. In terms of laundry we use a clothes horse to dry our clothes outside when dry & inside when wet & cold.

[@beataylor641]

I’m in the UK too and aim to dry clothes outside on the line when the weather is fine. A clothes horse indoors on wet days. I’m a ‘single’ so it’s pretty easy ... not sure how do-able a clothes horse is for five.

[@hannahjordan6461]

Hello. UK here too (Scotland so even wetter!) and I also tend to line dry or use a clothes horse. I occasionally use the tumble dryer - maybe once a month ish. I also have a family of five but it works as long as I wash daily. Love this movement towards minimalism and zero waste. You've already done so well. Keep it up. Can't wait to see what you find in those boxes!

[@The2009An]

That’s an interesting point. Here in California, US we have great weather but majority of the people use a dryer! My parents who are from japan, where they hang dry everything- with tumultuous weather- hang dried the clothes here and now I do too.

[@maggierose97]

North Carolina here. I dry my clothes on a rack indoors. It's actually against city ordinances to hang your clothes to dry outside just because it looks too low-class to have a clothes line in the yard.

[@rosemarycornwall5162]

@@maggierose97 That is so bizarre ! UK outside clothes line dryer here too. Nothing like the smell of line dried laundry...very high class to me! It's the scent of all those 'Fresh Linen' candles that get burnt up. Thanks for the interesting fact/explanation though xxx

[@wonderingsanna]

About moving boxes... Here in Sweden most ppl use pre-used boxes from shops, prefererly the ones that bananas are transported in, those are the best. The boxes are often free (or you get 2 for a dollar and the money goes to charity not to the store). In larger cities and university cities there are loads of bulletins online to buy/sell/rent boxes from ppl. Boxes are used by many ppl after eachother and some ppl even save some sturdy boxes if they have storage and know that they are moving soon again. We can rent boxes and movingcrates from moving companies to tho I don´t know anyone who does that caus it is so easy to find good ones for free (from stores) or by looking online and buy cheap from other ppl, same as you did selling yours on FB-marketplace. :) Aaaannnd... I love how you find more and more areas to "better" and how realative easy it is for you : ) Your journey is fantastic. I do all those things you do to : ) most of them by habit from my parents home and some coz they have gotten easier to use/ better/more easy to find aso. Some of those things I think is easier to do here in Sweden coz we tend to have less packages in general and we use/have/own fever household machines . I never owned a microwave, a baking machine, a kitchenaid-type-thingie, a complicated coffee machine or a dishwasher and the same goes for alot of my friends. It´s not concidered odd at all.

[@IrethEaron]

We (2 People) had 27 boxes on our last move + furniture and a couple of bags and suitcases. We are pretty minimalish so we were able to move in the same city in a couple of hours with the help of 8-10 friends and family members. We got all the boxes second hand and gifted them afterwards to the next person. Moving in the same city is easier for sure, but you can make it more sustainable if you give it a try.

[@gardencat4952]

If you are planning to start a veggie garden at the new house you can compost some of the boxes and help build your new garden. I recycle our cardboard by laying it down to kill the grass in my yard. We use it as mulch under wood chips between our established garden beds. we also use it under tarps to kill grass and other weeds where we want to build new garden beds. Ideally make sure the cardboard is wet before staking it down with the tarp. It works best if you do this the summer or fall before you want build the garden bed. Come spring you can remove the tarp and build raised beds on top of the partially decomposed cardboard. We have found this dramatically reduces the weed pressure on a new garden.

[@mtheron100]

We also move a lot, 10 times in 11 years. I keep All my boxes every time. We move ourselves, so it's an extra expense we are saving. I've now started buying plastic tubs for moves, which I'll keep for all moves. I can definitely also say we have way less than 60 boxes when we move(family of 5). In this last year alone, I have donated 27 laundry basket full of things. After 5 years of simplifying, how is it possible to still have so much stuff!

[@anaalves3658]

That is impressive 👏👏👏. I am always surprised by how much stuff we actually own!😬😬😬🤦. I had assumed that if you moved regularly that you would have less stuff. But maybe not.

[@mtheron100]

Believe it or not, I have actually decluttered with every move(at least the last 5moves). But the last year I've gotten serious and we are finally at a point I'm feeling worthy of saying I'm minimalistic.

[@deniseg6880]

I would feel very proud Erica! You said the last move you had double the boxes and this time it took the movers a couple less days to pack... I think that’s a huge difference!!

[@catharinabra]

Whaaaat 195 boxes... 😳 Looking forward to your unboxing of those...you know, I’m thinking if your essentials are 20 boxes, maybe 60 isn’t so far of? Hey! Loved this weeks email 🥰 We always use reusable bags because we have tax on plastic bags here and they are expensive! I use cardboard on my garden to make the soil better 🌱 it’s really interesting to follow along on your zero waste-Journey!

[@TH-pb4ux]

We always observe the workers because otherwise they tend to not work carefully.

[@djkg17]

Same where I live in Europe. I use the mesh produce bags for loose vegetables. Unfortunately my pretty French market bag gave up the ghost after 9 years of hard use so I use other reusable bags. Not as pretty though:(

[@tisletto]

I've been on a slow changing journey to less waste and more environmentally friendly products. I also struggle with knowing there are more resources used in recycling , more trees are cut down to support cardboard packaging etc... but my priority is in eliminating plastic, which I think is the most important thing. Second priority is locally sourced products, to eliminate gas emissions from container ships or trucks. One day ill live off power from the sun too! Loving your journey.

[@Natalie.D]

I'm also moving, so these are great tips for me. Others are: reused old sheets and towels to wrap furniture in to protect it. Then wash it when you arrive and donate to a local animal shelter for beds and rags. I just subscribed to dropps because it is easy and mindless to just have a subscription service instead of running to the store for more laundry stuff. Super economical, earth-friendly, visually-pleasing, and easy!

[@pysvtfa4]

I started using soap nuts-they were cheap so why not? Expectations were low, but they work better than any other environmentally sound laundry soap I’ve tried. About 2 tablespoons in a cotton bag that can be used over and over again, when they get mushy you compost the “nuts” and refill the bag. My machine only uses 7 gallons of water per load and so far I’ve only had to compost them once in 6months. I got 1lb for about $7 which is looking to be 3 lifetimes worth so I’ve been sharing with friends. I use vinegar to rinse. Highly recommend you give it a try!

[@tinekejoldersma]

Yay! That are so many boxes I hardly can believe it. They move air! Become the queen of recycling, reuse and environment-friendly Erica,

[@julies9267]

I've been using reusable shopping bags and about 6 months ago I got mesh produce bags! I get comments on them all the time! I have microfiber cloths for cleaning and cloth napkins. I drive a big SUV 😣 so I need to make up for that! ❤️❤️ Great video!

[@ANNtique]

Another great video. I’ve been an avid recycler since 1990 but it wasn’t until more recently that it occurred to me to avoid consuming things with packaging whenever possible. So much produce is packaged and it is so frustrating especially things already packaged by nature such as onions, bananas, citrus. We aren’t going to eat the outside anyway but so often they are bagged in plastic or those wildlife strangling stringy bags. Things I am looking for but yet to find that work for me are shampoo bars. I already make bar soap and Castile liquid soap from scratch. We still buy eco to but have added butt sprayer attachments to our toilets and have specific cloths for patting dry and wet bags to store those in until I launder them. We still buy paper towels but only use them for super gross jobs like dog accidents, vomit, toilet cleaning. I’ve made our own cloth napkins from tired bed sheets. Moving away from fast fashion and buying more clothes from thrift stores and I have been saving online patterns and plan to try making some clothes this winter. We try to grow as much food as we can. I line dry as much of our laundry as I can. I buy laundry soap sheets which come in compostable packaging. Have switched to wooden toothbrushes. I fuse some of the plastic bag packaging to make sheets or plastic which we reuse as mini tarps on our farm and other uses. I wish we could have a grey water set up because we could use that for watering our gardens. Once you start on a minimal waste journey it’s hard to stop because you start seeing things so differently and want to do better and better. Every little helps though ♥️

[@minimalzebra]

Erica I’m so excited that it took the movers 1 day instead of 5days!

[@jackceli1684]

I love that you're doing this. I wish more people would be more conscious and committed to making this earth cleaner. I've been trying to minimize my waist for years as well. And I love the new ideas I got from your video

[@lisabourque1321]

Awesome job, very educational and inspiring!!!

[@barbaravoneitzen7729]

I’m proud of your efforts for zero waste. My family member is stubborn and won’t try anything new. But I will keep trying for change. Been married almost 55 years so got a challenge.😁

[@nessabridge5019]

Because of you I have gone to using cloth serviettes! Also I have been using bamboo cloth as dish cloth for a few years , they are worth the investment definitely. Thanks for allowing us to join your journey ! Xx

[@cvdheiden1]

It is funny irony: we hesitate to declutter because we don 't want to waste 'good stuff', but it's only when we start to minimise the excess that our minds and habits change towards way less waste in the future. 😍 It was the same for me. Good job!

[@joytotheworld6804]

Great tips, thanks, I've been chipping away at this as well. Keep going. It actually frees up time as well, as we aren't writing those things on shopping lists, going to shops, buying them, putting them away. Simple is soooo much better. My Nanas house wasn't full of stuff or cleaning products. That's my reminder. Good luck with the move. From Aussie

[@s.eckert2682]

Great changes! Great content! You can really be proud of yourself! And still you can do more easily. Please don't rinse your plates and silverware before putting them in the dishwasher. It is wasteful of water, especially if you run your dishwasher every day. Use a rubber spatula to scrub off leftover food, that's all. The detergent and the hot water take care of the rest, leaving your dishes sterile. Try it and you'll see. 😊

[@lindamaglione7189]

I love Dropps....use both the sensitive laundry detergent and the dishwasher detergent. Also use their wool dryer balls. We recycle the small cardboard boxes they come in and put the pods in a plastic jar that something else had come in and we had recycled ourselves. Great tips!

[@tinapierce730]

I have found sandwhich bags (Target) that are recyclable paper, reusable silicone bags, cotton bags for produce, composite food ( i made a bin out of a 5 gal bucket). If i run water to get hot water...i save that in a pitcher for drinking or giving to pets. My garage is usually 1 bag a week for my family of 2 which includes cats...hence litter clean up. I love your videos !!

[@junemaguire9988]

how great to have changed life so much for the better well done Erica, keep inspiring people, it has taken me many years to become a minimalist and I am not there as yet, but, I am getting there, and your videos help a lot, thank you.

[@mercurialpierrot7073]

I also recommend a Berkey water filtration system. It will cut down on plastic waste if you use bottled water or even something like a Britta filter!

[@christinagoulart1611]

We love our Berkey! Our town water is suuuper chlorinated. Only thing is that I wish we had gotten the even larger size! We got the Imperial size (4.5 G/17 L) and I guess we drink a ton of water because our family of 5 (2 adults/3 children 3- 8y) have to fill it every day and in summer we are running out sooner 🤪

[@corinnestauffiger5693]

Here in Switzerland we have to pay for a bag in stores. So most people bring their bags. I personally do not often use a car but public transport. We only have energy efficent appliances in our house and we live in a certificated house that has an environmental friendly heating system. We aim for a solar heating for warm water on our roof. Hopefully we will get there. Very interesting your zero waste approach. I appreciate it that you are showing us subscribers how to live sustainable,

[@lenarrr13]

About the dog bed- would Ranger fit on a crib/toddler bed mattress? You can get whatever color sheets to match your decor and they come off for easy cleaning.

[@2Cambell]

This is something that I have believed in and worked towards for quite some time, even when I lived in a suburban community. Now, I live rural and trash service is quite expensive and there is no recycling available in my area, so this has only confirmed what I need to do. I can still recycle, if I take it at a bare minimum to my Mom's place. But it is essential for the products I buy to actually work and work well, so I will give Dropps a go.

[@planwithtan603]

I moved last year (family of course) and I don’t think we even used 60 boxes. I think a lot varies on where you are in the world. My local area has a green bin for food waste, paper towels, garden waste etc. we also do a lot of recycling already. So glad to see your journey and always appreciate your thoughts on topics. I even quoted you in my journal a while back.

[@SubTranslationJack]

Erica I promise it’s very feasible for a family to move with 60 or fewer boxes! My wife and I with our four animals moved last fall with maybe...20 boxes and our totes and odds and ends? I believe in you, and you are coming so far! I bet a year ago 120 boxes sounded absolutely out of the question to you!

[@RoadtoFIRE]

Wow, these facts are mindboggling! We are moving in a few months so definitely relevant.

[@dianegriffen2756]

This is awesome Erica, thank you. For laundry soap, I make my own. I've yet to find a commercial laundry soap that beats my own! I love it, and it's super easy to make and not filled with any harsh chemicals - all natural.

[@iaJENKA]

what's the recipe? I'm getting a little tired of constantly buying detergent, we go through quite a bit of it.

[@elainesteward3130]

I’m sure you will decide to get rid of more as you unpack. There were several times that I asked myself; why did I bring THIS? I am also trying to be a minimalist. When my husband I moved we had 56 boxes/totes plus furniture but we are empty nesters and living in Florida so we don’t have a winter wardrobe or heavy blankets. I enjoy watching your journey. Your positive attitude inspires me!

[@kimberlynewsom9876]

Professional moving companies use more packing materials (packing paper, bubble wrap etc) than the average person packing themselves so yes, more boxes. We've moved a lot too including an across country move, and an overseas move and back in less than a year. Just a tip as well if anyone out there sees this - U-Haul has a program that you can list your used boxes on their site and people can come pick them up from you to re-use. We just found out about this on our last move and after we moved into our house I listed them on the site and in less than a day someone came and picked them up to use for their move. it's great, it's less recycling, and it helps out someone else who may not want or be able to purchase moving boxes. I LOVE Dropps!! I also use them for both laundry and dishwasher.

[@poodlegirl55]

Amazing how much less you moved!! I feel that Covid has hindered me in keeping packaging low. I am going through a health crisis and have to be tested for Covid before each procedure. Just watching you touch the various lettuces in the video, and seeing all the people touching the produce in the store makes me buy packages or cans or frozen bags.

[@Lizzy43645]

I adore everything about your attitude and optimism - you are a breath of fresh air! Please don’t change!!! Could you show the kids giving a tour of their new rooms/spaces so we can hear their thoughts on everything? ☺️

[@EricaLucasLoves]

Sure!!

[@ChristianAnneSmith]

We love drops! Made the switch this year as well. And cloth napkins are a staple around here. Our town actually outlawed plastic grocery bags a few years ago, which took some getting used to, but I love it now. Nice changes!

[@cellocello1762]

I am so proud of you for those zero waste changes! You go girl!

[@kap5919]

Great changes! Maybe you could stop drying and instead hanging some of your laundry out to dry? Greetings from Austria

[@happywithless7971]

I’m always so inspired by you. You make everything very easy and do-able!

[@samanthap7155]

Disposable razors are expensive and create a lot of waste. I switched to a safety razor (brand- Merkur, $35) and a box of razor blades (brand-Astra, 100 blades that will last for 2years at least, for $15?). I’ve been using it for over a year and haven’t cut myself once. Super easy and great shave. With younger kids, just store away like any razor. I also like Lush brand shampoo bars. Love your channel!

[@charlenebrissette3348]

Dryer balls are amazing, I even got my mother-in-law using them.

[@LoraSmith789]

Thanks for the zero waste inspiration and using your platform to spread this message!

[@dianepedersen8651]

Two tips: 1. Scrape food waste off dishes instead of using water to rinse before putting dishes into dishwasher to conserve water. 2. Get into habit of selling or donating old stuff as you acquire new (in this case your coffee maker) instead of holding onto it to avoid accumulating stuff like you previously did.

[@marjiecleveland]

I finish things up then make the changes. It all adds up! Awesome! I'm going to try the Dropps!

[@marshabryant9429]

I ordered the cloth dinner napkins after watching a previous video. They are so nice and a great selection of colors to choose from. I love all your tips.

[@lindasullivan8745]

One small change can save the world a heap of hurt..I use my own bags too and we recycle ♻️ everything we can also...this is why your my bestie because we both care for our home and our little earth too...x. Lol...loved all the information you shared in this video..knowledge is power..x

[@sarahfrancescutti9873]

Oooh, great zero waste upgrades on laundry & dishwasher soap!

[@ChristianAnneSmith]

We also have 3 chickens. It is nice to have fresh eggs and I feel like most food scraps I can just walk out the back door and toss them in the chicken coop. Every time I do this, I am met with happy chicken sounds rather than feeling badly about tossing stuff in the trash. Small change, but a good one.

[@loreneknight9755]

Been following you for awhile. I am sooooo proud of you for " getting it together"

[@susanshanks2407]

I am baffled about you saying 195 boxes. Now I am waiting to see what's in them, because we saw that you had removed so much stuff from the house. Love your channel.🥰

[@sabrina22471]

Love these tips. I recently saw an ad for Blueland. It's pods to make cleaners. All purpose, glass cleaner etc. You reuse your spray bottle and just put a pod and refill when empty. I'm thinking about trying them.

[@broadwayluver77]

My family is gearing up for a move, I’m aiming for all of our moving boxes to be reused. I’ve been saving boxes from deliveries, and getting boxes from my buy nothing group and from friends/family. There are SO MANY boxes in my garage. When we move and unpack I’ll be paying those boxes forward either through buy nothing, or a free post on FB marketplace.

[@caspencer36]

I tried switching to reusable, individual k-cups and grinding our own beans, but the "combat" coffee result at the bottom of the cup was quickly vetoed so we are back to "the real deal" as the family calls them. I feel like a failure. Where we live, our water supply was contaminated a few years ago by fire-fighting foam from a nearby AFB. Since then we have a water cooler with culligan delivered each month. That also means buying bottled water for "on the go" and additional gallons for the coffee pot to try to keep the cost of culligan cheaper. I thought I was doing great because we religiously recycle those but your video is making me reconsider. Thanks for the great info!

[@inaecht]

Yes, an average move can take 60 boxes or less for a family of four, including toys for two little children and approx. 700 books, if you pack them well (some books at the bottom and than lighter stuff on top). Did this 8 times myself ;) Heads up, you are on a great journey! Maybe next time you will also need less than 80 boxes. But first enjoy your new home!

[@itoshiibaka8267]

I love this direction in your channel! I have been on the zero waste journey for a couple of years now, but you still taught me a new way to reduce my waste through the washing pods. I go through about 1-2 loads in both dishes and clothes every week and use less than the recommended amount of liquid soap for laundry (you know they recommend more than you need), so I'm only going through two containers a year. Still! Like you said, that plastic is a 400 year committment!!! When I finish my jug, I will find out whether the baby sensitive laundry pods agree with my husband's reactive skin. I will definitely be ordering the dishwasher pods, though! (After I use the massive amount I already bought in bulk. Yikes!)

[@susieq2334]

Thank you for sharing these tips🙂 Try placing a bottle filled with pebbles and water in your toilet tank. Saves around 10 gallons of water a day. Less 💦 is needed to fill your tank per flush. 🚽🚽

[@BrendaLopez-px5kw]

I’m so glued to your channel! You always have such a positive personality, useful information and are so inspirational! Love it!

[@AtoZenLife]

Whoohoo 10 in 10 years is definitely intense! I find zero waste VERY difficult but that packing definitely seems odd -- maybe they were EXTRA careful and used a lot of padding? 😳 And can I just say how I appreciate you selling the boxes instead of trashing them? Super hack.

[@EricaLucasLoves]

I was going to give them away! I made end up doing that too but I figured if we can make some cash, why not?! I love your videos, Marissa!!

[@AtoZenLife]

Erica Lucas Thanks so much, it means a lot Erica! And I really love your hustle - also sold my old Apple boxes for a lot of money when we moved. 🤑 Those things can be $10 to $20 each!

[@MerisMoris]

I love, love, love those changes you made! And I'm looking forward to the ones you will make next :)

[@lanegoodspeed5103]

Thanks Erica! It will be interesting to see how the movers packed up 195 boxes! Do you have a place to store boxes that you could save for the next move if there is one? That way you wouldn't have to buy more boxes and add to the cardboard stream? Just a thought. Also I have the reusable filters for the Keurig. I use paper filters I get on Amazon which fit the filters. Just pull out of filter after brewing. No mess no fuss, right into the compost bin. Good luck and hope the unpacking goes well. Just remember that in the 195 boxes are all the boxes you and Andy were going to put in the garage and sort through when you had the time. So many of those boxes will have stuff to recycle and/ or trash. Deduct those from the 195. Am I correct?

[@lildebleigh84]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video! You are teaching me so much! We are starting with small changes in our home & working toward more :)

[@deeb8733]

Ok, I JUST ordered off AMAZON, the 120 Dropps of laundry detergent, fabric softener AND dishwasher pods. THX for the tip

[@ColleenMarble]

Inspiring! I will definitely look into Dropps for our family. When we move, we always try to buy used packing materials and resell them afterward, all on Craigslist or Marketplace. The last time we moved, we called it 'renting.' LOL One thing we did here was stop using dryer sheets entirely. However, we live in a humid area and our water is naturally soft - having lived in dryer states with really hard water, I know sometimes you just have to use it. I've been interested in the dryer balls, but just haven't needed them. Re: shopping, I have a foldable reusable bag from Ikea that I just keep in my purse. That way I don't have to remember to bring a bag. It has come in handy so many times, not just in stores but in other situations where you suddenly have more stuff than you can hold. Just wanted to put that out there as an idea for people.

[@marthasalter405]

Hmmm I changed to using powdered laundry detergent as a "less waste" alternative. No plastic packaging to worry about, the cardboard box it comes in is recyclable. I would love to get some feedback on that choice!

[@birdwatcher287]

This is what we do too and I feel pretty good about it. It was also the most economical choice when I did my research.

[@brendamontanye9877]

If there are boxes that aren't right for recycling, you can offer them to gardeners for their garden. I use my clean junk mail and non glossy items and cardboard as a base layer for raised beds and under (free) woodchip paths. They biodegrade, but do it slowly enough that many weeds are prevented. Also, wool balls are great for a reasonably safe game of catch in the house with toddlers. Good for hand-eye coordination and also they move more slowly than a rubber ball so it gives them a chance to move into position to catch :)

[@elastingirl]

i am nowhere near zero waste but a few small changes...ecover washing powder - biodegradable, comes in cardboard packaging, ecover dishwasher pods again cardboard packaging, biodegradable and plastic film that wraps each pod is recyclable (not ideal it's there but that's called progress and best i can do now with,products i know on the market), and lastly reusable napiies for most of babies life plus early potty training x

[@sarahfrancescutti9873]

I love body scrubs but found when I tried coffee grounds in my shower it made a huge mess! So I now use it in our garden for my roses and lawn which works great!

[@virginiamiller4207]

Hi Erica, You are doing such a good job. We all need to do as well for the environment. Hey, Walmart would not let me bring my own bag in when I tried. Maybe too many germs. I don't know for sure. ): But they do have a huge recycle bin for their plastic bags or any plastic bags that are clean !! So I do that. (: thanks for the video. Look forward to the next one. Wonder if they make dog beds out of that new cool fiber they make for people. Bet the dogs would love that.

[@randalynshaw7262]

I have never bought a box. I always ask for free boxes at stores. 🙂 great idea on selling your boxes. Great job on decluttering before your move. 🙂

[@CatEyedFancy]

It can be a hassle, but each time we have moved we have started by asking local businesses for boxes they would normally be putting out in the recycling anyway! For your family size and the fact you are moving so far, you'd probably still have to purchase some boxes. But if you are a single person, couple, or roommates moving within the same town or state, reusing boxes from businesses might make it so you don't have to spend any money on boxes at all, and you are re-using the cardboard before it gets recycled. Win-win! (This might also be difficult to do in the current pandemic. We are moving, but not very far, and I still have connections at a local business I used to work for so they have graciously been letting me drop by and pick up boxes.)

[@efitz3397]

You’re so right...if everyone started small we would all make a big impact. It is difficult to make changes to any lifestyle and one that is so heavily supported by the status quo of capitalism can be an uphill struggle. Your not near the end of the minimalist or eco friendly journey yet, as I know I am not, or I suspect most of your followers. ‘Each moment is journey begins with one step’ 👏👏

[@CindyCB78]

Cardboard and shredded paper make a great addition to compost!

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

I think 60 might be right for a smaller family. We had 63 boxes plus a few totes. And because we had to move to storage so fast, I’m sure there will be some donating once we get to the new house.

[@DasMieps]

I think 60 full boxes for four people who live in a 600 sq ft apartment is possible (without furniture). A family with little kids might need more. I live in a 485 sq ft apartment in Austria and I think I would need around 20-30 boxes, but I have to think twice about buying new stuff. I always need to find a place for it first. Next year I will move in with my boyfriend and I think he has even less stuff, but he brings a pool table into the game. XD

[@djkg17]

I live in 475 sq ft in Austria and my last move was 28 medium size boxes and I was surprised at how much space kitchen items require, and I don’t have kitchen machines either except a kettle and coffee pot. My other items (clothes, books, hobby supplies, toolbox, sentimental/photos took up relatively less space.

[@closetplayimage]

Can’t wait to hear how you like the Dropps! I was pondering the shift myself, and we have sensitive skin issues in our home...

[@jeannebowes2898]

French market basket, Garden produce, No pods,I will try Drop for dishwasher. We compost and recycle electronics, metal, paper. There is not as good a recycling here in MT as in MD.( a md native) Did consolidate two Christmas bins into one today. Mostly old tat ribbon and lights that can be recycled.

[@liatori6214]

I like learning about minimalism. Just like you do I love The Minimalism Mom. I also come to like "Simple Happy Zen" and "Benita Larsson", among others. Maybe these videos can inspire you even more.

[@susieq2334]

I enjoy “Simple Happy Zen as well”🙂 I love how Vera is so calming/mindful, yet non apologetic for her decisions. Gonna check out Benita Larsson, thanks for the suggestion.

[@EricaLucasLoves]

I follow all these ladies too!!

[@lenarobins2480]

So glad you're feeling better!! Hope little one is too. I had cloth grocery bags , made a huge difference then Corona hit and stores would not allow them and I tried to stuff the plastic ones as full as possible to use less of. They letting us use our own shopping bags again? If you sew you could shop thrift stores for the dog beg - buy some comforters and pillows and use those to sew one that fits his size and use the pillow stuffing after everything is washed ofcourse another way of re using things.

[@lanegoodspeed5103]

Hi Lena! Many people in my area are just loading the groceries after they have been checked out back in the cart and packing them in their reusable bags when they get to the car. That way the grocery bags don't touch anything in the store and they're not using any plastic grocery bags. Just a thought that might help!

[@lenarobins2480]

@@lanegoodspeed5103 thanks!

[@deniseestrada7037]

I love your sun room- I will miss it!... we don't really have those in CA, unless it's a vintage house... best wishes in ur new home!

[@jenison2985]

Great informative video! Thanks Erica 🎉🎉good luck in your new home! 😊☀️