how to clean your home sustainably, and without waste

[@annarawicz]

Hate changing the bedsheets. You're right it only takes a few minutes but SO MUCH EFFORT. The most unpleasant household chore.

[@jupitermond2325]

I feel you on the sheets so hard. I added a further complication by getting a weighted blanket, so it is even more of a struggle.

[@clairemccarty884]

That is definitely a struggle 😫 🤣🤣🤣 xx

[@crowgrl13]

With you on the bed sheets! It actually makes me sweat, so I have to do it before I take a shower. Sometimes I pretend to trick myself, "oops, I already showered so I can't change them because then I'll be all dirty when I get into bed!"

[@elkespiessens1756]

I also throw my laundry down the basement stairs and then pick it up once I am actually on my way to the washer 😁 It's just so practical! And yay for the flowers 🌻A local farmer in my area has this amazing flower field each Summer, she puts so much love and care into it, it's one of my favourite spots ever.

[@raehawkins7655]

Haha I loved the promoting my books song

[@susannem6192]

Me too! I thought for sure there would be a second verse while cleaning the glass coffee table…

[@nataliem6071]

Re: cleaning concentrate - I label all glass jars with Sharpies - it comes off with rubbing alcohol.

[@tamarbersee1149]

I feel you on changing the sheets. But it's so nice when it's done, that I'm like: why did I put this off for so long? Also a question on painting your walls. What kind of paint do you use? Are there things you look for when picking the most sustainable paint?

[@Erinawesome17]

"Does anyone one else feel drained after changing the sheets?" I absolutely do. I have a weighted blanket and a down comforter on my bed and taking them off the bed and putting them back on along with all the other sheets and blankets I have to take off is so exhausting. lol

[@vegemitegirl1971]

I have an inside cat who loves to walk and sit on as many surfaces as possible. I use a prepackaged multipurpose spray but it is not as it may seem. I buy a 5 litre concentrate and add 20ml to a 500ml spray bottle. It takes an extremely long time to finish the original concentrate bottle. You can only imagine how many supermarket spray bottles I have neither purchased nor thrown away

[@stacyglez6099]

Aahhh this velvet top 💚 Edit: yes, changing the sheets is the most difficult part of cleaning a house 😭 it takes so much out of me

[@simoneclarke5104]

I love that you can go to a flower farm to cut your own flowers, that is a really wonderful idea 🥰! Yes I struggle with sheet changing day too😂

[@FrugalFamilyFocus]

Also grow some flowers in the yard! I grow mainly sunflowers because they are like weeds and grow everywhere and I can’t mess them up. Also tulips and irises are easy and fun and the bulbs split and then you can seperate them and replant double… just yes now that you have a yard get your flowers going! I have cut flowers every week for about 5 months of the year because I grow them myself! Then they can be dried for fun dry winter bouquets.

[@janetstonerook4552]

Changing bed linens is so much easier if done by two people! Very simple!

[@KR-os6nn]

You have a lovely home. Beautiful colors and tones, cozy, relaxed, eclectic, warm, and I love the white bookshelf with the Mason jars. Can you do a video on how you chose your paint colors, design style, mix of paints and woods, and decor?

[@luciehaschkova1365]

Changing the sheets? Struggling every time! How very well I understand your feelings and attitude! 😉

[@berlinorama]

I feel the same way about changing the sheets, LOL! It is really a pain with my big (220x240) heavy winter duvet, wrestling it into the duvet cover. Easier in the summer with my light and smaller duvet (200x200).

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

The second you zoomed out on the bathroom, I was like "oh that would look lovely yellow" and then you said you wanted to paint it yellow or orange. I love it! My family and I recently moved to Germany and we needed a vacuum, but I was determined to wait for ours to show up and just use the random American outlets we have (there's only a handful) when my downstairs neighbor was like, "Do you need a vacuum? My friend moved and she didn't take this with her. I thought I'd offer before donating." It does require a bag, but I am trying to stretch those out the best I can. I always make my husband help me with changing the sheets. I don't wanna do that by myself. haha I love the way your house is coming along, it looks so lovely and cozy.

[@phoebegraveyard7225]

When I had a bag vacuumed, I would unroll and cut the end, empty the refuse, give it a real shake outside and re roll and staple the cut end. I could do this a few times before the bag itself wouldn’t breath properly.

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

@@phoebegraveyard7225 oh that’s a great idea, thank you! I’ve only had to change it once so far, but I will definitely do that the next time it gets full. Our US one is bagless, so it’s been really weird getting used to the bags again. 😊

[@ReKlDwKiOV287]

Welcome to Germany💛

[@tipperco.4489]

I know that this is really off-topic but do you plan on getting any more tattoos (especially on your arms)? I really enjoyed your tattoo tour. Also, could you please do a morning/night routine and show us what you feed your doggo? Thanks. Really happy I came across your channel.

[@Gittemary]

I am not planning on getting my arms done, but I am getting more tattoos on my legs and stomach ✌️ (I have a zero waste pet video if you want more info on sustainable pet care ☺️)

[@deenawatts3257]

It's not so much taking the dirty sheets off the bed, it's remaking the bed afterwards. And I usually forget until bedtime and then have to make the bed before I go to sleep.

[@AnitraKass]

Same! And since I hate folding sheets, I’m definitely putting the just washed sheets back on the bed…usually after I fell asleep on the couch so it’s super late, I’m sure my dog is thinking “and you really thought it would be different this time?”😂

[@lunanogueira3037]

Am i the only one who loves changing sheets? I change sheets, do laundry and vacuum every sunday because a fresh clean space is the beest feling for starting the week. What i actually hate is the vacuuming part. I really need a new vacuum, i've been saving to buy a second hand dyson at backmarket but they are still expensive 😭

[@anaalves3658]

I like changing the sheets, I love the feel of fresh crisp sheets😊😊😊😊👍

[@sustainfem]

Sheets don't bother me, but cleaning the bathroom with it's million (!) tiles does, ugh! And you can make anything interesting, Gittemarie. 💥💫💢

[@kristenbattle230]

I do pretty much all the cleaning because I like it and I’m not working right now, but my husband has one job: put the sheets on the bed after I strip it. I haven’t made a bed in years 😂

[@parkerrose3590]

I hate changing sheets too. Plus I like to rotate my mattress monthly!

[@friederikeheh6514]

Molly throughout this whole video 😭 she's so cute i am crying

[@davisdn192]

I dread changing bedding too. I always try to bargain with my partner for him to do it lol.

[@coralovesnature]

Recently I have been using laundry detergent sheets, which are plastic free and being marketed as sustainable (specific brand I’ve tried is called Earth Breeze). I’ve tried to do some research and I can’t find anything to support how it would potentially NOT be sustainable, but it does seem like a fairly new product. I’d love for Gittemary to mention her thoughts on this or for anyone in the comments to if they know more. Enjoyed the video!

[@cassandrapope3495]

I definitely relate to your feelings on changing the sheets! Great cleaning routine video. Kinda chill but productive at the same time. Hope you enjoyed your brownie!

[@FrugalFamilyFocus]

Me watching my fave KZbinr blog about ZW cleaning while I clean using same gear… we are hip, we are cool, I can tell!

[@samanthaanngraham3130]

i can totally relate on the bedsheets!! why is it such a mental hurdle?? 😹

[@dominika1203]

no, you are not the only one 😄 I feel the same about changing the bed sheets 🙈😂😂

[@merel8915]

Yep, the sheets! Why does it seem so intimidating to do? 😄 maybe because of the big visual surface and wanting stuff to fit over the edges against a wall......

[@micivalantincic8227]

Just a warrning-our dish washer broke when it was like brand new and the service man told us to always use solition, never the tablets (we had ones like you showed). He explained that the tablets leave a resedu on the pipes and so it shortens the machines life. We have since only used solution and never had any more problems.

[@micivalantincic8227]

@Miro Kai true! I stopped using marseil soap for that very reason. I have bulk detergent and also the washing ball. I didn't like soap nuts cause we have a lot of white clothes and they became yellow fast.

[@micivalantincic8227]

@Miro Kai yes, I used marseill soap both graded and cooked in to homem made liquid and had problems with both unfortunatly. So can't recommend it:( Oh I am from Slovenija, so I don't know the brand you mentioned. I also find that one of the dishwasher solutions I bought in a bulk store was useles. So for the sake of the machine (can't keep buying new ones or paying for repairs) I use a big brand in plastic:( can't win all the battles.

[@micivalantincic8227]

@Miro Kai I agree about th soap nuts, we must consoder the people who need them most and consider other options. The washing ball works great for me (I have a lot of alergies) and the filling last me up to 6 months (they are not harmful to nature). Also I think the soap nuts are like other zero waste trend such as a straw. But with every switch we make we have to try to see a bigger picture. You points are excellent . I think saddly sometimes the more "instagramable" producta win by popularity and nuts with a tiny bag is prolly popular. (I don't have insta but I imagine). There are unknow things like EM that you can produce in a kitchen compost and then add to any machine and it adds good bacteria to water. I found it via a korean channel and was intrugued. As per diswasher- I need it because I have celiac and my partner doesn't so we have to wash disher at a high temperature to ensure it is save for me to use if he eats gluten. We have a smaller machines and run it every other day. For one person probably does make more sens to just hand wash. I also have this cleaning tablets I use once every 2 months to clean both machins so hopefully I can make them last as long as possible.

[@denisemarie485]

Love cleaning, washing clothes and cooking. I loathe changing sheets! It's the one thing I do not care to do either 😂

[@jellydae]

definitely sameee with me on changing the bedsheets, like u gotta lift the bed slightly to slip it and fix it afterwards and maybe it requires so much core strength?? lol idk I'm just kinda weak

[@SaarEskimo]

For washing with the soap nuts: do you let the clothes go through a quick rince cycle afterwards? With regular detergent it gets diluted, rinced and drained by the washing process, but I heard that you can reuse soapnuts a few times so they keep their "soapyness" throughout the washing cycle (Id imagine..). Do you not find it leaves a soapy recidue on your clothing? (I've never used soapnuts before but am tempted to try).

[@peterbridan3485]

I have never had a soapy residue on my clothes and I use soap nuts with no rinse cycle

[@aafkevisser5850]

I do relate to the sheet thing!! 😂

[@lauracanna2201]

Hi! Gittemary. Have you got any tips on how to remember how many washes you have done with the soap nuts? I started using them a month ago but I'm not sure how to keep truck of the 200 recommended washes? Bedsheets?! Yes, hate them too so we always have a shower JUST before going to bed so that I can keep them on longer (in this way I change them once a month) 🤣

[@ChristopherDraws]

Thanks for the video Gittemary! First, a question: why did you say you wouldn't use an ostrich feather duster in future? Is it because you're avoiding any animal products whatsoever? Because ostrich feather dusters are the best for the job, and more sustainable than synthetic ones. Second, I was going to recommend leaving a small amount of vinegar to soak in your bathroom sink (maybe a couple of hours is enough) to remove that stubborn limescale mark around the plug. Whether or not people are buying sustainable cleaning products, I believe a really important thing is to use as few as possible (depending on your physical/motor ability): mostly you only need an all-purpose detergent (floors, worktops, window frames), an acid-based one to deal with limescale/water marks, and then most of the rest can be dealt with simpler products like vinegar (glass) or bicarbonate of soda/other abrasives and physical effort.

[@ZeroWasteFamily]

Omg changing laundry is not my favorite task but love clean sheets day

[@fierce_history]

Agreed, cleaning the sheets is arduous and I don’t really understand why. Maybe because you have to lift the mattress up to put them back on?

[@vidz953]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for your videos. I'm early in my journey and you are such a wealth of information. I just got a secondhand composter for the food scraps that we can't feed our chickens. 💕

[@deboramestieri]

Do soap nuts sanitize the laundry too? 🤔 I was thinking about trying them, but I'm afraid that the clothes won't get sanitized enough...

[@allie9855]

yes!! it makes no sense because like you said maybe 5 minutes and it feels great to be in clean sheets but changing them is a pain!!

[@booksareamazing1]

I think that changing sheets is so hard because there are so many steps. You have to take everything off the bed and then remove each pillow case, take the sheets off each corner (especially if you use fitted sheets), wash them, and put them back on using the same steps which is just too many.

[@leanneearle3652]

I got so dramatic about changing the sheets, my husband just does it for me :)

[@lalinka17]

Haha, I had so much fun watching this video :-))) and I definitely relate! thanks

[@miasmith5468]

I LOATHE changing my bedsheets but looooove sleeping in the clean sheets once I eventually do it.

[@ellabanker3862]

I love love love the low waste cleaning videos, cleaning videos are a huge motivator for me but most cleaning videos of no recycling lots of plastic paper towels and just waste in general just makes me cringe instead of leaving me motivated.

[@elifgulfemurhan6531]

Orange will look sooo beautiful in the bathroom 😍😍😍😍

[@alexa1676]

I can relate to changing sheets 🤣😅

[@priscillamariekleven]

I also hate changing sheets 😂 we have a king sized bed so it feels like a lot of effort lol but it probably isn’t. We should probably be changing them more often 😬🙈

[@ashleyh6407]

I credit air drying my clothes for making them last soo long. Anyone have a good way of getting rid of static though? I do not use fabric softener, so I end up drying my clothes 5-8 minutes for the static before I hang them to air dry the rest of the way.

[@anaalves3658]

I air dry my clothes and I don't get static🤷. I noticed that when I visited the USA and everything was tumble dried that caused static with my clothing. Air drying definitely prolongs your clothes 😊👍

[@floraspond666]

Ah yes the bed sheets, my greatest enemy

[@sldekker4602]

For my last vacuum cleaner I bought a reusable bag. They excist!

[@Meinvt]

I don’t know why, but I find changing sheets exhausting!

[@Meinvt]

Pillowcases. Putting them back on the pillows.

[@charlescayton8901]

Thank you so much for your video sweet pea I think you have a nice house me and my husband and three kids has been living and a great big house for about 7 years now and me and my husband spending married for 11 years we have three kids my daughter Misty is 11 and Marciano my son is 10 years old and and my daughter Katy is 7 years old and all three of my kids have spectrum autism and my kids are very smart they like to draw really pretty pictures they say kids was fed them autism are very smart intelligent people in this world they say people respect them autism can be a genius I do believe that I love my kids so much 🤗💖 I hope you have amazing day ✌️🙂

[@chrisayemi]

Yes yes yes the bedsheet thingy ..uuuggghhh...it's literally one of the most traumatizing things to do..it feels like my energy gets drained😹

[@rachelbarnett6890]

Changing sheets and laundry are the worst tasks ever! 😫

[@emilysub5356]

question about the compostable cleaning supplies. does using them with the cleaning soaps/detergents have any effect on the compostability of the thing? i know my sponges and brushes tend to absorb some of the cleaning fluids so (while i'm still using the non-compostables i have) i feel like composting things that have absorbed the cleaning stuff might not be great. does anyone have any info on this?

[@laurensova05]

Ugh THE BED SHEETS are totally a thing. We have a california king bed so it's extra draining lol

[@user-dn5uz2bs2l]

Я тоже не люблю менять постельное бельё

[@mbrady199]

I'm reading your book. I love it. But honestly hoped you'd drop more names. You say "look for companies that do xyz" ... can't you just name a few? Or you say "use toothpaste tabs". Which ones!? I want to be more sustainable, I just don't have the brain space or time to properly do the research.

[@Gittemary]

I have lists on my blog that I frequently update with names and brands for all types of things, see the folder “lists” on Gittemary.com - the problem by adding names to a book is that I can’t update them, take them down if the company takes a wrong turn, or closes down etc, so I decided to leave them out to avoid giving out wrong information

[@anaalves3658]

@@GittemaryI think that you did the correct thing, companies get bought out and sometimes no longer keep their original values.

[@SparklinYoga]

for the EU citizens please sign and share the petition to ask EU to stop using our taxes to fund animal farming (which is one of the leading causes of climate change) and use them instead for sustainable companies