Zero Waste Baby Shower Gift Ideas

1. Second hand

Always check if this is ok with the parents. Some people may not want used baby gear, and that should always be respected! But if they are OK with used equipment, find out if they have any qualifiers (i.e. can go in the washing machine, non-smoking household, etc).

Next, checkout their registry. You want to get them something they want and will use because a secondhand gift can't be returned to the store. I would also generally make sure that your items are cleaner than average and clean them yourself before gifting it.  You can see how I did this successfully with a used baby backpack I got off of Nextdoor.

I have had success both on craigslist and Nextdoor, though I have come to prefer Nextdoor because it has a more neighborly feel to it, and people generally aren't too heckley. 

2. Plastic Free

As a fun plastic free gift, I got my brother and his wife some Klean Kanteen baby bottles, food canisters, and bottle nipples. I referred to them as "adventure bottles" because, knowing the parents, these kids are going to be outdoor adventuring a LOT. Here are the links to those and some other zero waste baby ideas:

1.  Klean Kanteen Baby Bottles 
2. Klean Kanteen Food Canisters
3. Organic Cotton Nursing Pads 
4. Organic Cotton Teething Toy 
5. Organic Cotton Snack Packs  
6. Soft Hairbrush 
7. Wool Changing Pad 

3. Baby Clothes

Baby clothes are not only a classic, but generally something you can guarantee your parents are going to use. There are lots of brands that carry organic cotton and operate sustainably!

1. Under the Nile - Under the Nile has an amazing assortment of not only clothes, but toys and other baby accessories. They also have really cute gift sets that basically scream baby shower!
2. Patagonia - Patagonia has lots of sustainable made baby and toddler clothes for whatever price range you're looking for! I love their cute live simply shirts and their organic cotton onsies.
3. PACT - Pact has lots of reasonably priced, organic baby basics!
4. Joobles - if you want something a little more unique check Joobles out, there collections are not only freaking ADORABLE but the company is also incredibly ethical.
5. Penguin Organics - Similar to pact, organic baby basics like onsies, blankets, bibs, and hats. 
6. Spunky Stork - Are you funnier than you're friends think? Do you want to get an awesome novelty onsie that makes the parents laugh out loud, but also want it to be on the eco-friendly side of things? Spunky Stork has your back! They have cute, funny onsies to fit that gaping hole of novelty that most organic, minimalist clothing companies have left.

How to Clean Your Tub Naturally - Even When It's Really Gross

Bathrooms are a places that are easy to get dirty, and sometimes feel hard to get clean. I've found the zero waste bathroom cleaning routine to actually feel more effective than traditional, harsh chemical methods! 

I've been cleaning our tub with a vinegar spray, but recently we had an incident when we had to go through a lot of headache to unclog the drain in our bathtub/shower. Unfortunately this process brought up a lot of not so savory stuff from the drain and really dirtied our tub.  I was questioning if my all natural methods were actually going to cut it. 

Luckily for me, they totally did! The simple combo of baking soda and vinegar did way better than I ever could have hoped! So whether you're just looking to give your tub a quick scrub, or you're needing to take care of some real nasty stuff, I've got you covered! 

BEFORE

AFTER

Ingredients:

1. Water-Vinegar Solution - 1:3 Vinegar:Water
   • you can add a few drops of castile soap if you want!
2. 1 Box Baking Soda

Instructions 

1. Spray your vinegar solution all over the tub so that it is thoroughly covered
2. Dust the tub with baking soda, go a little heavy in dirtier areas
3. Let sit for 20-30 minutes
4. Spray again with vinegar solution
5. Let sit for another 10-30 minutes
6. Scrub with a rag until all the grime has been wiped from the tub.  This sometimes takes a little elbow grease!
7. Throw out leftover baking soda if there's a lot, otherwise rinse it down the drain and let the tub run for a few minutes to clear it.
8.  Repeat if needed, though one round is usually enough.

Super Gross Tub

Spray Vinegar Solution

Sprinkle Baking Soda

Let Sit

Scrub, Scrub, Scrub!

Rinse, and Relief!

How to Hand Wash a Backpack - For Backpacking or Baby!

You may want to wash your backpack for several reasons. Maybe it's been well used and just needs a little TLC after too many days on the trail. Or, like my current situation, maybe you got it second hand and you just want it to seem a little more new. Whatever the reason, washing your pack can be done with ease! 

I got this awesome, used, Kelty baby carrier backpack for my brother and his fiancé, who are expecting.

So firstly, I have to say that before getting any baby stuff used, make sure this is ok with the parents! I got approval from the fiancé to buy used baby equipment, and found out exactly what sorts of items were OK. She said that as long as it was washable and in good condition she was totally fine with it, and a baby-backpack was one of the things she rattled off! 

I found a used Kelty Tour, which normally retails for $190, for $50 on Nextdoor.  I scooped it up, and it's in great condition! It was definitely well loved, though, and I want to give it to them fully cleaned!

The Deep Clean

You should look up the care instructions for your specific make of pack. This is a combination of suggestions from Kelty and REI on how to deep clean packs.

1. Empty your pack
2. Gently vacuum pockets, seams, crevices, and way down inside the main body of the pack to remove any crumbs, sand or loose dirt
3. If your pack allows, you should remove the hip-belt and shoulder straps and wash them separately with a sponge and gentle soap. Rinse well under running water.
4. If your pack has a removable metal frame, take that out and set aside.
5. Fill a bathtub or large sink with about 6 inches of cold - lukewarm water and gentle, non-detergent soap. I used Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner. Submerge and swish your pack in the water, use a rag to gently scrub the interior and exterior. Pay attention to any places that come in contact with skin like straps. Be gentle with mesh pockets.
6. Drain. Fill with 6 inches of clean cool water, rinse well. Rinse twice if necessary to remove all soap residue. I also let a cool shower run over mine for a few minutes.
7. Allow to dry overnight. I just left mine in the tub since we didn't need to shower that night, and the following morning it was dry, and so clean! I was incredibly happy with how the pack turned out. You almost wouldn't know it got it used!