When I think back, it's funny how my perception of things have changed in just the last few years. From believing that only purpose made products work for medicine, health and cleaning, to realising that natural things in your environment can be just as effective and are easily made. I also used to be so caught up with not wasting food, that the idea of using it for cleaning or cosmetically felt wasteful, but now I realise that I don't want to be using cheap chemicals in my home which are damaging to my family and the environment.
I use as few chemicals in the house and on myself as possible and as a consequence, many of the things I use have multiple uses. I buy virgin coconut oil in a bulk bucket so I can refill jars for myself and my mum. The buckets are sturdy and great for reusing when empty. I use it for cooking, moisturising and for making infused herbal oils for medicinal use.
Something I always like to have on hand is oregano infused oil, which I'll make from the plants which grow in my front garden. It's a food and a medicine. Oregano oil is a great healing ointment, with anti-microbial properties which I use for all sorts of skin issues. So there's no need to have lots of different creams and ointments. I use it for cuts and grazes, insect bites, sunburn (it can sting a little), acne, cold sores and much more. I recently discovered that diluted it can be used as an insect repellant. Just a word of caution, the oil I make is not as strong as some you might buy. That stuff really stings when you apply it to sunburn!
Vinegar is also fantastic and multipurpose. If you can make it yourself, you'll save even more packaging. I hear making apple cider vinegar is quite easy, but I haven't reached that point yet. I use a cheap vinegar for cleaning. It’s a great descaler, although it does take a little longer to work than industrial descalers. I clean the toilet, descale the kettle and the rabbit cage bottoms with it. It kills bacteria, so I'll soak our sanitary wear in it after rinsing, to deodorise them before they go into the wash. It can be used diluted in water to clean glass and mirrors, leaving them streak free. Try it on stains on the kitchen worktop. I use a lot of spices in cooking and used to end up using bleach to shift the strains any spillage left, but vinegar works too, you just need to leave it on a bit longer.
For food use I prefer an organic vinegar, usually apple cider vinegar, which I also use for cleaning my hair, instead of shampoo. It's often used as a replacement for hair conditioner, even if you still use shampoo. Just mix 1 part ACV to 4 parts water and avoid getting it in your eyes, just like shampoo it will sting. There are so many uses for vinegar, so it seems like a no brainer to have in the house. It's not going to harm the environment and when it goes down the sink after its job is done it'll probably help clean your drains too.
These are just a couple of things which can save money, unnecessary packaging and the health of yourself and the environment.
This is my response to the @naturalmedicine and @ecotrain Alternative Consumer Challenge.