Showing posts with label Cheapskates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheapskates. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 April 2017
Cheapskates on the Move Swimmers Ear
Today's public service announcement: A simple way to prevent swimmer's ear (one of the most common reasons for Dr's visits while in the Caribbean), with items you have in your bathroom cabinet:
"...If you know you don't have a punctured eardrum, you can use homemade preventive eardrops before and after swimming. A mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol may help promote drying and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that can cause swimmer's ear. Pour 1 teaspoon (about 5 milliliters) of the solution into each ear and let it drain back out. Similar over-the-counter solutions may be available at your drugstore."
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/manage/ptc-20201568
Cheapskates on the Move Washing dishes
On the boat, we are trying to conserve the fresh water in our tanks. In Odin the Winnebago, we are trying to slow filling the grey water tank. Doing dishes is the most wasteful use of water (besides showering--more on that later) and here's our technique, adopted and adapted from other cruiser tips. It's also earth-friendly (allowing you to afford more expensive dish soap because it lasts longer), saves plastic, and saves money.
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Start with an earth-friendly foaming soap (I like Seven Generation, Method or Dawn). A little soap goes farther & the squirt of water is built right in! Then refill the empty bottle with regular dish soap--fill almost to the top with water, then add 2 Tbsp dish soap. Shake ocassionally to keep mixed.
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Our favorite is Lunatec (Learned from The Boat Galley). It comes in a 4-pack and one dish cloth lasted us at least a year! Just the right amount of scrubby, antibacterial & quick drying (I love the loop for hanging up on the faucet). Never smells.
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(WARNING: My sister should stop reading here. She will be horrified. So was I, when I read posts on a sailor's forum. Boiling water equals CLEAN! However, open your mind for a second, and read on...)
Technique:
We primarily wash & rinse in cold water. I know it sounds crazy, but it works fine. If you NEED hot water (tomato or oil based recipe), you can heat it up in a tea kettle (or put some water in a pot still warm from cooking & put it back on the stove--running water while waiting for it to get hot is WASTEFUL!). Many of us were taught to use hot water because it leaves less streaks, but see "Rinse" below.
This may sound basic, but washing the least dirty things first will keep your dishwater cleaner. Glasses first, silverware, then pots & pans last.
For a few items, the foaming soap on the washcloth works great. Otherwise, it only takes a couple inches of water to wash dishes but using a pot or bowl that needs to be washed as your basin is even better.
Rinse: This is your biggest water waster. Try a few squirts from the water bottle. Even better, don't rinse off the soap OR just rinse off the "eating surface" of bowls or pans. You don't need to rinse off the outside. You won't eat off the surface & it's WASTEFUL! Bonus: soapy water doesn't leave streaks! Before you say, EWWWWW!, here's food for thought: the-cultural-divide-on-washing-dishes-brits-vs-americans
Tips: Do dishes before the food dries (I know. This is the part I hate). It will require less water OR, a few squirts from the water bottle OR a quick swish of a wet wash cloth & let it sit a second will loosen difficult stains.
The same foaming concept works for the bathroom:
Foaming hand soap canister
Fill almost to the top with water
2 Tbsp castile soap (unscented or citrus to deter mosquitos)
1 tsp coconut oil or glycerin (moisturizing)
10 drops lavender or tea tree essential oil for disinfecting
Try one or two of the steps above to start. You'll get used to it. You may not adopt the whole process, but you may find some things you do out of habit aren't necessary. Good luck. Share your tips below.
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Cheapskates on the Move Make your own Fizzy Water
Sodastream's have become quite popular for good reason:
- You can make carbonated water from tap water!
- No more lugging home cans, bottles or 2-litres.
- It's eco-friendly because it eliminates single-use bottles or cans (reducing the plastics going into the trash and ocean).
- You never run out.
- No ingredients you can't pronounce.
- Cheaper in the long run.
I frequently refer to making our own club soda on the boat since that is a term people understand, but it is really carbonated water or seltzer. Learn the difference here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/29/seltzer-vs-club-soda_n_1434891.html.
Don't drink soda? Here's what you can make with carbonated water:
- Sodastream mixes: You can make an individual glass & it can be adjusted for each individuals taste by adding more or less syrup ie. ginger ale, root beer, lemon lime,
- The Captain drinks the carbonated water straight up
- I like to add it to fruit juice like grape, cranberry or grapefruit (a good way to wean yourself off of soda--little fizzy & a little sweet, using less & less juice to save calories)
- Homemade sodas like ginger ale, lime and cream soda (or Italian Soda if you're at Starbucks). There are tons more on the internet. Think green tea or chai concentrates, simple syrups, fruit juice, Torani flavored syrups, or sassafrass concentrate.
- Mixer: Wine spritzer, see "lime" in recipes below for sweet & sour/margarita mix, to dilute hard liquors
- Tonic: Sodastream mixer is good or homemade (http://imbibemagazine.com/Homemade-Tonic-Water-Recipe/)
An extra Sodastream CO2 cylinder costs $30 (one is included with your purchase) & can be exchanged for refills in the states for $15 (I used Bed Bath & Beyond 20% off coupons). We had two at home so when one ran out, there wasn't a rush to exchange. Once you leave the country, you won't be able to exchange. You may be able to refill if you have all the pieces and can talk someone into it. Friends on sv Sail Pending use dry ice: (https://sodamakerclub.com/diy-refills/)
We had a SodaStream but we bought a 4 lb C02 bottle and brought it to the boat (can't ship or take on airplanes) and then attached our Sodastream head when the smaller canisters were empty. It lasted 18 months and we refilled it for $14 (labor waived) at Caribbean Inflatables in Red Hook, St. Thomas, USVI. While some articles recommend using regular soda bottles, I still use the SodaStream brand water bottles (watch expiration date. You don't want one of these to explode!)
Home brew supply stores are making it easier to find all the bits & pieces to make your own set up from scratch. Here's a few articles:
Popular Science: http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-home-carbonation-system
Serious Eats: http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/06/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig-how-to-carbonate-cocktails-at-home-equipment-how-to-build-cheaper-sodastream-replacement.html
Tips: Water fizzes better when it's cold so we keep 2 bottles in the fridge or refill with water pitcher. Add flavoring after fizzing or even better, in the glass.
Recipes
Ginger ale
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
1 1/2 cups hot (not boiling) water
3/4 cup honey
sparkling water
1. Combine all in a blender and process for 1 minute. Strain into a canning jar and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 10 days.
2. To Make Ginger Ale: Pour 1/4 cup of the ginger mixture (more or less to taste) into a glass.
3. Add sparkling water and ice cubes. Makes about 2 cups--enough for 8 servings of ginger ale.
Lime soda
http://planesboatsandbicycles.blogspot.in/2015/09/ode-to-limes.html
2 oz lime simple syrup, or to taste
6 oz club soda
Cream soda:
2 oz vanilla syrup recipe: Simmer 1 cup water & 1 cup sugar until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool. Add 1 tbsp vanilla extract & refrigerate
6 oz carbonated water
(Splash heavy whipping cream or Half & half, if desired)
Bonnie's Copycat Starbucks Refresher Energy drink (12 oz)
Ingredients on can:
Carbonated water
Fruit Juice concentrate 25% (Raspberry/Pom, Orange/Melon, Strawberry Lemonade)
Green Coffee extract
Citric acid
Stevia
Ginseng
Instructions:
4 oz carbonated water
4 oz green tea concentrate (1 1/2 c. water to 4 teabags or purchase powder)
4 oz white grape juice & another fruit juice of your choice (also try frozen concentrate?)
Simple syrup to taste
Limey
muddled lime
ice
6 oz carbonated water,
2 oz rum
muddled lime
ice
6 oz carbonated water,
2 oz rum
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