I have made the decision, and I'd thought I'd share with y'all, to only buy OLD things to use for decorating. Now don't get me wrong, I may bend the rule every so often (like friend's artwork), HOWEVER most things I have in my home have been given another life - hence going green. Now if only I can convince my patient husband that I am "recycling" and keeping our landfills empty - well, that is seriously s t r e t c h i n g it a bit now huh? Anywhoooos...I have been collecting vintage tins for many years. They are within my budget, cute, practical and great for hiding things in. I like to layer things and they make great bases for holding doo dads - like my old door stop here below.
This is a corner in my laundry room that is home for a few of my tins. Most of these pieces are from the '30's and '40's era. (They don't make things like they use to!) See the large tin? Well I bought that for 2 reasons: 1-cute! and 2-to use for storing my powdered laundry soap. Now I don't have to fuss with an ugly box! Oh, and might I add....why are we using liquid laundry detergents that come in a container that is NOT "GREEN?" It would take eons for the plastic bottle to even dissolve! So my friends, I have resorted back to powdered soaps - and I have a fantastic tin to store it in!Ok...I am getting off of my "soap box" for now.....toodles!
This is an angle I am going to use with my husband. I tend to buy all my decorating stuff second-hand. I actually don't even like a lot of the stuff that is new and in the stores. Old suits me much better. I love old tins too. Yours are great!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Becky;That is a great idea what a great way to go green.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes
Brenda:)
Ahhhhaa very wise! Love the Tins!
ReplyDeleteCute picture!
~~Liz~~
My problem is I have to use special high energy (He) laundry soap in my washer and they don't make it in powder. It's the only high energy thing in our house, though! Except Maggie, of course!LOL!
ReplyDeleteI've got to try that one on Jeff at least I'll get a good laugh out of him! Love the old tin's and I like that you put the soap in there it makes it much cuter to look at!
ReplyDeleteHugs~Kelly
Those are adorable!! I have a thing for old tins too. Our laundry room is more of a "closet", so not much room to decorate in there.
ReplyDeleteI've always preferred powdered laundry soap to liquid, and only resort to the liquid for treating stains.
Thanks for sharing; and I see the same cute doggie planter that I have!! :)
Hi Becky,
ReplyDeleteI think you should change your name to "Sweet Green Cottage Dreams"........Love your tins and you are saving space in the landfill seriously!!
Hugs,
LeAnn:)
I like those - pretty and practical. I have seen a laundry soap for front loaders that powder. But I do try to buy the largest size liquid and fill a smaller container to use for every day.
ReplyDeleteManuela
Hi Becky...I'm going to try that with Glenn too...I'm recycling. I'll let you know if it works!
ReplyDeleteI love that little corner in your laundry room..too cute!
Hugz,
Michele
I love it - and I, too have been using a pretty vintage tin/canister for my laundry soap! I like the way it looks in the laundry room. And I can't seem to pass up vintage tins at the right price.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you. But I do still buy the liquid soap.. I just make sure to rinse the bottle when done and take it to the recycling bin. Hopefully someone is reusing it to make something else.
ReplyDeleteCan't get over how much your stuff looks like my stuff here. ;-) Only your things are so much cuter it seems!
I love your "soap box" - the real one, and the one you got on! I've been reading that we really don't need to use hot water with the newer laundry detergents - gotta break that habit!
ReplyDeleteOooh, cute stuff. Love that little puppy!
ReplyDeleteSweet little corner!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely collection of vintage tins. I have also gone back to powder and I keep it in a large metal disused bread tin which looks nice and is practical too!
ReplyDeleteAren't old tins wonderful? I have always used them to hide seasonal things in. I love those in your photo. You give a new view of going green, and I love it.
ReplyDeleteJean in Virginia
I love it! I have gave you an award. Go to my blog and pick it up.
ReplyDeleteI love tins. Yours look so nice together. Mine are sitting on top of my cupboards - empty! What was I thinking? One thing that struck me you said, 'a corner of your laundry room.' It occured to me I have no corners in my laundry room. I tend to use that room for storage :(
ReplyDeleteTwyla
It looks like I have been "green" decorating all my life, lol, I always use old things! I wonder if nothing more was ever manufactured if there wold be enough old stuff to go around for all of us? Possibly. It would sure lessen our dependence on China too!
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologize for you soap boxes -- any of them! ;) Such a sweet corner -- love it!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Mary
I love old tins as well, they have so much character. I am currently trying to cheer up my laundry room and looking for something to store my powdered soap as well. I enjoyed visiting your site and would like to welcome you to visit mine as well!
ReplyDeleteCaroline
Good play on words! I have done the same thing and have a nice red tin basket to store my soap powdered soap in.
ReplyDeleteI think that's EXCELLENT logic for buying old stuff and I plan to steal it from you since I could always stand to go more green myself. Love your laundry soap container. You always find the best stuff!
ReplyDeleteYou are just TOO cute Becky. Cute, cute, CUTE!!
ReplyDeleteEVERYTHING ABOUT YOU - SOOO CUTE!
XO,
Kim
I love your reasoning! I need to find something for my soap, cuz I'm still fighting with that big old ugly box!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
My friend uses tins for everything too...it's not only green but it seems so ladylike and dignified. Both of which..sigh..I am not.
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea, Becky!
ReplyDeleteI've missed your blog. Been so wrapped up with events here. Lovely visiting you again :)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI love tins too and have them in different spots around the house. The vintage ones make me happy and I've been using powder laundry soap for years and not as much as the box says :) and the soap is in a huge glass jar that I bought at a garage sale for 50 cents. I just love sales :)
Warmly, Deb :)
**Snort**...getting off the soap box!! lol
ReplyDeleteCute, cute, cute! I like your reasoning very much--mind if I borrow it?
Smiles, Karen
What a lovely corner of you laundry room!!! Love all the cute tins! I also only buy "old stuff"(well, almost!) and my hubby thinks I'm insane sometimes, but he's getting used to it!
ReplyDeleteI love your tins and jar. I've thought about switching back to powder. I've been so pleased with how my liquid Tide cleans. What powder are you using?
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT POST!! I am on a NO spend diet as we speak~~~(I would like to try to pay my house off before I am 80) But I do like to buy second had. If your old tins could talk I am sure they could tell lost of stories. A lady from our church gave me a pressure cooker that was her moms and the lady that gave it to me was in her early 80's so could you imagine all the stories this pressure cooker could tell!( GOOD and BAD I'M SURE)
ReplyDeleteI hope your have a wonderful day,
ginger
Very,very cute and I love the doily on top of the container.
ReplyDeleteI store my dry laundry powder in a stoneware kind of churn looking container. It is cute and functional. I just did because I thought it was cute. But I like your idea of "going green".
Thanks for sharing. BTW what is Doughall up to?
Smiles,
Sherry and Daisy
Very,very cute and I love the doily on top of the container.
ReplyDeleteI store my dry laundry powder in a stoneware kind of churn looking container. It is cute and functional. I just did because I thought it was cute. But I like your idea of "going green".
Thanks for sharing. BTW what is Doughall up to?
Smiles,
Sherry and Daisy
I love these tins too! The ones I find are always rather exspensive for me tho. But the decals are SO sweet. You have a wonderful collection, (and this isn't all of them right?!)
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer powdered soap too, and wanted to change back recently. But I noticed they changed it. It's not as grainy as it used to be. What kind do you use? And sometimes I had issues with it not disolving in cold water, leaving huge clumps.
I think the "new concentrated" liquids is a bunch of balony. Ok, I'll get off my soap box too before I get carried away, lol!
You just carry on collecting those pretty tins and carry on doing your bit for the environment! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling look in your laundry room. I keep a vintage white enamelware pot in my laundry room to keep my laundry soap in, and I love it. It's very large, like a soup pot, but plain white. You have inspired me to put a decal on the front, and add a few more tins - like you, I have many. Thanks for the decorating tip.
ReplyDeleteMerry
I love your blog site. I love what you said about buying liquid soap and you are absolutely right. You have convinced me to switch to powder, but what to do about softener? I bought it once before in a cardboard carton, hopefully I can still find it. Love your photos too.
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