Bathroom : The Truest Room & And Other Room (Newsletter No. 41)
Useful domestic things I appreciate on an average ordinary day (spoiler alert: I got a lot of them since the Covid-19 pandemic started.)
Note: I don’t especially endorse these specific product brands or models, but rather the idea of what they offer. All but one (I can’t find the specific water flosser anymore so I chose the one I’d like to get when my current one breaks) of these links lead to actual products I did buy. Most of them are affiliate link$ which I hope is not a turnoff (trying to create some passive income here hehe), I genuinely am enthusiastic about mundane domestic things (did anyone else watch infomercials for fun?). FWIW, I’ve talked about all of these things in my group chats, punctuated by multiple exclamation points.
If you think you know a better version of any of the below, please share…
Wake up in the morning and use the Sonicare toothbrush my mom got me from Costco. The vibrations (vs. rotations of the Oral-B toothbrush) make my teeth feel cleaner and are a nice massage for my gums.
A tongue scraper. Different than just using your toothbrush. Satisfying to see the gunk.
A water flosser. It is so satisfying to see all the food particles that are hiding in your mouth stream into the sink. It’s easier to reach the back of your mouth with the water flosser head than with floss. I still recommend floss for plague (ps. I’m not a dentist and don’t play one on TV).
A bidet attachment makes me feel so fresh and clean, especially during my period :). I use less toilet paper too. I chose this bidet attachment because it has a front and back nozzle.
I still use toilet paper. Charmin Ultra Soft Cushiony Touch.
A clear shower curtain makes the bathroom feel bigger and brighter. The glass stones at the bottom of this curtain means that you don’t spend that one extra brain cell to make sure the curtain sticks against the tub while showering. Less mildew too. So satisfying. Of course the step up would be to have glass doors.
A cast iron skillet gives every piece of food a nice sear. Heat it up right and it’s just as nonstick as a nonstick pan. Except unlike a nonstick pan, it can take a beating when you’re cleaning it, you don’t have to worry about damaging the coating.
A metal spatula is so much more durable and effortless to use than a silicone one. It slips right under food, can scrape crispy bits, is thinner yet stronger. The hollow handle keeps the handle cool.
Chainmail dish scrubbers make cleaning crud off of cast iron (and other things) pretty effortless. Easy to clean the chainmail itself too, and they last forever.
My Berkey water filter is so much better than my old Brita one and lower cost per use. I got it during Black Friday. The water tastes so nice (no aftertaste!) and filters out a bunch more crap. It’s also that much easier to get water from a tap apparatus than aiming a pitcher into a water bottle.
I drink from a glass water bottle that that was included with my Berkey Filter purchase. I like how it’s transparent. I use the water bottle at home as well as outside because I don’t have to worry as much about spilling or dust falling into my water.
I spray my nose and mouth with HOCl spray* to kill bad germs without the harshness of alcohol. I use it every time I am in proximity to people outside my pod. It has a bunch of other uses that I wrote about here and here (note: I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV)
This apron from Not Perfect Linen makes me feel invincible while cooking and cleaning. 4 nice deep pockets that I’ve carried so many things in, including a bottle of hot sauce and the aforementioned water bottle. It makes me feel like Anne of Green Gables. It’s a Japanese-inspired style with crossback straps and no ties, you simply slip it on.
Silicone pot holders double as trivets and are easy to rinse and wipe clean
A lightweight cordless vacuum makes clean-as-you go so effortless. It’s easy to empty the canister and satisfying to watch how much crap gets sucked up in a matter of seconds and minutes.
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🎶 Piece of the Day 🎶
Today I choose to highlight the Baby Gua Sha.
After you care for your home, care for yourself. Rub this weighty baby along your face and body for a nice little massage. My favorite way to use it is to rub it along my jaw and back of the neck. Disinfect it with the aforementioned HOCl spray ;).
Let me know if you have any tips you’d like to share!
*I do have a code: KRISTY15, if you decide to get HOCl it at Lumionlife.com (affiliate link). Let me know if it works. Another brand I’ve tried is Curativa Bay.