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A flatlay showing a black crescent bag from Baggu and various items including a pouch, a notebook, sunglasses case, spork, tissues, charger, and more.

Baggu Nylon Crescent Bag: For Travel & Everyday

Published by welcomeobjects

A few days before I headed out on a three-week trip to Japan, I stopped by Baggu to buy their Medium Nylon Crescent Bag. I was looking for a lightweight bag that I could wear crossbody with ample room to carry all the things I needed for the day — but that wasn’t too big. I also wanted something with a minimalist aesthetic since it was the only bag I was packing. The Medium Nylon Crescent Bag checked all the boxes for me.

Well, it performed so wonderfully on that trip that I found myself reaching for it again and again when I returned home. It’s since become my go-to everyday bag.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. **

Me, a person with black hair, posing in a brown A-line coat with a black crossbody bag in front of a wooden areas

Wearing the Baggu Nylon Medium Crescent Bag in Japan. Related: What I packed for three weeks in Japan.

Size & Organization

Size: At 8″ × 13 ¾” and 4″ deep, I think it’s the perfect size for a bag when you’re out and about for most of the day. (Unless you’re the parent of a young one, in which case you probably need to tote more stuff around.) It’s deceptively roomy.

When I was traveling, I could fit my phone, wallet, reusable bag, a pouch containing various small items, a notebook and pen, tissues, phone cable and charger, a few small guidebooks, sunglasses, a snack, and a bottle of water.

If you’re looking for a different size, though, this bag also comes in a small version and a large one.

Weight: I cannot with heavy bags! This one is superbly lightweight at just 7.2 ounces. I love how lightweight it is.

Organization: The interior has two large zipped pockets on either side. I put the things I reach for the most (like phone, wallet, charger, and lip balm) in the zippered pockets so that they’re easy to find. Bigger items like the water bottle, sunglasses case, and my pouch of various things go in the middle. (Using pouches makes it easy to corral things and switch between bags. I go into my pouch organization system here.)

I made a video of what fits in the bag here.

View of a bag from the top. It is open, showing all its contents including a water bottle

Baggu in Use: With all the things pictured at the top of this post now in the bag. Yes, those are sporks in a pencil case.

Materials

This bag is made out of nylon, which is lightweight and tough. Baggu only uses recycled nylon, which is more sustainable than brand new nylon. The fabric has a slightly textured look to it. And it’s machine washable!

The strap, with a sturdy plastic buckle, is adjustable to 37.5″ so you can wear it over your shoulder or crossbody. I have two quibbles about the strap. One, when you adjust it shorter, it leaves excess strap hanging out to the side. I’d prefer a design where the strap was contained in a closed system. Two, I’m not a fan of logos, so I don’t love how it says “Baggu” in all caps on the strap. But at least it’s tonal so it’s not loud.

The zippers glide smoothly. No complaints there, though a would-be-nice-to-have is if the main zipper were a double zipper.

Closeup of the strap of the Baggu crescent bag, which has Baggu spelled out on it.

A closer look at the adjustable strap, which leaves some extra strap hanging off when shortened.

Colors & Style

Colors: The Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag currently comes in 11 colors (from brights to neutrals), two prints, and three embroidered designs. A recent collaboration with Sanrio resulted in an embroidered Gudetama design and embroidered Hello Kitty design. Note that the strap and zipper remain black no matter the color. That’s too bad. I’d like to see the strap match the body.

Predictably, with my love of black, I gravitated to the black bags. (This design with little embroidered hearts is a way to bring in bits of color to a mostly black bag). But if I ever feel like changing it up, at $52, this bag won’t break the bank.

Style: It’s definitely a casual bag, but I find that fits right in with my wardrobe, which has gotten more casual over the years. I like its simple shape. (For days that I want to feel more polished, I use my Everlane Form Bag — reviewed here.)

A person with dark hair wearing a mostly black outfit consisting of a T-shirt, a cardigan, and a skirt with sneakers. They are mid-stride.

On the go in Tokyo: Shirt // Skirt [review] // Bag [review] // Platform Sneakers [similar]

Crecent Bags: Baggu vs. Uniqlo

Apparently this Baggu crescent bag went viral on TikTok. If you’re wondering how it compares to another similar viral bag, the Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, I have both and can share some thoughts.

The Uniqlo bag (pictured on me here) is smaller. It’s called mini for a reason. Size wise, it’s in the middle of the small and medium Baggu crescent bags. In terms of what it can fit, it’s comparable to the Lo & Sons Nouvelle (my review here). I can fit wallet, keys, phone, reusable bag, tissue packet, lip balm, big sunglasses case, and a small bottle of water, though it’s a tight squeeze.

While it also has a nylon shell, this nylon doesn’t feel as durable at the Baggu nylon though it does feel softer. It’s coated with a water-repellent agent. The interior lining is a thinner polyester. The material is also slightly padded (with a polyester filling). Inside are two slip pockets on one side, but no zippered pockets.

Some nice touches: piping along the edges, which helps the bag keep its shape, and the color of the straps match the body in all colorways.

While the Uniqlo bag is a cute bag, I find myself reaching for the Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag much more due to its capacity.

How It’s Held Up

I’ve carried this Baggu bag around for more than a year now and it doesn’t show any wear, like at all. Talk about good quality! Importantly, it’s also a comfortable bag — even when I stuff it full of things. Overall, I appreciate the Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag‘s simplicity and practicality. It’s roomy, stylish in a minimalist way, and has a pleasing shape. I can’t really ask for more in an everyday bag.

UPDATE 7/16/24 – Baggu now makes tonal straps for some colors.

A tin of Blueland toilet cleaner on top of a toilet, with a wooden toilet brush nearby.

Greener Cleaning: Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Review

Published by welcomeobjects

Alright, today we’re going to get down and dirty and talk about cleaning the toilet. I’ve been swapping out my cleaning products for more eco-friendly ones and decided to try Blueland’s toilet bowl cleaner.

Previously, I used the conventional stuff, like Clorox, and then Method, thinking that it was a greener option. (They market themselves as “plant-based cleaning power.”) Not only did the Method cleaner not perform that well, it gets an F rating from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). That’s the same grade as Clorox.

This cleaner was gifted to me by Blueland (but I would have bought it anyway) and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items that interest me. Thanks for the support.

Bio-based Ingredients

While the Blueland toilet bowl cleaner is not in the EWG database at this time, the four Blueland products that are get good ratings. Three are EWG verified, meaning they meet the nonprofit’s standards for safe ingredients. Blueland’s products are bio-based.

What’s in the Blueland’s toilet bowl cleaner?

  • Sodium Bicarbonate – AKA baking soda
  • Citric Acid – Derived from citrus fruit
  • Maltodextrin – Starch/thickener for holding the tablet together
  • Water
  • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate – Foaming and cleansing agent
  • Brassica Napus (Canola) Seed Oil – Vegetable oil
  • Limonene – Essential oil extracted from orange peels
  • Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass) Oil – Essential oil extracted from  Lemongrass plants
  • Sodium Benzoate – A preservative to maintain shelf life (commonly used in foods)

Blueland’s cleaner also has the distinction of being plastic-free. It comes in a tablet form, or puck as I like to call it. I haven’t seen that anywhere else, though I just learned that Seventh Generation has a zero plastic line that includes a foaming toilet bowl powder, though I haven’t found it sold online anywhere yet.

How to Use Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tabs

A hand (lack with pink nail polish), holds a cleaning tab above a toilet

Photo from Blueland. So is the first photo at the top of this post.

It’s super easy to use. Just drop the puck into your toilet bowl and it fizzes like a bath bomb. The fizzing takes about a minute. After the puck has completely dissolved, you’re left with a nice foam and can get to work with your toilet brush. (Mine is from Full Circle. Review here.)

I never thought I’d say this about a toilet bowl cleaner, but it smells great.

Let me pause here in the cleaning process to speak of the smell. I never thought I’d say this about a toilet bowl cleaner, but it smells great. The essential oils give it a bright lemon scent. It does not have one whiff of that institutional cleaning smell. 10/10 for the smell!

After brushing, flush. And you’re done. But does it clean well? Blueland anticipated this question, because they have a whole page on their website with data about how they tested their cleaner against other brands on a range of toilet stains, including limescale, mineral deposits, hard water, and rust stains.

In my personal experience so far, yes it works. Luckily, I do not have any particularly tough stains to test on. For regular-level grime, I can report that Blueland worked great with a quick scrubbing.

BTW, if you have a septic system, yes these are safe to use.

What About the Cost?

So, $18 gets you 14 tablets (packaged in a paper pouch). That’s $1.29 per use. A subscription plan will save you 10%, bringing the cost down to $1.16 per use. For $5 more, you can get the starter kit, which comes with a tasteful purple steel tin that they call a “forever tin” to store the tabs in. But of course you can store them in another container you might already have.

Compared to $3.69 for a 24-ounce bottle of the conventional stuff, yeah, Blueland is pricier. I’m not sure how many uses one gets out of 24 ounces. This article says to use 4 to 6 ounces per cleaning. Let’s go with 4 ounces, which gives us 6 uses per bottle.

That’s 62 cents per use, compared to $1.16 per use with Blueland (if subscribing). So Blueland costs 54 cents more per use. Blueland says each cleaning is good on average for two weeks, though it depends (on your toilet, your pipes, your usage). I clean weekly. So for me, it will cost $28.08 more a year to use Blueland toilet cleaner. That’s a significant difference in cost, though one that I feel fine with for safer ingredients and less plastic.

You can find Blueland toilet bowl cleaner on their website (free shipping for orders of $45 and up), or on Amazon (which I try to avoid, but if you’re not going to meet the $45 floor for free shipping, then Amazon is more cost effective.) And you can even find these at Costco now!

Bottom Line

I tried the bio-based, plastic-free Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner, which is like a bath bomb for your toilet. It smells great, cleans good, and I recommend it, even if it costs much more than conventional cleaners.

The outside of a Uniqlo in Tokyo with the red and white uniqlo logo in both japanese and english

Does Uniqlo Fit Differently in the U.S. vs. Japan?

Published by welcomeobjects

This is a post I’ve been meaning to write ever since I returned from a trip to Japan in December 2022. Now it’s more than a year later. Better late than never! If you, like me, have ever wondered if Uniqlo fits differently in the U.S. compared to Japan, I now have an answer from first-hand experience: yes, at least for some items.

A note about Uniqlo: This blog is about striving to shop more ethically, but I occasionally write about Uniqlo. While it’s a fast fashion brand, it’s making improvements. Good on You gives Uniqlo a middle-of-the-road mark, noting that its labor rating has gone up from “Not Good Enough” to “It’s a Start.” However, it’s unclear if they provide a living wage to factory workers.

Personally, I’m working on consuming less in the first place and using items for as long as possible. But sometimes I do buy fast fashion (for reasons I go to in this post). And Uniqlo is one brand that works for me in terms of fit and price.

Uniqlo Sizing Differences in Different Countries

So, back to the fit info. Uniqlo says that their sizing differs from market to market. For example, what would be a size S in Japan would be sold as a size XS in Europe. But in my experience, there’s another difference.

Two of the same gray tweed jackets on a black and white rug

The same Uniqlo jacket from America on the left and Japan on the right. The American one had a size tag on it at the collar while the Japanese one didn’t.

Last fall, the Mister bought a wool-blend tweed jacket from a Uniqlo here in New York. When we traveled to Japan, he saw the same jacket, tried it on for the heck of it, and discovered that it actually seemed to look better. So he bought it.

Even though they were marked as the same size, he swore the Japanese one fit better.

Let this be a lesson to us all: a sleeve at the right length makes all the difference!

When we got home, we compared both jackets. The measurements were very similar, if not the same. But there was one clear exception: the sleeves, which were a little shorter on the Japanese version. The U.S. jacket measured a quarter of an inch longer in the sleeve (measured from shoulder seam to end of sleeve) than the Japanese one.

Let this be a lesson to us all: a sleeve at the right length makes all the difference! Even a quarter of an inch difference was noticeable. The whole jacket seemed to fit him better even though it was really this one area, the sleeve, that had a clear difference when measured.

The same man wears a gray tweed jacket in two images. The sleeves on the rigth image are shorter.

These Uniqlo jackets are the same size, but bought in different locations. To the left: the one from NYC. On the right: the one from Tokyo. The Japanese one has slightly shorter sleeves. Also wearing Everlane jeans [review].

We also discovered that the sleeves of button-up shirts were shorter at Uniqlo Japan. This was an exciting discovery as sleeves on shirts sold in America are often too long for him, even at Uniqlo USA. Needless to say, he bought several shirts too.

But Some Items Are Probably the Same

Now, I don’t know that this is true of every item. I bought a down coat (pictured in this post about what I packed for our three-week trip). The fit feels similar to coats I’ve tried on in Uniqlo USA. But since I didn’t do an exact item-to-item comparison, it’s hard to say whether the women’s clothing are different too. (I don’t know why I didn’t think to also try on some button-up shirts since sleeves being too long is also a problem for me.)

But the shirts and jacket the Mister brought home are proof of subtle differences among different countries. Uniqlo sizing differences exist! So even if you think you’ve seen it all at Uniqlo in the U.S., it’s still worth checking out Uniqlo in Japan in case something fits different, particularly if you’re considered petite or short-limbed in America.

By the way, some of the bigger Uniqlos in Japan have fun extras in them like flower shops, coffee stands, and local T-shirt designs. And in some locations you can even get suits ordered to your measurements (though it will take at least a week for them to make it). That was cool to see.

A woman in a purple coat holding an umbrella looks at the flowerstand outside of a uniqlo store

The Uniqlo in Ginza, Tokyo

 

Three sweaters on wooden hangers.

Fitting Room Review: Sweaters & a Slip Skirt from Everlane

Published by welcomeobjects

To be honest, Everlane has cooled on me these last few years. They seem to have gotten trendier over the years. But hey, if I’m passing by I’ll pop in out of curiosity. The last time I visited was in November. I tried on a few things, mostly sweaters.

Now that I’m finally getting around to posting fitting room photos, half of these items are already on clearance! But I thought I’d share photos just in case you’re looking to see how these things fit on a short non-model — especially for those items that are final sale. For reference, I’m 5’4″. I generally wear a small in most brands (though these days I sometimes wear a medium).

The Good Merino Cardigan

A light skinned model wears a cappuccino colored cardigan with a pocket on it.

Good Merino Wool Cardigan – $51-55 on final sale (originally $138)

Above: a 5’8″ model in M. Below: 5’4″ me in a S.

A person with black hair takes a selfie in a fitting room mirror wearing a two-toned cappuccino colored cardigan with a pocket on it.

Good Merino Wool Cardigan – $55 for this color

Details: This boxy wool cardigan has a shape that’s very Everlane: oversized and cropped. But the details I find baffling. Two of the colors, like the one I’m wearing above, come in a two-tone color blocking. All have raised seams down the sleeves. Some even have visible contrast stitching there. I don’t really love any of these design elements. Maybe I’m boring, but I just want a solid color (or a pattern all over) in a cardigan.

Sizing & Fit: A bit oversized and wide, but it’s true to size. Your normal size will yield a slightly loose fit.

Petite Friendly? Yes. I like that it’s short in the body.

Materials: Everlane calls this “Good Wool” because it has certifications indicating good animal welfare. It’s a medium thickness and seems warm, but feels a tad scratchy. Reviewers on the Everlane site also complained that it pilled immediately.

Where It’s Made: Hong Kong

The Alpaca Oversized Cardigan

A white model wears a long brown cardigan.

Oversized Alpaca Cardigan – $178 (Fuchsia and cafe cream on sale for $71)

Above: A 5′11″ model wears size M. Below: 5’4″ me in XS.

A person with black hair takes selfie in a fitting room wearing a long brown cardigan.

Oversized Alpaca Cardigan – I’m not sure if I’m wearing the same color as the model above as the tag didn’t list the color. But there’s only one brown for this cardigan on the website, so maybe?

Details: A long cardigan featuring a rib stitch in the body and a chunky rib at the button placket. There’s also a version that comes with pockets.

Sizing & Fit: Oversized. I sized down in the photo above.

Petite Friendly? Meh. For me, I find the length kind of awkward. It seems to cuts me in half.

Materials: 60% alpaca, 30% nylon (21% recycled), 10% merino wool. It feels very much like the Everlane’s other alpaca offerings like their Alpaca Crew (review here), which is to say it’s light, airy, and warm. For a sweater so light, it’s surprisingly warm. But I find it itchy on my sensitive skin. Though Everlane claims this cardigan is pill-resistant, reviewers complain it pills easily.

Where It’s Made: A 700-person factory in Dongguan, China

The Cloud Oversized Turtleneck

Above: A 5’11” model wears size M. Below: I wear an XS.

A person with black hair takes a selfie in a fitting room mirror wearing a white turtleneck sweater

Cloud Oversized Turtleneck – In which it’s hard to show you the turtleneck part because I have to hold the phone in front of my face for a mirror selfie.

Details: A big sweater with a rounded shape, dropped shoulders, and a wider sleeve with a slight taper. There’s ribbing at the sleeves, hem, and the turtleneck. Even though I generally don’t wear turtlenecks, this was my favorite sweater out of the three I tried. It seemed the most classic while having a chic shape.

Sizing & Fit: True to its name, it’s oversized. Boxy fit. I sized down.

Petite Friendly? The body length on the XS above is 22″, which works for my petite frame. But the sleeves are way long on this one, longer than even other Everlane sweaters.

Materials: Everlane says it’s made out of their Cloud Yarn, a lightweight yet chunky yarn that’s 42% merino wool, 31% cotton, 27% alpaca. It has a nice medium feel to it.

Where It’s Made: The same factory in Dongguan, China as the alpaca cardigan above

The Hammered Satin Slip Skirt

A black model wears a top and skirt in the same black and white print

Hammered Satin Slip Skirt – $29-$59 on final sale (originally $98)

Above: A 5’10” model wears a size 2. I’m 5’4″ and wearing a 6.

A person with dark hair takes a selfie in a fitting room mirror wearing a black and white slip skirt

Hammered Satin Slip Skirt – $59 for the black moonsplatter print

Details: The slip skirt is one ’90s comeback I’m OK with. This one comes in a satin fabric with partial lining and a size zip. However, there is this seam that goes across at about a third of the way down because of a yoke panel at the top. It’s well hidden in the print above, but I think it might look a little funny in a solid color? (It also comes in yellow, fuchsia, and black)

Sizing & Fit: True to size. I felt that the skirt hangs and flows nicely.

Petite Friendly? Well, it’s supposed to be midi length, but it’s a maxi on me!

A hand holds out the fabric of a stain material with a black and white print

A closeup of the viscose fabric

Materials: FSC-certified viscose. Viscose is basically wood pulp. In this case, the supplier has a designation that says they’re at low risk of using ancient and endangered forests. The material is thin (as I would expect in a slip skirt) and has a subtle hammered texture and slight sheen to it, which lends it an elegant feel.

Where It’s Made: Nanchong, China

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here. If you found my review helpful, please consider shopping through my link. Thank you!

A person with dark hair stands in front of a brick wall wearing an oversized cardigan that is buttoned over skinny jeans.

Quince Review: Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan

Published by welcomeobjects

An oversized cocoon cardigan has been on my wish list for a while. After thinking about it for two years, I finally gave in and ordered the Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan Sweater from Quince. I’m using it as my cozy work-from-home sweater. Here’s my review after wearing it for two months.

Fabric: Much like the crewneck version of this sweater (reviewed here), the knit is 7-gauge. It’s a medium weight, not bulky, and even feels light considering how much sweater there is. See this unboxing Reel I made for a closer look at the knit.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. **

An oatmeal-colored oversized V-neck cardigan.

Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan Sweater – $119.90. It’s wide! This is the oatmeal. It comes in three other colors.

Itchy Factor: My skin is on the sensitive side, but this sweater doesn’t bother me. I wear it over T-shirts, so there’s still a layer between me and the sweater. But where it’s in direct contact with my skin (such as my arms) it doesn’t itch me.

Details: It has a gentle V-neck and fisherman rib detailing. Though it’s called cropped, it’s not that cropped. But it’s cropped in comparison to the boyfriend version of this sweater, which covers your bum. While the buttons look the same on most of the colors, the black comes with black buttons. (I appreciate this attention to detail.) This cardigan looks similar to the $445 Jenni Kayne cropped cashmere cardigan, but costs a quarter of the price.

Where It’s Made: China. Quince says they only partner with factories that pay fair wages and produce goods in a sustainable way.

A person with dark hair stands in front of a brick wall wearing an oversized cardigan that is open over skinny jeans.

I opted for skinny jeans to balance out the oversized fit of the cardigan. It’s been so overcast here lately, so this is what the sweater looks like on a cloudy day.

Fit: Oversized! And boxy. I’m a S in most brands, including Quince, but given how big this looked, I sized down to XS. That was the right call. Even at a size down, it’s still oversized and quite wide across. The XS measures 25″ across from pit to pit. It’s 23″ lengthwise, so it’s wider than it is long.

Petite Friendly? Well, I often have to fold up the sleeves, but that’s nothing new when it comes to sweaters and my short limbs. I’m wary of sweaters that are too long and kind of cut me in half. This skims the top of my hips, which I think works okay, proportion wise.

How It Wore: Quince claims that “fine yarns mean less pilling.” But I found the opposite to be true of this cardigan. It pills quite a bit! Mine has pilled along the arms, which is typical for me (all that movement, I guess), as well as on the lower two-thirds of the body. Here’s how it looks after two months of wear:

Closeup of fabric of a cardigan. There is some pilling.

The Quince cardigan’s condition after two months.

To be honest, the pilling looks worse in real life. Of course all sweaters are going to pill some. That’s just what they do. But compared to sweaters from other brands that I own, this sweater started pilling faster. And it continues to pill. It definitely needs regular de-pilling maintenance. (And Quince has just the thing for it too in this $10 cashmere comb, which I think I’ll add in my next order.)

Final Thoughts: The rapid pilling makes me worry about the quality — and how raggedy it might look over time. But I can’t deny what an everyday staple this cardigan has become. It’s cozy, easy to throw on, and nicely toasty. There’s a lot to like (including the price), even if it’s not perfect.

If you’re interested in trying Quince, here’s my referral code, which will take $20 off your first order of $200 or more. This will also generate credits for me, so thank you!

White dishes in a dishwasher's bottom rack

Switching to a More Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent

Published by welcomeobjects

Photo: Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash

One exciting aspect of moving into my current apartment is the presence of a dishwasher who isn’t me. Now that I have this magic machine, I can’t imagine going back to washing everything by hand.

The Problem with Pods

Without thinking too much about it, I used 7th Generation dishwashing pods. I assumed they’d be fine because the company touts plant-based ingredients. (UPDATE: Silly me. It turns out the brand is owned by Unilever.)

But then I read about how those pod encasements may not break down completely. What the heck are they made out of anyway? The film containing the detergent is made out of polyvinyl alcohol, also known as PVA or PVOH. PVA is a synthetic plastic polymer that’s water-soluble and biodegradable. It’s supposed to break down into non-toxic components.

However, a study from Arizona State University found that as much as 75% of PVA from detergent pods pass through conventional water plants untreated, making their way into our waterways and soil. Oh noooo.

A study found that as much as 75% of PVA from detergent pods pass through conventional water plants untreated, making their way into our waterways and soil.

The study was partly funded by Blueland, which makes environmentally-friendlier cleaning products, including their own dishwasher tablets. (UPDATE: I reviewed the Blueland tabs over here.) Blueland is petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to remove PVA from its Safer Choice and Safer Chemical Ingredients lists until tests prove PVA is safe.

I’m always a little skeptical when a brand helps pay for a study. But also, I’m glad this study exists and is bringing attention to this potential problem. (The study authors, for their part, say that funders had no role in the design of their study or the interpretation of data.)

In any case, why chance it? If pods are questionable and might be contributing to plastic pollution, then I’ll use something else. I did some reading, starting with Going Zero Waste’s post about dishwashing detergent (though it includes pods on its list, including the very 7th Generation pods I’d decided to stop using).

At first I looked for another pod option. But then I realized that I was being seduced by their convenience. I could just stop being lazy and use some old fashioned powder detergent (which takes all of 3 seconds more to use). After scanning ingredients and reading reviews, I decided to try Ecover Dishwasher Powder.

Ingredients

Going Zero Waste compiled a list of ingredients to avoid. These include:

  • fragrance
  • dyes
  • phosphates
  • sodium hypochlorite
  • polyacrylates (acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methacrylic acid)
  • benzisothiazolinone
  • methylsothiazolinone

Ecover says their dishwasher detergent is phosphate-free, biodegradable, and fish friendly. I looked for it in the Environmental Working Group‘s (EWG) cleaning products database. There, I found a different Ecover dishwasher detergent with a B rating. But the exact one that I bought was not on there.

So then I looked up each ingredient on the label. (EWG’s website is kind of hard to use. I tend to go to this page and search by ingredient or product.) What’s listed below is each ingredient on the label followed by the grade given by EWG.

Ingredients: sodium sulfate (A), sodium carbonate (A), sodium citrate (A), sodium chloride (A), sodium carbonate peroxide (A), sodium silicate (B), magnesium sulfate (A), sodium polyitaconate (C), alcohol alkoxylate (D), sodium metasilicate (F), amylase enzyme blend (B), subtilisin enzyme blend (B), fragrance (D), limonen (C)

Hmmm, there are some ingredients with bad ratings. Alcohol alkoxylate, sodium metasilicate, and fragrance are all concerning for respiratory issues. Other concerns among these ingredients include developmental and reproductive toxicity and skin allergies.

However, those concerning ingredients come further down the list. Because of the Cleaning Products Labeling Act of 2017, ingredients must be listed in descending order of weight. So if it’s further down the list there’s not as much of it. Given that most of the ingredients received an A or B rating, perhaps this product would also receive a B rating if EWG were to analyze it?

How Does Ecover Dishwashing Powder Perform?

So far, so good! My dishes come out squeaky clean. (I use the air-dry setting instead of heat-dry, by the way, which is more energy efficient.) I haven’t seen any residue or film. And while the fragrance is apparent when you’re dispensing the powder, the clean dishes themselves do not have any smells.

In fact, I think it cleans better than the pods I was using before. The detergent comes in a simple cardboard box. No plastic. And the price is right too. A 48 ounce box is just $6.29 at Vitacost at the time of this writing. (You can find it on Amazon too, but the price is almost three times as much and I’m trying to avoid Amazon where I can.) There’s also a fragrance-free version. All in all, I’m happy I made the switch.

UPDATE 9/7/24 – A friend of mine uses and likes Biokleen automatic dishwasher powder, which receives a B rating from EWG. One drawback is that it comes in a plastic container. Also, read this ProPublica investigation into the production of chemicals used in America’s most popular cleaning products (like Cascade), that are polluting our air and elevating cancer risks.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A black sleeveless garment on a hanger

8 Tips for Shopping Secondhand Clothes Online

Published by welcomeobjects

When it comes to shopping for clothes, my first goal is to shop less. But if I do look for something, I try to look for secondhand first.

I prefer shopping secondhand in person so that I can take a closer look at the condition of a garment. But this can be difficult if you’re trying to fill a specific wardrobe gap. Say you’re looking for a shimmery pleated midi skirt. Or perhaps, a certain cut of jeans from your favorite brand. Finding that specific piece in a brick-and-mortar thrift store or consignment shop requires some patience. You’ll likely find a bigger inventory online.

I’ve had my share of online shopping failures (but also many successes). So here are a few things I learned from personal experience when it comes to shopping for secondhand clothing online.

1. Go for familiar brands. Because many secondhand online retailers don’t allow returns, I tend to stick to brands that I know well. (The exception is when a vintage piece catches my eye.) Often, I’m looking for something I already own, but in a different color. Or maybe I tried something on in the store first and then decided to search for it later. I’m not much of a risk taker when it comes to secondhand shopping online because I’m trying to avoid a scenario where something doesn’t work out.

The good news is that many brands now offer their own secondhand shops, like Eileen Fisher’s Renew (which allows returns) and Amour Vert’s ReAmour. Even small indie brands like Curator SF have a secondhand section, often operated by a third party like Treet, where individuals can list their pre-loved items for sale.

2. Ask for measurements. If they aren’t listed, ask! Compare them to something you already own that fits well. Even if the measurements match, you might strike out. But chances are much better if they match.

I make it a habit to ask questions when I’m interested in an item to see how quickly or thoroughly the seller responds.

3. Ask the seller a question, any question. On platforms where there are individual sellers (eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, etc), interact with the seller. I made the mistake of buying something on Poshmark once that never shipped. The seller either disappeared or was not active. Now I make it a habit to ask questions when I’m interested in an item to see how quickly or thoroughly the seller responds.

4. Check the feedback. Of course, look at the seller feedback as well. You can get a sense of how much they’ve sold, how quickly they ship, and how satisfied their buyers are.

A flatlay of three items: a black cropped cardigan, a beige beanie, and a sweatshirt with a repeating zebra design.

Some secondhand finds: Everlane cardigan [review], J Crew Factory Sweatshirt. (The Quince beanie was not secondhand.) Photo from this post.

5. Avoid listings that say “mint condition.” People seem to throw this phrase around without understanding what it means. Another Poshmark fail: I bought a brooch in “mint condition.” It turned out to have scratches on its faux pearl surface. Same goes for “perfect condition.” When I see these phrases, it indicates to me that the seller is kind of lazy and isn’t really paying attention.

6. Zoom in on those photos. Had I viewed the photo of the brooch on desktop or iPad, not my phone, perhaps I would have noticed the scratches. Zoom in for the details. And don’t be afraid to ask for more photos. A conscientious seller will make the effort to provide more photos.

7. Cross reference platforms. When I’ve found something I like, I often check other platforms for the item. Sometimes the same seller will list an item on several platforms. Because shipping and selling fees differ across platforms, you might find the same item at a lower price on another platform.

8. Inspect your purchases right away. After your item arrives, there’s often a time limit to check it and report any issue. On Poshmark, you have three days to accept an item, or Poshmark will automatically close out the sale and release funds to the seller.

Once, a pair of pants I bought on Poshmark had a stain that was not disclosed. I don’t think the seller was buying duplicitous. Maybe they just missed it. Another time, a shirt I ordered from Thredup arrived with a hole. In both cases, I was able to lodge a complaint and send them back for a refund.

I hope these secondhand shopping tips have been helpful! If you have any, please share them below. And if you’re looking for tips about selling online, particularly on Poshmark, see here and here.

Photo: Henry & Co./Unsplash

Six images of the same person with dark hair wearing different outfits.

My 2023 Shopping Year in Review

Published by welcomeobjects

I hope your new year is off to a good start. It’s that time of year when I look back at various parts of my life — including my shopping habits.

Ever since 2017, the year that I decided to shop more mindfully, I’ve successfully bought less and less. That is until 2022. You can read about why 2022 was an anomaly in that year’s recap post, but it was an unusual year.

Well, 2023 turned out to be unusual too. Due to a sudden health issue, I gained quite a bit of weight. That meant a lot of my wardrobe didn’t fit comfortably, which led to shopping.

Pictured above: In every photo I’m wearing something that I got this year. 

What I Bought in 2023

In 2023, I spent $1,262 on clothing and acquired 40 items. (My count does not include jewelry, accessories, and undergarments.) This is the largest number of items I’ve acquired in one year since 2017 (when I also added 40 items). In terms of money spent, though, this is on the lower end of my annual spending.

I should mention that out of the 40 items, six I received for free from a brand. I’m not sure I’ll keep them all as I accepted them for review purposes. I feel a little weird about including them in my count since they’re mostly clothes I didn’t pick out myself. But at the same time, they’re in my wardrobe now, so I’m counting them.

What did I acquire? Here’s a breakdown by category:

Shoes – 5
Tops – 12
Sweaters – 7
Dresses/Sets – 2
Skirts – 5
Pants – 7
Outerwear – 2

Looking at the numbers, I’m surprised by the number of tops I got. But when I review my list, I see that the majority were T-shirts or tank tops, nothing fancy. I thought that adding more T-shirts into rotation during the hot summer months would be useful. I didn’t need as many T-shirts in San Francisco, where I used to live, because I could get away with wearing a shirt many times without washing it, thanks to SF’s temperate weather. Not so in the humid, hot summers of NYC!

Plus, my ever-increasing weight meant some of my usual shirts were too tight. The pants count was also high due to weight. I added many pairs of jeans towards the end of the year to accommodate for my new size.

But while I’d like to blame the bulk of my increased shopping on the weight gain, that would be disingenuous. If I’m being totally honest, only six items were acquired specifically for the reason of weight gain. I bought a lot of things because, quite simply, I was browsing. In a challenging year, I reverted back to retail therapy and shopped to sooth myself.

Favorite Buys

A person with black hair wearing a floral print top and skirt (A-line shaped) standing outside in front of a green wall

A favorite outfit this year: Amour Vert Top // Amour Vert Skirt // Muji Shoes [similar]

Most Worn Items

These are the wardrobe staples I bought this year that I reach for again and again.

Everlane Way-High Jean – I rebought my favorite jeans in a bigger size. So it’s no surprise that I wear these all the time. (My review here.)

Gap Shaker-Stitch Cardigan – Yes, it’s fast fashion. But it’s petite sizing. Finally, a sweater where the sleeves aren’t too long!

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Ribbed Beanie – As this is an accessory, I didn’t actually include it in my count. But I just want to shout it out because I wear this so much during the fall and winter.

Most Fun Purchases

Things I totally did not need, but bought because they spoke to me.

Curator SF Gallery Dress  – The easy fit of this dress makes me feel chic despite my weight gain. This is no longer sold, but you can see it in this Instagram post, including the surprising cut-out on the back.

Amour Vert Mariah Skirt in Lily and the matching top – I love this print — and the fact that I can wear this as a set or as separates.

dr. Liza Flats in Gold – The only other metallic shoes I’ve owned have been heels. But a flat is so much more wearable. Why not add some sparkle to your every day outfit. (Though I had to apply the shoe stretcher to them. Review here.)

Biggest Splurge

AllSaints Elora Cropped Moto Jacket  – A cropped moto jacket feels like such a splurge to me since it only works in certain outfits versus a more traditional length. (Review here.)

More Numbers

One area I improved in was shopping secondhand more. A goal of mine for several years now has been for 50% of my acquisitions to be secondhand. While I didn’t meet that — my number was 35% — this was a much higher percentage than prior years. (The best I’ve done prior was 16.6% secondhand in 2020.)

In addition to buying secondhand, I also made use of my local Buy Nothing group and picked up some castoffs from friends and family, which helped keep costs down. (Because they were free!) Seven items came to me this way.

Another indicator of how mindfully I’m shopping is to evaluate how many items I’m actually keeping. In other words, are there any retail regrets? I’ve already decided not to keep two items I thrifted (one for fit issues, another because I just don’t love it as it turns out). I probably won’t keep all the jeans I got for weight gain, but for now I’m hanging on to them for fluctuations.

As to decluttering, I purged just nine items this year, three of them bags. I mostly paused on re-evaluating my wardrobe since it’s possible my weight will come back down as medications are adjusted.

Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count 
Additions: 40
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 14
Subtractions: 9

2024 Goals

What’s next for 2024? First, I think I’m going to chill and do a No Buy January. For the rest of the year, I hesitate to set a numeric goal when my body is still in flux. But you know what, I’m going to do it anyway because I really don’t think I should acquire another 40 items. That’s too much. I’m going to try to keep it to 20 max. And I will keep that 50% secondhand goal and see if I can do even better this year.

I’ll end on a Reel of some of my favorite outfits from the year:

This post contains some affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A gift wrapped in DIY giftwrap made out of brown paper. There are supplies to the side such as scissors and stamp pad.

DIY Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap & 5 Other Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas

Published by welcomeobjects

If there was ever a single use item, it’s gift wrap. We buy a lot of it. It’s an industry worth billions the U.S. (I have seen figures ranging from $2 to $13 billion.) In any case, it’s a fair amount — and most of it gets thrown out after one use.

Gift wrap isn’t even recyclable in many cases. If it has glitter or shine, that means it can’t be recycled. Even if it’s not shiny, it still might be coated in plastic. So, I don’t buy gift wrap anymore. I make my own out of materials I already have lying around.

How to Make DIY Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap

Materials on a wooden surface: brown paper, stamp pad, stamps, washi tape, scissors, pen.

Stamp Pad // Gift Tag Stamp [similar] // Totoro Stamps // Washi Tape // Scissors // Pen

Materials

A paper bag, grocery bag, or packing paper
Rubber stamps
Stamp pad
Washi tape
Scissors
Pen or marker

4 Easy Steps to Making DIY Wrapping Paper

1. Cut paper to size. I’m using some packing paper that came in an online order. So it’s a bit wrinkly. But whatever. (Also, can we take a moment to appreciate these handsome Japanese-made scissors?)

A copy of the book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus on top of brown paper.

This is an eco-friendly gift too. It’s secondhand.

2. Decorate the paper with rubber stamps. How cute are these Totoro stamps? If you don’t have rubber stamps, you can decorate with pencils or markers. If you have a child, you can put them on this task. Who is going to be mad at gift wrap decorated by a child? (Or don’t decorate at all. It’s optional.)

A close up of a stamp of totoro.

I got these stamps in Japan, but you can also find them here.

3. Secure with washi tape. Regular tape is made out of plastic. So I use washi tape, which is made out of paper and will at least biodegrade. But if you’re good at folding, you don’t need any kind of tape at all. You can just fold and tuck. I’ll refer you to Martha Stewart for how to wrap without any tape.

The back of a gift wrapped in brown paper and decorated with stamps and red and blue washi tape

The red, white, and blue washi tape lends a nice postal vibe.

4. Address your gift. I happen to have this handy To/From stamp shaped like a gift tag. But of course, a pen or marker works just fine too.

A stamp pad and stamp in the shape of a gift tag, on top of a wrapped gift.

While this particular rubber stamp from Yellow Owl Workshop is no longer available, here is a similar one.

All done! I added a little washi tape to the front for visual interest. Not that I think that the 4-year-old recipient of this present will notice. Here’s a Reel of the whole DIY gift wrap-making process.

A gift wrapped in DIY eco-friendly gift wrap made out of brown paper with a design stamped on it

5 Other Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas

1. All sorts of paper. Maps, newspaper, pretty magazine pages, calendars, sheet music. Even that bubble wrap alternative made out of paper. There’s all sorts of paper that can have a second life as gift wrap.

2. Tins, boxes, & jars. When I come across a nice-looking container, I save it for reuse. This can be tins from tea or cookies, a particularly nice-looking or sturdy box from a product, or even glass jars.

3. Dust bags & tote bags. I don’t know about you, but I have so many extra dust bags from shoe purchases and even buying bedsheets. Similarly, despite my best efforts, I end up with extra tote bags. Put them to use!

4. Gift bags. At least these are reusable. (And hopefully the recipient will save it for reuse and not throw it out.) But I do try to re-use something I already have first. If I’ve acquired a particularly nice shopping bag, I’ll cover up the brand logo with a design and use it as a gift bag.

5. Furoshiki or other fabric. Furoshiki is a Japanese cloth for wrapping or transporting stuff. (Marie Kondo shows us how it’s done.) Even if you don’t have a furoshiki per se, you can similarly use other fabric. I wrapped the gift below using a dish cloth. I gathered the cloth to the top, then secured it with a piece of string that previously held an Everlane price tag to a T-shirt. (After the recipient opens their gift, I’m reclaiming my dish cloth. But you can also use fabric scraps if the gift won’t be opened in your presence.)

A hand holds up a gift wrapped in a cloth with a lemon print.

Dish Cloth – $4.99 for set of 4

I don’t even participate in gifting for the holidays (except for kiddos). But when I give a present, I use one of the ideas above. Hope this helped spark some ideas. If you have other creative solutions for sustainable gift wrapping, please share in the comments.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Welcome Objects.

A view up at red leaves on a tree. The sun is shining through.

Fall 2023 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

Shopping is a bit weird these days since my body is in flux. I’ve been steadily gaining weight due to medication, rendering more and more of my existing wardrobe unwearable. So I needed some new things. But I hope that I won’t need to stay on this medication and can eventually shed some of this weight. Which means I don’t want to buy that much. And yet, I seem to have acquired many things in the past three months, from September through November.

** This post contains some affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.**

Wardrobe Additions

Everlane Way-High Jean – In my post about shopping for a changing body, I wondered if I should rebuy a pair of jeans I already own in a bigger size. I decided yes and found a pair on Poshmark. For a while, these were the only pair of pants that fit me. (My review of the Way-High Jeans here.)

Old Navy High-Waisted Jeans – A neighbor on my local Buy Nothing group kindly gifted me two pairs, similar to these. So yay, now I have more pants.

Three T-shirts & Tanks from Everlane: Air Scoop-Neck Tee (my review), Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee, and Organic Cotton Cutaway Tank – I bought these during a Labor Day weekend sale when it was still warm. Did I need these? Honestly, no. But I wanted a few more options when it came to tees since a) I can’t fit in some of my other ones right now and b) I hate doing laundry.

Quince Washable Silk Stretch Tank – Since this tank has served me well, I decided to get another one in trusty black. (My review here.)

Quince 100% European Linen Pajama Set – I bought these fully intending to wear them as pajamas, but the pants are tighter than I’d like for sleeping. And they’re actually nice enough that you can wear them out. A whole outfit for $60!

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Cropped Cardigan – I’ve been thinking about getting one of these oversized cocoon cardigans for years. (See last year’s fall wish list and the year before.) Initially I had my eye on the longer boyfriend cardigan, but the cropped one made more sense for petite me. So far, it’s a welcome addition to my work-from-home outfit. I’ll see how it holds up over time before writing a review, but see this Reel for an unboxing video.

Uniqlo Powder Soft Down Jacket – Dismayed to realize that even some of my outerwear is too tight. So I got this lightweight, medium warmth jacket. (My Everlane puffer (reviewed here, similar style here) thankfully still fits and serves as my colder weather jacket.)

Kate Spade Rain Boots – Similar to this, but with a lower heel. Someone in the neighborhood wears my shoe size and put out a whole box of shoes on the street. My lucky stoop day!

Black Friday Purchases

dr. Liza Flats in Gold and Sneaker Sandal in Black – OK, I am guilty of buying these because they were on sale. It’s hard for me to resist dr. Liza’s annual birthday sale. I mean, these were 70% off! They were also final sale but since I already own these in other colors, I know they’ll fit. (My review of the dr. Liza flats.)

Nisolo Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – After trying on several Nisolo boots in store, I bought these in the all-black colorway when they went on sale for Black Friday. Again, I didn’t need these as I already own two pairs of black boots. But, um, it’s important to test them out for bloggery’s sake, right?

Since we’re talking about Black Friday, I looked back at what I bought last year (one pair of boots, one shirt, and a bunch of nail polish). Happy to report these all got good use. But realized the shirt was from Vetta, which sadly closed this year.

That’s 14 items, 4 of which (28%) are secondhand. OK, so I did not do a good job resisting shopping lately.

Welcome Objects 2023 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 30
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 10
Subtractions: 6

Currently Coveting

Oh no, not AllSaints releasing a new motorcycle jacket after I already did my moto jacket shopping and blogged about it. The Neve features a shrunken fit and it’s hard to tell, but it might fall somewhere length wise between the cropped Elora jacket I bought and the regular length of the Dalby? I’m not sure, but I kind of want to try it to compare. Also wondering about this biker jacket from ethical brand Able after Alyssa blogged about it. It, too, has a slightly cropped length.

Do you do this too? Keep shopping for a thing after you already shopped for it? It’s that part of me that wants to get the perfect item.

Ever since thrifting a pleated skirt, I’ve wanted more. I’ve had my eye on this J. Crew pleated skirt. (Some of you may have seen my try-on photos on Instagram.) Going to be patient and see if I can thrift something similar or find it secondhand, though.