But then I had a thought… why use DISPOSABLE pads?  Lets get more earth friendly and have RE-usable cleaning supplies!  My friend Susie has been using cloth napkins she makes for at least a couple of decades – I followed suit and have been using them for over ten years – imagine the reduction in landfill if everyone just used cloth napkins at home?!

Well, I got my last cleaning pad out and made a pattern.  I sewed the cleaning pads out of cotton cleaning cloth and terry cloth.  I used my own tub cleaner (I just cleaned the tub with Mr Clean’s pad yesterday) and voila!  I have picked up dirt with the cotton that the less-absorbent brand name pad missed!  In addition, I can wash my cleaning pad and use it over and over until it wears out (which will make it that much faster for the cotton to return to a biodegraded state).  I am very happy with my new invention – and I bet we could make them for other cleaning “handles” and eliminate much more waste in our landfills!

Cotton Terry Cloth Washable cleaning pad

Go Green to clean!

The first thing I ever sewed was a scarf for my second grade teacher.  I still remember my mom guiding my hands as we sewed a straight stitch border around the square (60s) amber scarf.  Then I spent a good bit of time learning about fabric weaving as I frayed the edges by picking out one long thread at a time, making a border up to our stitching.

I remained interested in sewing, but unfortunately when Santa-Mom sewed, she did it when we were asleep, thus limiting watching time.  I started sewing on my own when I was about 9.  I would hand sew doll clothes while my mom made clothes for my sister and I.  I would ask questions, she would answer, and sometimes she would let me use the MACHINE!

I dreamed of getting a sewing machine for Christmas.  Apparently Santa thought I was too young, because I did not get a sewing machine until the next year.  My grandparents gave me a toy machine that really sewed.  I had waited SO LONG…  I loved it – except that the bobbin kept jamming and was very small and held little thread.  The upside however, was that as my mom saw how much I sewed and how I was able to manage the frustrations of the toy machine, she allowed me to use the REAL machine more and more.

When I was 12 I made myself a school dress.  I would do babysitting and use the money to buy fabric.  Sewing became a way of life.  Everyone always asked me if I made this or that.  I was very self conscious about my sewing, and always thought that it “looked” homemade, and that was why they asked.  Later I found out that people couldn’t tell whether I made it or not, they just knew that I “sewed”.

I was too advanced for 8th grade sewing in homemaking class, so my teacher taught me to knit and crochet after I quickly finished my projects.  When I got in trouble in 8th grade math, it was because I was crocheting under my desk instead of paying attention to the teacher .

Well, time passes, and now as I raise my 3rd, 4th, and 5th children, I find myself still intrigued with different aspects of the needlearts.