Recycled Paper Fire Bricks

For Christmas, my sister gave me a Paper Fire Brick press.  At first I didn't know what it was or that even such a thing existed.  What is it you ask?  It is a press that will take recycled paper materials and press them into a brick shape that you can use in your fireplace instead or in addition to firewood. 

I think my husband was more excited about this than I was.  In our house we go through A LOT of paper material on a weekly basis.  I alone go through about 3 boxes of cereal, we get three newspapers on Sunday for the coupons, and then there is all the scrap paper and junk mail that we get too.  Now instead of recycling it (which isn't as great as it is made out to be, because recycling is still an industrial process that uses chemicals, inefficient garbage trucks, and lots of fossil fuel; but more on that later), I can now reuse it to keep me warm.

How do you make a Paper Fire Brick?   You take any paper material (except magazines), so that means junk mail, newspaper, printer paper, scrap paper, wrapping paper, old Christmas cards, cereal boxes, toilet paper roll, etc. and tear or shred them into 1/2" wide strips.  Take those strips and place them in a bucket full of water and let sit for two days.  After the paper material has gotten mushy, take the pieces and place it into the brick press and squeeze out the excess water.  Let the brick dry for at least two weeks and use in the fireplace.  It's that easy!   The biggest issue is letting the bricks dry so that they will burn better, we have found a good solution for the winter time.  Take a cookie wire race and place it over the heater vent; it will dry the bricks faster while still heating the home.  During the summer, just leave them on a porch to let them sun dry. 

You can buy it for about $25.  The one we have is made by Northern Industrial Tools, and we like it so far.  The only draw back, is that once you press the logs, they are had to get out of the mold.

 (We don't have cats, but took this bucket from a neighbors recycle bin, washed it out and it works great for our soaking paper.  Someday I will cover it and make it look pretty)

 ( These are some of our first bricks that are drying over our heater vent, under a side table)

 (At first we tried drying them outside, but because of winter, they took too long to dry and would freeze)

 (Here I am pressing a brick)

 (Ta-da!)

 (Our bricks are very colorful because of all the recycled Christmas wrapping paper)

 (Stuff the brick mold)

(Press it down)

 (Lift it out of the mold, and there you have a fire brick)

Reusing Packaging Materials

I have been slowly finishing products around the house, and have kept the packaging to reuse.  Here is my stash, it is growing quite large.   Within the week I will have to start making my own dishwasher detergent so hopefully I can find a use for a few of my bottles

Decision: To Use or Not To Use Papertowels and Napkins

I mentioned before that we are couponers and that we have a stockpile of a bunch of things.  Well, yesterday I ran out of paper towels in the kitchen and went downstairs to take the last three rolls from our stockpile.  In my mind I think "can we do away with paper towels?"......

We use a lot of paper towels in our household, and so I first have to understand what we use them for so that I can decide if we can do without them. This would be a big change for me, and one that would make it very apparent to guests/family that I am an urban homesteader.

1. Wiping up spills around the house
2. Cleaning windows, TV screen
3. In place of napkins (when we run out of napkins or if they are more handy)
4. Drying produce after washing them
5. Drying larger pots and pans occasionally
6. Drying hands after washing them
7. Blowing my nose because they are handy
8. Who knows what else, it's an uncontrollable reflex to reach for a paper towel right now.

Yup, all of these reasons can be replaced with something more efficient, more absorbent, and more reusable.....a dish towel/hand towel. 

I asked my husband if when we run out of paper towels, if he wouldn't mind switching to washable towels.  He kinda looked at me for a second, thought about it and then said nope he didn't mind. (I love my husband, he seems supportive of my urban homesteading quest.  He said he is up for pretty much anything I want to do except replacing toilet paper!  haha)

I have been keeping my eye out for a bunch of earth friendly wash cloths/cleaning cloths that I will need to buy.  Right now I am not sure how many I will need, I guess it will be trial and error.  And a system for drying them, storing them, and a washing bin to throw them in.  I have found a couple cute ideas on Pinterest.

Same goes for napkins, rather than the disposable ones, I am going to invest in some reusable/washable ones that will match our dishes.

I am still deciding if I want to replace the Kleenex with washable fabric.  I have a bunch of old baby wipe tubs that can be used as a container for the reusable facial tissue.  Hmmm.....I am sensing a project for the future.

I will keep you updated if and when we actually make the switch to reusable/washable papertowels, napkins and facial tissues.