Category Archives: Uncategorized

emergency radio, Uncategorized

Spending $20 On This Item Could Save Your Life

I woke up this morning with a question in my head. I turned to my phone, did a Google search, and found the answer in under a second. I’m surrounded by information. My Smartphone and laptop can provide me with news, weather, music, and videos, and my Smart TV offers hundreds of channels to entertain and educate me.  Welcome to the modern era, where information is instantly available.  However, the modern era is fragile; all it takes is a power outage to have these conveniences disappear.

If the power outage is limited to my block, my cell phone will work until I need to charge it.  However, if the outage is more widespread, cell towers will also fail.  In these situations, I would be left without communication or information.  That could be a life-threatening situation. There have been recent disasters where knowing where emergency services were available could make the difference between life and death.  But, how do you know where they are if you can’t access information?

A while back, I read an article on the most significant inventions of the last century. More important than the Internet or even television was radio. Radio brought news, weather, education, music, and entertainment to the world, and could access rural areas rapidly and effectively.  

In 1941, when she was a toddler, my sister recalls hearing about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor via our family’s radio. She was in the kitchen with my mother, who was ironing, and remembers that my mother uttered a word that she had never heard her say before. Radio instantly brought that information to her, faster than any newspaper could have.

On September 11, 2001, I was working at a VA hospital on a unit without a TV. We heard that there had been an attack on Federal buildings, so I logged onto the Internet. In those days, the internet was primitive and completely overwhelmed by increased traffic, making it impossible to access. Luckily, I had a portable radio in my desk drawer and was able to keep the staff updated.

I love to camp in Violet, my homemade adventure van.  I’m often boondocking in remote places that lack cell coverage.  I carry an emergency communication device, which is used for sending a distress call. Thankfully, I have never had to use it. However, I still need to know local weather conditions and what’s happening in the world.  Thankfully, I have never been in a place where I couldn’t receive a radio signal, so keeping informed has always been easy.  

Our country has recently faced significant disasters. Forest fires, hurricanes, and floods are becoming more commonplace. These events cause prolonged power outages and damage infrastructure, including power lines and cell towers.  Re-establishing these physical structures can take weeks or even months.  However, a single emergency radio transmitter can send information to thousands of people. What is the weather going to be?  Where is food and water being distributed? Medical care can be found where?  Only those who can receive its signal are privy to this critical information.

We all need basic emergency supplies, such as a flashlight, a first aid kit, and shelf-stable food. However, having a portable radio is equally essential. In today’s post, I’ll outline what you need and aim to demystify the ins and outs of making a radio purchase. Some portable radios can receive many different bands, so I’ll also discuss and rate their importance.

Why a portable radio?

A portable radio will provide immediate information when all other sources fail. Radios are very efficient and will run a long time on a set of batteries or a single charge. Many of them are simple to operate and have a zero learning curve. Let’s first examine what to look for in a radio, then I’ll discuss the importance of various radio bands.

In general, portable radios come in two sizes: pocket-size and table-size. Pocket-sized radios are similar to the “transistor radios” from the 1960s. Most have the AM and FM bands, although you can find some FM-only radios and others with multiple bands.  The reception and sound quality will generally be inferior to those of a table-sized radio.  However, it still should be adequate. Some “transistor-sized” radios can be had for $10.  Better ones will cost more.

This portable radio can be had for around $10. It runs off two AA batteries.

Mid-sized radios often provide better reception and sound quality. Their abilities and costs vary, but they may offer additional features. Some can receive many extra bands. You can find workable mid-sized radios for around $20, with others costing in the hundreds. 

This mid-sized radio uses D batteries. Its simple “analog” design allows for anyone to use it easily. Some portable radios use rechargeable batteries. They can be more convenient, but you have to have a way to recharge them when needed.

Classic portable radios typically use batteries, such as AA, C, or D. Some older radios may use the more difficult-to-find 9-volt battery.  The larger the battery, the longer the radio will play.  Some radios that use D-size batteries can play for hundreds of hours before their batteries need to be changed.  Batteries have the advantage of being easily replaceable.  If you have an extra set, you can continue to receive information when the first set is depleted.  However, you have to plan to have them on hand.  Batteries can last a long time in a radio. However, some radios will use a tiny amount of electricity even when off. This can eventually discharge a battery. A discharged battery can leak, destroying the electronics in a radio. Ensure that any radio is turned off when not in use.  If it is on but the volume is turned down, the batteries will drain and leak.

Many newer portable radios utilize internal rechargeable batteries that can be recharged via a USB port.  Their advantage is that you don’t have to remember to buy batteries.  However, you need to have a way to recharge them, and you should have a schedule where you recharge an unused radio every three months or so to ensure it is available in an emergency. The best option is to put a reminder on your phone’s calendar. Most don’t come with a charging brick, so you must use your phone’s charger to charge them. 

Almost all new radios are internally digital, built on a microchip design.  This is the case even if they look like an old-style analog set. Older analog radio models utilize components, such as transistors and capacitors, to enable the radio to function. 

Using a digital “radio on a chip” enables cost-effective production and reasonable, if not outstanding, performance. Microchip-powered radios often have decent FM performance, with AM reception ranging from satisfactory to acceptable for less expensive models. 

Old-style analog radios are more pleasant to use and can tune between broadcast frequencies, allowing for better reception of distant AM stations.  This is less of an issue when local stations are down due to a disaster. You can still find a few traditional analog portable radios based on older designs that have remained in production. 

I suggest buying a radio with a traditional analog look.  In other words a radio with a conventional tuning dial and knobs. Radios with many buttons and digital displays can be more capable and may offer additional features, but they have a learning curve. The best emergency radio is the one anyone in the family can easily use.

As stated above, the bigger the batteries, the longer the radio will play without needing to be recharged or replaced. However, even radios with AA-size batteries will play for a long time. You can conserve battery life by keeping the radio’s volume low and limiting playtime. However, a radio playing can be a good moral boost, so I would advise having backup batteries or a way to recharge a rechargeable radio. 

Many companies sell “do-all” emergency radios that can be charged via a crank and/or solar panel.  However, the practicality of charging a radio in this way is limited, and the charging components are poorly made.  I have heard stories of people crank charging their radios only to have the crank crack off in short order.  I believe that you are equally served with a traditional portable radio. 

This emergency radio may seem like a jack of all trades, but its components are cheap and could fail when you need them. However, such a radio is better than no radio.

Unknown Chinese brands now manufacture the majority of portable radios. I have tested several of them, and they were all adequate, with some outperforming others. You want a radio that has both AM and FM bands. In the next section, I’ll explain why, look at a variety of other radio bands, and describe their utility in an emergency. 

The radio bands

I’ll rate these using an A-F scale, with A being most important and F being the least important..

The FM band 

Importance level = A.  

Having a radio with an FM band is a must. FM is a local band, and some rural areas now only have an FM outlet..  An FM radio signal can travel around  30-60 miles. However, it is more realistic to receive an FM signal no further than around 20-30 miles. The more powerful the transmitter and the higher it is on the horizon, the further it will travel. A high-powered station with an antenna on a skyscraper will be heard at a greater distance than a low-powered station that serves a small community. Static and lightning crashes do not impact FM. Our town has a college FM station that would be put into service during an emergency.

The AM band (also called MW or Medium Wave band)

Importance level =  A.  

Having a radio with an AM band is a must.  Some radios are now sold only with FM, so avoid those.  You double your chance of hearing broadcasts if you have both AM and FM.  Additionally, AM signals travel much further than FM signals.  A strong AM station can be heard from around 100 miles away during the daytime.  At dusk and night, AM signals can travel much further, providing you with information even when a regional disaster destroys local infrastructure.  Clear-channel/high-powered stations can be heard for hundreds of miles at night. Using a decent radio from my Chicago location, I can listen to stations from New York City, Atlanta, St. Louis, New Orleans, Montreal, Denver, the Twin Cities, Boston, and more.  I can also receive stations from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana during the daytime when I use a high-quality AM radio.  

Additionally, some communities, including the one I live in, have low-powered emergency AM radio stations that can provide vital information specific to that community during a crisis. These stations can run on backup power systems and don’t require giant antenna masts, so they can be used even when more traditional stations fail. 

Although digital, this CC radio is simple to operate. It offers fantastic AM/FM reception as well as weather band and the 2-meter ham band. However, it is around $200.
This radio offers a lot of functionality in a small package, but its complicated digital interface would be challenging for a non-radio person to use in an emergency.

Weather Radio band

Importance level = B

The National Weather Service operates over 1,000 low-power radio stations that cover more than 90% of the US population.  This service exists on radio frequencies above commercial FM broadcasts and requires a radio that has “weather band.”  NOAA radio broadcasts emergency alerts and detailed weather information, including information for aeronautical and maritime users.  Although very useful, the reports can be tedious, and most people can obtain all the basic weather information they need from commercial AM and FM broadcasts. You can find some radios, both expensive and inexpensive, that incorporate this band.

2-meter ham (amateur) radio

Importance level = B

This amateur radio service also resides above commercial FM and consists of local ham radio operators exchanging messages and emergency traffic. Ham radio serves as a backup communications network during emergencies, as hams relay information and help coordinate emergency services. If you listen to their chatter, you can gain an inside look at what’s going on behind the scenes. The downside is that you need more technical skills and specialized radio equipment to listen to these broadcasts. 

Note that the majority of emergency communications during a crisis is handled by first responders and government agencies who use their emergency frequencies, not ham operators, who mostly handle health and welfare traffic. Emergency responders often utilize “trunked” transmissions and digital/encrypted communications, which necessitate specialized and expensive equipment. 

Shortwave radio stations

Importance level = C

The large swatch of frequencies between medium wave (AM) and FM is called the shortwave or HF band and includes many different services. The two most pertinent services for disaster information are the long-range ham (amateur) radio frequencies and the international shortwave broadcast frequencies. You can find radios that cover some or all of the shortwave bands.  Inexpensive radios will pick up strong stations, but expensive and sophisticated radios will do a significantly better job.  Radios that include the shortwave band can range from $10 for a cheap pocket portable to thousands of dollars for a pro-level radio.

Amateur radio on shortwave is used for longer-distance communications, and hams use these frequencies to contact ham operators located further away, sometimes in other states or countries.  Most of the time, they broadcast using a transmission method called SSB (single-sideband), and a special shortwave radio is required to decode SSB into intelligible audio. These special radios will list “SSB” in their description. There may be some use to listening to these transmissions, but it is less important than other information sources.

This radio costs over $200, but it is an extremely capable device that can receive signals on multiple bands. Additionally, it is rechargeable. However, its digital interface is so complicated that I had to read the instructions several times just to understand all of its controls, and I hold an “Amateur Extra” radio license! Although capable this should not be your emergency radio unless you are willing to spend time with it beforehand to learn its many functions.
High-end radios can get expensive. This ham radio sells for almost $5000!
This radio offers reasonable reception, and its simple analog dial makes it easy to use.

There are segments on the shortwave spectrum specifically allocated for international broadcasters.  When I was a kid, I fixed an old shortwave radio that I found in our basement, and it was transformed by listening to English-language broadcasts from dozens of countries located all over the globe.  However, most of these stations have gone silent, as it is cheaper to stream their programming online.  

I recently used an inexpensive portable radio that had shortwave and did hear some stations in Spanish (South American countries still use shortwave for some local broadcasts).  I also heard around eight different stations in English.  However, the majority were religious in nature (fire and brimstone stuff), and one was right-wing political to the extreme.  These English language stations could be repurposed for emergency communications for the general population in a significant national emergency, as their signals can travel thousands of miles. There is limited utility to having a radio that can tune the shortwave band. 

Emergency responder frequencies

Importance level = C-

Although important, listening to these frequencies typically requires a specialized radio called a scanner.  These transmissions often shift and share frequencies and can be digitized, making them very difficult to eavesdrop on. It is unlikely that you will be able to receive these transmissions. 

Personal radio services

Importance level = C-

There are several personal radio services that ordinary citizens use for local communication.  These include the FRS, GMRS, and CB radio services.  To listen to these stations, you will need a radio capable of tuning in to those frequencies. In most cases, it is easiest to use a walkie-talkie or a dedicated radio designed explicitly for these transmissions. 

Listening is likely of marginal value, but having a set of these radios (called transceivers as they transmit and receive) may help you communicate with your group during emergencies. FRS, or Family Radio Service radios, are very inexpensive and easy to operate. They are short-range devices, typically having a range of 1 to 2 miles, depending on the terrain. Because they operate on a higher frequency than CB radios, they are compact and have small antennas, making them pocket-portable.

Many FRS walkie-talkies are inexpensive and can serve as a means for families to communicate over short distances when cell phones are unavailable.

GMRS radios require a license to operate, are more powerful than FRS radios, and can utilize repeaters on some of their channels to extend their transmitting range.  GMRS radio can have a range of 2-25 miles and even further if it is connected to a repeater. These radios cost more than FRS radios.

CB (Citizen Band) radio can still be heard if you are near an interstate, as truckers continue to use it. CB radio can be a valuable source of information, as truckers often discuss topics such as weather conditions, road closures, and other relevant information that may be helpful.  CB radio frequencies are located in the shortwave band, and some radios with shortwave capabilities can intercept these transmissions.  CB radio transmissions can travel up to 7 miles.  However, most mobile stations (ie, truckers) have a range of only a few miles.

CB radios are still popular among some truckers and can provide information about local situations or conditions.

Aeronautical band

Importance level = D

This is the band that planes use to contact ground-based stations.  Transmissions are typically brief, technical, and of limited use to the general public.

Long Wave 

Importance level = F

Longwave frequencies lie below medium wave (AM stations). At one time, there were longwave commercial radio stations, especially in Europe. However, only a few remain, and none are located in North America. You can hear some location beacons on longwave as well as time signal stations (stations that only broadcast the time for synchronisation and scientific use). Many cheap multi-band radios have longwave, which is pretty useless in the US. 

For as little as $10 and a couple of spare batteries, you can be better prepared for yourself and your family. If you don’t have a portable radio, buy one today.

Images are from Amazon and are being used for educational purposes only.

Essential 10 for hikers, Hiking safety, Uncategorized

Day Hiking Essentials For An Older Guy

Long ago I realized that I didn’t like most formal exercise. I thought I disliked exercise in general because I wasn’t willing to do endless burpees. However, with reflection it turns out that I do like exercise when it is paired with other activities. I love to ride a bike, go on walks, and do day hikes. All of these things give me quite a bit of pleasure.

A day hike is somewhere in between a walk and a backpacking trip. For me, it involves going to a trail, often for the first time, and exploring my surrounding. I’m a photographer, and hiking gives me many opportunities to shoot photos.

By the way, you may wonder why a day hiker would need emergency supplies. There are many cases where people went on a simple day hike, often on a well used path, and got lost, injured, or died. It is easy to go off trail to “do your business,” and become disoriented, take the wrong fork in a trail, or face weather/trail problems. Everyone has to decide what level of risk that they comfortable with.

I remember going on a day hike with two of my kids when they were very young. I asked some hikers who were leaving the trail if the trail was clean and if it was an easy hike. They said yes. However, it turned out to be a three mile hike with fallen trees, washed out parts of the trail, and stream crossings. There were a number of twists and turns and side trials, and I got disoriented. Because of the nature of the path it was very difficult to turn back, so we forged ahead. I had to motivate my kids to keep going and kept telling them, “Every step brings us closer to the camper.” At one point towards the end I wasn’t sure to turn right or left, but I had a little compass on my watch band and a simple map from the visitor center. I used those tools to go the right way. To go the other direction would have taken me right back on the loop that we spent most of the morning trying to get off of. We had to share one little bottle of water and I brought along only one little packet of Fig Newtons because I thought we would only be gone for a half of an hour. I should have been more prepared, but the little compass on my watch band and the park map saved the day.

If I am hiking anything more than a short distance I always bring my backpack and supplies. I have designed my hiking backpack system to be light and efficient. Everyone should design a system that meets their needs, and mine is certainly not the most comprehensive. However, after years hiking these supplies work for me. Let’s take a look at my necessary hiking gear.

I can’t stress how important a decent pair of shoes is. I was recently visiting friends in Florida and packed a cheap pair of sandals to wear to the beach. We did a little walking, and I was rewarded with three blisters on my feet. When I first started to hike, I bought a pair of decent hiking boots that I thought fit me. I used those shoes for several seasons and wound up losing my big toenail several times. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong until I went to REI and they told me that I needed to size my shoes up. Since then, I have retained my toenails! I now like to wear trail runner-type shoes. A good brand makes all the difference in the world. If you are going to spend money on anything, spend it on your shoes. Good shoes wear out, so be prepared to replace them. Everyone has their brand preference. If possible, go to a place where you can try on several brands. Additionally, good socks are important. I like Darn Tough socks, which are made of a Marino wool blend.
I am a big fan of trekking poles. They steady me on declines and over streams, and they allow my arms to help my legs when going up inclines. You don’t have to buy the most expensive ones, but avoid cheap poles. I have had these poles for years. My wife bought a cheap pair at a big box store, and they cracked in half. Check reviews to find a sturdy yet reasonably priced set of poles, or opt for a brand name. For a day hike, you don’t need to go ultra-light. I bought carbon fiber, but in retrospect, an aluminum pair would have worked out just fine. I like cork grips as they don’t get slippery with sweat.
Having a pack is a must. I like the Osprey brand as they make quality packs at a reasonable price. Avoid those little back sacks that use strings instead of straps, as they will undoubtedly make any long hike miserable. You can purchase more affordable packs that may better suit your budget. However, I have read reviews of no-name packs where straps have ripped off or zippers have frozen, so caution is advised. I used to use a larger Osprey pack (this one is only 13 L), but I’ve found that I over-packed it, which weighed me down. Beyond backpacks, you can get sling packs, and some find that a big “fanny pack” (called a “bum bag” in the UK) works for them. This Osprey pack model is called “Daylite.”
This is everything that I carry in my backpack. the pouch has a lot of individual “kits” in zip-lock bags.
This is what I carry for navigation. I’m using my phone to take these photos, hence the sticky note phone substitute. I mostly rely on my phone, but I try to carry a paper map. You can get them at a park’s visitor center for free. I also take an inexpensive compass. I’ll double-check to ensure it still points correctly at the start of the season. There are several excellent hiking apps available for smartphones. I use All Trails Pro. I have a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) that can send a distress call in the event of a life-threatening emergency. I purchased this around 4 years ago, but the price has increased considerably since then. Its advantage is that there is no monthly fee. I have also used a Garmin InReach device, which features maps and allows for text messaging. That device requires a subscription to work. Newer iPhones can now use satellites when out of cell service (US and Canada only), so that may be enough for some. Remember, a 911 call is NOT carrier-dependent. If your cell phone carrier doesn’t have a local tower, the call will bounce to a different carrier. However, sometimes there are no cell towers, such as in National Parks. That is when a satellite device of some sort may come in handy. Not in the photo is my emergency whistle. Three blasts followed by a pause and repeated is the distress call for hikers. If you scream, you will quickly become hoarse. Some backpacks have a whistle built into their straps; the Daylite does not.
You never know if a hike will take longer than expected. I have had to rely on illumination to get back to my car. A headlamp is ideal and inexpensive. I also carry a tiny flashlight and extra battery as a backup. Additionally, my battery bank has a little flashlight on it. Of course, your phone also has a flashlight, but it is best to save its battery for navigation and communication.
Protection from the sun is a must. I always wear a hat and try to use sunscreen. My eyes have become more sensitive as I’ve aged, so sunglasses are always part of my kit.
I carry some simple first aid supplies that fit into a sandwich bag. You can go more minimal or extensive with such kits. I do have a more elaborate kit in my car. I have absolutely used many of these items on the trail, from mole skin to band-aids to ibuprofen.
I have watched some YouTube hikers who say that you don’t need a knife. I don’t understand, as I use one all the time. Why three knives? I always carry the Leatherman in my pocket; it is my EDC knife. I have a small SAK knife on my keychain, which includes scissors and tweezers, and I leave the white knife in my backpack as a backup. It weighs nothing. When push comes to shove, I’ll grab the Leatherman in my pocket.
I do carry a minimal fire-starting kit: a small Bic lighter, some fire tinder, including some cotton balls with Vaseline on them. I have never had to start an emergency fire. However, on a long hike, I may bring a cook kit. Usually, one of us will carry the pot/stove and the other the dehydrated food.
Some sort of emergency shelter is another essential item. These are Mylar emergency sleeping bags. They are very compact. They are essentially large, sealed emergency blankets that are orange on one side and silver on the other. I have two because I’m often hiking with someone who is less compulsive than I am. Sometimes I’ll carry paracord too. Paracord has 100 and 1 different uses.
I always bring more food than I think I’ll need. For most hikes, this would be in the form of snacks. If I’m going on a longer hike, I may bring “real” food or a Mountain House type meal. Yes, I usually bring enough snacks for my less prepared hiking partners.
Water is incredibly important. I always pack more than I think I need, and I also have ways to get more if needed. I’ll sometimes sub out my flask for a Smart Water bottle. I also have several ways to purify stream water if needed. Lastly, I have some electrolyte tablets in my first aid kit.
I have an expensive hiking puffer jacket and a raincoat. However, I can’t find them in my camper or house. I’m blaming my cat for hiding them. Better that than admitting that I put them/lost them somewhere! For now, this hoodie will do. I also bring some “just in case” emergency rain ponchos (a second for a hiking partner). If I suspect rain, I’ll bring an old, clunky plastic rain jacket that I have. It’s not as light or fancy as my lost raincoat, but it does the job.
I always carry a charged battery bank. This one includes the charging cords. I have used my battery bank many times on a hike, as GPS hiking maps use a lot of energy. Don’t forget to bring a charging cord if your bank doesn’t have one built in.
I also carry some duct tape. Another item with 100 and 1 uses. I have this cute little pack, but you can also roll a few feet onto a Bic lighter from a regular roll.

Additional items: I always carry an empty gallon Ziploc bag that has many uses. However, I mostly use it to carry out garbage. I’ll also carry a little travel pack of wet wipes to clean my hands or for an emergency potty run (so far I have never had to go number 2 on the trail). If you go “poo” frequently on the trail bring along an ultralight trowel. They are cheap and better than digging a cathole with a stick. Remember to bury any organic matter at least 6 inches deep and carry out any TP or similar wipe. Leave no trace! Another common thing I carry is a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is mostly alcohol and can be used to sanitize your hands, as wound antiseptic, or to start a fire. You can also get compressed towels that are the size of two TUMS tablets. There are usually 11 of them in a tiny tube and each one will expand to the size of a paper towel by adding 1 teaspoon of water to them (I think they are fun/cool). You can even buy a tiny bidet made for hikers (Culoclean) that attaches to a water bottle. However, wet wipes are multi-purpose and work best for me for many of these functions.

Peace,

Mike

Uncategorized

Traditional Food Alternatives, Episode 1: Textured Vegetable Protein or TVP As An Economical And Healthy Meat Substitute.

Meat prices continue to rise.  This is most notable with beef, where formerly inexpensive cuts like chuck roasts are now sold at luxury prices.  Traditionally less expensive meats, like pork and chicken, are also increasing in cost. 

There are ways to reduce meat consumption. Many cultures substitute legumes, grain products, and mushrooms to make meat-free dishes. Extenders can be used along with meat to bulk up a recipe, with the breadcrumbs or oatmeal in meatloaf being an example. Meat can also be stretched by cooking combination foods, like casseroles, hot dishes, soups, and stews. In these dishes meat plays a secondary role to other ingredients. For decades, I have used these traditional hacks to stretch my family’s meat budget.

I was a medical student in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Let me rephrase that: I was a penniless medical student, and my poverty continued into my residency. My grocery budget was minimal, and I always looked for cost-saving options.  In those days, ground beef was inexpensive, but ground beef mixed with TVP, or textured vegetable protein, was even cheaper.  How did it taste?  Like ground beef, but a bit drier and with a slightly different texture. You can no longer find ground beef with TVP at my local grocery store, but many frozen foods still use TVP as a meat extender.  TVP never went away; it just went underground.

Manufacturers have jumped on the no-meat bandwagon with their meat-like creations, such as Impossible Meat, Beyond Beef, and Fable. Commercial products use various plant products, from legume flours to mushrooms, to create a meat-like texture.  Their ingredients determine the nutritional value of these products, but many offer a relatively high amount of protein per serving.  However, commercial “meats” are expensive, sometimes more than the real thing.  These products are designed for non-meat eaters who are convenience-conscious rather than cost-conscious. 

A while back, I became interested in alternative cooking methods. My goal was to produce good-tasting foods that were not clones of the “real thing” but similar enough to be considered viable options. This interest led me back to TVP and its many forms.

TVP can be made from various plant products, but is most commonly made from soy flour. Soy flour is a byproduct from making soy oil. I’ll be discussing that form of TVP today. 

Soy flour is mixed with water, cooked under high pressure, and extruded in a machine similar to those used to make breakfast cereal. 

Soy TVP is very high in protein; in fact, it can be higher than a comparable serving of beef.  It is very low in fat, and unlike meat, it is high in fiber.

Soy TVP is sold dry and must be rehydrated. This usually involves soaking or boiling it in water or broth.  The excess liquid is then blotted or squeezed out before the product is used in a dish. TVP comes in various shapes, from granules used in dishes like spaghetti sauce and Sloppy Joes, to curls and chunks that can be substituted for foods that traditionally require such shapes, such as a stir-fry or a barbeque sandwich. Roughly one cup of dry TVP, when rehydrated, equals around one pound of meat.

Soy TVP is essentially flavorless, but like it cousin tofu (which is made from soy milk), it takes on the flavor of whatever it is mixed with. For an omnivore like myself, adding flavoring agents like bouillon or other meat products is essential. Vegetarians need to be more creative and use meaty-flavored additions like miso, soy sauce, and liquid aminos. Many dishes rely on spices and sauces to add additional flavor and familiarity.

Depending on your additions, you can make TVP taste like whatever meat you need. In today’s example, I’ll make a “chicken” stir-fry, but I could have turned the dish into a “beef” version by adjusting a few ingredients. 

TVP is shelf-stable and can remain usable for decades if appropriately stored. It can be a great prepper food as it requires no refrigeration and is a high-quality protein source.

TVP is significantly less expensive than beef, but your savings will be determined by where and how much you buy.  TVP lovers buy in bulk and will save considerably more than if they purchased a little bag at their local store.  Granulated TVP (Bob’s Red Mill brand) can be found in the health food/alternative section of many grocery stores, and granulated and other TVP shapes can often be purchased at health food stores, Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Sprouts, and online. One food blogger I researched noted that TVP was about half the price of beef based on their particular use case. 

As a plant-based product, it is considerably more environmentally friendly than any meat source. 

Some folks are concerned about using soy products; for them, there are a variety of TVPs made from other plant flours, such as pea TVP.  You can also buy TWP, which is textured wheat protein.  Note that TWP is a wheat product and contains gluten.

For most, soy TVP is the product to use as it is the most available and is tolerated by many.  However, avoid soy TVP if you are allergic to or have digestive issues with soy. Some are concerned that soy contains isoflavones, which can mimic estrogen.  However, most isoflavones (around 70%) are destroyed when making/cooking TVP.  With that said, you may want to consider a non-soy TVP product if you have an estrogen-sensitive cancer or other medical concern.  Always consult with your doctor if you have any food or health concerns. 

There are various methods for preparing TVP. I’m not aTVP expert, so I combined several that seemed credible. Most methods will hydrate the TVP, then pat or squeeze out any excess liquid, and add some sort of seasoning or marinade. 

My method in today’s recipe was a bit excessive. It did lead to a delicious dish; I’m sure it could have been streamlined. YouTube has many TVP recipes to help you start your TVP journey. 

Here is the step-by-step recipe for my first TVP dish using TVP chunks, a “chicken” stir-fry.  The results were delicious, and the TVP did have a meat-like texture.  Did it taste like chicken?  It tasted good and had a chicken flair, but it was not an exact dupe.  However, the family said they would eat it again.  In fact, my son went back for seconds.  

TVP “Chicken” Stir-Fry

I boiled 1.5 cups of the dry chunks in a chicken broth for 10 minutes. You could use water, or meso broth if you were a vegetarian.
I drained the chunks and then ran some cold water over them to cool them down.
I then squeezed them out. If I were using the granules, I would blot them dry using a tea towel or paper towels.
I then toasted them in an air fryer at 400°F (205°C) for approximately 8 minutes. My goal was to dry out the outside while leaving the inside spongy. This was because I was going to stir-fry them, and I wanted the outside to be crisp. This method is used in some recipes; in others, the chunks are added directly to the dish after they have been hydrated and squeezed out.
This was another “extra” step that could be eliminated by just using a simple combination of a few flavoring ingredients. However, it did result in a delicious flavor for the soy chunks. The marinade consisted of 1/3 C mayo (can use vegan mayo), 1/3 C neutral oil, 1T meso or chicken flavoring, 1T nutritional yeast, 2T lemon juice, 1t garlic powder, 1t onion powder, 1/2t thyme, 1/2 t parsley. I mixed it all together. This marinade is from “The Burger Dude” on YouTube.
I mixed in the rehydrated soy chunks and put the bowl in the fridge until I needed it.
I searched my fridge and found a slightly soft red pepper, which I sliced, along with some green onions, and some frozen broccoli that I defrosted.
I stir-fried a couple of eggs and removed them from the wok. You could leave out the eggs if you were going vegan.
I added more oil, along with green onion, jar garlic, and ginger paste, and cooked the vegetables for around 30-60 seconds.
I then added the broccoli and the red pepper and stir-fried until crisp-tender. I then removed these vegetables. Note: You can use any vegetables that you choose. I just had these on hand.
I added the chunks and stir-fried them so they would be crisp.
I returned the vegetables and reheated them. I then added the scrambled egg. I prefer to leave the egg in larger chunks so that it adds visual interest. At this point, I added some soy sauce and a small amount of sesame oil (not too much, as it is a strong flavor). I also added some jar sauces. In this case, I used some store-bought teriyaki sauce and orange chicken stir-fry sauce, both of which I had on hand. You could opt for a simpler mixture of soy sauce, cornstarch, water, and a little vinegar and sugar (or whatever you prefer).
Here it is plated up. Honestly, it was delicious. The chunks had a meaty texture and tasted good (although not exactly like chicken). I would make it again. Next time, I would try a simpler marinade for the chunks to see if I could get away with it. There was enough for four decent-sized servings.

shopping, Uncategorized, Walmart shopping

Why Has Buying Things Become So Frustrating And Confusing?

I switched my grocery shopping to Aldi some years ago and haven’t looked back.  However, Aldi doesn’t carry everything I need, so I occasionally shop elsewhere.  Those other trips have become a progressive nightmare and an exercise in exhaustion as every purchase requires an “evaluation” for price, quality, and deception.

Our town’s mid-level grocery chain is Jewel/Osco. It was a local company, but it has been sold and is now owned by Albertsons, which also owns Safeway, Vons, and Shaw’s, among many others.

I have been burned so many times at Jewel that I believe their practices border on deception.  It is one of those stores where the receipt proudly announces, “You saved 20% today!”  but I still leave the store with a lighter wallet and little to show for it.  I understand that Jewel is a full-service grocer and part of their costs include stocking multiple versions of the same product type, many specialty departments, and scads of employees.  Yet, that still doesn’t justify the fact that simple items, like Comet powdered cleanser, can be three times more expensive than the same item at Walmart. 

However, what concerns me the most is the convoluted and draconian way that their sales run. I still haven’t cracked the code. Some sale prices are available for all, others require that I tap in a phone number at checkout, and still others require that I preselect the item using their shopping app.  

I have been burned so many times by this insane system that I feel a sense of dread when I have to go there to pick up an item that I can’t get at Aldi.  I recently went to Jewel to buy a spice; since I was there, I browsed the sales.  Home Run Inn frozen pizza was on a big sale.  It was typically around $10, but on sale for around $6.  That sounded like a 40% savings!  However, Walmart and Aldi’s normal price was similar to Jewel’s sale price.  I passed on the pizza. 

I also passed on the sale-priced Milk. When I read the small print, I had to buy two gallons of milk, way too much for our needs. I wondered how many didn’t read the fine print, believing that their single gallon was on sale, only to be disappointed when they got home and checked their receipt. That is, if they checked their receipt, as most probably don’t. 

My eye caught some fruit on sale.  Strawberries and blueberries were being sold at a good price.  I picked up both.  I went to the meat counter and found several “buy one and get one free” items.  I have been burned on these in the past, as it seems that Jewel will often place a similar item next to the sale item, making it very easy to pick up the wrong item.  Additionally, I have discounted items that would ring up at self-checkout at the regular price, and the attendant had to enter a code to get me the discount.

On this trip, I spied some BOGO pork chops.  I read the sign carefully, noting that another pork product was next to the sale items.  I matched the pork chops with the sale sign, feeling good that I had selected the correct item. I also ensured I went to a cashier to avoid other issues.  When I got home I realized that I screwed up.  I did get the strawberries on sale, but the blueberries were at full price.  I was supposed to use the Jewel app and click on an electronic coupon for the blueberries.  I also got charged for both packs of pork chops, and I honestly have no idea why.  Yes, I could have been more vigilant during checkout, but I was in a hurry and thought I had done everything correctly, only to find that the system was so convoluted that I had done many things wrong. Grocery shopping should be a straightforward experience, not a master class in proofreading. 

I have had different problems at Walmart, where it isn’t unusual for the price stickers in the aisles to differ from what I am charged at checkout. And don’t even get me started on my extreme displeasure of having to use Walmart’s self-checkout and 18” of counter space to ring up an entire cart of groceries. 

I have shopped at Aldi as my main grocery store for years. There are typically only one or two product versions, making purchasing easy. There is no drive to impulse buy, and the stores are small, so I don’t feel that I have run a marathon. Plus, their cashiers are fast and friendly. My overall grocery bills are always lower at Aldi than at Jewel and Walmart.

Shopping insanity extends to the online world, which is now dominated by Amazon and Walmart. Lately, there has been a lot of press coverage on Amazon’s practice of controlling its Marketplace sellers. For instance, sellers cannot sell their items on a different web platform for a lower price. They are given preferential treatment if they use other Amazon services, which adds to Amazon’s profits and increases consumer prices. Marketplace sellers can also use deceptive practices, such as flooding a product type by listing the same product multiple ways or using false reviews to push a product higher in Amazon’s listing. 

Over 60% of Amazon’s sales are via Marketplace sellers. It doesn’t seem that Amazon vets Marketplace products, so you never know if your product is genuine or a knockoff. I tested several battery banks I ordered from Amazon; some were legitimate, and others had less than 15% of their stated capacity. 

Searching for something on Amazon can be a frustrating experience, as you are assaulted by page after page of products.  Many products seem identical or may vary only by a different brand name.  Significant price differences can exist between the items, requiring an exhaustive search even for simple products.  Some consumable products list price per ounce, others price per product, and others have a nonsensical price. All of this requires an unnecessary amount of vigilance. 

Sometimes, you need to be a chemist to determine the best value. I use a deodorant product called deodorant crystals, which is simply the compound Alum. No matter what brand you use, it is identical. However, depending on the label, there can be tremendous differences in the price.

These are exactly the same compounds, but one is $9.41 an ounce and the other is only $2.02 an ounce.

Most people believe buying a larger quantity will yield the best price. However, I have repeatedly found that this is not the case when shopping on Amazon, as buying a larger amount of something can be significantly more expensive than buying multiples of the same product. That is crazy.

Talk about confusing. The first product is the cheapest, but the unit price is listed as “price per load.” You might think buying two would save you money, but the second listing is almost twice the price. The third listing is even more expensive than the second!
Here we have two products that differ only in the scent, which will fade as soon as the clothes are worn. The lavender scent is 50% more expensive!
Here you have a product directly from Amazon. If you buy the twin pack, expect to pay 30% more! Buy two of the “pack of one” for $7.12 instead of $9.55. That is a substantial difference, but you must carefully read the product description.

I have heard Amazon’s and Walmart’s online prices are dependent on zip codes, and there are reports that you can get better prices by searching at a different location or using incognito mode. I have not confirmed this, but if true, that means you are being upcharge based on where you live. 

Online sellers will often offer the same product in different colors at drastically different prices.  Also, a shopper may have to deal with the same products with one offering a discount coupon and another not.  

The only difference among these three coffee makers is the color. Talk about price confusion. It would seem that the red coffee maker is significantly more expensive than the black one ($49.00 vs. $36.00). However, if you use the coupon and do the math, it is only slightly more expensive, and now the orange coffee maker is the most expensive. Why???
I know that these two radios are exactly the same except for the branding. However, one is over $10 more than the other. If you were not a radio nut like me, you may think that the more expensive radio offered more.

I have checked on the same item over the course of a few days to find that its price can vary dramatically in 24 hours.  I have seen price shifts of 25% and more. A product may go up, then down, then up again over the course of a week. All of the above makes shopping exhausting and confusing.  

When it comes to grocery shopping I consistently save overall by shopping at Aldi and I don’t have to deal with math calculations, product decisions, and confusing “deals” and coupons. I’m also starting to feel the same with online shopping. A while back I had to replace our toaster oven and was faced with what looked like a hundred different choices.  Some were the same item, others were variations on a theme, still others were rebrands of what looked like an identical product.  In the end I went to a local store where they had 4 different toaster oven models.  I picked the one that would hold the pans that we normally use in a toaster oven and was done in about 5 minutes. Could there have been a better toaster oven in my life?  I don’t know, but the one that I got works well enough and the shopping experience was not confusing, frustrating, and exhausting.

You can’t even trust apps that promise that they search the internet for the best deal for you.  The Honey app was very popular and promoted by many influences.  So, what was the real deal?  This Reddit poster gives you the details:

One: if you click on an affiliate link from a creator to buy something, they will sometimes get credit or a commission for you purchasing that Item. However, if you scan it with honey, honey will reload the web page so they get the commission.

Two: Honey will say “We scoured the internet and found you 5 codes” well, they don’t actually search the internet, what is actually happening is the seller of the item chooses what coupon codes honey can use. So you may actually be able to find a better coupon code if not using honey.

Our lives are becoming progressively more complicated as we become ever more electronically connected.  Is that email from a bank real?  Who is texting me just to say “hello?”  Is the FBI of the CIA really calling me to tell me that I just won the lottery and all I have to do is to give them my credit card information?  How about that YouTube video that says that everything that I’m eating is going to kill me, but I can be healthy if I drink their “click the link below”  green goop three times a day? Is that too good to be true advertisement on Facebook real, or is it too good to be true?  How about all of those political videos and articles that feel like these are either the best of times or the worst of times?  Those make me feel like I’m reading a Dickens novel.   

I don’t want to vet every purchase I make or do a math calculation to determine if I’m getting a good deal. All of these things add to stress and are mostly unnecessary. My plan is to simplify whenever possible. I’ll continue grocery shopping at Aldi, and I’m moving toward buying less stuff online while choosing options that give me clear and less confusing choices.

This unnecessary decision fatigue cumulatively adds to stress and promotes fear and distrust. I know some love the sport of shopping; I’m not one of them. 

Peace

Mike

health, psychology/psychiatry, Uncategorized

The History Of BO

I recently wrote a post on hygiene hacks and confessed that I did not use a traditional antiperspirant. I use alternative measures to ensure I am “daisy fresh,” so there was no need to hold your nose in my presence.

I watched a new episode of “The Great American Baking Show” yesterday. I was bombarded by commercials showing people spraying a total deodorizing spray not only on their armpits but on their saddle area, feet, back, neck, and just about everywhere else. I always felt that these areas were handled with simple soap and water.

I remember the push in the 1970s to get women to use “Summer’s Eve” vaginal douche, which led to all sorts of problems, from dryness to infections.  I was surprised to discover that vaginal douching, a bad idea unless medically necessary, had been pushed by advertisers for some time before that.  Lysol (the cleaning product) encouraged the use of a Lysol douche with ads with titles like, “She was the perfect wife except for one neglect.”  By 1911, there were several reported deaths and poisonings due to this practice. Lysol responded by telling women to continue using Lysol, but dilute it first! Keep those customers coming, who cares if you are poisoning them!  Doctors will tell you never to use vaginal douches unless directed by a healthcare provider. You will mess things up.

My father was born in Chicago in 1910 in a home that initially didn’t have a modern bathroom. When he was younger, he remembers being bathed in a washtub.  As he got older, he went to a community bathhouse where you could buy a sliver of soap and the use of a towel for a few pennies. This would be a once-a-week event. I asked him if people smelled in those days, and he said no, people did a daily wash-up to ensure they were clean. 

The first time that I traveled to Europe was in the 1980s.  I remember hearing that no one used deodorant and expected my nose to be assaulted. I did not encounter smelly people on that trip.  They were doing other things to clean themselves. Today, most Europeans have converted to commercial deodorants, likely due to advertising.

Although modern bathing and showering are the result of indoor plumbing, keeping oneself clean and good-smelling has been documented as far back as Egyptian times and has been recorded among just about any group since that time. Some used religious cleansing as the reason to keep clean; others had communal bath houses where they could socialize and bathe. Egyptians used simple soaps, while the Romans and Greeks cleaned their skin with scented oils. Other cultures relied on water or mild abrasives to clean away the stink.

We often think of Medieval times as odoriferous, but people from then were concerned about cleanliness and tried to keep themselves smelling nice. Then, as now, the more wealth you had, the greater your access to hygiene options. 

Yes, there have been times when people thought bathing was unhealthy or a sign of moral degeneracy, but many still did their best to smell better by wearing pungent spices or perfumes.

Dirty clothing often causes a stink; in the past, cleaning clothes could be difficult. People would beat or brush out dirt, air out clothing, and sometimes remake outfits to remove stains. There were no dry cleaners in those days! 

Often, their clothes were made of wool or linen, two natural fibers that are bacteriostatic and odor-resistant.  They also wore layers of clothing so that their outer clothes never touched their skin. Their “underwear” was frequently changed.  If you were wealthy, it was changed daily.  If you were poorer, it was washed several times a week.

Research gains in the late 1700s and 1800s made the mass production of inexpensive soaps possible. Pears translucent soap was introduced in 1807, and Lever Brothers (now Unilever Corporation) introduced Sunlight soap in the late 1800s. During this time, soap went from a luxury item for the elite to a product that just about anyone could afford. In Germany, detergents were invented in 1900 and found their way into multiple products, including self-care items like Dove soap, a syndet (detergent) bar introduced in 1955. 

Dial soap, which has antimicrobial agents, was the first deodorant soap and was introduced in 1949 with ads that stressed, “Dial stops odor before it starts!”  Deodorant soaps have used a variety of antimicrobial agents that have been banned over the years.  More recent studies have shown that consumer deodorant soaps are no different from regular soaps in reducing skin bacteria and pose a danger to the environment.  Dial is still a popular soap; it uses an anti-bacterial agent called benzalkonium chloride, and I’m unclear why.

Liquid soaps were invented in the mid-1800s, but most current liquid soaps are not soaps but detergents. Softsoap brand hand soap (a detergent) became popular in the 1970s, and shower gels (also detergents) became popular in the late 1980s. 

There are several methods to deal with odor. The first one is to clean your body regularly. In the US, this means taking a bath or, more likely, a shower. In other places with less access, it could mean a trip to the river or a sponge bath. Other methods are to use a masking smell, like a perfume, to hide offensive odors or to block sweat production in odor-causing areas. 

I went on a hiking trip with a close friend. I stayed at base camp and did day hikes while my friend and his son did a five-day trek over the mountains.  My friend is typically very clean, and I have never noticed him to have an odor problem.  However, he wore the same clothes on this hike and had minimal opportunities to wash. It was sweltering hot, and he sweated quite a bit. When I picked him and his son up, I could only describe the odor as similar to a garbage dumpster.  After a shower, he was as good as new, but I suggested he burn his hiking clothes.

Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands, which are located all over the body. When you sweat, your body uses evaporation to cool itself off. Most people can’t smell this type of sweat, but some can, including me. Eccrine sweat doesn’t smell bad at all; it smells like people, and I rather like it. 

The other glands are the apocrine glands located in the scalp, breasts, armpits, and groin. These glands produce an oily sweat that serves as food for certain bacteria.  The waste products from these bacteria give people body odor, or BO.  

Feet only have eccrine glands, but sweaty, unclean feet trapped in shoes can generate odors due to different bacterial by-products.  That is why smelly armpits and stinky feet have different types of pungent aromas.

I remember TV commercials from the 1960s in which a person would be identified as smelling bad, and the announcer would say, “He has BO!” But instead of him saying BO, a loud fog horn would blast, “BEEEEE OHHHHH!!!” That had to be a pretty effective commercial because I was just a young kid, and I still remember it vividly. It let me know that BO was a bad thing.

A fun fact is that many East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) don’t wear deodorant due to a gene mutation that impacts their apocrine glands. They don’t produce oily sweat, so those smelly bacteria can’t grow. 

This history of deodorants is fascinating and has modern and historical components. People have used various methods to reduce odor, from Europeans who wore masking perfumes and spices to South Asians using alum-based products like the Thai deodorant crystal and Filipino Tawas powder. Alum is bacteriostatic; in other words, it slows down the growth of bacteria. Fewer bacteria mean less odor.

Washing your body is the primary way to reduce BO. Additionally, there are two ways to control underarm smells: deodorants and antiperspirants. 

Commercial deodorants used to have antimicrobial agents, but they have mostly been removed due to health and environmental concerns.  Now, most commercial deodorants are just masking agents; they are cheap-smelling perfumes for the armpits.

Antiperspirants use aluminum salts. These salts plugged up sweat glands, so there is no sweat for odor-causing bacteria to eat, and so there is no odor. Antiperspirants are the most effective way to control malodorous underarm smells. 

There is a fear that antiperspirants can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.  These fears have been debunked many times and are not true, but they persist from self-proclaimed health gurus, often for their benefit. 

I can’t tolerate antiperspirants because they make me itch.  However, dermatologists now say to put these agents on at night to plug up sweat glands and shower them off the skin in the morning to eliminate skin irritation.  I have not tried this as I already have another odor-controlling method that works very well. I’ll talk about that in the next paragraph. 

I mentioned that some Asian cultures have used alum salts for hundreds of years to control body odor.  These salts were marketed in the US starting in the 1980s as magic deodorant crystals, and I started using them in the early 2000s.  These contain aluminum in compound form, but it is a different compound than those used in antiperspirants.  Alum salts don’t block sweating; they are bacteriostatic and inhibit odor-causing bacteria.  For me, they work like a charm. Ads say to wet the crystal and apply; I rub a dry crystal on my damp underarms after I shower. This method wastes less of the mineral and gets the job done.

Commercial deodorants were introduced in the late 1800s under the Mum brand, and antiperspirants were marketed in the early 1900s under the name Odorono. Neither was very popular for several reasons. Victorian era people felt it was improper to talk about such things as body odor, and they also felt that washing their underarms and wearing perfume worked well enough to keep odor at bay. The early deodorants and antiperspirants had many drawbacks including being irritating and staining clothes. 

Edna Murphy’s father was a surgeon who developed an aluminum chloride solution to keep his hands dry during surgeries; she saw its potential to stop underarm sweating.  Due to Victorian sentiment, she wasn’t very successful selling her antiperspirant until the 1912 Atlantic City Exposition, where she had a sales booth. 1912 had an especially hot summer, and visitors were especially smelly.  She sold enough products at the exposition to hire the advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson Company.  They assigned a new hire, James Young, to the campaign. Mr. Young was a former door-to-door Bible salesman without training in advertising.  However, he was the man for the job. James Young is considered the father of shame-based advertising and could make potential customers worry about things they didn’t worry about before.  He started to run ads for women saying that men would not love them unless they used Odorono, and sales took off.

From a 1937 ad:

You’re a pretty girl, Mary, and you’re smart about most things, but you’re just a bit stupid about yourself. You love a good time, but you seldom have one. Evening after evening, you sit at home alone. You’ve met several grand men who seemed interested at first. They took you out once, and that was that. So many pretty Marys in the world never seem to sense the real reason for their aloneness. In this smart modern age, it’s against the code for a girl (or a man) to carry the repellent odor of underarm perspiration on clothing and person. It’s a fault which never fails to take its own punishment—unpopularity.

 He applied the same strategy with men during the great depression, stating that no one would hire them unless they used Odorono.  Men then started to use the product. He turned a product that no one wanted into one that grossed 28 billion dollars in 2025.

There has been some backlash against commercial deodorants and antiperspirants, which has prompted companies to create green-washed products and home cooks to develop DIY concoctions. Let’s take a look at the marketing hype and ingredients used.

One is to continue to promote false claims that commercial antiperspirants cause dementia and breast cancer.  To repeat, this is not true.

The other is to create fear about “unnatural” chemicals used in commercial products.  You may be sensitive to a random chemical, but it is not thought that these agents are more dangerous than other deodorizing methods.

The term Natural has absolutely no real meaning.  Frankly, the often criticized aluminum salts used in commercial antiperspirants are completely natural as they come from nature.  Please don’t get hung up on this term, as it is used to manipulate you.

Antiperspirants are the most effective way to control underarm and foot odor due to excessive sweating.  Natural deodorants use a variety of other agents to control odor and bacterial levels.  Some work for some and not so well for others.  Men sweat more than women and frequently work in more physically demanding jobs. Therefore, it is much more likely to hear women in office jobs claiming good results from a natural deodorant, where a man working in the field may be less enthusiastic. Here are some common ingredients used in natural deodorants:

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, but it may worsen your BO as it is basic (remember acids and bases from high school chemistry?).  The bacteria that cause BO in your underarms prefer a basic environment, and baking soda can encourage their growth.  Plus, it can be irritating.

Essential Oils- Some essential oils, like Tea Tree, have mild bacteria reducing properties and may reduce odor-causing bacteria.  However, all fragrances, including essential oils, can irritate sensitive skin, causing skin breakdown and more problems.

Coconut oil is used as a base that also has bacteria-reducing properties.

Arrowroot powder is a moisture absorber that may keep the underarms drier.

Corn starch has the same function as arrowroot powder, but is likely more irritating.

Activated charcoal- can reduce odor, but it can be irritating and staining.

Alcohol is often used as a preservative, but it could have some bacteria-reducing properties.

Magnesium salts have some bacteria reducing properties.

If you are a heavy sweater, natural deodorants are likely to be less effective. Additionally, they often cost significantly more than mainstream deodorants. You can buy an antiperspirant at Dollar Tree for $1.25 or a name-brand antiperspirant for about $4, while a Native brand natural deodorant starts at $13 (Walmart prices as of 4/2025).

There are many DIY recipe hacks for making your own deodorant, many using coconut oil and baking soda (see caution above).  There are also several deodorant substitutes. Here are some of them:

-Spray or scrub rubbing alcohol under your arms. It reduces bacteria, but it is skin-drying.

-Use essential oils directly; this mostly masks odor, but can be very irritating to the skin.

-Use baking soda directly, it may cause overgrowth of harmful bacteria and can irritate.

-Apply glycolic acid directly; it reduces bacteria growth as it is acidic, but may be drying.

-Milk of Magnesia may reduce bacteria.

Some people have bacterial overgrowth problems that aren’t controlled by typical methods, and some dermatologists might recommend washing underarms several times a week with an antiseptic agent like benzoyl peroxide (PanOxyl), chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibiclens), or povidone iodine (Betadine). They would be instructed to wash their underarms with these agents and then leave the solution on for a few minutes before thoroughly washing it off.  These cleansers can all dry out skin, so they should not be used daily.  Most would use a daily antiperspirant or deodorant on top of this.

Whole body deodorants were introduced in 2017 with the brand Lume.  Lume’s active ingredient is mandelic acid, which (like its cousin glycolic acid) makes an area more acidic and less friendly to smelly underarm bacteria.

Lume created a whole new market using funny but shame-based advertising; there are now many competitors.  I recently checked out some at Walmart, and most seem to just be rebranded deodorants.  Marketing is everything!

The Lume commercial makes people worry that they have offensive butt odor.

I’m a psychiatrist, meaning I’m also a licensed medical doctor.  In my years of practice, I have been the medical director of several inpatient programs that required me to do a comprehensive physical exams…that is a head-to-toe exam, when a new patient was admitted to my unit.  My nose has been very close to several thousand people so I feel I can honestly assess the need for a whole body deodorant.  In my opinion, they are entirely unnecessary and could potentially disrupt the skin’s natural biome. 

The vast majority of patients I have examined over my 40-year practice have smelled fine with basic hygiene. The ones that didn’t smell so good resulted from being dirty or having dirty clothing (or most likely both).  They returned to being non-smelly with a shower and clean clothes.  

For your saddle region, use gentle soap and water (or sometimes just water for women’s genital region). Your body cleans your internal structures automatically. 

For stinky feet, change out shoes allowing them to dry, wear fresh socks, apply absorbent foot powders, and consider antiperspirant creams for severe cases. 

If the above doesn’t help in those regions, it is best to see a doctor to determine if you have something that needs medical attention, like an infection.

Of course, there are other reasons why some people smell bad. We all know what we smell like when we eat garlic chicken or have a few beers, but those are temporary problems. Additionally, some illnesses, medications, and infections can cause odor problems. These are best sorted out by a healthcare provider. Lastly, some individuals have metabolic issues where they excrete malodorous scents. These individuals are rare, and I have never encountered one during several thousand physical exams.

For most people with odor problems, regular soap and water and clean clothing is the place to start, along with the application of an underarm deodorant or antiperspirant. If you don’t want to use anything under your arms you can try “washing up” a few times a day. 

I’m not here to change anyone’s mind or to get them to start or stop any agent.  If you are happy with your current hygiene routine, so be it.  I’m here to educate, inform, and hopefully tell an interesting story.  

Peace,

Mike

Sources for this post include the Smithsonian web page and other internet sources.  Images are from the internet, and all content is used only for educational purposes.  This post is not medical advice.  See your doctor if you have medical or odor concerns.

Uncategorized

What Will Be The Impact Of The Liberation Day Tariffs? A Non-Economist’s View.

I’m a retired guy who depends on his 401 (k) to live. Naturally, I have been in a state of terror these last few days, and I’m fearful for the days to come. Economists have talked about the adverse effects of tariffs ad nauseam, but it still seems that many misunderstand what they are. I would never claim to be an economist, but I thought I would do my best to define them according to my understanding. This post is my personal opinion.

Tariffs are a tax on the US consumer.

This statement is true.  It is not a fee paid by the exporting country.  A product comes into a US port and can only be delivered to the US vendor if the US vendor pays the tariff.  The vendor then has the option of passing costs on to the consumer.  In cases of a high tariff, it is most likely that the vendor will pass it on as they need to make a profit. 

Corporations are beholding to their shareholders, who always want to see increased gains.  They are not beholding to their customers. Think of a tariff as an exceptionally high sales tax added on top of the regular sales taxes. 

Is this the first time that the US has used tariffs?

No, they have been used many times, including in Trump’s last presidential term.  Then, they were used to a much more limited degree since others in the administration advised against them.  Those constraints have been removed this time around. 

What tariffs were imposed by Trump during his first term?

During his first term, most of Trump’s tariffs were on raw materials, with a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum. These tariffs were lifted on Canada and Mexico in 2019. Specific tariffs amounting to 34 billion dollars were placed on China, which retaliated with a reciprocal 34 billion dollar counter-tariff on the US. 

Did Trump impose tariffs on specific manufactured products during his first term?

Trump did impose a few tariffs on products, notably solar panels and washing machines. The Whirlpool Corporation (makers of Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana washers) petitioned the president for the tariffs as they had difficulty competing with the Korean brands Samsung and LG. Tariffs were not placed on clothes dryers, but manufacturers chose to raise the prices of those items as well; this would mean greater profit for companies like Whirlpool.  

The washing machine tariff raised the cost of a washer and dryer by nearly $200.  Biden canceled this tariff.  Manufacturers did drop the prices a bit, but they were still substantially higher than pre-tariff prices. Once tariffs increase prices, they will likely not return to their pre-tariff levels. The consumer pays the price.

Did the first-term tariffs move manufacturing and jobs to the US?

Yes, some plants moved to the US, creating an estimated 1000 jobs. However, around 74,000 jobs were lost due to the slowed economy, so the net numbers showed a significant job loss. 

How did Trump’s first-term tariffs impact citizens and the overall GDP?

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariffs_in_the_first_Trump_administration#Further_reading

A May 2019 analysis conducted by CNBC found Trump’s tariffs are equivalent to one of the largest tax increases in the U.S. in decades.[20][21][22] Studies have found that Trump’s tariffs reduced real income in the United States, as well as adversely affecting U.S. GDP.[23][24][25] Some studies also concluded that the tariffs adversely affected Republican candidates in elections.[26][27][28]

Are tariffs a new idea in the US?

No, tariffs have been used in the US in the past.  It was the primary way the federal government covered operating expenses before a Federal income tax was established in 1913.  The early United States was primarily an agrarian society, making it very difficult to calculate an income tax.  It was easier to determine the cost of things entering the country.  However, by the Civil War, it became evident that tariffs were inadequate to fund the government’s expanding role. The Civil War was supported by increasing tariffs, government bonds, duty taxes, and the sale of public lands.

Are there other examples of significant tariffs in the US and the impact that they had?

William McKinley, a Republican, sponsored the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, which raised tariffs on imports to almost 50%. He was a protectionist who wanted to increase industry in the US and an imperialist who wanted to annex Canada to acquire its natural resources (sound familiar?).  

The tariffs caused a steep increase in consumer prices, which resulted in a landslide Democrat victory in the 1890 congressional elections.

From a New York Times newspaper article published in 1890:

The Republican campaign orators and pamphleteers say that the various import duties levied by Congress are paid by the foreigners who send goods to America, and they deny point blank that the price of any article which may be called a necessary expense will be increased to Americans by the operation of the new tariff law.

And

Fortunately for those who believe in tariff reforms, the question as to who pays the tariff taxes, and likewise the pleas which are made in answer to this question by the partisan defenders of the new law, may be referred to the arbitrament of incontestable facts. It is no longer necessary to meet theories with theories. Let the facts, which are multiplying every day, tell who it is that pays the onerous tariff taxes. They will answer that the American people pay these taxes and that the burden of them rests most heavily upon the poor, inasmuch as there are very few of the necessities of life the prices of which are not increasing on account of the McKinley tariff.

Industry growth did increase in the US during the 1880s-1940s as the US transitioned from an agricultural society to an industrial urbanized one. Times were different then, and global manufacturing giants like China did not exist. 

Modern economists have analyzed the impact of the McKinley Tariff.  Kevin Bryan summarized the work of Douglas Irwin (a Dartmouth professor and expert on trade policies) as follows:

Irwin concludes that the protection did not pass a cost-benefit test: the welfare losses (to consumers and perhaps related industries) outweighed the gains to producers and any learning-by-doing benefits. This echoes a general finding in the tariff history literature: while high tariffs clearly redistributed income in favor of protected manufacturers, they were not an unequivocal net benefit to the overall economy’s growth.

In other words, Professor Irwin felt that the McKinley Tariff did not benefit the US economy.

 The Democrats lowered these tariffs with the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894.

Are there any other examples of the impact of high tariffs levied by the US?

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 was supposed to protect American industries during the Great Depression. It placed tariffs on over 20,000 items, about 20% of all imported items. President Herbert Hoover signed the act in June 1930.  This resulted in a trade war with other countries, which launched counter-tariffs on US items. The impact of these tariffs was to stagnate the world economy further and contribute to more job losses in the US and abroad. It is now understood that the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs lengthened the Great Depression. It had the opposite of its intended effect.

What about the “Liberation Day” tariffs of 2025?

The full impact of the above tariffs are still unknown. The economy was doing well and consumer inflation was lessening at the end of 2024, but it has been worsening under the Trump administration, with inflation punching back.  

The impact of the extraordinarily high tariffs has had other consequences beyond financial, as many ally countries are now pulling away from US influence and forming alliances with each other.  This could allow another world power, like China, to create stronger partnerships with nations, including European countries.  Doing so would most certainly weaken the US’s role as a world power.

I have been monitoring European, Middle East, and Asian news outlets, and many countries echo the concern that the US can no longer be trusted and that they need to find solutions that protect themselves from the new instability and imperialism of the US.  

Trump notes that he is only charging  ½ of reciprocal tariffs.  The layperson may assume that these countries have massive tariffs against US industries. That is not the case. The Trump tariff calculations have nothing to do with other countries’ tariffs and have baffled economists.  They seem based on a trade deficit and make little economic sense. 

Syria is under US economic sanctions, so its trade with the US is minuscule, only a few million dollars primarily for artwork. However, since that is still more than what we export to Syria, the Trump administration has calculated that Syria has an 80% tariff on the US and is charging a 40% tariff on all imports from Syria. And let’s not forget tariffs imposed on uninhabited islands and impoverished African nations.  If this makes no sense to you, it is because it makes no sense.

The federal government says that Russia was one of only a few countries excluded from tariffs because we already have sanctions on them. Yet we have sanctions on Syria, but we imposed a 40% tariff on them. What gives?

The trade deficit from most countries is because we buy more from them than they buy from us. We buy from them because their products cost less; they don’t buy from us because our products cost more than they can get elsewhere.  That is simple economics. 

US-owned companies have lowered their costs by manufacturing products abroad. Countries like China have also developed superior supply chains and a highly skilled workforce making it more desirable to manufacture in other places. Lastly, we now have a global economy where American-manufactured products often include parts and materials from other countries.  I’ll include a video of one entrepreneur who tried to use US-based manufacturing companies and the barriers that he faced.

If you can’t click on the image use this link: https://youtu.be/jCS-LS4LUXk

The “Liberation Day” tariffs have already launched a trade war, likely leading to a recession and possibly a depression.  We are seeing some signaling of this with the stock market crash of the last few days.

If we look historically at the role of tariffs, the “Liberation Day” tariffs will result in higher prices on almost everything US consumers buy. This includes cars assembled in the US, as many of their parts are foreign-sourced. This will strain the pocketbooks of many Americans, some to the point of collapse. If the recession proceeds to a depression the entire country will suffer.

Some new factories will likely come to America, but history says the overall economic impact will be negative.  The US was economically the world’s envy for the last few years, but those times will be over. 

Re-establishing new factories in the US can cost a company billions of dollars, which they may not want to incur, as US policies have been erratic and chaotic as of late. Additionally, since these tariffs are based on executive orders, they could change on a whim or with a new administration. Companies want stability and predictability. Does it make sense for a company to close an efficient factory in another country and spend a billion dollars to build one in the US?  Some companies will say, “Yes.”  Others will say, “No.”  As countries like China and India develop their middle class, industries may sidestep the US and concentrate on those vast markets. 

Neighboring countries will likely seek other trading partners. When Canada faced the McKinley Tariffs in 1890, it shifted trade from the US to other British Commonwealth nations. This option exists today on a much broader level with a world economy, and Canada has already established a deal with energy-starved Japan to start shipping oil to them.

Prolonged tariffs will negatively impact all countries, including the US, a scenario that benefits no one.

Wait, why do we care about Canada selling oil to Japan? Aren’t we going to “Drill, baby, drill?”

Contrary to what you may hear, the US is already the largest oil producer in the world and has been for the last 6 years. The reason we buy oil from other countries is economic.  Our oil refineries were built to refine a particular grade of oil, which is not the oil that our wells now produce. Canada produces the correct type of oil for our refineries, so it is better for us to buy from them and sell our oil to countries that have different refineries that can process it.  Oil companies are reluctant to build new refineries in the US as it would be astronomically expensive, and they already have the facilities elsewhere. Even if we doubled our oil production, it would not change our need to import oil. 

So what is the answer for US manufacturing?

The US market is a big one, but there are many other huge markets in the world including the European Union, India, and China.  It makes little sense for companies to completely shift their production to the US as this will increase their prices for these other markets.  To return to an isolationist economy would seem impossible and not economically practical for the US at this time. The way to reduce manufacturing costs in the US is to pursue greater automation/robots while reducing the salary and benefits of US workers. Neither of these options benefit US workers. 

The industrial growth of the 1950s happened for many reasons.  First, we had massive post-war manufacturing factories while the rest of the world was in ruin.  Additionally, we offered higher education to the working class via the GI bill.  This resulted in an intellectual explosion and the creation of new industries, including the semi-conductor industry. It seems unlikely that we can return to our manufacturing prowess of the 1950s because the rest of the world has moved on and now can produce just about anything from tooth brushes to spaceships on their own. What they need from us is our technical expertise and intellectual property. We have been “selling” those. 

Is retraining of the underemployed the answer?  That is a difficult question. Is it reasonable to expect the average high school graduate to go back to school to become a research chemist or a aeronautical engineer?  Probably not, and if they could we would then have a glut of such individuals.

The biggest problem seems to be the transfer of wealth from lower classes to upper classes.  If that is the biggest problem it is likely one solution point.  Options like improving the minimum wage, the re-establisment of protective unions, and bettering education and healthcare for the underserved would accomplish some of these goals. All of these options would encourage the growth of the middle class and a large middle class means economic growth.

Obviously, I’m not an economist and I’m sure that there are many who have better solutions as this is just my two cents.  

The bottom line:

  1. Past attempts to enact significant tariffs on other countries have been unsuccessful and damaged the American economy.
  2. The Smoot-Hauley Tariff Act of 1930 worsened and lengthened the Great Depression and increased unemployment.
  3. Former friendly trading partners will likely form alliances excluding the US, which will weaken, not strengthen, our global influence.
  4. “Liberation Day” tariffs will increase inflation and likely throw the US (and the rest of the world) into another great recession and potentially a great depression. 
  5. Opening major new US factories can take 5-10 years, and many companies may not pursue this due to the uncertainty of the US government.
  6. We will never be able to compete with countries that have very low labor costs, especially with simple-to-manufacture items.  Other countries will buy from those countries, not the US.  
  7. It makes more sense to export things in which we are leaders, like computing and intellectual/technical services. 
  8. People (like myself) who rely on retirement investments will spend less out of financial fear, further stagnating the US economy. 
  9. As inflation increases, the general population will spend less, resulting in job loss in many sectors.
  10. Industries may try to bust labor unions to create a cheaper labor force. This move will not benefit US workers in the long run.
  11. Tariffs will have the most devastating impact on the poor as their safety nets are already being impacted in many ways, including Medicaid, Social Security, and other governmental programs. This is how uprisings start.
  12. Returning manufacturing to the US to 1950s levels seems very unlikely as the rest of the world has now caught up and in some cases exceeded our abilities in this area.

The above is my personal opinion.

Peace

Mike

Uncategorized

House Cleaning Hacks to Save You Time And Money

I decided to continue my theme of saving money by looking at some DIY cleaning products I make and use. However, I also do a lot of practical cleaning things, so I had to revisit the focus of this post. I’ll discuss DIY products and add easy ways to clean the house. This post will most benefit newbie cleaners who are starting with their first places. 

When I was single, I cleaned my apartment, but that apartment was small, and I was pretty organized, so cleaning was a simple process. When I bought a house, I hired a cleaning lady to do those tasks, which continued for many years after I remarried. However, I was never pleased with the cleaning ladies I used.  They often did a fantastic first clean and then some OK ones. As time went on, their work became more and more cursory. It was easier to go with the flow, so neither Julie nor I did much about it.

Ten years ago, Tom did a major remodel on our second floor, which was a great excuse to cancel our cleaning service due to construction. Julie was concerned, but I said I would do the cleaning. When I restarted this process, I discovered that many of the products we bought for the cleaning lady were empty and that both of our vacuum cleaners were inoperable (one had to be thrown out).  The cleaning lady never told us any of this. 

I didn’t have a lot of money when I cleaned my apartment in the early days, so I used the most straightforward methods possible.  However, now I could buy whatever I wanted, so I hit the hardware store’s cleaning products aisle and was astounded by the massive array of products.  It was overwhelming, and I bought everything in sight.  Granite cleaners, glass stove top cleaners, floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, stainless steel cleaners, multipurpose cleaners and creams, glass cleaners, “magic” cleaners, wood cleaners, and so it went.  It was crazy, confusing, and expensive.

Dedicated products do a somewhat better job, but that difference is not great.  For most “cleans,” I go as simple as possible.  During the last 10 years, I have also experimented with different products to find the best value.  Sometimes, you don’t need the best of show; the best value product works well enough. I’ll share that info as well.

I live in the Midwest, which has moderately hard water.  I also use a traditional washing machine with an agitator. The machine is not a HE (high efficiency) machine, and I can’t comment on the needs of HE washers. Follow the instructions on your HE machine. All of my recommendations are my own, and they are based on my family and house.  Your needs may be different. However, you can still use these suggestions as a starting point.  As always, you do you.

About soaps/detergents in general

Many brands come in multiple variations. For instance, there is Original Tide, Tide with Downey, Simple Tide, Tide Oxy, and Hygenic Tide. I usually test the most popular formulation.  I’m unsure how different each formation is in a particular product line; some seem like marketing hype.  

Also, my tests are based on products that I have used over the years. I have not tested every single product on the market. My results are subjective but completely honest. Please shop by unit price (price per ounce or price per wash). I often find bigger-quantity products costing more per unit than smaller quantities or the exact same product by two different vendors at drastically different prices on Amazon. Use a calculator if necessary. 

The dishwasher

Only use detergent explicitly made for dishwashers (duh?).  If you can find powdered dishwashing detergent in a box, it is usually the most effective and cheapest.  Additionally, you can adjust the amount: a little for lightly soiled dishes and more for that spaghetti casserole.  

In our house, we have found pods more convenient. I have tested many, and I saw no difference in performance between the cheapest Walmart pods and the expensive multi-colored ones from the name brands. We primarily use inexpensive Kirkland pods (Costco), which do a great job. 

Dishwashing Soap

Everyone needs dishwashing soap (which is a detergent, not a soap), but what brand should you use?  The good news is that they all work, but some work better than others. A lot of this has to do with the concentration of detergent in the product.  You can’t judge how concentrated a product is based on its thickness.  All detergents, from dish soap to shampoo, use thickeners that add to the viscosity of the liquid but don’t add to the cleaning power. 

If you want the most potent dishwashing soap, go with the top-tier brand. However, I’m usually quite happy with middle-tier products. The low-tier products work, but you will need to use more of them, so they are likely not the bargain they seem on the surface. 

Top Tier

Everyone says Dawn is the best, and it likely is.  It is also the most expensive.

Dawn

Middle Tier

These products all work great, but they are not quite as concentrated as Dawn. I’m usually quite happy with them, and some are half the price of Dawn.

Palmolive dish soap

Kirkland (Costco brand)

Great Value (Walmart brand)

Gain dish soap

Radiance (Aldi brand)

Amazon Basics brand

Bottom Tier

These will do the job, but you will need more of the product, so what are you saving?

Ajax Dishwashing Soap

Awesome brand (Dollar Tree)

Sun Dishwashing Soap

Extra Credit brand

Both my sisters swear by this product, but it is more expensive and more limited in how you can use it. However, they say it is fantastic on grease. 

Dawn Power Wash

DIY Power Wash (my sister says it is just as good)

  1. Use an empty Power Wash bottle.
  1. To 13 ounces of water, add four tablespoons of dish soap and two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.  Swirl to mix. 

How do you wash dishes? We use a sponge with a bit of detergent added to it.  You only need a tiny amount of dish soap for most dishes.  

Easy DIY cleaning method for greasy glass stovetops

When we fry something, we often get a layer of grease on our glass stovetop. You can buy expensive cleaners for this, but we use a DIY method.

  1. Put a few drops of dish soap around your stovetop.  
  2. Using a damp sponge, smear the soap around the entire stovetop. Leave it for a few minutes.
  3. Wipe off the soap using dry paper towels.
  4. Follow up that wipe with a somewhat wet sponge.
  5. Wipe that off with a dish towel or paper towel. 

Two very simple homemade general-purpose spray cleaners

I grew up in the science age when everything had a cool product name.  When I was a kid, multi-purpose spray cleaners hit the market with names like “Formula 409” and “Fantastic.”  I believe those products still exist, along with “Pink” products and “Mrs. Meyers,” to name a few.  

I’m constantly cleaning surfaces, and during the pandemic, cleaning supplies were in short supply, so I made some of my own.  However, I simplified those complicated products (that were anti-microbial) to be super easy to make—both of these work. Be conservative on how much detergent is added. If you add too much, you will leave streaks and residue that will attract dirt. 

You can use an empty spray bottle from a used-up product, but I like using a 32-ounce “professional” spray bottle. Product bottles often break after a few refills, but my pro bottle has lasted me three years. It was worth a few dollars. These formulas are based on  32 ounces; if you are using a smaller bottle, cut back a bit on the soap portion.

I use these for all surfaces: countertops, wood cabinets, the inside and outside of appliances (including the microwave and fridge), the kitchen table, and much more.  

If things are grimy, spray on and let it sit for a couple of minutes, or use a nylon scraper to dislodge the gunk.

DIY Formula 1

Fill a 32-ounce spray bottle with warm water, leaving roughly 1 inch from the top. Add about 1 inch (or less) of an all-purpose cleaner. Add a few drops of dish soap if you need additional cleaning power. Screw on the top and gently swirl to mix. 

Here are some all-purpose cleaners that I have tested and used for my DIY spray cleaner.

Top Tier

Mr. Cean

Spic and Span

Pine-Sol

Middle Tier

Fabuloso

Lysol All Purpose Cleaner

Bottom Tier

Mrs. Meyers All Purpose cleaner (smells great, but a meh cleaner)

Awesome Multi Cleaner (Dollar Tree)

DIY Formula 2

Fill a 32-ounce spray bottle with warm water, leaving some room at the top.  Add ½ to a scant teaspoon of dish soap, replace the top, and swirl to mix. 

Sink cleaning hack

There are many products to clean sinks, from Scrubbing Bubbles foam to spray-on liquids. They work but are expensive and quickly run out when cleaning multiple sinks. I use old-fashioned powdered cleaners. An enormous amount can cost around a dollar and last a long time, and it can be found in just about every store.  The two brands that I use are Comet and Ajax.  Both are equally good. Ed note:  Both can be found at Dollar Stores for about $1.25, but my local mid-level grocery store has Comet for almost $3 and Ajax for around $2.  Advice: shop around.

As a student, I worked summers as a janitor for CPS. An experienced janitor taught me the proper way to use powdered cleansers.  

Wet down a sink.  Sprinkle some powdered cleanser on a damp towel or sponge (don’t add the cleanser to the sink).  Commence to scrubbing.  If the sink is filthy, do an initial light scrub and let the powder sit on the sink for a minute.  Re-dampen the cloth or sponge and scrub a little harder.  Your results will look better than those of using a spray or aerosol cleaner. This works both on porcelain and stainless steel sinks. 

Option two:  I did this by accident.  Use a small amount of dish soap on a wet sink and scrub with a damp sponge or rag.  I just did this on a bathroom sink, and the results were fantastic.  I may switch to this method because I can use fewer cleaning products.  Less products = less clutter!

Bathtub Cleaning Hack

I have used powdered cleaners on our fiberglass tub but have read mixed cautions about doing this, as it is possible that these cleaners could scratch the tub. 

Here is an alternate DIY formula.

DIY Tub cleaner

Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with equal amounts of dish detergent.  

Apply to a wet sponge and smear on the tub.  Let it sit for up to 30 minutes.  Re-wet the sponge and scrub.  Rinse with fresh water.  

Shower Liner Cleaning Hack

After a while, shower liners get a bit gross and often show signs of “red mold,” which is, in reality, a bacterial film. Many folks throw out the old liner and buy a new one. However, returning the old liner to its former glory is easy. Toss the old liner in the washing machine (by itself) with detergent and bleach (I’m guessing I use ½ to 1 cup).  Run a cycle, and your liner will look new.  This works with plastic and white cloth liners. 

Pot Cleaning Hacks

You need to know what material the pot coating is made from. Enamel and non-stick pots should never be exposed to abrasives. Stainless steel and aluminum pots can take a beating without signs of wear, and soap is best avoided when washing cast iron (although it can be used in certain situations).

The easiest method is the soak method.  

Scrape off big chunks of burnt food with a nylon scraper; add hot water and dish soap, and let the pot sit during dinner.  Then, wash using a non-scratching scrubby-type sponge or dish rag.  

Other options

-You can also boil the above solution on the stove for more cleaning action.  Bring soap and water in the pot to a boil, cover and turn off the heat, and let it sit for 30 minutes or more.  Then clean it as above.

Cheap steel wool from the Dollar Store is excellent for stainless steel and aluminum pots (never use on enamel or non-stick). 

Bar Keeper’s Friend works fantastically on stainless steel and aluminum pots with impossible-to-remove crud. I used this powder to rescue pots I thought I would have to throw out. 

Toilet Cleaning Hack

I will use any detergent to clean the toilet; they all work great. This can be shampoo or shower gel that you don’t like or dish detergent. I use dish detergent that is sub-par for washing dishes. Just squirt some in and brush away. This hack works as good the dedicated staff. 

Unclog your sink without chemicals.

Three of us have long hair, and my son goes back and forth between long and shorter hair. Our drains often run slow, which is always due to hair in the drain. I have tried all sorts of chemical drain cleaners, which work but are a pain to use. Several years ago, I came upon a drain snake that is simple to use, chemical-free, and works better than chemical drain cleaners. It’s cheap and can be used over and over again. 

Window Washing Hacks

Hack 1

When newspapers were voluminous, we would use them as paper towels when washing windows. Newspaper (not with colors) gives a streak- and lint-free performance. 

Hack 2

This is the one that I constantly use.  I buy concentrated window washing solutions from the hardware store. Professional window washers use these; some get diluted 100 to one.  I then dilute them per instruction and have my personal “Windex” at a fraction of the cost of the regular stuff.  

Hack 3

There are many DIY window washing formulas.  Here is one of them.

DIY Window Washing Solution

Mix 2 cups water with 1/2 cup white vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing soap.  Add to a spay bottle and use accordingly. 

Paper Towel Hack

If you want to use fewer paper towels, you can use microfiber clothes specifically made for glass cleaning that are lint-free. However, FYI, these clothes may release microplastics.

Laundry Hacks

My wife does the laundry the majority of the time, so some of these are her hacks.

What type of detergent to use?

I switched to liquid laundry detergent when I was in college, as the powders of the day didn’t dissolve in cold water.  Liquid detergent has many advantages over other forms, but its big drawback is that it comes in a giant plastic jug.

Pods are easy to use but expensive and inflexible.

Sheets can seem eco-friendly, but dissolvable plastics bind those sheets together. They often don’t clean as well. 

Powders dissolve better today than when I was in college, but they are not as flexible as liquid detergent, which can also be used as a spot stain remover. 

What is laundry detergent?

Laundry detergent is a complex mix of detergent, water softeners, optical brighteners, color-safe bleach, whiteners, pH adjusters, fragrances, stabilizers, preservatives, and enzymes. The more expensive detergents have more expensive ingredients, like additional enzymes, making them better cleaners but also more costly. 

Top Tier Liquids

Tide

Persil

Middle Tier

All (We often use this brand in the fragrance-free version)

Kirkland (Costco brand)

Gain

Bottom Tier

Era

Arm and Hammer

Should you make your laundry detergent?

When my kids were young, one of our science fair experiments was determining what laundry detergent worked best (the best was Tide, and the worst was a forgotten Dollar Store brand). We stained white tee shirts with all sorts of stuff and then washed them with various soaps. We did one wash without soap as our control. We discovered that at least 50% of the cleaning action of doing laundry is done by water and agitation alone!

Making your own DIY laundry soap sounds so easy.  A bar of soap, some borax, some washing powder, and a little this and that, and you have made laundry soap for pennies a wash. I have been tempted, but I have extensively researched the topic.  The bottom line is that these homemade soaps don’t do a good job in cold water and leave a residue, making your clothes dingy and a dirt magnet over time.  I wish that were not the case, but it is. Don’t forget that just washing your clothes in water alone gives you about 50% of the cleaning action, so it is easy to think that your DIY laundry soap is doing the job when it isn’t. 

The difference between different laundry detergents and soap.

In the “old days,” people used soap and hot water to wash clothes.  In fact, my grandmother boiled her wash. Hot water adds to soap’s cleaning power. Soap leaves soap scum, which requires careful rinsing in hot water. 

However, people now wash in cold water, and detergents work much better in that situation. Many other agents are also added to laundry detergent to obtain good results. These include ingredients to make the detergents work better and agents to make whites whiter and colors pop. Enzymes are also added for stain removal, with different enzymes being good for one type of stain and others suitable for others. 

The top-tier detergents often have the most enzymes, so they are great at removing all sorts of stains. They are fantastic if you have messy kids, kids in sports, or adults with dirty jobs. However, many of us don’t fall into those categories, so we can save money using a middle-tier product and still get excellent results.

Laundry Hack 1

My wife and kids just shook their heads when I told them about this hack.  Why?  Because they knew it long before I did. Oh well, I was late to the party. You need only a tiny amount of detergent to wash your clothes.  Never fill the cap to the top with detergent. Your clothes will attract dirt and look dingier if you use too much detergent.  The cap will list with a line or a number the amount of detergent to use for various situations.  However, these markers are usually very faint and not obvious, so read the instructions on the bottle and find those lines.  Most manufacturers are specific, so don’t use less detergent than recommended for optimal results. 

Laundry Hack 2

You don’t need a ton of different additions to your laundry routine.  You can just rub some of the liquid detergent into a stain for removal.  Let it sit for a bit, and then wash. I use a tiny bit of dish soap on a greasy stain, which works well.  My wife will sometimes spray a stain with diluted Simple Green.  Lastly, don’t forget the power of the “soak.”  Dissolve some powdered Oxy Clean in a bucket of water (or just use some laundry detergent).  Add your garment and let it soak overnight; then, wash it as usual.  Oxy Clean powder is a simple compound of washing powder, a little detergent, and a chemical that turns into hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water.  It is likely that the liquid Oxy product is different, so I would go with the powder.  There are many generic “Oxy Clean” powders out there. If the chemicals are the same, they are the same, so you can save some money by using them.

Laundry Hack 3

Use dryer balls instead of liquid fabric softeners or sheets. Several appliance repair people have told me fabric softeners can damage your washer and dryer.

Floor Cleaning Hacks

We have many hard surfaces in our house that need to be cleaned. The most important thing to do is to use a neutral-pH cleaner. Specific floor cleaners and all-purpose cleaners will list if they have a neutral pH. Fabuloso and Mr. Clean are neutral pH.  Using another type of product will leave a residue that needs to be rinsed off, adding an extra step. 

I find products, like a Swifter, more labor intensive, less effective, and more expensive.  I go with a bucket and a traditional string mop.  If you know how to use a string mop, your job will be quick (I learned how as a janitor).  When it comes to a bucket, I use one with a wringer, like you would see being used in a hospital or office building. They come in smaller sizes for home use.  

Two of my kids love the O-Cedar Spin Mop system for their apartments.  The O-Cedar system is easier to move around but less effective than a full-sized string mop. However, it is a good alternative if you have strength issues.

Don’t use too much multi-use detergent; too much will leave a residue and make your floor dirtier in the long run. Always wring out your mop and place it so the mop head can air dry thoroughly to avoid that moldy smell.  You can wash string mop heads in the washer if needed.  

There you have it, a bunch of hacks that will save you money and simplify your life.  

Peace

Mike

Save on hygiene products, Uncategorized

Nine Personal Hygiene Hacks That I Use that Saves Money

I like to be clean, which is certainly not a controversial statement.  My wife would say I’m a bit fastidious, and she might imply that I’m neurotically hygienic when she is peeved with me. However, I disagree. I’m not a “germophobe” guy; I like to smell nice. I may have a more sensitive nose than most, and I react negatively when encountering someone who needs a shower. Conversely, I like it when someone smells nice. That is just me.

Despite this propensity, I have developed some frugal hygiene hacks over the years. All of them came about for reasons other than being frugal. In most cases, they worked better than more costly options and became part of my daily routine.  

I have written several posts on ways to save money, so I am adding this one.  I had a little inner conflict when writing this post as it seemed too “personal” and a bit TMI.   However, if it gets someone thinking about saving money, my disclosures will be worth it.

I gave up body wash/shower gels.

Body wash became popular in the late 1980s, and I was on board when they hit the market. The stuff was modern, smelled great, and was often colorful. Body wash is mostly water combined with detergent, thickening agents, fragrance, and other additives like preservatives, colorants, and buffering compounds.  

Around 10 years ago, I was at a store and spied some bar soap that I bought primarily for nostalgia. The soap and I entered the shower, and it was love at second sight.  I liked holding the bar, the slick way it felt when I applied it, and the overall experience.  My wife and kids are still on the body wash bandwagon, but I’m now firmly back in the bar soap court. 

Bar soap requires a slight change in procedure. You will need some sort of soap dish, and it is imperative that you dump out any water in that dish at the end of your shower. Otherwise, your bar will turn into a slimy, gross mess.  

Body wash comes in a plastic bottle that is not earth-friendly.  Bar soap comes in a paper wrapper.  Both body wash and bar soap can be purchased inexpensively or ridiculously expensively.  High-end soaps are differentiated mainly by the shape of the bar or bottle and the amount and quality of the fragrance added.  Pro tip: no one will smell that fragrance on you within 10 minutes of leaving the shower. 

If you have sensitive skin, one brand may work better than another. The same can be said if you have especially oily skin or an unusual odor issue. I have dry skin and can use just about any soap as long as it isn’t heavily fragranced. When it comes to body wash and bar soap, the skin-irritating ingredient is usually the fragrance.  

You may wonder if an inexpensive brand will get you as clean as a high-end product. If I put you in a room with 25 people who took a shower the same morning, some using the most expensive body wash and others using the cheapest bar of soap, you would not be able to smell the difference.  All products get you clean.  You may prefer the luxury of an $95 bottle of Tom Ford body wash, but it won’t get you any cleaner than a $0.54 bar of Ivory soap.  

This 8.5 ounce bottle of body wash costs almost $100!
Ivory Soap costs less than $0.60 a bar.

Is bar soap less expensive than body wash? Shower gels and soaps come in various sizes and price points, making comparison difficult. However, here is a reasonable examination:

Dove soap products are mild, quality products that many people like. As of March 2025, you can buy 16 Dove soap bars at Costco for $18.49 or $1.15 a bar. A 16-oz bottle of Dove Body Wash will last about the same length as a bar of soap (based on my usage habits). 

On Walmart.com, the 20-oz bottle of Dove body wash was less expensive than the 16-oz bottle (go figure), so I’ll use that price and recalculate it for 16 ounces.  

Doing some math: $7.97/20 oz = $0.40/ounce. $0.40 x 16 oz = $6.40.  So the calculated cost is $6.40 for 16 oz of Dove body wash. That compares to $1.15 for a bar of Dove. An over 500% difference! You can buy even less expensive bars, with brands like Irish Spring and Ivory selling for around $0.60 a bar.

I no longer use pump-liquid soap at the sink.

I don’t like using bar soap at the sink. You may be grossed out thinking about all the different people who used the same bar, but it is equally hygienic to use bar soap and pump soap. I don’t like it because people don’t drain the soap dish, and the soap becomes a goopy mess. Liquid soap has been around forever in public places but became popular for home use with the introduction of the Soft Soap brand in 1980. As soon as liquid soap became available for home use, I started using it. 

The COVID pandemic brought all sorts of shortages, including liquid soap and liquid soap refills.  I remember going to Target to find the shelves bare of these basic products.   

We had some foaming soap bottles on hand, and with a quick YouTube search, I discovered that it was simple to make foaming soap, which is just regular liquid soap plus water. This was the perfect way to stretch my dwindling liquid soap supply. Additionally, I much prefer foaming soap as it makes less of a “drip mess” on the sink while cleaning my hands just as well.  

To make foaming soap, fill an empty foaming soap bottle ⅕ with liquid soap and the rest with warm water. Add the water slowly, like you would add beer to a stein, to prevent over-foaming. Put the top back on and give the bottle a few shakes, and you will have a bottle of soap for 1/5th the cost of regular hand soap.

Making foaming hand soap is super easy. You can use a foaming container from a used-up bottle or buy empty foaming bottles from Amazon and other places.

Hand soap, body wash, and shampoo use the same ingredients with only minor changes. Hand soap may contain more detergent, body wash more fragrance, and shampoo may have an adjusted pH to reduce flyaway hair. You can use any of the above when making foaming hand soap. Body wash and shampoo are designed to suds better than traditional hand soap, so use those if you like suds. 

I found a better and cheaper way to apply body lotion.

I have dry skin, and when I was newly married, my wife would complain that my legs felt like the bark on a tree trunk.  She suggested that I use lotion after a shower, and I dutifully complied. 

My initial effort was to dry off after a shower and apply a hand lotion like Vaseline Intensive Care. That was a pain because it was slow and tedious, as applying the lotion dragged on my dry skin. 

I researched the rationale of using lotions, which changed my approach.  You may think that lotions soften skin like oiling an old baseball glove softens it.  That is not the case. The primary purpose of any hand or body lotion is to trap moisture (water) close to the skin.  A person’s natural oils are supposed to do this, but if you are a daily showerer like me, you wash those oils away.

I developed my method, which works better, is quicker to apply, and has cost savings.  This is what I do:

  1. I switched from hand lotion to a body cream. A lotion is liquid because it contains alcohol and water (making the product more diluted). Body creams usually come in tubs and are significantly thicker and more concentrated. I have used many, but my favorite is Cerave Moisturizing Cream. However, the others work well enough, too. Because they are more concentrated, body creams are more economical in the long run. 
  2. I apply the body cream as soon as I’m done with my shower.  I do NOT dry off, so all that water is available to make my skin healthy and soft.  Since my skin is wet, the cream glides on, and I’m done in a minute or two. I also use significantly less cream this way, so I don’t feel like a greased pig.  Since I’m pushing the water around, I’m dry enough to get dressed a few minutes after applying the cream.  I never have to “towel dry.”
  3. I use much less body cream this way; a jar will last me months.  

I have used this method for many years, and my wife’s tree trunk complaints are long gone. 

I like Cerave Moisturizing Cream, but other brands are also good.

I stopped using traditional deodorants decades ago.

Don’t say, “Eww,” I don’t smell bad; I just have an issue.  Antiperspirants work great for me. Unfortunately, after about a week of using them, My pores are so clogged up that I want to rip my armpits off. 

I can’t tell you how many commercial and “natural” deodorants I have tried. They just don’t work very well. Now, if you were sitting across a room from me, you probably wouldn’t notice anything, but my nose does, which bothers me.

Natural mineral crystal deodorants have been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years and came to America around 30 years ago.  I saw an ad in a magazine 20 years ago and bought some via mail order.  Mineral crystals are not an antiperspirant, so they don’t make me want to rip out my armpits. They work so well that  I don’t have the slightest hint of any offending body odor. 

My original purchase was a large mineral crystal rock in a little bag.  However, I have purchased it in a more traditional stick form for many years.  Don’t buy the spray or roll-on, which consists of the mineral salt dissolved in water.  They are a massive waste of money.  Buy the solid mineral crystal. Your skin has to be slightly damp so you can dissolve a tiny amount of the minerals on your skin.  This product lasts forever.  I had my last stick for over a year and only had to replace it because I dropped it, which shattered the stick into a dozen pieces.  

I rarely use toilet paper!

If the title of the last section gave you the ick, I’m guessing that this one gives you the double ick.  Let me assure you that all is good down there.

When COVID hit, people went nuts. Do you remember the TP riots? Someone hoards toilet paper, and then everyone has to. We are sheep. I remember going to multiple stores to finally score a four-pack of toilet paper that was more akin to sandpaper—and I was happy to buy it.

Several people I knew had installed bidets on their toilets during that time.  These were the fancy ones with heated seats and massaging water programs.  Soon, they sang the bidet’s praises, which caught my interest. However, to install one would cost me around $1,500 (bidet price plus a plumber and electrician).  I decided to go a more straightforward, less techy route and got a non-heating unit that could be self-installed (which I did with the help of a friend).  It cost around $60 and took less than 10 minutes to hook up.  I believed I would upgrade to a fancy unit if I liked the process.  That was around 3 years ago.

There are many of these types of DIY bidet attachments on Amazon. This one is a best seller and is less than $30.

There is a slight learning curve, but using cleansing water instead of TP gets you much cleaner down there, and it is less irritating if you have a spell of frequent “visits.”  It is the best $60 I have ever spent, and I have no need to get a more elaborate model. 

I gave up shaving with a modern razor.

I made this change at least 15 years ago.

Like most, I would buy a razor starter kit and a couple of packs of razor blades at the drugstore. Eventually, I would need more blades, but when I went to buy them, there were so many different options that I could never remember which system I had.  I would then purchase another starter kit and more packs of blades. This cycle repeated in an endless loop. I felt ripped off buying blades at over  $3 apiece. Plus, I hated that the blades were mounted in plastic, which would remain in a landfill long after I was gone.

There had to be a solution, and it was right in front of me. I remembered my father shaving with a Gillette double-edge safety razor. As a kid, I would sit on a stool and watch him. I was fascinated.  

Those same razor styles exist today and remain popular in many other countries. I bought one and started using it.  There is a learning curve when transitioning from a multi-blade system to a safety razor.  With a multi-blade cartridge, you apply a little pressure as the force is distributed over all the blades.  With a traditional safety razor, you let the razor’s weight do the work. Additionally, a cartridge razor is designed to connect with your face at the right angle, but you are the one who angles a safety razor (at around 30 degrees).  Use a safety razor for a week or two; it quickly becomes natural.  I can’t remember the last time that I nicked myself.  

When you use a safety razor, you get a close shave and are less likely to deal with bumps and ingrown hairs. A gigantic community of safety razor enthusiasts is out there to answer any question. Shaving with a safety razor can be dirt cheap or expensive if you want to use exotic shaving creams, limited edition razor bodies, and such.

I love shaving this way. Ninety percent of the time, I use a German-made razor from Merkur that is built so well that it will last a lifetime. I sometimes switch out that razor for others I own, including a Gillette Speed Razor made in 1953. Why 1953?  That was the year that I was born!

I have used this razor for many years and it still looks like new. You can buy many different styles of safety razors at various price points. They all use the same razor blade style.

This form of shaving is extremely earth-friendly as the steel blades are entirely biodegradable.  Instead of paying over $3 for a cartridge blade, typical double-edged razor blades cost between 5 and 50 cents and are universal for all safety razors.  Most blades are now made overseas in the Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, China, India, and Pakistan.  They come in cool-looking packages.  Most newbies buy an inexpensive “sample pack” of different razor blades to determine a brand that works for them (some blades are milder, others more aggressive).  My favorite blades cost less than 10 cents each and do a great job.

If you get into “wet shaving,” you can buy all sorts of shaving soaps, creams, and brushes at various prices. However, a regular can of shaving cream works just fine, too. I could continue, as I enjoy shaving this way, but I’ll stop now. Check out videos on YouTube if you want more information.

Want to try out wet shaving? This kit comes complete with a razor and blades and costs less than $15.
Some wet shavers turn it into a hobby. This titanium razor costs around $250. Do you need to spend that much? Absolutely not.
Wet shavers often get into the weeds when it comes to shaving and return to using shaving soap and a brush. Here, you can buy three pucks for around $10. Can you use regular shaving cream in a can? Of course!
You can also go a more luxurious route. This Art of Shaving soap and teak wood bowl cost around $50. The soap works, smells great, and will last a very long time.
You can buy razor blade samplers to find the best blade for your beard. This popular sampler pack on Amazon gives you 100 blades for around ten bucks.

I stopped going to the barber.

I’m a guy with typical male pattern baldness.  I also have a ridiculous tuft of hair in the middle of my forehead. I decided I was not going the “comb over” route.  Many years ago, I told my barber to give me a close crop, which he did. I continued that way for some time until an “incident” happened.  I had a rare extended break between two workplaces and spied a “Super Cuts.”  Only one stylist was working, but I was told I was the next customer.  I signed up and waited, and waited, and waited.  It turned out that the stylist was cutting her friend’s hair, and they were deep into gossip.  Finally, I got up and left. Irritation is sometimes the mother of invention. I went to the store and bought an electric hair clipper and never looked back, as my particular haircut is easy and straightforward.

I got sick of waiting for the stylist and went out and bought a hair clipper set.

I’m not sure that I would tackle a more complicated cut. However, I know people who do. I have a talented sister who always cuts her husband’s hair, but she went to an expensive salon for her cuts. When COVID hit, she was housebound and decided to give it a try. She did a fantastic job, and her hair looks no different than when she was spending a fortune to have someone else cut it. Only you can decide if such a bold move is right for you. 

I can make my own cologne.

The freshmen in the high school I attended were housed in an annex building that lacked typical high school amenities, including gym showers. As young boys dealing with puberty and girls, most of us were overly conscious of our post-gym smell. Our solution was to splash on cheap drugstore colognes, a habit that I quickly adopted. 

I have worn cologne every day since, the only exception being when I hike in bear country, as those buggers think cologne smells delicious. I know some people don’t like others wearing cologne, but I am the opposite.  When someone walks by me and I get a subtle whiff of a fragrance, it leaves a positive impression.  I think, “This person took an extra step to smell nice today.”  I want to do the same.

The most expensive part of a bottle of cologne is the cap, followed by the sprayer and then the bottle. The liquid contents are relatively inexpensive. Spending $60 for a bottle of cologne is common, with many popular scents costing significantly more. 

A while back, I wanted to make my own, and indeed, it is a simple process involving perfume alcohol and scenting agents in the form of essential oils and commercial concentrates from scent houses.  

I currently have several bottles of store-bought colognes, so I do not need to make any homemade stuff. However, it’s fun to do and only costs pennies on the dollar. 

I was surprised that they still sold this cologne as it was one of the brands we used as high school freshmen. It was potent stuff and likely sold for under $10 at the local Walgreens. It now sells for over $30. Should I buy a bottle? Hmm, probably not.
Sauvage is a very popular department store brand. It goes for around $100.
Ready for the big league? Aventus is a classic from the British house “Creed.” Be prepared to spend over $400/100 ml for the privilege of wearing this scent.

I am brand agnostic.

As a medical resident, I made little money.  Yet, I had to pay child support, and because of my daughter, I needed to rent my own apartment.  Money was very tight.  I quickly went from preferring certain brands to buying what I could afford. That included hygiene products.  For instance, I purchased whatever ADA-approved toothpaste was on sale.  That action became a habit that I continue to this very day.  Costco always sells one brand or another of toothpaste on sale.  When we need toothpaste, I buy one that is on sale. Likewise, I don’t care if I use brand-name or house-brand mouthwash.  I don’t get hung up in advertising hype.  

When it comes to a lot of hygiene products, I’m brand agnostic. As I write this Crest toothpaste is on sale at Costco so I would buy that brand if I needed toothpaste.

Well, there you have it, nine of my hygiene savings hacks. None were started to save money, but they all do. Saving a few cents here and there may sound silly, but it all adds up.  Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, became one of the wealthiest persons in the world, a few pennies at a time.

Peace

Mike

saving on food, Uncategorized

Secrets To Saving Money By Packing Your Lunch

I created my first YouTube video series in 2008 due to the Great Recession. One of the populations that I was treating was newly divorced men who were suffering financially during that time.  As we talked, it became clear that many were spending money on eating out because they didn’t have the basic skills to make food.  

Cooking may seem simple if you have been doing it for years, but it is more complicated than you think. You must know what to buy, when, and how much to cook, plan what to make, and have the gear to make it.

Younger divorced men often prioritized spending on a new wardrobe or a big TV rather than a good set of pots and pans. As a psychotherapist, my goal was to improve the quality of my patients’ lives, including enhancing their practical life skills. Cooking for themselves would allow them additional independence and financial security, which equals better mental health. 

I would focus on a simple first step, like packing a lunch instead of eating out, and I was surprised how difficult this was for some.  Many thought their only option was to slap together a boring sandwich; for others, even that seemed too complicated. That is why my first YouTube series in 2008 was on ways to pack a lunch.  It was my first attempt at making YouTube videos, and is best forgotten.

We are currently experiencing runaway inflation. This is annoying for those with a cash reserve but devastating for individuals and families who are struggling financially. In my last post, I wrote about ways to save money on food. This post is all about ways to save money by packing a lunch.

As a working adult, I almost always packed my lunch. It was a financial must in graduate school and during my medical training. As an established physician, I could afford to “go out,” but I still chose to pack my meals for several reasons. The main one was that I would do paperwork and return phone calls during my lunch break. Other doctors would finish seeing patients at 8 p.m. and then stay an hour later to return calls and tidy up their paperwork. I wanted to go home to my family as soon as possible. 

There have been times when I would buy my lunch.  In the past, I worked for the VA system several days a week.  They had a heavily subsidized cafeteria, and I sometimes bought lunch so I could socialize with the other doctors. How good were those lunches?  You get what you pay for, and their lunches were cheap. 

My kids have picked up on some of my habits and packed their food from home.  Most of them are now living away and have continued that habit, which saves them time and money. My wife takes a slightly different approach and has a mini-fridge and microwave at her workplace.  She often eats shelf-stable foods at work that she can easily prepare. She is particularly fond of dehydrated soups in a cup and buys them by the gross when they are on sale.

One of my wife’s favorite work-time lunches is dehydrated soup in a cup. She buys them in quantity when they are on sale.

The rationale for packing a lunch is clear: It saves money and can be healthier. A 2015 Visa credit card company survey noted that the average person could save $1,170/year by packing a lunch. A 2023 analysis on makingsenseofcents.com cited a $100 saving per month. However, you can save much more.

Let’s look at two extremes.  In 2025, spending over $20 (lunch and tip) at a typical restaurant would not be uncommon.  I recently took my daughter out to lunch at a pick-up place. A sandwich plus chips and a drink was close to $20!  I ordered at the counter, had to pick up my food, and had to bus my table, so I did not give them the “suggested” 25% tip. Naturally, that would have increased the cost further.  These prices may seem high where you live, but they are commonplace in Chicagoland.

In med school, I was desperately poor and brought a cheap lunch 95% of the time; I packed a generic sandwich and perhaps some house-brand cookies, chips, or an apple. I often drank water but sometimes brought one of those horrible sugary drink pouches (Capri Sun). Coffee was usually available for free in the hospital. Let’s look at one of my typical med school lunches using 2025 prices (prices from Walmart.com as of March 2025).  

PBJ sandwich (Google search/https://lenpenzo.com from 2024) $0.46

One serving of rebagged Walmart sandwich cookies $0.13

Gala Apple (⅓ pound) $0.40

Coffee $0.00

Total $0.99

If you are spending $15/day buying your lunch, 5 days a week, 48 weeks/year $3,600.00

If you are packing the above super cheap lunch/year. $238.00

Savings/year $3362.00

It seems that everyone carries a water bottle. They come in a vast variety of shapes, types, and sizes. Why buy a bottle of water when you can bring it for free?
You can buy snack packs of cookies, chips, and popcorn for around 50-60 cents a bag or rebag a larger package. Here, I have a cup of home-popped popcorn with one cup costing only a few pennies.

Of course, you may pack a more deluxe lunch or only eat off of the $5 McDonald’s menu every day, but either way, you will save money by packing your lunch.

I had a patient who was constantly strapped for money. She and her husband worked in lower-level retail jobs and ate all their meals at McDonald’s (or similar joints).  I finally convinced her to cook at home and pack her lunch.  This was a difficult sell because she thought she could never eat as cheaply as a McDonald’s combo meal.  However, she went from never having enough money to saving money. 

When I first met my friend, Tom, he always went out to eat. He owns a residential construction business and is often in different locations with interesting food options. It would not be uncommon for him to buy coffee and a breakfast treat at Starbucks, a nice lunch at a local pick-up joint, and make a trip to get coffee during the workday.  However, with today’s economy, he now brings a thermos of coffee and lunch from home and is eating better and healthier.   

Thermos-style coffee flasks come in a variety of styles. Here is the one that I use.

If you decide to bring your lunch, it’s wise to invest in some inexpensive accessories. Here are a few items to consider.

I usually packed my lunch in a soft-sided 6-pack cooler. It kept my food cold enough that I didn’t need an ice pack. However, there are now a variety of inexpensive soft-sided insulated bags specifically designed for lunch. You can find them everywhere, from big box stores to Amazon.  Choose one with a sound closure system, i.e., a sturdy zipper. My bags would last me years.  If they got grungy, I hit them with a bit of soap and water.

There are now a massive variety of insulated lunch bags available.

Regarding food containers, when I was in med school, I used the least expensive fold-top sandwich bags for items like a sandwich or some rebagged chips. However, zip-close bags are inexpensive and recommended over fold-over ones. I just searched Amazon, and they can be had for as little as $0.02/bag. A better option is to use reusable containers.  Granted, you must use them for a long time to “break even,” as sandwich bags are so inexpensive, but they are likely the better ecological choice.  Several of my kids prefer to use Rubbermaid-style containers designed for sandwiches.  Naturally, there are now many reusable containers for just about any food need.  My son often takes frozen chicken nuggets in a pristine Tupperware container purchased at a second-hand shop.  He heats the nuggets at school for a quick no-prep lunch. 

Zip-close sandwich bags can be had for as little as two-cents per bag.
My kids liked reusable containers for their sandwiches.

I was also poor as a medical resident, but my lunches were often better than those of my cohorts, who bought their lunch daily.  With minimal funds, I planned out my meals carefully and would cook enough food for two meals.  I purchased a Rubbermaid lunch meat container that was about an inch deep and the width of two slices of lunch meat.  When my dinner was ready, I put half of it in the Rubbermaid container for lunch the next day.  While my friends ate cafeteria sandwiches, I had real meals (traditional dinners, stir-fries, casseroles, etc.). This was an extremely economical way to eat, as I never threw out leftovers. By the way, do you know that Americans throw out about 40% of the food that they buy?  That is throwing away money.

My daughter recently moved to her own place and called to tell me she was “channeling” me.  She made a small meatloaf and sides.  She ate ⅓ of that meal and immediately packed the remaining 2/3rds into individual containers.  She loved the idea of coming home the next two nights to a delicious homemade dinner that only required a reheat. She packs her lunch and doesn’t get tired of the standard sandwich or bagel fare, so her lunch prep is also simple. 

I read an article about a woman living in a tiny NYC studio apartment. She only ate organic but still had a very frugal grocery bill.  She did not have a kitchen and did meal prep on the weekend using a hotplate, a coffee pot,  and a small rice cooker. She had no kitchen sink, so she washed her dishes in her shower.  She made two to three main courses for the week and divided them into individual meal containers.  She also made enough morning coffee for the week and refrigerated it to reheat in the morning. Yes, her plan was extreme, but it worked for her.  All she needed was some problem-solving abilities and a little creativity. 

I worked two days a week in a town almost 100 miles from home so I would spend the night in a hotel.  The city was rough, and the dining options were limited. Also, I worked the first day until 10 PM, so I wanted to get to my hotel room and chill.  I packed in lunch, dinner, and breakfast for the following day.  My lunch was typically leftovers from home, and my dinner could be various things, from leftovers to a sandwich to a meal that I prepared in my hotel room.  Breakfast was often oatmeal with nuts and dried fruit. 

I built a “kitchen in a bag” that included a 7” mini electric frying pan. The hotel room had a microwave and a coffee maker, so I could make just about anything I wanted to eat. 

My traveling kitchen included a tiny 7″ electric skillet that was surprisingly versatile.

My niece likes to meal-pack salads. She will make five salads without any dressing. She keeps a bottle of dressing at her workplace, but repacking an individual salad dressing portion is easy if you don’t have access to a fridge. As a medical resident, I had a couple of 1-ounce Rubbermaid containers that I would carry. I hated cleaning them, so I devised a solution. I would seal a portion of salad dressing in a Ziploc sandwich bag.  At lunchtime, I push the dressing to one corner of the bag and twist the top like a pastry bag.  I then snipped off the corner to pour the dressing on my salad. This method works for soft food items, including butter, peanut butter, and cream cheese.  It is very easy to do, and there is no greasy mess to clean up. 

You can now buy various small containers perfect for items like salad dressing. However, I think they are a pain to clean, so I use the “Ziploc” method.
Foods like salad dressing and peanut butter are easily transported using a Ziploc bag. I have always carried a pocket knife with me which is handy for so many things.
You simply push the bag’s contents to one corner and then twist the bag like a pastry bag. Snip off the corner to deliver the contents. Here, I’m adding some peanut butter to a cut-up apple.
There are a variety of containers that can be used for meal prep from plastic to glass.
You can also buy semi-disposable boxes for meal prep. However, even with care, they will need to be replaced much sooner than the non-disposable types.

There are many inexpensive items designed for eating on the go. I suggest keeping flatware with your lunch gear. I used a camping-style spork for years, but you can also buy a knife, spoon, and fork for very little at dollar stores. It is best not to use your home flatware, as it is easy to lose. 

I kept a titanium sport in my lunch bag.
You can buy nifty lunch flatware or go to the dollar store and buy a place setting for a couple of bucks.

If you work indoors, your company will have a microwave oven in its lunch room.  I always used Rubbermaid-style containers, but you can now get many glass ones with sealing lids. When I was working at that distant city site, the clinic had a microwave, but it was filthy and rusty inside.  I purchased a tiny 1-quart warming “Crockpot” with a stainless inner pot.  I would pile in leftovers the night before and then pop them into my mini warmer when I got to work.  By lunchtime, my meal was piping hot.  

Food containers now come in every shape and can be found in plastic, glass, and stainless steel styles.

My friend Tom rigged a small microwave and inverter in his tool trailer so he could quickly reheat his lunch.  Airline attendants and van dwellers love a little heating device called a HotLogic Mini to safely heat their food, and let’s not forget the humble wide-mouth thermos, which has kept lunches warm for millions over the decades.  

The HotLogic Mini is a food warmer popular with airline attendants and van dwellers. It comes in both an AC and 12-volt model. It often goes on sale.
The widemouth thermos has been around forever and allows those without a microwave to have hot food at the workplace.

I always carry a little pocket knife for many reasons, including lunch.  I can cut up an apple, open the tip of a Ziploc filled with salad dressing, or cut a chunk of bread.  

A little pocket knife is useful for many things.

I like to prewash my flatware and dishes after lunch when I don’t have a sink handy, I pack a couple of damp paper towels in a Ziploc. These are also useful for wiping my hands in a pinch. 

A few damp paper towels in a Ziploc back are handy for a quick pre-clean of used Tupperware or to wipe hands.

The trick when packing a lunch is to think outside of the box.

The traditional sandwich has its place, but my favorite lunch is last night’s leftovers. I also freeze individual portions of homemade soups and stews that can be pulled out of the freezer on days when the cupboard is bare and I don’t feel like running to the market. Additionally, I like to mix things up, sometimes buying shelf-stable ready meals for a few dollars that I can eat with a slice of bread. Remember, anything goes: oatmeal for lunch? Sure. Cheese and crackers? Why not? Can of soup? If you like.  Yesterday’s carry-out Chinese?  Of course.  Be creative, and you will never feel deprived or bored. 

If I had extra from a batch of soup or stew, I would seal it in a vacuum seal bag and freeze it. In a pinch, I could use this as a quick lunch.
On occasion, I would pack shelf-stable meals. These Hormel meals could be found for around a dollar and are now sold for under two dollars. I would pair them with some bread and butter for an easy pack.

If you are fearful of diving in, then do it slowly.  Brown bag Tuesdays?  Meal prep on Sunday for three workday lunches and go out the other two?  You are in charge of your mealtime destiny.  The longer you do it, the more natural it becomes. Good luck!

Peace,

Mike

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How I survived my first two weeks after rotator cuff surgery.

The recovery from shoulder surgery is often worse than the surgery itself. I had a rotator cuff injury that needed to be repaired. Since this was an elective procedure, I had some time to prepare for it, and I’d like to share some of that information with others who may be planning on a similar procedure. I’m posting this for informational and educational purposes only. This is not medical advice, and you should always follow the instructions from your caregivers.

How you compensate for having an arm in a sling will be determined by whether you are having surgery on your dominant arm or not. I had surgery on my right shoulder, which is also my dominant arm. Trying to do things with my left hand was awkward.

About a week before the surgery, I started to practice using only my left hand for basic functions like dressing and showering. I also tried to prepare simple meals using only that arm. It’s more complicated than you think, but it was easier to practice while I still had a functioning right arm to take over when needed. I discovered that there were some things that I could do well when practicing, but they became more difficult postop. For instance, I could put on a shirt using only one arm before surgery, but I needed assistance doing the same job once I had surgery.  Update: I was able to put on a shirt by myself after a week post-op, but it was very uncomfortable to do.

I didn’t realize how huge my sling would be.

Assistance needed

Luckily, my family could assist me with jobs that would be difficult to do by myself, like removing my surgical bandage and replacing it with a waterproof barrier. If you are in a position where you are flying solo, discuss this with your doctor before your surgery. Perhaps you’ll need a nurse to check in on you. It’s always easier to arrange options beforehand.

I needed help with tasks like removing my surgical bandage and replacing it with a waterproof barrier. You can also see the breakaway shirt I purchased in this photo. It was helpful during my first three days as I couldn’t get a regular shirt over the bandage.

Setting things up

Most doctors suggest sleeping at an incline after rotator cuff surgery. Sleeping flat can be difficult as it places more pressure on your shoulder. People usually sleep in a recliner, but technically, you could sleep in a bed with a wedge pillow or on a couch with stacked pillows. I used a recliner.

My couch has built-in recliners on both ends and since my left hand would be free, I chose the end I could control with that hand. I decided to set up a recovery zone as I’d be spending a lot of time in that space. I ensured the end table next to my “nest” had a lamp I could access. I also had a spot for medication, a charging station for electronic devices, a cup of water, and space for gadgets I enjoy using. 

This was the nest that I built. You can see my camper’s refrigerator freezer, then a small waste basket. Above the wastebasket is a TV tray with some electronics, and behind that is a table with medication, water, and a charging station. You can also see my back support, neck pillow, and other pillows that I used to make myself comfortable. Naturally, your needs may be different than mine.

Some people love books, and naturally, they should have books available. I’m more of an electronics person who reads books and magazines on a screen. I also write on a laptop, listen to music and the news, and do almost everything on a computer. I have a lightweight laptop, which I thought would be perfect. However, after surgery, I had a great deal of difficulty handling it as it was slippery, and when I tried to use my right hand to manipulate the mousepad, it caused me quite a bit of pain. Luckily, I have a small iPad Mini that I use when I travel. That was the perfect device, as I could easily manipulate it with one hand. In fact, I’m using speech to text dictation on it to type this post.

You might find yourself in a situation similar to mine, so it makes sense to see if you have a tablet computer around the house that you can use; if not, perhaps you can borrow one. I thought my iPad Mini’s 8-inch screen size was perfect. I would have bought a cheap tablet in a pinch if I did not have access to the Mini.  I think any tablet with a screen of 7-11 inches would be usable, but an eight or nine-inch screen size is ideal as it allows for ample viewing and one-handed operation. Some can get by using their phone, but my phone’s screen was too small for me to view for long periods.

Some Android tablets can be bought for under $100, which would be worthwhile if you think you would use the device after your recovery. Small tablets make good e-readers and are great for media consumption when you’re lounging about. iPads are the best tablets (in my opinion), but inexpensive Android-based tablets can do most of the things a tablet user needs to do. Cheap Android tablets are unsuitable for high-resource games but can play simple games.  If you are looking for affordable yet reputable tablets, consider the 8” Amazon Fire tablet or the 8” Walmart Onn tablet.  Both are basic, but they work.  The Onn tablet’s advantage is that it runs regular Android and can access millions of apps. The Fire tablet’s app store is more limited, but the tablet is tightly integrated into the Amazon ecosystem of Kindle ebooks, Prime videos, and Prime music.  

My inability to use my computer lasted about a week. After that point, I was able to type with both hands. However, doing this for any length of time got my shoulder going. For quite a while post-op, I preferred the tablet, as it placed less strain on my right arm.

Regarding my recliner, I watched a YouTube video from an occupational therapist who recommended using supports for the neck and the back. The back support could be anything from an actual back support to a rolled towel to a small pillow. We had a removable back support on an office chair that I used. For my neck, I used a simple donut-style travel pillow, the kind you use on an airplane. Both supports made a difference as I tried sleeping with and without them, and I felt more comfortable with the supports in place.

I also had a variety of pillows and blankets that I could configure as my mood dictated. It can be challenging to sleep in a chair, and I wanted to maximize my comfort as much as possible. Overall, my recliner nest worked out well. However, after about a week of sleeping in a chair, I was ready to try my regular bed with a wedge pillow.

Hygiene

The more independent you can be, the better. Before my surgery, I practiced taking showers with one hand. It wasn’t as tricky as it sounds, but I had to adjust. I usually use bar soap, but I needed to give that up for shower gel in a pump bottle. The pump made it easy for me to get the soap out. I bought a shampoo and shower gel combo that worked for me. However, some people prefer separate products. I recommend getting all of those in pump bottles.

I bought a combination of shampoo and shower gel that came with a pump bottle. However, if you want to be fancy, you can go with decorator bottles that do the same.

It’s difficult to wash under your arms during recovery from rotator cuff surgery. I purchased an inexpensive sponge on a flexible rod from Amazon that helped in that area. I usually use a stick-type deodorant, but applying that post-op was impossible. Instead, I bought some deodorant in an aerosol can. These simple things allowed me to shower independently.

This sponge stick was inexpensive. But it allowed me to wash areas that I couldn’t do postop.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on showering. My doctor told me that I could remove my bandage in three days. At that point, he told me to cover my incision sites with waterproof material. The only times that I was allowed to take off my sling were during showering, physical therapy, and putting my clothes on. I felt more secure keeping my arm in a sling when showering, and I purchased an inexpensive mesh sling from Amazon. Some patients will buy an inexpensive standard sling from the drugstore for showering, which serves the same purpose. You don’t want to get your expensive prescription sling wet.

I only used this shower sling a few times until I was comfortable showering while keeping my arms still. However, it was very inexpensive and made me feel more secure when I did use it.

I’m fortunate that our shower head detaches from the wall. We also had a shower chair from a past surgery that I could use. These things made my shower life a little easier, but I could have adapted to a less perfect situation if necessary.

Most doctors will ask you to protect your surgical site from water until the incisions are healed. They will tell you to use a waterproof barrier, and I found that Tegadem worked well. This is a transparent film that is breathable but waterproof. It comes in sheets of various sizes and clear bandages. Bathing in a tub should be avoided until your wound sites completely heal.

Men, I recommend sitting for all bathroom tasks until you are steady on your feet. Adapting wiping techniques is straightforward with a bit of creativity. However, I was fortunate to have a bidet.

I use an electric toothbrush and recommend that for anyone undergoing this procedure. You could use a regular toothbrush, but it would be a bit awkward. If possible, get a tube of toothpaste that has a flip-open lid instead of a screw cap.

I’m retired, and I’m letting my beard grow. However, if I had to be tidy, I would switch from my regular razor to an electric razor, which I believe I could manage with one hand.

Ice

Most doctors recommend that you ice your shoulder regularly after surgery. In my case, my doctor wanted me to ice 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Right after surgery, my very thick shoulder bandage blocked any coolness to my shoulder. However, I could place an ice pack close to my wound site by tucking it up into my sling, and that provided some comfort.

The surgicenter discharged me with a cheap disposable ice bag that I could fill with ice cubes and water. This was a poor solution. My sister gave me blue gel ice packs she used for her knee surgery. They worked well. They remained flexible when frozen, making it easy to place them where I needed to, and they stayed cold for a long time. 

A variety of companies sell these gel ice packs. They’re inexpensive, flexible, and stay cold for a long time.

She also lent me a cool therapy ice machine but couldn’t find her AC adapter. I ordered one on Amazon, and it arrived three days after my surgery. The ice machine was terrific as it provided a constant cold to my wound site (by then, I had my bandage off). I found that freezing disposable water bottles worked better than using ice cubes. I had two sets of water bottles and would freeze one while using the other. Naturally, there was also water in the therapy machine as that was what was circulated to my shoulder. I think buying an expensive cool therapy machine for shoulder surgery would be overkill, but if you can borrow one or if your insurance will cover the rental of one, I would highly recommend it; otherwise, I liked the inexpensive gel packs.

Cool theory machines are excellent. But they’re pretty expensive.

When I retired, I built a camper van with a friend. The build included a chest-style refrigerator/freezer. I moved the camper’s fridge to my family room to freeze my ice packs and water bottles. I also kept some frozen meals in it. I still have kids at home who are always on the hunt for a quick meal, and keeping some meals in my little freezer ensured I had easy-to-make food on hand. My camper fridge/freezer was a convenient option. I used it because I had it. Otherwise, a regular freezer would be fine.

Food

Preparing and eating food can be challenging, even for simple tasks like opening a can. Luckily, many inexpensive adaptive gadgets can help with everything from opening a jar to pulling a pop top. 

These silicone mats are not only great for gripping, but they can also stabilize a jar or a bowl on the table.
This pop top puller was only a few dollars and was very welcomed by my cat, who demands to be fed first thing in the morning

Generally, I went for food items that I could prepare with one hand. I purchased some single-serving frozen dinners that I could easily make in a microwave. I also purchased soup in cans. As far as the soups were concerned, we already had a microwavable bowl cozy. This allowed me to take the bowls from the microwave without scalding myself. If I hadn’t had the cozy, I think it would have been safer to heat them on our induction stove.

A friend made us this soup cozy several years ago. We use it all the time. It’s convenient when taking hot bowls out of the microwave.

Fortunately, my wife and kids took turns making dinner, so there was something to eat at dinner time. However, lunchtime was more on my clock; I picked things I could easily make and never went hungry.

Clothing

Dressing can be a challenge. It’s much easier if you can stay at home during your early recovery, which is what I did. Starting from the feet, I recommend slippers or socks that pull on easily. If you are going out, wear slip-ons or those shoes from Kizik and Skechers that can be put on hands-free.

Stretchy underwear helps, and elastic waistband-type pants are a must. The pants could be sweatpants, pajama pants, or whatever you have. In warmer weather, elastic waistband workout shorts would work. You don’t want to wear pants with buckles and zippers, as both are difficult to close with one hand.

Most recommend using button-down shirts, as getting them around your wounded shoulder is more manageable. Stretchy T-shirts also work. It’s January, but I’m wearing a short-sleeve shirt, as pulling on a long-sleeve is difficult for me.

I purchased a special shirt for shoulder injuries that had snaps along its edge, allowing me to open up one side of the shirt. This was helpful during the first three days of my recovery as I was wearing a gigantic bandage on my injured shoulder, making it impossible to pull any regular shirt over it. After the bandage was off, I could wear button shirts and stretchy T-shirts.

Some crafty folks buy a few cheap tee shirts, split them along their seams, and reattach the two sides with Velcro. If you are a non-sewer, you can use scissors to open the bottom of the arm of a cheap tee shirt to accommodate the shoulder bandage. If desired, you can reattach the opening using safety pins.

This should go without saying, but always sit when you put on your clothing. Standing carries the potential for a fall, a disaster for your healing shoulder. A little stool works well, as does sitting on the toilet seat.

Pain management

You’ll likely be offered a nerve block, an optional procedure. My anesthesiologist highly recommended it. It numbed my arm from surgery to about 8 p.m. and was a godsend. At 8 PM, I started to feel some pain and took a pain pill plus naproxen per my doctor’s instructions. However, at two in the morning, I woke up in horrific pain, at which point I took another pain pill. Unfortunately, that one took about an hour before it kicked in. After that point, I was pretty aggressive with my pain management, especially at night. I would set an alarm to wake me so I could take a dose before the last pill wore off. This allowed me to sleep and kept my pain down to a manageable level. The pain does get better every day, so I was able to taper the narcotic pills over time. Naturally, I always followed my doctor’s advice and instructions.

A word of advice. If you think you’ll be taking medication during the night, it sometimes makes sense to have that medication out and ready in a little container. In a sleepy state, you may take the wrong medicine or too much medication if you pour it out of a medicine bottle. In addition, you can invert the “child-proof” cap on most prescription medicine bottles to turn them into simple screw caps.  With both of the above suggestions, use common sense if you have little ones about; you don’t want them getting into your medications.

Other medications

My doctor gave me a prescription medication for nausea, which surprised me. I’ve had other surgeries and never suffered from long-term nausea postop. However, I had quite a bit of nausea after this surgery and was grateful to have the prescription medication.

Doctors often recommend taking some sort of stool softener, which may be a pill or just extra fiber. Narcotic pain medication can be constipating, and no one wants to have to deal with that, along with shoulder pain. If your doctor doesn’t prescribe some sort of stool softener, ask for his or her recommendations on this topic.

Cautionary note

There’s a lot of advice about rotator cuff surgery on YouTube from patients and orthopedic surgeons. You must follow your doctor’s advice. Different doctors do different procedures, and taking another doctor’s advice could potentially hamper your recovery.

Likewise, although the patient-created YouTube videos I watched seemed sincere, their suggestions varied. Use common sense when watching them. I used them primarily for mobility tips rather than orthopedic advice. 

I also found videos from occupational therapists discussing topics like getting dressed or sleeping in a recliner. I found those the most helpful.

Final thoughts

Rotator cuff surgery is relatively common but can be an unpleasant recovery. With planning, life becomes more manageable. Make sure you follow your doctor’s advice. You’ll be given written instructions that you should read several times. I found information on my second read that I missed on the first. Remember not to push your recovery limits, as you could potentially re-tear your rotator cuff and cause more problems—best of luck.

The above is my personal opinion and should not be construed as medical advice.

Images are my own and from various websites and are used for educational purposes only.