ok so i've made the change to a vegan diet pretty easily.
but that's not enough.
i know i need to be avoiding animal products in other things too.
i am using vegan soap and shampoo and wearing vegan shoes, i don't wear wool or leather but i'm stuck on some other things.

i have no idea firstly where to start with all the non-food items....there seems to be so much to remember, and where best to get them from.

what did you do with all your non-vegan items when you made the change?
did you give them away? i don't want to be wasteful but i also don't want to continue using products i know aren't animal friendly.

Considering that the items are already bought and paid for,I say use them until they wear out.After that,replace them with vegan shoes,belts,whatever.:)


What items are you stuck on using?

I used most of it up until it was gone.

Who would want used under-arm deodorant, a squidgy sliver of soap from someone else's soap dish, or a squeezed up sad looking tube of toothpaste?

Really, the damage is already done on those and I don't see any advantage in giving them away or chucking them out.

Some of my stuff I gave to charity. That's just a good thing to do with unwanted clothing, period.

I still have a pair of leather dress shoes and a belt. Some might argue this sends the wrong message and I will happily agree with them if they provide me with suitable replacements at their cost. (I accept PayPal.)

I'd never buy leather/wool/etc again, but for the number of times a year I need dress shoes (not many, thank Christ) I'm not about to spend money on another pair.

When I found out Guinness wasn't vegan, when I finished mourning, when I was done mopping up the tear-soaked floor and I could finally come to terms with never again drinking this delicious beverage again I found myself with a number of them in my bar fridge.

I gave them to friends when I invited them over to my place because that seemed hospitable.

I thought it would have been tacky to charge them for their beer, but I see now that it was my bar fridge and if they can't have a good time without paying for their beer and can't just celebrate their time with me then they are not the kind of friends I want to invite over.

Cheers!
TJ

well i have some make up that i can't decide whether to throw out or use till its gone - yes i know i should have bought non animal testing products anyway whether i was vegan or not but it was cheap and, well, i have no real excuse that can be justified. let's just say that i've been thinking alot more about the consequences of my actions since i became vegan so i will be making up for my mistakes in the past.

i think my toothpaste could be a culprit too thinking about it...
there's a pair of shoes i own which have this kinda suede stuff on them.
also i think my bedding may be made of down, and although i have found some synthetic pillows i'm not sure what the duvet is made of so i'll have to check that.
just loads of little things like that really.

and there seem to be animal products in so many things that they have no need to be in, it just gets a bit confusing. as soon as i think i have finally erased all the animal products from my life, i find out something else i've been using contains a by-product....i guess its a learning process lol but i keep feeling a bit of a failure because then i think - oh does that mean all this time i thought i was doing good i was actually still using animal products?? just a bit disheartening.
i'm trying my best. its proving much harder than the food aspect though.

You must decide exactly what is important to you, do some research, and place your efforts there. Veganism and related forms of "silent activism" are best effort practices. I try to make sure that my personal and cleaning products do not contribute to animal cruelty and deaths, and I do a few things not directly related to veganism like taking my own bags to the grocery store, recycling, and composting. The most important thing to remember is you can do a lot, but you can't do it all... Absorb practices into your life one at a time until they become habitual and a part of your life, and then go further. Trying to do it all, especially all at once, can overwhelm you and make you feel as if you've failed.

thanks yea
i found some really good toothpaste today and makeup - both of which are free from animal products and haven't been tested on them either. small steps but something at least.

I feel some of this too, everything_is. I haven't switched over my toiletries and stuff yet, and probably wont for a while (I have LOADS of shampoo left - I'll get some more toothpaste soon). It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but veganism is about striving to do the best you can do. It's not your fault if you don't get it perfect right away.

nice to know there's someone else in the same postiton
you're right, we are doing our best and that's what its about :)

If you can't find anyone to give the items to, and/or actually need the items, I say use them. Some things, like a half used bottle of conditioner or whatever can't be donated, and sometimes friends/family refuse to take them, so I say use them. I used up the rest of mine that nobody wanted... I'd rather put stuff to use than trash 'em.
I agree that it's the steps that matter. Hell, I know for a fact I've made more than a few "slip ups" since becomming vegan, but I just say ok, now I know what to look for/what not to do/buy etc... As long as we all do our best and are ok w/the choices we make, that's all that matters!
By the way, hooray for you making the vegan transition!

I used up my cleaning products until they were gone. Cleaned out the bottles and repurposed them for homemade enviro-friendly cleaning products (http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm) or recycled them. Don't be down on your past. What is important is your present thinking / actions. You are doing a tremendous thing for the environment, the animals and your own health.

You can either buy eco-friendly cleaning products like Seventh Generation or make your own from the link I provided above.

Make-up There are a few vegan-friendly companies. I'm not sure who's the best yet. I still have some Maybelline and Cover Girl stuff to go through, but I have purchased some "Beauty Without Cruelty (http://www.beautywithoutcruelty.com/new.php)" replacements. I think Avon carries some cruelty-free products. Inevitably I shop at veganessentials.com to be on the safe side.

Personal Care items .. I like oatmeal soap - any natural kind made with vegetable glycerine, J/A/S/O/N Peppermint to the Max toothpaste and Deepsea Spearamint mouthwash, Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Deodorant, Kiss My Face moisture shave lotion, Divacup and Gladrags.

There are some natural hair care recipes here (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45151.asp) and here. (http://www.herhealthandbeauty.com/articles/hair_care_home_remedies.htm)