Tara Button > Quotes

“The ancient Greeks had a wonderful saying, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” We should be planting ideas and objects that will nourish and shelter future generations. Through mindful curation we will be doing this in more ways than one. It’s not just about leaving something for others, but leaving something in others, a sense of what we valued, what we cared about.”
― Tara Button, A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life

“HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE I’ve written the following list to help you with the maintenance tasks that will have the most impact on the longevity of your belongings. Every day Act fast to clean up spills on furniture or clothing. Update software as needed to avoid getting hacked. Every week Vacuum, dust, and clean the house and furniture. Condition regularly worn shoes. Clean clothes as necessary. Clean out the dishwasher filter. Every month Descale the coffee maker (see this page). Condition regularly used leather bags and shoes worn less often. Fix any garments in the mending pile. Every three months Oil wood cutting boards and spoons. Put frozen vinegar cubes in the garbage disposal. Check the smoke alarms. Check the water softener (if you have one). Every six months Deep clean the house. Turn and vacuum the mattress. Launder the pillows and duvet. Polish wood furniture. Deep clean the fridge. Clean the refrigerator coils. Put petroleum jelly on the fridge seals. Run the cleaning cycle of the dishwasher and washing machine. Inspect the gutters. Every year Take stock of the items in your life (see Chapter 8). Have any leather jackets professionally cleaned. Get the knives sharpened. Clean the filter in the kitchen hood fan. Check the grouting around the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. Flush the hot-water system and have the boiler serviced. Inspect the roof and exterior of your home (best done in spring/summer). Fix any loose fixings or screws. Clean and consider repainting/resealing the exterior woodwork. Every two years Have a professional deep clean of your upholstery and carpets.”
― Tara Button, A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life

“The iPod killed the CD, the CD killed the cassette, and the cassette killed the record for everyone apart from hipsters.”
― Tara Button, A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life

“If you are an individual: Follow the methods in this book, make the change and spread the message as often as you can without becoming a bore at parties. Join the community at BuyMeOnce.com and help us spread the message globally. If you run a company: Please get in touch. There’s so much we could do together. If you are a cat: Keep doing that. Great job.”
― Tara Button, A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life