Five Sustainable Swaps I’ve Made This Year
I spent more time in my home last year than I have since infancy (I’m sure many can relate) and with that, I realized how quickly crud can accumulate in a full house. I started using homemade citrus and white vinegar spray to clean around the house and I’m thrilled at how well it works. It’s nontoxic, dirt cheap, and doesn’t have an overwhelming artificial smell like most store-bought cleaners. Learn how to make your own with my tutorial here.
After having success with the aformentioned homemade cleaning spray, I naturally wanted to upgrade from my repurposed plastic bottle to something more permanent. I bought a pack of amber glass spray bottles and liked them so much that I’ve since bought two more, and two amber glass soap pumps to match. I even brought a spray bottle of vinegar cleaner on our cross-country road trip last year!
I now use one bottle for vinegar spray, one for plain water, and one for diluted store-bought cleaning concentrate (Lavender Fabuloso or Mr. Clean with Gain… hello). Cleaning concentrate does come in a plastic bottle, but a little goes a long way and it lasts forever — so it’s cheaper for you AND the planet.
Washable cotton pads
I use several cotton pads a day for my skin routine. In the morning, I wipe my face down with witch hazel on a cotton pad and at night, cotton pads and micellar water remove makeup and grime before I go in with a cleanser.
About a month ago, I bought washable cotton pads and I have now completely switched over to using them for my skin routine. I do still use disposable cotton pads to remove nail polish; I’m afraid it would never come off of the washable ones. I prefer the way the washable pads feel on my face, and they’re also much more sturdy than the disposable rounds — the texture is closer to a washcloth than a cotton ball. The best part is, the pack I bought comes with a drawstring mesh bag so you can toss them in with your laundry or handwash them in the sink when you’re running low.
Cleaning dishes is one of the terrible conditions of being alive, but I find that scrubbing brushes make the job a lot easier. I used to rely heavily on cheap bottle brushes, but the guilt of throwing the plastic-bristled heads away would stress me out and I would abuse them until they were practically disintegrating. When I decided it was time to toss the last pathetic-looking brush, I replaced it with a set made from wire and bamboo. The different brush heads come in handy for cleaning more than just dishes and I feel at ease knowing the whole thing is biodegradable.
Our grocery cart is usually occupied with a fair amount of fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs, meaning plastic produce bags can add up pretty quickly. I recently purchased washable fine mesh bags to swap for plastic at the grocery store, but they come in handy for keeping things organized in my tote at the farmer’s market too. They are translucent with a drawstring and come in a range of sizes that make them perfect for everything from a spirited bunch of kale or a tiny handful of thyme. Inexpensive too!