It’s no secret that I love a good deal.
In my opinion, the best deal is something that lasts and is budget-friendly in the long run. Luckily, sustainability often goes hand-in-hand with eco-conscious products.
Whether you are aiming to minimize waste or spend less money over time, here are some of my favorite sustainable swaps!
*post includes affiliate links
Make use of clear glass spray bottles
When you make the initial purchase, plastic bottles are undoubtedly the more budget-friendly choice.
But keep in mind that plastic will wear down over time and may even permeate into the bottle’s contents.
If you invest in a glass bottle instead, it will last you longer while looking more aesthetically pleasing.
Whether you use it for cleaning, watering your plants, or creating your own DIY air freshener, glass spray bottles are such a versatile purchase.
Get yourself a sponge cloth!
Cooking can be a family affair (at least it is in my house!). And that typically means that the counter ends up far too messy…
That also means I always feeling like I need to buy paper towels. But that’s when it hit me… maybe I don’t need to keep buying them in the first place.
Say hello to the sponge cloth!! Not only does it reduce the use of paper towels, but it also removes the need for a sponge.
Don’t you love convenience?
When you add water it transforms into an absorbent sponge. When you’re done with it, all you need to do is throw it in the washing machine or dishwasher.
Snag some dryer buddies for your household
Ever since I discovered how many chemicals are in traditional dryer sheets, I’ve been searching for a safer, more sustainable swap.
Lo and behold… wool dryer balls! Now you can call me silly, but I absolutely fell in love with these Wooly Heroes Dryer Balls!
Yes, there are many plain wool ball options, but I fell in love with these little faces for obvious reasons.
Perfect for extremely sensitive skin and completely hypoallergenic, a bag can last up to 1,000 loads and save you 20 to 40 percent drying time per load.
Each dryer ball is hand-felted by women in underprivileged Nepali communities under ethical working conditions.
That’s why this is one of those sustainable swaps that will make both your clothes feel great and YOU feel great!
Consider this makeup remover towel and headband kit
After a super long day, all you want is your makeup off quick and easy. But instead of using makeup wipes (which can get pretty expensive), this kit provides the same ease of use!
Makeup wipes take forever to disintegrate, so it’s important to find a more eco-conscious option. It doesn’t hurt that you do not have to go out and spend money on more wipes either.
I love this reusable makeup wipe set, and I hope you will as well!
Ditch the disposable and opt for reusable deodorant
While we are on the topic of your daily hygiene routine, I want to share with you something that I recently discovered: a refillable deodorant!
When people talk about product sustainability, deodorant usually does not make the list. But just like any disposable product, it piles up in landfills and leads to more waste.
While there are a few refillable deodorant brands, I love the look and ease of use of this one from Beautycounter.
It comes in a plastic container and the packaging can be recycled. The deodorant itself is organic and made with clean ingredients that actually work to keep you smelling good all day long.
Made of stainless steel, the case and its packaging are plastic-free. It’s a natural deodorant that utilizes all-natural ingredients, and it’s these natural ingredients that cause odor-neutralizing properties without clogging your sweat glands.
To top it all off, it’s refillable — minimizing plastic waste!
Use sustainable bags for leftovers
As you know, I spend a lot of time in my kitchen—whether it is cooking for my family or cooking a new recipe to share on my blog!
That means that I have a decent amount of leftovers.
One of my new finds has easily become one of my favorites. Stasher bags can be used in the fridge, in a lunch box or even in the freezer… no freezer burn in sight!
Yes, there are tons of other options on the market, but few are made with food-grade silicone (which means that the material does not wear down easily) WHILE being odorless!
Snag some of these food storage lids
Speaking of preserving food, if you are someone that loves using your existing food storage containers, I’ve found silicone lids that stretch to fit any size container.
Maybe it’s just me, but no matter how often I organize my storage lids, they always seem to get mixed up. It’s a total hassle trying to find the correct lid.
Rather than trying to make do with tinfoil or single-use plastic wrap, this is one solution that works every time.
Scrub-a-dub Scrub Daddy!
With all that food comes the part I think we all dread: the clean-up.
Scrub Daddy is by far one of my favorite kitchen finds to date. Part of the reason I love them is that they change texture depending on the temperature of the water.
If you run it under hot water then the sponge takes on a softer texture. But if you need something a little tougher to get those hard spots just flip the faucet to cold water.
While the average sponge lasts around two to three weeks, Scrub Daddy can last up to two months (or longer) depending on how you use it. Talk about sustainable swaps!
Go reusable when it comes to water bottles
In the last few years, reusable water bottles have become all the rage and it’s easy to see why. Not only do they help reduce plastic waste but you spend sooo much less money.
Just think about how many plastic water bottles you buy a year…
Although there are many reusable water bottle brands out there, Hydro Flask has to be my favorite.
While the other brands only have screw caps, Hydro Flask has five other lid types that you can choose from.
In addition to the lids, the bottles themselves are BPA-free, 100 percent recyclable, and have a lifetime warranty.
And do the same for straws, too!
If you are like me, then you love putting a straw in your drink. It just doesn’t feel right without it!
Whether at home or on the go, these stainless steel straws may be a small swap that can make a big difference.
Plastic straws are a use-once-and-throw-away item. Over time, the costs add up.
There are also environmental costs to consider. For instance, governments must spend large amounts of money to clear landfills and dispose of plastic items. Plastic alternatives, such as metal, are reusable.
As such, they decrease the overall financial costs of cleanup, freeing that money to be used elsewhere.
Coffee lovers? This filter is for you
Do you have a Keurig machine at home? I know how convenient it is to buy those small pods from the store, trust me.
But it’s more sustainable for the environment (and your pocket) to buy a reusable pod instead.
Filling the pod with your preferred coffee grounds is pretty easy, and it will save you more over time.
Whether you found something here that intrigued you or not, I hope that this blog helped jog some ideas on how you can make sustainable swaps in your home.
From my home to yours,
Jill
