I have been looking for things we can do around the house to be more environmentally friendly. As a young family, I know we use more than our fair share of plastic toys and cups, etc. So, I’ve been trying to slowly replace some common things around our house with more sustainable options. If you’re looking to do the same, scroll down to see the top five things we are loving right now. All of these options cost under $15 and they are easy enough to start doing right away. I’m including my affiliate links in case you’d like to grab some for your family as well.
Wool Dryer Balls
I replaced our trusty dryer sheets with these reusable wool dryer balls. They work just as well at keeping static away, but they are a natural alternative and they are keeping dryer sheets out of the trash. Some people even find that they reduce drying time and save on energy costs. If you find yourself missing the fresh scent of dryer sheets, you can add a few drops of essential oil to them.
Stainless Steel Straws
Plastic straws are a strain on the environment. Ocean City, Maryland is even going straw-free this summer. I bought stainless steel reusable straws to keep around the house. Some of my friends also keep them in their purse to use at restaurants. They are dishwasher safe and the company says they are also rust and scratch-proof. Eddie and the kids have all been big fans of this small change.
Buying from Consignment
Buying clothes and furniture from local consignment shops helps support small businesses and families at the same time that you are reusing the actual item you are purchasing. This summer as we were preparing the house to take in more foster children, I opted for the convenience of online shops like ThredUp. They sent me a bag with instructions and they paid the return postage. All I had to do was fill it with clothes the kids and I no longer wear and stick it in the mail. Then they pay me for each piece they keep, and the clothes get sold and reused. I also bought several things from them, including a new with tags designer dress to wear to an upcoming wedding. I snagged it for about $30. I also bought several pairs of shorts for myself to wear this year, all for under $2 each. If you are a new ThredUp customer, you can use my referral link to get $10 off your first order.
Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies
After Nick and I both had surgery last year, we had quite a few pairs of hospital socks around the house. I sewed the ends closed and cut a hole through one layer of the fabric large enough to fit the head of our Swiffer mop. It literally took less than five minutes, and then I had several reusable Swiffer pads. You can use any kind of stretchy adult-sized sock you have available, but these are the kind I used.
Reusable Produce Bags
We have plenty of reusable bags, but I found that every time I went to the grocery store I was filling the cart with produce wrapped in plastic. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to fill a reusable bag with a bunch of smaller plastic bags. So, I grabbed some reusable mesh produce bags. I liked that this brand was machine washable because I’m still a mom with young kids and convenience is big for me.
What are you doing in your home to become more environmentally friendly? Leave more tips in the comments.
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