I have always been taught to upcycle and use everything down to its bones before buying something new. In today’s society, it’s easy to get caught up in wasteful and expensive habits. In honor of Earth Day, these are some sustainable ways of living I practice in my day-to-day life to honor our beautiful Mother Earth.
Swedish Dish Cloths
I love these cute little dish cloths. They are easy to clean, absorbent, and do a great job at replacing paper towels. Each cloth lasts 3-9 months. If taken care of very well, it could last you well over a year. I use these to clean up spills on my kitchen countertop after cooking. You can use them with multi-surface cleaning spray (I love Mrs. Meyer’s) or with plain water. They’re 10x more absorbent than a paper towel and better for the earth. I usually clean mine with dish soap once a week and leave it to dry—they dry very quickly. It’s easy to throw them in with your laundry on a cold cycle or the top rack of the dishwasher. If the tower starts looking thin, brittle, or has a permanent odor — that’s your sign to replace it.
Borrowing Things
Let’s bring back borrowing things from your friends and neighbors. If you know you’ll only need that steamer, drill, or costume once, ask someone who might have it in stock. People are always willing to help and share their belongings as long as you use their valuables gently and with care. Sharing fosters community and bonding. It helps you connect better with your neighbors and friends, creating a win-win situation for both of you. It’s a win for them because they feel good helping someone out, and a win for you because you saved money by asking for what you need. As the saying goes, “closed mouths don’t get fed.”
Bar Soap
Bar soap is extremely underrated. It offers a much better clean than body wash, is cheaper, and lasts longer. Bar soap ingredients are more concentrated because there is no added water. Less is more when it comes to bar soap. I will occasionally indulge in a in-shower body oil, but I prefer to clean my body (and sometimes my face) with bar soap. I’ve linked a couple of my favorites below!
Ordering Less Takeout
If your Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Postmates spending is creeping over $200 a month, it might be worth reconsidering how often you’re ordering in. Don’t get me wrong—I love the convenience of delivery too. But if you’re ordering a coffee from Dunkin’ when it’s only a 10-minute walk away, picking it up yourself can save money and cut down on waste. Takeout costs add up quickly, and all of the extra packaging and utensils can create more waste than necessary.
Reusable Grocery Bags
I always carry around a foldable grocery tote in my purse or backpack in case I need to pick up some groceries on my way home. I hate collecting plastic and paper bags, or those fake reusable bags stores make us buy if we forgot a bag. It’s incredibly unnecessary and avoidable by carrying around your own tote. I’ve had the same foldable one from Aldi for 5 years now. Some of my favs are below!
That’s it for now! Thank you for reading! Let me know if you try any of these products & tips out.
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
