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Sometimes, we get so distracted by making our lives more convenient, that we forget those conveniences often cause harm to the environment. And while it may seem like going green is a lot of work, there are actually several easy swaps you can make that won’t drastically affect your everyday life. If you’re hoping to make your home a little more Earth-friendly, try some of these simple eco-friendly product swaps for a greener home.
Eco-Friendly Product Swaps to Try
In addition to the amount of waste that comes from tossing a bottle of cleaning solution when you’re finished using it, most commercial cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals that contribute to pollution. Luckily, it’s easy to make your own cleaning solutions with common household ingredients, like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. You can purchase one spray bottle for your cleaning solution and use it over and over again, helping you reduce the amount of chemicals in your home and the amount of trash you throw out. Have you tried any simple, eco-friendly product swaps yet? Now’s the time to start!
See also: Want to reuse dryer sheets to save money and they environment? Check out these 12 alternative uses for dryer sheets here!
Dryer Balls Instead of Dryer Sheets
If you love the softness and clean smell a dryer sheet gives to your laundry, it can be difficult to consider getting rid of those handy laundry enhancements. But dryer balls work in the same way as dryer sheets – they just don’t end up in the landfill. Wool dryer balls are great for reducing static and making your clothes come out of the dryer feeling amazing. And if you add a little bit of Earth-friendly essential oil to the ball before you toss it in, it will make your clothes smell amazing too!
Skip the Grocery Store Bags
While having your groceries bagged up in plastic or paper bags at the store may be convenient, all that extra waste really isn’t necessary. Before you head to the grocery store, grab a few reusable canvas bags. You’ll be creating less waste and your groceries will look a lot cuter when you bring them inside!
Don’t Forget the Produce Bags
On top of skipping the plastic bags in the check-out line, make your shopping trip a little more eco-friendly by using reusable mesh produce bags, too. Instead of placing your produce in those plastic bags available in the produce section, sort your produce in reusable bags to avoid unnecessary waste.
Decorate with Houseplants
Do you love having fresh flowers at home? While a vase full of fresh flowers looks and smells amazing, those flowers quickly go to waste. Instead of adding cut flowers to your décor, why not decorate with real plants instead? In addition to reducing the amount of waste your home creates, live houseplants also improve the air quality in your home – and they add a beautiful natural element to your décor.
Make Your Lunch More Eco-Friendly
Instead of brown bagging your lunch using a paper bag and plastic baggies, use reusable containers and silicone bags to bring your food to work. You’ll reduce the amount of waste you have each day and make your lunch a little bit more sustainable at the same time.
Sustainable Coffee
Whether you enjoy a single-serve cup of coffee from a K-Cup or a full coffee pot each morning, those filters and plastic cups can cause a ton of waste. Instead of purchasing single-serve pods or a package of coffee filters, use a reusable coffee filter or reusable coffee pod instead. Reusable filters come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find one to fit your machine. They’re easy to wash and help make your home a little more Earth-friendly, too.
Earth-Friendly Drinks
We all love the convenience of grabbing a coffee on the go or sipping a drink from a plastic straw. But the waste that comes from paper coffee cups and plastic water bottles and straws is out of control. Instead of using a paper cup to enjoy your Starbucks or sipping your soda from a plastic straw, choose more eco-friendly alternatives. A travel mug is a great swap for your morning coffee, a metal water bottle can easily replace plastic water bottles, and reusable straws are great for drinks on the go. And none of those simple eco-friendly swaps will cause harm to the environment.
Bake with Silicone
While adding a piece of foil or parchment paper to your baking sheet before baking a batch of cookies makes clean-up a little easier, it’s not very eco-friendly. The next time you whip up a dessert in your kitchen, use silicone baking mats instead of wasteful foil. And when your mat is past its prime, you can recycle it instead of tossing it in the trash.
Toss the Paper Towels
Keeping your home clean with paper towels is convenient, but it’s not very Earth-friendly. To make your home a little greener, consider cleaning with reusable cotton cloths instead of wasteful paper towels. It’s a simple swap that will benefit the Earth immensely.
We hope you’ve found some useful information! These simple, eco-friendly product swaps are just one of many ways to stay environmentally conscious. What other changes are you making around the house for a greener life?
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