TOOTHBRUSH – I now buy bamboo brushes with different colored brushes so my husband and I can tell them apart. I have never liked the cups we put toothbrushes in because they get dusty and dirty and gross over time! So I found silicone suction holders that I stick on the mirror and they hold…
LAUNDRY
Back when I was trying to figure out laundry, I had learned that the conventional detergents weren’t eco-friendly, so I was determined to move away from that. Plus, lugging detergent bottles up three flights of stairs into my apartment wasn’t fun either. First, I tried making my own powder with: washing soda, borax, and grating…
PERFUME/MAKE-UP
I love what my sister-in-law likes to say, “You Do You.” I know a lot of people wear make-up and that is perfectly fine! I personally never did it. I only put on make-up if I had to dress up for a dance or a wedding. I am also scared that if I do a…
TRAVEL
BRING LUNCH TO WORK – This is what I have always done. It’s healthier and you don’t waste money everyday! I would do sandwiches or salad, with chips on the side. Bringing snacks will curb the vending machine appetite! My husband is terrible at this, despite me trying to make sure he has enough! REUSABLE…
CHECK OUT ZERO-WASTE
Lauren Singer and Bea Johnson are two inspiring people online that completely live zero-waste to the best of their ability. There are plenty of items they talk about that can be taken-care of to make our lives easier and healthier for us and the environment. Things such as straws, water bottles, reusable sandwich baggies, cloth…
COFFEE/TEA
Reducing waste and saving money in this area isn’t so bad. I grew up drinking hot chocolate. In college I tried teas. After having children, I began drinking coffee! TEAS – I have tried loose-leaf and bagged teas. They do taste different. Right now it is faster to use bagged teas. Loose-leaf tends to get…
BODY SOAP AND HAND SOAP
Body There are a ton of options with body soap! I grew up on the Sensitive Dove bar soap. I wanted to try different ones but this has always worked. It’s simple, packaged in recyclable boxes (though frustrating when I want to buy in bulk, it comes together in plastic wrapping, so I can’t win…
CLOTH PADS VS. DISPOSABLE PADS
One day I learned about the cloth pad alternative and was curious to learn more. I drove to the natural food store nearby and found some to try! They were white “Glad Rags.” In that moment I felt “free!” In a sense of newness, connecting to nature, and the idea of not being dependent on…
STAINLESS STEEL RAZORS
For his birthday, my husband received a gift from his brother: a stainless steel razor! I was already on my journey of reducing waste and wanted to try it too. So I bought a pink one! https://amzn.to/43gHEjQ (Paid Link) Note: these aren’t made anymore, but there are plenty of options to choose from. This link…
DEODORANT “STONE” ALTERNATIVE
What was troubling to me about deodorants is I couldn’t recycle them when I was done! I didn’t have a favorite kind and so was trying different brands, until I settled on those that were aluminum-free. Then one day, walking through a natural food store, I saw the deodorant stone! The Thai Crystal. It was…