This year we’ve been focusing on how to make our home more
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#1 Beeswax wraps
The first product I’ve been loving are beeswax wraps! These beautiful wraps are from a Canadian company called AbeilleWraps.
According to AbeilleWraps “Beeswax wraps are a natural and sustainable alternative to plastic wrap for food storage. They are reusable for up to a year at which point they are 100% compostable, or you can use them as a fire starter.”
They are easy to use. You simply use the warmth of your hands to soften them. They will stick to the tops of containers, or you can wrap them directly around food to store. To clean you just wash gently with cold water and let air dry.
And as a bonus, they come in fun patterns and smell delicious!
#2 Stainless Steel Straws
The second product that I am loving are stainless steel straws. We try not to use straws at all in our home or at restaurants, but my girls will only drink “milkshakes” through a straw. And their “milkshakes” in the morning always have hidden veggies so they are a must!
Just remember to wash them with hot soapy water in between uses. A small wire brush will make cleaning simple. If they won’t come clean with a good scrub, adding a little baking soda to the brush will make it easier.
#3 Sponge Cloths
The final product that I have been loving are sponge cloths. They are reusable kitchen cloths made of a blend of wood pulp and cotton. You can sanitize them in the top rack of the dishwasher or in the washing machine and they can be composted after a few months of use. We use these to wash our dishes now instead of disposable dish cloths.
They replace not only dish and cleaning cloths, but paper towel as well! Each cloth can absorb up to 3/4 C of liquid. They are also fast drying, which makes them naturally antibacterial! And they come in all sorts of pretty colors and prints! My favourite source for sponge cloths is Ten & Co.
These 3 switches were so easy!! I find it so much less intimidating to just focus on a few small steps at a time. It’s not as overwhelming as trying to go “zero-waste” right out of the gate!
More Eco-Friendly Product Swap Ideas
Here are a few more
- Reusable shopping bags – Most stores are already moving away from offering plastic bags anyway, so it’s time to make the move to reusable shopping bags if you haven’t already!
- Wool dryer balls – Replace dryer sheets with a reusable wool dryer ball to take care of static.
- Reusable water bottles – This one’s a no brainer! It’s easy to stay hydrated if you carry water with you and there are an endless array of cute bottles to choose from. Some even flash a light or make a sound to remind you to drink!
- Shop local – This one may not be as obvious, but if you shop local you cut down on all the packaging used to ship online orders. And it’s also great to support your community and local businesses!
- Shop in bulk – To cut down on packaging shop in bulk and store goods in reusable glass containers instead of buying individually wrapped items. This one should save you money in the long run too!
- Use glass containers for storage- Glass is more long-lasting and won’t leach chemicals into your food. Switch out your plastic containers for a good set of glass ones.
- Homemade cleaning products – There are thousands of recipes for home cleaning products made with natural components online. My favorites are anything with lemon or essential oils. Keep those nasty chemicals out of your home and our water systems!
These are just a few ideas for changes you can make to your household to improve both your own health and that of the planet. Remember that you don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle in a single day. Take it one step at a time. Implement small changes to your daily routine and find new ways to shop/ live slowly to avoid feeling overwhelmed! We can do this!
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