HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
Looking for non-disposable, homemade products, but don’t want to make your own?
A quick search at Etsy will reveal homemade versions of almost anything you can think of!
Napkins
What I use:
- Homemade cloth napkins – instead of disposable napkins, you could buy (or make) some reusable, washable cloth napkins.
Other Options:
- Compost your napkins - to ensure that you’re not adding any bleach or other chemicals to your compost pile, buy non-bleached napkins made of recycled paper.
Paper Towels
What I use:
- Rags made from old clothes and old cloth napkins
Other Options:
- Twist sponge cloth.
- Compost your paper towels. To ensure that you’re not adding any bleach or other chemicals to your compost pile, buy non-bleached napkins made of recycled paper
Tissues
What I use:
Other Options:
- Compost your tissues. To ensure that you’re not adding any bleach or other chemicals to your compost pile, buy non-bleached napkins made of recycled paper
Sponges
What I use:
- A homemade sponge – I crocheted a small rectangle using twine, then crocheted another rectangle using yarn. I crocheted the two squares together, and now I have a scrubby sponge on one side and a softer sponge on the other.
Other Options:
- Twist Loofah sponge - when you’re done with this sponge, you can toss it in your compost pile. Sometimes these come in cardboard packaging, but usually I cannot buy them because they are wrapped in plastic.
- If you don’t mind the wait, you can grow your own luffa plant and harvest your own sponges. Plant seeds, wait a season, and you’ve got the best all-purpose sponge that nature can make.
Disposable Dishes
If you just have to use disposable dishes, how about compostable dishes instead?
Baggies and Freezer bags
What I use:
- I try to avoid plastic bags by using containers. But sometimes I need a baggie, and I pull one out of my drawer. I have not bought baggies in over 2 years, but they just seem to come to me.
Other Options:
- Cellophane freezer bags – use these to store food, and then send them to the compost pile.
- If you want to reuse your plastic baggies, check out the BAgE Wash.
Light Bulbs
I contacted EarthLED about their light bulb packaging, and this was the response: “We ship all our products in recycled cardboard containers with biodegradable packing peanuts. We would be happy to package your order strictly with recycled newspaper if you wish.”
Pens and Pencils
What I use:
- Pencils
- A fountain pen
- Staedtler Drawing Pens (these are not recyclable, but I am addicted to drawing and I cannot resist these pens. When they run out of ink, I’ll have to keep them and add them to my pile of non-garbage)
Other Options:
- A cartridge pen – similar to a fountain pen, but uses ink cartridges, which are usually plastic and disposable. Or, watch a video about refilling the cartridges yourself.
Grocery bags
You can buy reusable grocery bags at almost any store. If you have a hard time remembering your bag when you go shopping, try what I did: every time I forgot, I made yourself buy a new bag. They’re usually only a dollar. By the time I had about a dozen bags, I never forgot my bag again! And since they’re so cheap, I bring two bags to the store and give one away to someone who forgot their own.
Meanwhile, when I am buying produce and bulk foods, I use cotton bags instead of plastic bags. I made my cotton bags, but you can also buy them at many stores, or online.
Hangers
Plastic and metal hangers are rarely recyclable because they are made of mixed materials. Next time you need to buy hangers, consider buying recycled cardboard hangers instead.
