Living greener starts with the choices you make at home. Cut down on waste and create a more eco-friendly lifestyle with some easy and sustainable swaps for everyday household items.

Making your home more eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean a complete lifestyle overhaul. Sometimes, the smallest changes make the biggest difference. From the kitchen to the bathroom and beyond, there are many easy and budget-friendly alternatives to common household items that reduce waste and cut down on your environmental impact.

In the Laundry Room

Just about everything you use in the laundry room has a low-waste alternative, making this a great place to start.

• Laundry strips are a lightweight, packaging-free alternative to liquid detergent.
• Wool dryer balls replace disposable dryer sheets and help reduce drying time and static naturally.
• Homemade stain removers made from baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice can be just as effective as store-bought sprays, without the chemicals.
• A drying rack is an energy-saving alternative to using the dryer for every load.

In the Kitchen

Between food packaging and other single-use disposable products, the kitchen is a great place to start your sustainability journey.

• Beeswax wraps can take the place of plastic wrap and are reusable for months.
• Cloth towels are a waste-free alternative to paper towels and can be washed and reused endlessly.
• Reusable coffee filters cut down on waste and save money over time, especially for daily brewers.
• A silicone baking mat can replace single-use parchment paper and cooking spray.

In the Bathroom

With so many personal care products, it’s easy to accumulate waste in the bathroom. But it’s also easy to make smart and sustainable swaps.

• Shampoo and conditioner bars eliminate plastic bottles and work just as well for most hair types.
• A bamboo toothbrush is a compostable alternative to plastic brushes, which can take hundreds of years to break down.
• Toothpaste tablets or powder reduce tube waste and often come in recyclable or refillable packaging.
• Reusable cotton rounds replace disposable makeup wipes and pads and can be tossed in the wash.

In the Office

A few mindful changes here can help you cut down on unnecessary paper and disposable items in your workspace.

• Recycled printer paper gives used materials a second life and helps reduce the demand for new paper.
• A smart power strip can cut off energy to idle devices, saving electricity and reducing your carbon footprint.
• A solar charger lets you power your phone or small electronics using renewable energy.

Cleaning Products

Swapping out your usual cleaners and tools with more sustainable options can drastically reduce waste and lower your reliance on harsh chemical ingredients.

• DIY cleaner made from vinegar, water, and essential oils is an effective, natural substitute for store-bought sprays.
• Refillable products let you reuse your containers again and again, cutting down on plastic waste.
• Cleaning tablets or concentrates dissolve in water and reduce the need for bulky, single-use packaging.
• Compostable sponges or brushes made from natural fibers break down safely and avoid shedding microplastics.
• A reusable mop with washable pads is a cleaner, greener choice than disposable mop heads.

As you embark on your journey of sustainable swaps, remember that you don’t have to change everything all at once. Pick one or two swaps that feel doable and build from there. Each small change will add up until opting for the more sustainable option feels natural and easy.