7 Sustainable Product Swaps That Can Save You Money
Getting the most out of a small living room can be tricky, especially if you're on a budget. For one thing, buying in bulk can be easier to use on your wallet than buying individual items.
But that giant jar of washing powder and 24 bottles of bottled water can take up a lot of storage space (plus, disposable plastic has a huge impact on the environment). Rotating to green products is a simple but effective way to maximize space and save money.
Who better to ask about product exchanges than a budget-conscious dorm resident who is also passionate about sustainability? Kent State University sophomore Klara Underwood has only a few years of experience figuring out how to maximize her dorm space while she saves money while she pursues her degree.
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One thing to keep in mind before switching to any of these products: throwing something out before you finish is even more wasteful. So try investing in sustainable products when something runs out, rather than adding them to the landfill inadvertently! Here are Underwood's top recommendations for sustainable product exchanges for her own small space.
1. An ecological stain stick
One of Underwood's favorite products that save space and is easy to use in the wallet is a Meliora paint stick. "It takes up as much space as a piece of butter and it lasts forever," she says.
"Because it's a solid concentrate of stain removal ingredients, you don't need much every time you use it!" So far, Underwood says that one stick lasted more than a year.
2. Soap bar
Along the same lines, Underwood prefers bar soap to liquid soap in the kitchen and shower. Bar soap not only tends to come in a paper wrap instead of plastic, which is more sustainable, but it also lasts much longer than liquid soap because it is not diluted with other ingredients. Plus, you won't be tempted to use extra bombs!
3. Beeswax wraps
Proper food storage is one way to avoid food waste (which, in turn, can help you save money). The problem is that plastic wrap and plastic bags are terrible for the environment. Instead, Underwood suggests No Trace beeswax wraps, which fold like paper when not in use (and take up less space than a huge roll of Saran film).
Like other reusable options, they are a more expensive investment, but you can have them forever. “It may require a bit of maintenance, like re-waxing after two or three years, but this is an easy, stress-free project that only requires you to invest in a wax stick,” she says.
4. Drying balls
There is hardly anything cozier than soft, warm clothing (even if you do it in a laundry room). No matter where you wash your clothes, you don't need to buy sheets to dry, which are wasteful and expensive.
Instead, Underwood suggests wool drying balls. "They can cut drying time and can last over 1,000 washes, so they're worth every penny," she says. "You can even add essential oils to infuse your clothes."
5. A menstrual cup and/or menstrual underwear
If you are a menstruating person, consider investing in a more sustainable option than tampons or tampons. Underwood likes to wear a menstrual cup and Thinx period underwear instead of disposable products.
Both are more compact and easier to store than cardboard boxes, and while they're an initial investment, she says they can end up lasting a long time if you take care of them!
6. A water filter rod
Do you prefer purified water but don't have space for a Brita filter or water bottles? Underwood is based on this Kishu water filter bar, which filters the water with activated carbon and adds minerals like magnesium and calcium.
"They are small and can go in any container, unlike the bulky Brita model, which has very few size adaptations," she says. Plus, they last up to four months and can be composted after use.
7. A reusable bag of vegetables
Underwood likes this organic cotton bag, which she says keeps her produce fresh longer and therefore avoids unnecessary food waste. In case the fruit becomes sticky before you can eat it, the bag also protects the fruit drawer from getting dirty (and saves cleaning time).
“Although it's an initial investment, it never wears out and can be cleaned frequently in the washer and dryer,” says Underwood.
We hope you enjoy watching this video about 40 reusable alternatives to disposables:
Source: Gittemary Johansen
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Last update on 2025-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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