We’re currently using up our planet’s resources at a crazy rate (hello overconsumption!) but we actually don’t need as much stuff as we’re told we need. Living a more minimalistic or zero-waste lifestyle helps to ease problems caused by overconsumption. That’s because in order to live more sustainably we must manage our resource use and wastefulness.
I’ve spoken about some kitchen swaps you can make to address this overconsumption so let’s expand on that. Let’s talk about cleaning! When starting to live more sustainably, cleaning products are something I didn’t think I would be able to make more eco-conscious. But man was I wrong! So, let me de-influence you by giving you the low-down on some simple swaps for eco-conscious cleaning.
1. Paper towels.
Paper towels are basically synonymous with cleaning in the US. I grew up exclusively using paper towels to clean, whether that meant cleaning a small spill or the whole house. That’s totally crazy though! You don’t need to go through a whole roll of paper towels each time you need to clean. Disposable products are wasteful and not necessary for household cleaning!
Now, I only use reusable cloths. It’s the same thing as paper towels, just not wasteful because you can reuse them! Plus, cloth is much more durable than paper towels so you can clean more effectively. You can buy reusable towels, sponge cloths, and dish rags or repurpose old clothes!
2. Sponges.
Another thing I didn’t really think about until I took inventory of my consumption habits were dish sponges. It’s just one of those things that I thought didn’t have any other options. Most sponges are plastic and need to be replaced every two weeks though! That’s a lot of waste. I did some research and now there are a couple of things I reach for instead when I want to clean with a sponge.
For dish cleaning, I use a natural material scrub brush or an open-knit natural cloth. The scrub brush is amazing for dried food but for more delicate dishes the open knit cloth is better. For general household cleaning, I reach for a natural material scrub brush or a natural loofah. After using a scrub brush to clean my shower I’ll never look twice at a sponge again! Plus, natural loofahs are amazing for all-around deep cleaning as they can get into tighter spots and scrub really well. If you can’t fathom a life without using sponges quite yet though, there are natural fiber sponges that work the same as normal dish sponges, just with less waste. If the materials are natural, they oftentimes can even be composted, so they’re an amazing intermediate option.
3. Glass cleaner.
I come from a household where glass cleaner was the most bought type of cleaning product we had. But when I went off to college, I needed to cut down on spending so I thought, can I just use something else to clean my mirrors and windows? The answer is a resounding heck yes!
I use white vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, or a damp cloth to clean windows and glass. These work so well that I wondered how we were ever even convinced we needed a specialty glass cleaner. Glass cleaners are filled with some volatile chemicals too, so for an eco-friendly home, you should avoid it regardless. We don’t need a different type of cleaner for everything. So, if you make this swap, you won’t have a cupboard stuffed with unnecessary cleaning products!
With these zero-waste cleaning swaps, you can lessen your environmental impact while still having a fresh and clean space.
Reducing the number of products and disposable products we use in our daily lives is an important step to limiting our environmental impacts. These cleaning swaps are amazing ways to do so without sacrificing cleanliness. Make the switch and let me know what you do to clean sustainably!