Happy Earth Month! This HUGE List of 23 Eco Friendly Products Could Actually Make You Richer!
Save money and the planet with these eco friendly products and sustainable products for you and your home.
Stop buying these products and opt for these sustainable products & eco-friendly products instead! Your home, body, & wallet will thank you.
With April being Earth Month, there’s no better time to stock up or try some new eco-friendly products! Be sure to check back for Earth Day sales on or around Monday, April 22, 2024! 🌎
Want to cut straight to the chase? Here are the 25 sustainable products and eco-friendly products I recommend switching to:
- Wooden dish brush
- Dish soap bars & Shampoo bars
- Toothpaste Tablets
- Swedish dishcloths
- Reusable makeup remover pads
- Wool dryer balls
- Period panties
- Menstrual cup
- Reusable water filter system
- Reusable water bottle
- Molly’s Suds natural laundry detergent
- Reusable silicone travel bottles
- Bidet
- Reusable straws
- Pela compostable phone case
- Silicone baking mats
- Force of Nature cleaner
- Bareaya razor
- Toilet bombs
- Food huggers
- Stasher reusable silicone bags
- Bees food wraps
- Pour-over brewer
- Steam mop
- Paper Pottery Holder and toilet brush
*Read below for how much each one can save you over the next 10 years and how your switch will impact the Earth!💰💸
Important note:
Hey, Hipsters! 👋🏼 While I hope this post encourages you to make some positive changes for your home and your wallet, I wanted to remind you that choosing to become more sustainable and eco-friendly is a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was a sustainable home. 😉 So while our list of swaps may feel cumbersome right now, remember lots of small changes over time create BIG, long-term results. Also, everything is difficult before it becomes easy so remember that you can only make these changes if you want to. ✌🏼 – ❤️ Sara, author & Hip sidekick
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
On another note, the best thing you can do to become truly sustainable and eco-friendly is to shop locally. Specifically at a zero-waste store if you have one available to you. Places like this will allow you to ditch tons of unnecessary packaging. Oftentimes, you can fill many household products and foods using the same containers from spices to soaps!
Check out how these reusable products and sustainable products will make a HUGE impact on you, your home, and the planet:
Ditch parchment paper, non-stick sprays, and aluminum in favor of silicone baking mats.
In 2020, Statista reported, nearly 319 million Americans used aluminum foil, emitting significant greenhouse gases and requiring a great amount of energy. Each ton of foil takes as much energy as 1,400 gallons of gasoline to produce and lasts 400 years in landfills. A family spends around $56.58 yearly on foil. Switching to silicone baking mats offers a cost-effective, sanitary, and eco-friendly alternative, replacing parchment paper and saving money in the long run.
If you get in the habit of using silicone baking mats, you’ll save 24,000 sq. ft. of foil and $565.80 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Hip Tip: Still find yourself using aluminum? Not to worry, aluminum foil is endlessly recyclable and can be rinsed and put in your curbside bin or taken to a local recycling facility.
Swap plastic straws for reusable straws.
America alone uses around 500 million straws daily, posing a threat to ocean life. By 2050, there could be more straw weight than fish in oceans, according to CBC and The World Pursuit. Major companies like Starbucks have already ditched plastic drinking straws. A family of 5 using just 1 plastic straw per week totals 260 straws yearly. Switching to eco-friendly reusable straws not only protects oceans but also saves money in the long run.
If you and your family get in the habit of using reusable straws, you’ll nix about 2,600 plastic straws over the next 10 years! 🎉
Paper towels are a waste of money, so hop on the Swedish dishcloth trend with us!
Ditching paper towels may be a big adjustment for many people, but they’re an even larger culprit to waste in our country. According to CottageCare “More than 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used each year in the USA. This means that every day more than 3,000 tons of paper towels are wasted in the U.S. alone.” 😱
If every household in the U.S. used just three fewer rolls of paper towels per year, it would save 120,000 tons of waste and $4.1 million in landfill dumping fees.
A 12-pack of Bounty paper towels will run you over $22.18. If you have a family of four, statistics show that you’ll power through them in three weeks or less! 😳
Swedish dishcloths are biodegradable, useful on many different surfaces, reusable, and easy to clean by throwing them in the dishwasher or washing machine!
If you and your family get in the habit of using an environmentally-friendly alternative to paper towels, you’ll save 3,200 rolls or about $3,837.14 or more over the next 10 years! 🎉
Hip Tip: There are even more alternatives to consider, such as reusable and washable bamboo paper towels, Zap cloths, microfiber cloths, bar mops, and even some new cloth diaper inserts.
Skip drying sheets, and toss in a wool ball instead.
Dryer sheets, as per EWG, contain harmful chemicals that impact health and pollute the air, both inside and outside your home. Users often use more than one sheet per load. Using 2 dryer sheets for 5 loads weekly means finishing a box in 10 1/2 weeks, costing about $40 yearly and contributing to toxic waste.
Wool dryer balls offer an eco-friendly alternative, lasting over 1,000 loads, reducing drying time, and free from harmful chemicals and fragrances. Or, simply skip using anything and save money altogether.
If you get in the habit of using dryer balls, you’ll save 5,250 dryer sheets or about $400 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Switch out plastic water bottles for refillable ones instead.
Don’t stop drinking water, just stop drinking it out of plastic. Bottled water is ranked the #1 U.S. beverage by volume sold. According to the Container Recycling Institute, “more than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day – a total of about 22 billion last year.” 😳
The average family spends $100 per person annually on bottled water, totaling 2,160 bottles for a family of four. Investing in the best water bottle for you not only saves money but also benefits the environment.
For outdoor adventures, the LifeStraw Peak Gravity Water Filter System provides 3 liters of clean water per minute, removing 99.999999% bacteria, 99.999% parasites, and 99.999% microplastics. Lifeproof’s sustainable products are leakproof and durable, perfect for backpacking, hiking, or camping trips.
If you and your family get in the habit of using reusable bottles, you’ll save 21,600 bottles of water or $4,000 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Swap plastic baggies for reusable wraps and silicone bags!
Realizing the excess of plastic sandwich baggies I was using hit me when my three kids started school. I used about 3 baggies per lunch, totaling 45 sandwich bags per week (not counting extras). That’s nearly 4 boxes of Ziploc bags monthly, projected to cost $253.92 yearly for items used for less than a day.
Shocked by this, we switched to Stasher Bags years ago. They’re made of 100% silicone, they’re versatile, durable, and reusable. They can handle freezer, microwave, sous vide, and even oven use, and are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Bee’s Wraps or Meli Wraps are another sustainable product you can switch to. They’re naturally antimicrobial, made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, sustainably sourced beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. All of the ingredients combined create a malleable and easy-to-use food wrap that can be used over and over again! 🙌
If you and your family get in the habit of using reusable wraps or Stasher Bags, you’ll save roughly 21,600 plastic sandwich bags and $2,539.20 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Hip Tip: Read more about why we love Stasher reusable silicone bags and Beeswax Wraps or if you’re more into DIY make your own beeswax wraps at home!
Ditch your old kitchen sponge and replace it with a brush.
Did you know that the sponge is considered the germiest item in your kitchen stated by the NYU School of Medicine? And you’re more likely to get food poisoning from an unsanitary sponge in your home than in a restaurant. 😱 It’s recommended to replace your sponge every 2-3 weeks. If you’re replacing your sponges every 2.5 weeks (on average) and buying a 3-pack of these sponges, you’re spending approximately $29 every year.
A wooden dish brush is your most sustainable product choice to swap to, but they also make some with an efficient soap dispenser that’s even dishwasher-safe! 🙌🏻
If you get in the habit of using a dish brush, you’ll save 208 sponges and $290 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Switch out the plastic wrap for silicone stretch lids or food huggers instead.
According to National Geographic, the average family goes through close to 10 rolls of plastic wrap per year! That’s about $55 per year just for plastic wrap and a huge waste of money when there are more sustainable products on the market.
Silicone stretch lids are perfect for storing leftovers, covering odd-shaped bowls or ones that don’t have lids, and they work a heck of a lot better than plastic wrap. They’re also conveniently dishwasher safe, BPA free, non-toxic, keep food fresher for longer, and reduce your household waste (obviously 😏).
Try Food Huggers as another alternative for your fruits and veggies! They’re perfect for those half-eaten foods or tiny jars you never know what to do with.
If you get in the habit of using silicone stretch lids and/or Food Huggers, you’ll be saving about 48,000 sq. ft. of plastic wrap or $598.80 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Keurig K-Cups are terrible for the planet, so switch to reusable cups or opt for a pour-over coffee maker instead.
The number of K-Cups that have been trashed in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times and those stats are at least a few years old! 😱 If you and your spouse are brewing a cup of coffee with the Keurig every day, that’s 728 K-cups a year. Or about 33 of these boxes of Starbucks K-Cups – priced at $16.99 each that’s $560.67 a year. 😳
If you don’t want to kick the convenience of your Keurig to the curb, opt for reusable K-cup pods so you can still brew your favorite ground coffee blends.
As another alternative, ditch the cups altogether and start making pour-over coffee. Target even offers a pour-over brewer that comes with a stainless steel filter. That means you won’t even be wasting paper filters to brew your steamy cup of coffee. 🙌 It’s how I enjoy coffee every morning and I’ve had the same set for over 3 years and counting!
If you and your other half get in the habit of using a reusable K-cup or pour over, you’ll save at least 7,280 disposable K-cups or $5,936.70 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Switch to makeup remover pads if you’re wasting wipes.
Those makeup wipes you’re using every morning and night are ending up in a landfill somewhere. In fact, according to Bustle, 7.6 billion pounds of wipes are thrown into landfills each year, which adds up to 1.3 billion wipes tossed each day. 😳 Plus, using just two a day from a popular pack will get costly at about $169.06 a year.
Make the switch to a reusable makeup remover that can be used endlessly. I’ve been using the Beauty by Earth Microfiber and Bamboo Makeup Remover Pads on rotation for years now. The microfiber rounds get a great lather and I love the bamboo ones for tougher jobs like mascara. I use my pads with micellar water which I’m able to refill at my local zero-waste store. However, there are also other sustainable products to consider like the Makeup Eraser which only requires water to work.
If you switch to reusable makeup remover pads, you’ll be projected to save about $1,690.68 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Don’t contribute to textile waste and buy secondhand clothing instead.
According to Earth.org, more than 100 billion garments are produced annually and the global emissions from it all are projected to increase by 50% by 2030. 😳 What’s worse, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills yearly just in America alone. That’s equivalent to approximately 81.5 lbs. per person, per year and around 2,150 pieces per second countrywide. 😱 It’s also ranked the 2nd biggest polluter of freshwater resources on the planet and accounts for 85% of the human-made material found along ocean shores, which is threatening marine wildlife and ending up in our food supply.
According to Credit Donkey, “the average family spends $1,800 per year on [new] clothing” with $388 of this on shoes. Adults (aged 25-34) spend an average of $161 per month on clothing and it increases by 26% for adults aged 35-44 with an average of $209 per month spent on clothes. 😱
If you and your family get in the habit of buying secondhand clothes, you’ll be projected to save $18,000 on new clothes over the next 10 years! 🎉
Ditch the Swiffer dry cloths and switch to reusable mop heads!
Have you ever thought about how much waste happens with regular Swiffer cleanings? If you’re averaging 2 dry pads a week, priced at $14.49 for 52, you’re spending over $28.98 a year or more just on Swiffer pads that’ll end up in a landfill. This doesn’t even include other cleaners or the multiple wet Swiffer pads you might use for deeper cleanings.
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative that’s even more effective, consider a Turbo mop. It’s USA-made, can be used wet or dry on multiple surfaces, and is reusable and machine washable. They even make reusable Swiffer pads (made by Turbo), so you don’t have to eat the cost of a new mop!
Need something for deeper cleanings? I’ve had a Shark Steam mop for over 4 years and can’t rave about it enough! The pads are endlessly washable and all you need to deep clean any floor is water! Put a few drops of essential oils on top and your whole house will smell amazing!
If you and your family get in the habit of using reusable mop cloths, you’ll be projected to save more than $289.80 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Use Force of Nature and ditch the toxic AND natural cleaners you’re already using.
Depending on what cleaners you’re using at home, they could be contributing to health problems according to the EPA. The Nest states that families, on average, are spending a whopping $600 every year for cleaning supplies. Not to mention, they’re likely horrible for the environment since many aren’t 100% biodegradable and contain chemicals.
However, even the most eco friendly products need to be replaced but we have a better solution to minimize your waste altogether and it will cut your costs by at least 80%. 🙌🏼
Force of Nature is a federal EPA-registered disinfectant and sanitizer that NATURALLY kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses – even COVID. 😱 That’s right, it uses just water, salt, and vinegar and can be used to replace bleach, disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, kitchen, bathroom, window, carpet, rug, floor, pet, sports, and baby product cleaners. 🤯 The savings potential is limitless.
Force of Nature is unique because it uses electricity to convert the water and capsule of salt, water, and vinegar into an organic multi-purpose cleaner and deodorizer. It’s a splurge up front but the refill capsules are just 9 cents per ounce 🤩 and completely eliminate single-use plastic bottles. Plus, the Recyclable Activator Capsules reduce plastic waste by 97%.
If you switch to using Force of Nature in your household, you’ll be projected to save about $4,800 or more over the next 10 years! Plus, you’ll save the planet from hundreds of plastic bottles too. 🎉
A menstrual cup will replace tampons and pads forever.
According to National Geographic, 5.8 billion tampons were sold in the U.S. in 2018, a third of the global total. Even more startling, when tampons are flushed down the toilet, they can end up in the ocean when sewer systems fail. Although plastic applicators from tampons are technically recyclable, they are usually not accepted for sanitary reasons making tampons a giant waste of money and terrible for the planet!
Before making my eco friendly products switch, I was personally spending over $10 every month on Tampax products. That’s more than $120 a year! Menstrual cups are game-changing. Since they’re 100% silicone, they’re completely safe for your body (unlike tampons), reusable, and easy to clean. Mine still looks brand new over three years later! 🤩 Even better, it pays for itself in just a couple of cycles! Not to mention, there are incredible benefits to wearing one as opposed to tampons and pads.
Read all about my experience using the best menstrual cup on the market!
As another alternative, stop buying pads and stock up on Thinx period panties!
These aren’t just for post-partum mommies. In fact, any and every woman who gets their cycle can benefit from owning a few pairs of period panties. They’re a great backup to a menstrual cup or can absorb plenty of fluid on their own. Plus, they’re much more comfortable than a bulky or annoying pad. It’s essentially like wearing any other pair of panties but with more peace of mind. 🙌🏻 Read my full review on the affordable Thinx period panties!
If you get in the habit of using a menstrual cup or period panties, you’ll be projected to save more than $1,200 over the next 10 years! 🎉
Use less toilet paper and be cleaner than ever with a bidet.
You can cut back significantly on toilet paper by incorporating a bidet into your bathroom routine. It will save you money and even possible sewage problems down the road. Plus, they have many other benefits too!
According to BidetsPlus, the average person uses 24 rolls of toilet paper per year! For a family of 4, you’re likely averaging 96 rolls or more per year. Priced at $25.49 per 30-pack of toilet paper, you’re easily spending close to $80 per year just to wipe! Of course, this can vary significantly with how much I know my kids waste every day.
While there are many expensive and more permanent bidets on Amazon, The Butt Buddy is a great option under $70. My in-laws loved it so much that they just bought a second one for traveling! I chose a Bio Bidet for our home which seemed a little more aesthetic.
When a family of four incorporates a bidet in their daily lifestyle, it averages a savings of 80 rolls of toilet paper per year – which is a tenth of a tree! This means you’ll likely only need 16 rolls of toilet paper per year for 4 people! 😱 That’s a mere $19.99 on an Up & Up 18-pack that should last all year!
If you and your family get in the habit of using a bidet, you’ll be projected to save $652.80 or more over the next 10 years! 🎉
These sustainable products and eco friendly products may not save you a ton of money, but will be safer for your home and the environment:
Switch to toilet bombs and a sustainable and eco friendly brush for cleaning and ditch the disposable cleaning pads and toxic cleaners.
You’re not doing yourself or the planet justice if you’re using Clorox toilet wand refills or other chemicals to clean your toilets. Toilet bombs are much more sustainable and eco friendly products to be using. They’ll fizz in your toilet making it easy to clean and they’re made up of just a few ingredients – sodium bicarbonate, non-GMO citric acid, water, and essential oils. You could even make them yourself using HomeMadeLovely.com’s DIY to try and save money on this sustainable product swap.
Don’t forget to add an eco friendly cleaning brush to your new sustainable products regime. I love the Paper Pottery Holder because it’s ethically and sustainably made using recycled materials and is totally water-proof. Plus, the brush is made of coconut fiber which is anti-bacterial. So it will not become smelly or moldy like you’re old toxic plastic brushes. As a bonus, it’s cute and stylish too.
Shopping around or out of stock? There are tons of eco friendly brushes on Amazon too!
Use a durable and reusable silicone bottle when you travel.
Humangear makes the best reusable silicone travel bottles. They’re a great eco friendly switch if you’re currently replacing small plastic bottles when traveling. They’re available in various sizes and are made from durable FDA (food-safe) silicone. So, they’re perfect for virtually any lotion, soap, or whatever else you need to carry with you. They’re also TSA-approved and the lid can be easily converted into a loop. Plus, with their new and improved opening, they get out every last drop and they’re even easier to clean. 🙌🏼
Bar soap for your dishes and hair will save on plastic bottles and other toxic waste.
Dish and body bar soaps are eco friendly products that will cut down significantly on plastic bottles and toxic waste. Even better, if you can scoop up these sustainable products locally, they’ll likely come with no packaging at all making your carbon footprint nearly untraceable. If you don’t have a zero-waste store, there are a plethora of dish soap bars and shampoo bars to choose from on Etsy. I love used dish soap bars because they fit perfectly in a little dish and are convenient for me to use with my wooden dish brush.
Switch to a natural laundry detergent that is good for you, your home, and the planet.
After testing many natural detergents I landed on Molly’s Suds being one of the most sustainable products in the laundry detergent market. This USA-made detergent has just 5 Earth-derived ingredients and rates an “A” on EWG. Even the packaging is manufactured with sustainable sources and manufacturing and non-toxic inks. The cost of Molly’s Suds ends up being 21 cents per load and you’ll be saving the planet from various toxins and lots of plastic bottle waste.
Hip Tip: These are the only natural laundry products I think every home needs.
Toothpaste tablets will nix tubes altogether and are fun to use.
In the US, there are 400 million toothpaste tubes that end up in landfills every year and 1.5 billion globally. What’s worse, they’re made from a combination of different plastics and often wrapped around a thin layer of aluminum making them nearly impossible to recycle. Toothpaste tablets naturally whiten, fight plaque, and freshen your breath while nixing tubes altogether. Even more exciting, they’re much quicker and cleaner to use if you struggle with kiddos leaving messy tubes in the bathroom. I love Huppy Toothpaste Tablets because they have very clean ingredients, my kids love them, and they’re conveniently available at my local zero-waste store.
Switch to a razor you’ll never have to replace.
According to many sources, a whopping 2 billion disposable razors are thrown away every year and aren’t even recyclable since they’re nearly impossible to separate the various commodities. One of my favorite sustainable products I switched to this year was my beloved Bareaya razor which has just one blade and is made of a brass and zinc alloy handle. It’s also incredibly durable so it can last a lifetime and the razors can be properly recycled. Overall, this razor will have a significant impact on your footprint, is minimal, efficient, and one of the best eco friendly products you could add to your daily regimen.
Grab a 100% biodegradable Pela phone case the next time you upgrade your tech.
According to Pela (and many other statistics), 1.5 BILLION phone cases are thrown away every year. Did you know it takes about 1,000 years for plastic to break down? And even then, they’re not gone forever since they become microplastics that end up in our precious oceans. Thankfully, Pela makes sustainable products that are changing the game. Plus, they minimize waste production by 80% and use 34% less water and 30% fewer carbon emissions.
Pela’s innovative phone cases are made from Flaxstick® and a plant-based biopolymer so they’re made from renewable sources and are 100% compostable. In fact, they can be left to break down in your very own home composting environment! 😱 What’s more exciting is that the purchase of 2 Pela phone cases is equivalent to saving the planet from 54 plastic bags being wasted. 👏🏻 I’ve had a Pela phone case for about a year and it’s definitely my favorite I’ve ever had!
Read more about the compostable Pela phone case I have and how to score the best deal on them right now!
Bring a reusable bag every time you shop instead of using plastic.
Plastic bags are a huge contributing factor to our waste and on average a plastic bag is used for an average of just 12 minutes and less than 3% are recycled. 😳 According to the scary statistic shared by PADI, every second 160,000 plastic bags are used around the world. That’s 1 TRILLION bags a year and if we joined all the plastic bags in the world together, they would circumnavigate the globe 4,200 times! 😱
Thankfully, there are 8 states that have banned single-use plastic bags, but it’s crucial we start making the change too. Even better, some stores, like Target, Whole Foods, and Lowe’s (and more), will even give you a small credit on your purchase when you bring your own bags! While it’s typically only around 5-10 cents per bag, it will definitely add up over time and is just another perk of bringing your own eco friendly products.
If just one person used reusable bags over their lifetime, they would be removing about 22,000 plastic bags from the environment which is equivalent to $1,100-$2,200 on a 5-10 cent credit! 🙌
Hip Tip: These are my favorite Minted canvas tote bags which you can personalize for FREE, have real leather straps, and are designed by independent artists!
If you’re still here, I hope you’re excited to become more eco friendly and sustainable in your home. ❤️
More importantly, you could potentially save a whopping $45,000+ over the next 10 years if you made many of our eco friendly swaps that could save you money! 😱😱
*Note that everyone’s family is different in size and these are just estimates based on our research and what the average person uses/buys for each of these products. The outcome or sum of savings can vary greatly and will depend on the cost of what you’re replacing these household items with.
Our Clean Series posts will help you ditch toxins in literally everything.
Great post. Thank you!
You’re so welcome, Christi! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much!
I LOVE this post!! Let’s take care of our planet for the sake of our babies and be good stewards of the resources God has given us.
Ditto. ❤️
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for stopping by, friend!
We bought a bidet during the great toilet paper shortage of 2020. We got one with all the bells and whistles too. Great reviews on Samsclub.com. Not impressed at all. I can do the same thing with a cheap squirt bottle. haha
😂😂😂
😂 That’s what I use – the episiotomy bottle from after birth.
Oh no, Mandym! LOL So sorry it’s not working out for ya!
I wouldn’t feel too bad about not using a bidet, as the electric and water use energy that no one wants to talk about (and the resources that go into creating electric and purifying water that goes up your inards) still taxes our resources. At least the toilet paper can break down into compost.
Yes, and water is very expensive, depending on where you live and how it is delivered.
But, didn’t the globalists say it would take hundreds of years to see a difference? I guess the green movement is another way for elite control and for them to make$s. Lots of our water is being sold to other countries.
I look at ways to save $s for myself. Use very minimally.
The amount of water used to make toilet paper far outweighs the use of a bidet.
I love that Hip2Save is featuring environmentally friendly options! Thank you 🌎
You’re so welcome, Paisley!
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks H2S
Great post. Thank you! I’m doing most of these but can do even better.
You’re so welcome, nancypantcy! I’m so glad this post was helpful to you!
I tried the cup many years ago and it was sooo uncomfortable. I saw an ad for one recently and thought Imd give it a go again, for around $4. This one is smaller and I LOVE it. I’m never going back to tampons and pantyliners. I’m so glad I tried it again. Now to get rid of paper towels!
I’m thrilled you found something that works for you, Jill! Thanks for sharing!
Which smaller one did you try Jill??
The June Cup! It’s smaller than the one that came out 10 ish years ago and it seems thinner and more flexible in comparison (to my memory)
I’ve tried to use the June cup and I just can’t get it right!
If you’re unsure what cup to try, check out http://www.putacupinit.com – they are a great resource for the MANY different cups and can guide you based on age, flow, pregnancies, etc.
Liz, thanks for sharing this resource. I’m going to get my first cup based on their recommendation
Wondering witch one you were able to get for$4? I’d like to get a new one and that’s a great price point.
Yep, the June Cup. I had a promo code that made it $4, but even at $6 it’s totally affordable and worth it!
The June cup is $6
Used the Lily cup which has great reviews but found it very uncomfortable and could never get it right and would leak quite often because of positioning, switched to the Lumma cup and it’s been night and day, so comfy, I can’t even remember if i have one in and it has a perfect seal. Highly recommend, they also have a BOGO free promo running pretty much always.
I do so many of these! I LOVE my cup or as my husband calls it – vampire shot glass. I never even thought to put the cloths in the dishwasher! I have microfiber ones, do you think it would still work?
Hey Jessica! I’m not sure about the cloths you have, but the ones featured in our post are specifically marketed to go in the dishwasher so I would check with the company for the ones you have. 🙂
Great post and while we already have made many of the switches I still some I would love to try. Another easy thing we do is use cloth napkins. I often find them at garage sales. I have found free or cheap fabric at garage sales too that we just cut up and use for our cloth napkins.
We have used cloth napkins for 25 years and love them. No going back to thin paper.
Yes, great idea, Melissa. 🙂
Yes! We switched to cloth napkins (Ok, they’re really washcloths) and we love them! If we go somewhere with paper napkins, we agree it feels weird now! Hahaha!
Am I the only one not a fan of the BIDET? It’s water splashing your buns… no soap-no soft but vigorous rub, just a splash of warm water to wet the bacteria and spread it a little. Not a big advocate for 100 squares of toilet paper either but I don’t understand how a bidet replaces toilet tissue. Just my Opinion. And I know other countries have been doing it for years but that doesn’t make it the next best thing.
I’m with u on this…can’t ride that bus…
TP you’re just smearing bacteria. The water comes out at a decently high pressure and blasts everything away. You still need to blot dry unless you have a fancy drying one but between using family cloth and a bidet I only use maybe 6 rolls of TP a year.
When we were in Italy I used the towel that someone used to dry their a$$ off to dry my face after I washed it 😭 my daughter could not stop laughing.
I’ve always wondered this but where does it go? The poop that its “blasting” off your BH… It has to go somewhere, just all falls into the toilet bowl I guess??? I just feel like this poopy water would be a problem. 🤣
Yes the poopy water goes in the toilet just like the poop on TP and you flush it. It’s very little water, it’s just coming out of a small hole so it increases the pressure. You can adjust the pressure, mine has a knob that you turn to choose the pressure you want.
Yup. People on this site will go to war with you over this, but I’ve lived in other countries where bidets were routinely available and I just find them messy and cold. I use wipes instead.
I’m not going to go to war on this, but water is about the best and healthiest way to clean just about anything. Also it prevents just about the germiest place on your body (your hands) from touching your nether regions. So you’re spreading less germs. Also most proctologist’s highly recommend them because abrasive papers can actually make issues like hemorrhoids and fissures worse. I will never ever go back to wiping and I kind of feel like a cavewoman when I have to. And that doesn’t even touch on the enviromenta benefits- which is just a nice added bonus.
Great post. I don’t buy most of these items though. I do buy aluminum foil but it lasts a year or more a roll. Don’ use it very often. I still have a bag of ziploc bags that we bought two years ago so don’t use them much either. I love the washable sponges. That is what we used growing up so glad that I found them thanks to your site a few months ago. We wear the same clothes until they don’t fit or are stained. The stained ones go to the local thrift store where they either send some to the animal shelter (blankets, towels, etc) or to the local quilting club. Being raised overseas by a military father and german mother I used some of these ideas already. My mom grew up with nothing during the war not even food some days so she taught us some tips. She used to make dandelion salad all the time.
I would love to hear the dandelion salad recipe if there is one to share! 🙂
The key to a good dandelion salad is not owning a dog.
🤣
Too late…even if you don’t own a dog yourself, your neighbors sure do I’m sure. That’s why they take their pets for walks around the neighborhood (to do their business in other people’s yard).
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Limestone soil to grow in so they don’t taste bitter and clipped very early in the spring so the greens aren’t tough.
Europeans do know how to stretch an Euro. They use up anything and everything. Love it!! The younger generation is getting away from it but the older generation is amazing with what they can do.
My grandma always had a garden and I LOVED turnip greens! She told me when I was older that when I would come to visit if she was out of turnip greens she would just pick some polk salad!!!🤣🤣🤣 I never did know the difference! Boy I wish she was still here to pass on that wisdom!
Does anyone make a silicone baking mat that actually covers the entire pan like up the sides and over the edge? If so I would absolutely use it! Btw, I love my period cup. Best switch ever. If it’s uncomfortable then trim the stem or completely cut it off, makes a huge difference!
We are nomads right now and have a tiny storage unit for what we do own. My point is I can’t look at the brand but the one I have is bigger than a regular sized baking pan and fits nicely in the 20×24(ish) pan I bought last year. I got it when H2S when kept posting this kitchen site with things like that on it. Also got ss measuring spoons. If I remember it, I’ll respond again to your message.
I saw nothing worth mentioning as appositive.
Love, love, love this post! Thank you so much for putting together such a thoughtful post that makes it easy for people to make the swap 🙂 You all ROCK!
You’re so welcome!
I wish the menstral cup worked for me… Cough… Large family mama here… It tends to fall out.. I also have extreme flooding… Working on all of that. Any suggestions? I have tried different brands…
Try a menstrual disc. Same thing happened with me- the menstrual cup fell out, so I switched to menstural discs. Try the Lumma or nixit.
Definitely try the disc! I have a Lumma Large and love it! No leaks and so easy to use. I’m not a fan of the cups. I have one that works, but I also have an IUD which you aren’t supposed to use with a cup. Check out the FB group “Put a Cup In It Community”. Most open group of ladies I’ve ever (not) met. 🙂
(I’m a large family mama too!)
YES! I thought I was the only one! Large family momma too-plus, all our babies were large-I can’t do tampons anymore, and have the cup that she’s holding in the picture. Scared to rely on it in case it falls out when I’m not home, haha. Scared to use a disc-nothing to grab onto.
Also you may want to check your vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels too. You could have low iron, or high estrogen and low progesterone etc.. Also could be iodine deficiency. There are so many things that could point to why your periods are so heavy. It is all linked to our diets here in the States. We don’t get what we need from our food anymore.
Thank you! I have a wonderful P.A. who checked the major hormones. My progesterone and estrogen were fine. My DHEA and testosterone were terribly low. I’ve been supplementing with DHEA, but it may not be enough. She said that the estrogen test was only circulating estrogen. It is possible I am still estrogen dominant in my fat cells. It’s an interesting journey!
I just learned about the menstrual disk last summer and the ad said you can have sex with it in?!? I might have to try this 😆😁
I’ve done it with the disposable discs several times. The endge sometimes rubs weird on him but overall works great!
Check out https://putacupinit.com/ – they have a quiz and a chart guide to help with the many choices! Hope you can find one that works! I switched 2 years ago and am so glad I did.
Great post! Thank you! I never thought to replace my sponges with brushes. I’ll be making the change!
A fun switch for sure! We’re talking environmental friendly in this post, skip the plastic if you can! They have wooden ones with Bristos as well.
You’re so welcome, Ang!
I know I had tried a disposable menstrual cup back maybe 6 or 7 years ago and I didn’t like it (it was like a rubbery disk with a saran wrap-like plastic that collected the goo). But I bet the new silicone ones are more comfortable…. However, I am sooo grateful for my IUD now – it’s stopped my periods, so I haven’t had to buy tampons in over 5 years! (Your mileage may vary on that option, though).
I’m on my third IUD and still get monthly periods however I usually get by with maybe 3 or 4 tampons per cycle. I also use period panties (Bambody) on light days.
Oh goodness do not ditch parchment paper for silicone mats. Please be aware silicone is still apart of the plastic family. Yes, A better option if you cant part with plastic.
Silicone is much more unhealthy too. I use unbleached parchment paper a lot.
even if silicone is in the family of plastics, manufacturing parchment or foil uses fossil fuels, too.
and the Silpat will take up way less room in the landfill if one lasts me 15 years than if i had to throw away all the single-use options from that same timeframe.
if you use the silpat to help with non-sticking, and easier cleanup, and more even cooking, it can replace a huge quantity of disposable items over the years.
i don’t know how long they last, but our silpats are over 7 years old and still seem new. we have never had a problem with using the same one for meats as we use for cookies or anything else we make.
I really like the Swedish dish cloths made from cellulose. I’m wondering when people will start to realize the damage that microfiber is doing to our aquatic environments. Everybody totes microfiber (which is always made of fine polyester/plastic fibers) as being environmentally friendly because you do use less paper and cleanser, but at the same time these fibers wash into our rivers, lakes, and oceans and are consumed by fish and get into the entire food chain. These fibers hold onto toxins and then the toxins accumulate in the food we eat. For these reasons, I’ve given up on microfiber and opt for safer more natural fabrics.
YES that’s why I went 😶 when loom mop was the alternative.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Ella!
thanks had no idea
Not everyone likes tampons, just like not everyone likes pads. I’ve heard from reviewers that the silicone insertion is uncomfortable for some people, even among those who use tampons.
For period panties, I suggest Thinx, Kinx, or Padkix.
Wearing my thinx right now. Love them. I am not a pad person. I hated them! But when you’re young it’s the only option. Once I discovered tampons it’s all I used. Then period panties were invented and they are amazing. They are nothing like a pad. The “moisture” is wicked away to some mystical place…I can wear one pair all day with no issues. No grossness. If you haven’t tried a pair…try them!
Menstrual cups are so unsanitary, I imagine using public bathroom. No way in the world I would even try that!
Three months into a cup and I love it. Slight learning curve, but just wear a liner until you’re confident. Public bathrooms aren’t an issue because they last so much longer than a pad or tampon. I go all day without emptying with the larger size on my heaviest day (which was a super every 2-3 hours). I have two sizes – Saalt Duo Pack in soft. No discomfort unless it’s not inserted correctly. Wish I’d made the switch sooner!
I hate menstrual cups. I’ve tried 3 brands. Must be my anatomy, but I find them to be terribly uncomfortable and yes, I never could go the whole work day without having to empty it. They’re a serious PITA in public.
Depending on your flow, you don’t have to empty it while out in public. Even on my heavy days (1 and 2), I insert in the morning and don’t touch it until I get home after work. I also wear period panties (Thinx) as a backup, but I rarely have leaks. When I wore a super plus tampon, I was changing it regularly AND leaking, too. Glad I tried the cups, as they work super well for me and save $$!
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What a great article! I would like to see a return to natural fibers which last forever for sheets and clothing. I would add that aluminum foil can be washed and used over again. It can also be washed and recycled. The WWII generation never wasted a smidgin of it and in turn I picked up the habit as well from my mother.
That’s great to know, JD827. Our generation needs to learn tricks of the previous generations for sure!
Is no one gonna talk about the astronomically large tail on that menstrual cup?? 0.0
HAHA! Agreed!! That would FREAK me out! I cut the stem off my cup anyway – but that one is HUGE!
If the menstrual cup doesn’t work for you, try reusable pads. They are so much more absorbent then disposable pads. Also I use family cloth for urine. Never thought I would make that change but it was pretty easy.
Or just coupon and get tampons for almost nothing. I like some of the ideas on here but some of them are total non-starters. Plus, I am a couponer and I spend pennies on things.
Same, Dawn. I’ve never paid more than $1 a pack for pads or tampons, and that’s on the high side.
I’ll agree there. There are actually a growing number of churches and organizations that are providing women with quality personal products. Anytime youre able to score one of the free packs of Carefree etc. or maybe you tried a brand you didn’t much care for, there’s always places to donate. That helps the earth also 🙂
I have a very light period and use maybe 3 or 4 tampons a month. N the really light days I use period panties. They are comfortable and I throw them into the wash (hang dry). Easy peasy.
Thanks for focusing on the environment! We have slowly switched to a lot of these. By going a little at a time, my husband was easy to get onboard and we didn’t feel overwhelmed. It did help us see how wasteful we are and look for ways to improve our eco-friendliness.
Getting a period cup was a big win for me. It took 2 tries to get one that worked for me, but it’s been 2 years now and I love the change! If you are trying to find a cup for you, I recommend putacupinit.com – it really addresses FAQs and helps you find the right cup – there are MANY options!!
I use bidet and love it-clean is better. Why these are not everywhere is beyond me. Clean is clean. Whoever recommended squirt bottle? Maybe for camping-but that is kind of odd and sloppy for me. Just say NO. Ditch plastic water bottles – get a culligan or an RO filter and youtube the maintenance. The wool dryer ball is cool—- I coupon paper towels for almost free and use for those times when you really need a toss away cloth and not a newspaper like for hairy wipe ups. Do not love silicone for all but for some. Aluminum is forever recyclable-just do it. Do not love reusable baggies at all. Lets ditch the mask waste and opt for common sense fresh air too!
For napkins/paper towels, we use wash cloths! A few years ago, I bought a colorful assortment of washcloths from Target and spent maybe $15-20 for a big basket full. We’re a family of 5, and we fold them nicely and use them at the dinner table for napkins, as well as grab them from the basket if we need a quick paper towel substitute. We toss them into our laundry daily and wash them with our regular loads. I love that they take no extra effort, yet save us tons of money and prevent additional waste! (We do have paper napkins and paper towels for guests, lol!)
I do like some of these recommendations, especially the wool balls in replacement of dryer sheets. But I do think the cling wrap one is off. We are a family of 5 and at most, I buy maybe 3-5 rolls a year.
Also, the sandwich ziploc bag count is off. If you are using 3 bags a day, that is 15 a week, and 45 a month…not a week.
Oops…meant to say 45 in 3 weeks, 60 a month.
Oops…meant to say 45 in 3 weeks, 60 a month.
Lots of great information, however, if it wasn’t for people using paper, my dad, who has been in the paper industry since age 13, and husband, who’s been in it for 22 years, would be out of a job. We couldn’t save enough to make up for the lack of income . Paper towels for me! Bidet are just germy!
Menstrual cup is a total game changer for me love it❤️
Be aware that the “Swedish “ towels are NOT NADE IN SWEDEN! They are made in China. Lots of people complain that they start “shedding” after a few uses and that are made in China. I found these that have amazing reviews and are actually Swedish made in Sweden (Wettex The Original 10-Pack Swedish Superabsorbent Dishcloth). They are cheaper also 😉 and I looooove them
My teenaged daughter couldn’t fathom using a menstrual cup, but was on board for reusable pads and really likes them. She went with 2 different sizes depending on flow: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077VTNZXM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071YC74B9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I’m in my late 30’s and have never even used a tampon..the whole situation seems like self harm! I still can’t understand how women can violate their bodies in that way! Jam some foreign object up your privates?!!! No thank you! I call that torture
Do these work for really heavy flow?
If you’re talking about the reusable pads, yes for heavy flow, just buy the larger size.
I’m right there with you on most of these. I use a fuzzy sock bought at the dollar store and put it over the swiffer head. It works great wet or dry. Then I just throw them in the wash.
I’ve been following you guys for year and trust your input. I just purchased $100 of product on amazon (dish towels, silicone lids, cup, dryer balls, and the stasher bags). Im excited to try them all out!
Yuck
The best way to be eco friendly is to reduce first, reuse and recycle. Don’t buy a bunch of crap, especially new. Stop at garage sales when you see them. Use up your current stuff before you buy an eco-friendly replacement. You don’t need 50 reusable straws and water bottles. You save a ton of money using these methods too.
Instead of replacing aluminum and parchment paper with silicone mats, use a stone dish, food actually cook better on stone because silicone is heat resistant. Stone is also much easier to clean. For those worried about the microfiber leaking into the water from washing microfiber washcloths, you can use a cora ball to catch them during the wash cycle https://earthhero.com/products/home/cora-ball-microfiber-laundry-ball/?attribute_pa_type-2=single&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0rSABhDlARIsAJtjfCcT2cpDlONQsSdP5ZgkMofEHwN-jC51hNBkbso6TwjL977v3glTBlkaAqsZEALw_wcB
I can’t part ways with aluminum foil. There is no other easy clean up method. You cook, ball it up, and put your pan back, so easy! Silicone mats however, they get greasy and hard to clean. You can’t cook cookies on the same one you had fish on, always have to have multiple on hand. I use more water and dishcloths cleaning them off after, plus time wasted that I could be spending time doing something with the family.
Menstrual cups just seem worse than tampons and I personally never liked those unless it was a necessity for swimming, rare occurrence. They seem gross and intrusive. No way can they be made by a woman, I’d be surprised!
Wool balls are fine for the dryer, but fabric sheets leave your clothes smelling good! I know they’re not for every type of material.
Also, as far as paper towels…during the sick season and especially now through COVID, I’d discourage any use of shared towels or reusable clothes. Use the tear-a-size paper towel and save that way.
Straws, they actually have recycled material ones now that are disposable and don’t feel like paper. The reusable straws are easy to get mixed up when you have a big family and back with the towel thing, it’s too easy to spread germs with them.
Just my opinion!
with the cup, are you all ok to actually reuse it? I think there is a reason why some things are meant to be disposable.
I use a menstrual cup. Highly recommend. It is silicone, washable, you can boil it – I was on the fence for a while and wish I would have gotten one years ago.
When you go to the ob or a hospital, they use many things that are not disposable and get used by thousands of people over time. they don’t throw away the speculum or a scalpel after they stick it in you. or if you bleed on sheets or gown at a hospital they don’t throw it away.
Why is everything left up to the people to foot the bill?
Packaging is created by corporations. I would gladly take empty bottles to stores for refills, but it seems unavailable.
I would use green energy. But I cannot easily plug into it as they want me to pay a higher cost.
An electric car? Way too expensive.
Humm, looks like the elite expect us to pay for research for a problem they have been working on 50 years or more.
Yes, companies need to stop using clamshell plastic packaging.
People need to stop sending off hundreds of balloons in the air. They can honor someone or an event by planting trees or flowers.
As for the bidet, something simple and inexpensive (sometimes $30) like this is all we need:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MMHQX7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We are really happy with this one, and have had it for a few years. Some of the bidets in other countries are messy hand held ones. My husband was skeptical of bidets after living in Spain because of that, but he is totally sold on these kinds after trying it. No need to go too fancy. Doesn’t use too much water at all, adjustable pressure, not hard to set up and seems much more sanitary than toilet paper alone. Just my 2 cents.
I get the depo shot every 3 months. No period so no need for menstrual products. Also no PMS meds needed either. It’s a game changer for me since I had a 10 day or longer cycle with at least 5 super heavy days.
I love to be environment conscious but when it comes to essential items and personal hygiene , it’s not worth it for me to ditch toilet paper or menstrual pads.
I love to use reusable bags, straws and minimize the use of ziploc bags. Best way to go green is to buy only what you need and not be wasteful.
This should be reposted closer to Earth Day. There is bound to be some sales on these products then.
Love my Stasher bags!
We have a bidet and we love using it. I wanted to know why is that bidet on the picture plugged to an outlet? Are they heating the water up to use warm water with bidet?
ours uses an outlet to run the fan on it (helps with the smell in addition to your bathroom fan)
and some have an air dryer to help dry you. and especially in certain countries, some have sounds (like a bubbling stream) to help mask bodily noises. heated seats are also standard on some.
(i’m definitely not saying all these are necessary options.)
No
also a great swap to make — reuseable face wipes!
i have stopped using any cotton balls or cotton rounds or disposable remover wipes on my face, and the specialty face ones are SO much softer than washcloths, and absorb way less toner or astringent than washcloth fabric. somehow mine have never stained, even from mascara or BB cream. they are so effective. they wash up great in a little zippered mesh bag!
i love my ones from Make Up Eraser, but i know other people have found cheaper ones, too. they say they can be used with just water, and that works, but i also use them to apply toner or micellar water, eye makeup remover, etc.
Same! I bought a 6-pack of them on Amazon and have been in love with them for removing eye makeup. I used to buy the big pack of Swissper cotton rounds at Costco, but these soft, washable face cloths actually work better.
I’ll share something I have been using lately – bar shampoo/conditioner. So much plastic waste with hair care products. Some things are harder to switch out, but this one was easy (for me).
What conditioner are you using? I picked up the new Shampure bar from Aveda when they released it as a new product recently, but I haven’t seen a really high-quality conditioner yet.
The key is to reduce your use 1st and foremost. Otherwise, I’ve switched to dr bronner soap bars for my shampoo! Rose, lavender all natural and lather amazingly. I seriously don’t notice a difference in my hair..and my scalp is way healthier. No plastic container. Paper wrapped around a bar! The motto is reduce, reuse, recycle.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, siena95! Glad to hear you have found a brand you enjoy using – Dr. Bronner’s has so many uses! 🤗❤️
Sounds funny, but a shower cap also will work for some coverings for bowls. Some hotels have them in their rooms too, so it can be an extra frugal way to save. 🙂
Thanks for sharing about an alternative to a traditional bowl cover, Sue! I’ve seen plastic coverings for sale that look similar to a shower cap – so it totally makes sense! 🙌💕