10 Easy, affordable & sustainable swaps for your home

Sometimes, a list makes everything a little easier to accomplish. If you are wanting to begin your journey practicing a more sustainable lifestyle, but don’t know where to start, I have put together a list of 10 easy and affordable sustainable swaps that you can make in your home today!

Included in the list are general price points for each swap. Please note, it is possible to make swaps for $0 if maybe you know someone giving away some old pans or jars, but if you don't, the price I have included is a minimum of how much you may expect to spend to make a practical swap. There is no limit for how much you decide to spend, but this list was made to be affordable!

1. Glass Bottles instead of single use plastic - Exchange products in single use plastic packages for products in glass bottles that you can reuse and refill. Dish soap, body wash, milk and lotions are all examples of popular products that you can diy, purchase at refill shops or places like local farms and Fresh Thyme.

   Cost: $0-$30

2. Wooden Hair Brush or Comb - Get rid of those plastic hair brushes and grab a wooden or bamboo hair brush instead! 

   Cost: $10-$20

3. Bamboo Toothbrushes - Speaking of brushes… while you’re at it, toss out that plastic toothbrush and swap it out for a bamboo one too! 

   Cost: $2-10

4. Reusable cotton napkins - Durable and ultimately cheaper alternatives than regular paper napkins. That doesn’t mean you have to quit taking napkins from restaurants though… just stop buying those big packs at the grocery is all I’m saying!

   Cost: $0-$20

5. Stainless steel over plastic - In the kitchen especially, stainless steel is more durable, will last longer and is nontoxic compared to plastic. 

   Cost: $5-$75

6. Glass teapot with infuser - If you make tea or coffee on a regular basis, a teapot you can infuse directly in, is a must! Start getting loose leaf herbs and bulk coffee and ditch those tea bags and single use k-cups.

   Cost: $0-$30

7. Biodegradable sponges - These not only clean the dishes great along with other areas in your house like the sinks, countertops and even showers, but they also will biodegrade quickly after tossing out unlike your average sponge that you may have picked up from the dollar store. There are big packs on amazon that you can get for less than $20 that will last a long time too!

   Cost: $5-$20

8. Essential Oil cool mist diffuser - Not only is this a nontoxic option for making your home smell good, essential oils also offer therapeutic effects and last a super long time! 

   Cost: $10-$60

9. Cast iron or stainless steel over nonstick pans and baking sheets - If you had the option to cook in a pan coated with toxic chemicals or one without, what would you choose? Cast Iron and stainless steel are much more durable and safe to use than nonstick cookware. When cast iron is cleaned & seasoned properly, the seasoning should provide the perfect nonstick barrier. 

   Cost: $0-$50

10. Second hand shopping - Before running out to Walmart or Target to get something new, try looking at your local thrift stores, liquidation and oversupply shops, online shopping platforms like Depop or ThredUp (clothing), Ebay, Offer Up, Facebook Marketplace, Auction sites or garage sales instead! Repurposing items and shopping second hand is a great way to reduce waste and give a new life to items that otherwise may end up in a landfill or on a shelf unused and under appreciated.

    Cost: Varies