Happy, happy Earth Day! My hippie soul believes that Earth Day is actually every day, but I just love it when the rest of humanity celebrates with me. Goodness knows, Mother Earth needs some extra love. But this isn’t a post about global climate change or even recycling (I’ll put away my soapbox for now, promise). This is a post full of super AWESOME ITEMS, and EASY things everyone can do to help our Earth (and our environmental crisis – oops, that was kinda soapboxish…).
Seriously though, these items and ideas are not only beneficial to Mother Nature, they can help out your wallet, and even be fun. Try out one or two – or ten! I personally love them all!
Tirtyl Foaming Hand Wash ~ These are quite possibly my favorite on the list. Not only do they smell and feel awesome (I’m in love with the coconut & vanilla scent), they come in little tablets that I drop into my water-filled, glass soap dispenser so there’s zero plastic containers! And they’re way cheaper than regular hand soap (especially the foofoo brands). If you don’t already have a foaming soap dispenser to drop them in to, they also sell a convenient starter pack.
Soda Stream ~ Holy moly, this is one of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time! This thing is amazing. I quit my Diet Coke addiction last year and moved on to healthier options. (Though I cheat now and then and unfortunately still love it – those who claim they don’t are dang liars). So, this contraption is a God send. I like to use a water enhancer called, Stur Naturally Skinny Black Cherry, that I find at the grocery store, but I understand they have all sorts of flavors to enhance your sparkling water, and some even taste just like the sodas we all know and love. It saves money and drastically reduces the number of plastic bottles we use. AND you can get the CO2 cartridges refilled, which saves on costs!!
Dryer Balls ~ I call these guys my dryer pets since they are shaped like porcupines and are so stinking cute (they were actually cuter before being tossed about so much). They bounce around and help my clothes dry faster (which also helps with energy costs). I used to have some that are made of wool that I liked also, but I gave some to my aunt and she broke out in hives, so I’m a little reluctant to recommend those, haha.
Bumkins Sandwich & Snack Bags ~ These bags come in fantastic designs (for kids and adults), are the best reusable bags I’ve found, do great in the dishwasher, and are useful for sooooo many things. I use these so much that I’ve had to buy more (twice). They are extremely versatile. I hardly ever use baggies (because I hate single-use plastics) and these are my go-to for snacks on the run, storage, and anything you might want a baggy for. Plus, they’re way cuter. However, I will say that since these baggies have a zipper closure, I use plastic storage containers for packing Olivia’s lunch ahead of time in order to ensure the chips and such will stay fresh.
Reusable & Packable Shopping Bags ~ I’m picky about these too (go figure, ha). I prefer the ones that fold up into neat little bags that can be easily carried in my purse until I need them. I’m not a huge fan of the big bulky ones that make me feel like I’m carrying my luggage around the store. I need my hands and arms available to carry stuff because, as Olivia likes to point out, I almost always fail to get a cart when I should.
Tervis Tumbler ~ Okay, I know lots of people are into the expensive, stainless-steel insulated cups, but I’ll be honest, I don’t particularly like my morning to start off with coffee scalding my insides. This plastic insulated tumbler is perfect for me because it keeps my coffee warm, but not hot enough to delight the devil. Also, I swear, the lids are amazing and give me the notion that they’re basically adult sippy cups. PS: I hear that Starbucks is taking steps towards reusable cups and customers can start bringing their own!
Simple Modern Water Bottle ~ Now, I’m totally on board with the stainless-steel insulated containers for water and other cold beverages. I carry one of these bottles around with me EVERYWHERE. I don’t believe in plastic water bottles, but I do believe in properly hydrating each day. I have a 32oz. and a 22oz. one (because it fits in my car cup holder). I especially love that their lids are interchangeable regardless of what size bottle you have (the chug one is the best). It’s so much cooler, in more ways than one, to fill up beautiful containers with water instead of spending money on bottled water that fill up our landfills. I’d also like to mention that they’re great for parties, and keep your beverage chilled way better than those plastic red cups.
Swedish Dish Rags ~ I admit that the first time I came across one of these, I was like, “what the heck is this…?” However, now these are a staple in my kitchen and I can’t remember how I functioned without them. Each one is designed to replace 15 rolls of paper towels, but I also use them as dish rags. The absolute best part is, they don’t stink like dish rags or sponges tend to do (like after an hour – what’s with that anyway?). And you can toss them in the wash, or when they get yucky looking, they are 100% biodegradable and compostable.
Kindle Paperwhite ~ I should really get commission for how many Kindles I’ve influenced people to buy over the years (are you paying attention, Amazon???). Truly though, I love, love, love my Kindle. And I adore books – actual books. I love the way they feel, and even how they smell. That being said, I also love reading on my Kindle Paperwhite. I’ve gotten very spoiled, in fact. I still like to buy certain books in paperback, but most the time I go with the Kindle option because it’s cheaper, ultra-convenient reading, they don’t take up any space, and I can get Kindle books from the library in a matter of minutes.
Tide Pods or Kind Laundry Detergent ~ I currently use Tide Pods, but instead of buying in bulk, I buy the smaller pouches because I figure it’s less plastic than the giant containers with lids. I have used the Kind Laundry Detergent and really love that it comes in a zero-plastic container, but I have a kiddo with sensitive skin and a hubby who works construction so I had to find some middle ground… (Tide, if you’re tuning in, could you please put Tide Pods in plastic-free boxes or something?) The great part about either of these detergent options, is that you can wash your clothes in cold water. They get just as clean, and it saves on your energy bill.
Reusable Straws & Cutlery ~ My purse isn’t as big as Marry Poppins’ carpet bag, but I have some cool stuff in there. And my random stuff will save sea turtles and the planet. Okay, I can’t actually compete with Marry Poppins because she’s just awesome. However, plastic straws and cutlery totally bug me and I think everyone should join the bring-your-own-straw team. Heck, you could even make it fun by getting crazy straws… Olivia always has these items in her lunchbox for school – and the other kids even think it’s cool.
Wheat Straw Plates ~ At home I use regular ceramic dinner wear, but I got these fun plates for when we go camping because I didn’t want to use paper plates all the time. It just seemed wrong to go “be one with nature” and harm it at the same time. These plates are awesome. They are BPA free, very durable, dishwasher and microwave safe, and of course, environmentally friendly.
Beeswax Wraps ~ I can’t remember the last time I used plastic wrap to cover my leftovers or other various foodstuffs because I almost always use my go-to plastic storage containers. However, beeswax wraps are awesome for times when you just can’t find the right container to fit, or if you simply want to cover a bowl and be done with the cleaning up ordeal. Not to mention, they’re super cute and come in all sorts of designs.
Reusable Makeup Pads ~ These are great for removing makeup and can be tossed in the wash in the cute little bag that comes with them (so they don’t get lost amid all your clothes). Granted, I’m pretty low maintenance and don’t use these all that often, but I love the reusable option and figured they were worth mentioning for those who use cotton pads in their daily routine.
Bamboo Toothbrushes ~ Okay, so I don’t actually have one of these because I use a Sonicare (but at least the toothbrush heads are replaceable). But, if I did use a regular toothbrush, I’d definitely look into getting a bamboo one instead of plastic. They’re cheap, cute, and – you guessed it – better for the Earth. If you already use a bamboo toothbrush, I’d love to know how you like it.
Hope you like these ideas and maybe even try some out. Your wallet and the Earth will thank you. And I will too!! (Seriously, tell me how you are helping the Earth, and I will personally thank you – no joke!) I’ve included links to the products above for the sake of convenience, but please, by all means, research the ones that interest you to find the best fit for your needs.
Happy Earth Day! 🙂
PS: Things I’m still looking for: an environmentally friendly bathroom cleaner that works as well as Clorox’s Foaming Bleach, shampoo and conditioner bars that work on unruly hair, dish soap bars, and any other awesome recommendations you might have. So, if you have suggestions, please let me know!!
PPS: I do not receive any monetary gain from recommending these items to you. I just love them and the Earth. I also would simply like to inspire you to give them a whirl and use less plastic in your daily life.
