5 Things I No Longer Buy
Over the past several years I've been slowly, and sometimes imperfectly, shifting the way I shop for my home. Not from a place of perfection, but from a place of wanting things to feel a little lighter, a little kinder to the world and to the space I live in.
There’s no one right way to move toward a more sustainable, low-toxin home, but for me, these small changes have made a quiet difference. Here are five things I no longer buy and the alternatives I’ve found along the way.
1. Plastic Kitchen Sponges
We used to go through stacks of conventional kitchen sponges without thinking much about it until I started auditing the plastic in our home. Thats when I realized how unnessary it is to use plastic disposable sponges and started looking for a biodegrable (but still effective) alternative. I wish I was the type to maintain a totally reusable option, but for now Element Brookyln’s biodegradable, plant-based sponges are the such an improvement. I particularly love that they still have the scrubber half to get tough food off of dishes!
2. Plastic Dish Brushes
Those flimsy plastic dish brushes were a similar source of plastic pain for me. I felt guilty every time one got so grimy that I had to toss it in the trash. Now I use a reusable, plastic-free brush with a metal and wood handle and a replaceable head. It feels better in my hand, lasts longer, and is so much easier on the planet.
3. Toilet Paper with Plastic Packaging
I have always hated how almost all toilet paper is wrapped in layers of plastic. So for the past several years I have been subsribed to Who Gives A Crap recycled and fully paper packaging TP. I love that it’s a subscription so we never run out (which was particulalry useful diring the pandemic when people were hoarding toilet paper and shelves were empty. It’s a small swap that has actually lightened my mental load in a few ways and the fun and colorful packaging brightens my day too!
4. Ziplock Bags
The convenience of Ziplocks is undebatable, but a bumch of single use plastic baggies is terrible for the environment and budget. These days, I use glass jars for leftovers which surprisingly makes me more inclined to eat them. And for anything portable I like reusable silicone Stasher bags. They’re sturdy, reusable, and surprisingly easy to clean. I actually find it satisfying to see my fridge shelf full of pretty containers and jars over sloppy plastic bags anyday.
5. Chemical Cleaners
I have always been sensitive to chemical cleaners but always thought in order to have a truly clean home I needed at least a few strong chemicals. Now, I mostly clean with white vinegar (sometime infused with orange peels), and when I want something a little more scented and special, I reach for Mrs. Meyer’s cleaners. My home smells fresher, my air feels cleaner, and I don’t have to worry about what I’m spraying around my little one either.
All in all, I still have a long way to go and I don’t believe in shaming the small conveniences that sometimes get us through busy seasons. But these tiny little shifts have brought a little more intention and a lot more ease into my everyday.
And that, to me, feels like real sustainability: choosing things that are better for the earth and better for the life I’m living.
