Guest Picks: Earth-Friendlier Finds for the Home

One of my personal goals for this year is to reduce my carbon footprint and be friendlier to the environment. I’m hoping to do this through a manageable combination of using fewer paper products, using less water and making other reasonable lifestyle changes. Sometimes I’ll have to think outside the box to reduce my impact on the environment, but I know I can do it. And so can you! — Heidi from Hands Occupied

Green Lizard Ecofriendly Reusable Sandwich Bag - $8.95 One of my worst antienvironmental habits is bringing my lunch sandwiches in plastic bags that get used once and tossed. You can make a lunch bag yourself if you’re into sewing, or you can buy this one, which comes in a variety of cute prints.


Berry Dot Ecofriendly Reusable Snack Bag - $7.95 I get low blood sugar, so I eat a lot of small meals and snacks throughout the day. That results in a ton of materials that just get thrown away after one use. Luckily, here’s a reusable bag in snack size.


Seersucker Blue Napkin - $3.95 A set of these lovely seersucker napkins would be amazing to have on hand for a summer gathering. The great thing about seersucker is that it’s appropriate for formal or informal affairs.


Van Heusen Handkerchiefs, White, Set of 13 - $14 About a year ago, my family switched to using primarily handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues. Did you know that they’re easier on the skin around your nose? The key is to find a handkerchief you like, and then buy enough to last you from one laundry day to the next. And then maybe buy a few more for when you catch a head cold.


Levi’s Men's 3-Piece Bandana Set, Black, Red and Navy - $12 The classic bandana is another great option for people looking to use handkerchiefs instead of tissues. They’re great to have on hand when you’re working out or working on a project. My dad grew up on a farm, and there are just some circumstances when an all-white hankie doesn’t make sense. And that’s when colors like these are great.


Swisspers Organic Biodegradable Cotton Swabs - $299 These cotton swabs are organic and biodegradable. I’m not a huge cotton swab user in the first place, and cotton swabs are hard to find a paperless replacement for, so biodegradable ones are going to have to work for me for now.


Eco Cotton Rounds, Set of 8 - $22 If you like using cotton balls for your cosmetic needs, these washable cotton pads might be for you. You get eight in the set, and they even come with a cute little mesh washing bag.


Toothbrush in Mail-Back Pack - $3 This toothbrush is made from recycled materials and comes in a mail-back pack, so it won’t end up in the Dumpster. If you’re ever looking for an interesting subject to read up on, look up living a plastic-free lifestyle.


Room Essentials Dryer Balls, Set of 2 - $4.59 Instead of using dryer sheets, my husband and I got a set of these spiky blue dryer balls. They work great! The only challenge is remembering to leave them in the dryer when you unload it each time.


Natural 4X Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent Using concentrated laundry detergent is a no-brainer. It saves on the amount of packaging, lightens the load you have to carry around, reduces the amount of stuff you have to physically pour into the wash — the list goes on. Bonus points if you do your laundry with cold water, as that saves a lot of energy too.


BioPlus Earth Recycled Take-Out Container #3, Set of 200 - $79.82 If you go out to eat, most places will now send you home with biodegradable packaging. Styrofoam is decidedly eco-unfriendly!


Easy Find Lids 40-Piece Container Set - $20.99 Rubbermaid's Easy Find Lids container line is my favorite. My compulsive side loves that my food containers all match. And from a practical perspective, having just a few lid sizes to deal with is great.


Senja Desktop 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Mug - $17.99 Instead of using paper to-go cups, bringing your own thermos is a great idea! I own a few of these myself. I like the handle, because I can hook it over the edge of my purse on the outside to keep the thermos from falling over.


24-Ounce Twist-Top Bottle, Clear/Gray - $11.99 There are a lot of reasons to avoid disposable water bottles. Ever since I started carrying a spillproof bottle, I’ve actually started drinking a lot more water. Reusable bottles are good for the planet and good for you.


Dish Soap Pump and Refill Kit - $9.98 A lot of people know about getting concentrated laundry detergent, but did you know you can get concentrated dish soap too? Now you know!


Vegetable Canning Towels, Set of 2 - $19.95 If you’re still using paper towels for everyday kitchen cleanup, you’re missing out on one of the easiest opportunities there is to cut some paper from your life. The classic kitchen towel (which comes in about a million colors and patterns for any taste) is an easy paper towel substitute.


Now Designs Flour Sack Towels, White, Set of 3 - $22.34 My family swears by these old-time flour sack dish towels. Many of mine are embroidered by my grandma, but they work just as well plain. The flour sack material absorbs water well and dries quickly.


Threshold Spoon Kitchen Towels, Shell/Teal, Set of 4 - $12 I was worried that using fancy fabric napkins at home would be expensive. Then I remembered that at the end of every shopping season, there are often kitchen towel and washcloth bundles on clearance. My big plan to tackle the switch to fabric napkins is to use kitchen towels; they stand up longer to everyday wear and regular washing than your typical fabric napkins. Yay!


Earth Rated Dog Waste Poop Bags, Set of 300 - $11.99 If you have dogs, using earth-friendly waste bags is a good idea. I have two dogs, so that’s at least two bags a day, if you know what I’m saying.

Next: Ecofriendly Kitchen: 9 Healthy Lifestyle Habits

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