Easy Life Swaps for a more Eco-friendly Home
My journey to a healthier lifestyle started about five years ago after months of dabbling here and there into alternative health options. The more research I did and the more that I talked to like-minded people, I realized that I had to change almost everything I bought and consumed. Whether through the air (think air fresheners, household cleaners) or what I put into and on my body (think diet and body care products), it all had to change. Now it can be a little overwhelming to completely change everything you’re used to and what you’ve been taught. This is why I wanted to create a post of easy life swaps you can do now, while still researching and making educated decisions on other lifestyle habits you want to change little by little in the future. Also keep in mind that depending on where you live, certain things are harder to get, such as clean tap water. Therefore do what you can because your environment will dictate what changes are available or more feasible for you.
Eco-friendly not only means friendly for the environment, but also friendly for the body. However, before you empty out your cabinets and buy all “natural”, “eco-friendly” brands, make sure you know what you’re purchasing. Unfortunately a lot of these so called “organic” brands are not that much better than your conventional options. One tool that has helped me tremendously when trying to shift through the thousands of options on the market was the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This site has ratings on thousands of products that let you know just how safe and clean the item you’re buying are.
This list will focus on easy life swaps that are not always store-bought.
Plug in fresheners for the home
Cleaner option: Diffuser with essential oils
Air purifiers for the home
Cleaner option: House plants such as the Snake Plant, English Ivy, and Spider Plant
Veggie Wash
Cleaner option: cleaning produce in vinegar or baking soda before rinsing off with cool clean water.
Plastic containers
Cleaner option: Glass or silicone containers.
Teflon or non-stick cookware
Cleaner option: Ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel cookware
Plastic grocery or retail bags
Better option: Make it a habit to carry around reusable bags to use whether for groceries or any other kind of shopping.
Regular incandescent light bulbs
Better option: Replace your regular bulbs with LED lightbulbs since they use up to 70% less energy.
Conventional laundry detergent or laundry pods
Cleaner option: DIY laundry detergent or if you don’t have the time to make it, choose cleaner laundry detergent brands such as Method, Puracy, or Attitude.
Conventional dish and hand soap
Cleaner option: Using Mrs. Meyers or similar organic brand.
Fabric softener
Cleaner option: wool or fabric dryer balls.
Plastic cups, straws, bottles, etc.
Cleaner option: Replace as many plastic items with other material like bamboo, silicone or rubber.
This quick list was meant to get you started on your eco-friendly journey by providing relatively cheap and effective alternatives to the conventional products that are damaging for our planet and our health. Once you start making small changes, you will want to discover more and more ways to live green.
With LOVE,
KayaDejure