Five Easy Eco Swaps
We can all do our part to be more environmentally conscious and aware of our impact on the world. It’s time to break some old habits and replace them with some easy eco swaps. I know for many making a lifestyle change to be more ‘eco friendly’ might seem daunting, too expensive or even just too difficult and you might not know where to start. So here are some easy tips to help start your journey and help protect mother earth.
Swap liquid soap, body wash and shampoo for bar soaps, body wash and shampoos
Use bar soaps and shampoos in the shower, this is a great and truly easy eco swap. It’s a common misconception that bar soaps and shampoos are less hygienic than the liquid version however this is just a myth. The dispensers for liquid soap often trap bacteria inside the pump making them not as hygienic as you might think. The plastic containers are not easily recyclable and cause a lot of plastic waste. There are some great companies that offer bar alternatives of these products (Some links for these will be attached at the end.
Use dryer balls instead of fabric softener
You can put dryer balls in the dryer to help speed up the drying process however this isn’t their only function. Dryer balls also soften clothes and reduce static therefore these are a great alternative to fabric softener. There are different dryer balls the most common are made out of rubber and wool making them both reusable products and a great sustainable replacement to fabric softener.
Tea strainers over Teabags
For my fellow Brits out there, this is a big one. It’s been said that on average we consume 60.2 billion cups of tea a year, so here is one easy swap we can most definitely take part in. Replace your single use tea bags with loose leaf tea and a strainer. Most teabags contain plastic making them not recyclable or biodegradable. I can understand that this might require I bit more effort and time than you might be used to for a quick brew, but it is definitely worth it. However, if loose leaf tea isn’t for you, there are brands making compostable teabags that are also worth the swap (links for compostable teabags at the end).
Swap silicone mats for parchment paper
Silicone mats are a reusable and safe alternative to parchment paper, not only can they be used thousands of times they also help cutdown on oils as they don’t need to be greased. Not only that, they are actually a safer solution as parchment paper is often bleached and can also contain toxic chemicals.
Use old clothes and Fabrics as cleaning cloths
This is such an easy and great way to recycle unwanted clothes to give them new purpose. There’s no point in spending money on cleaning cloths when old fabrics do just as good of a job. There are so many different uses for old fabrics whether its cleaning surfaces or polishing your shoes. You can always think of ways that they can be repurposed.
I hope that these tips will help you see that it’s not too challenging to be environmentally responsible, let’s make small steps that can cause to a big difference.
List of compostable tea bags:
Abel & Cole, Clipper, PG Tips, Pukka Herbs, Teapigs, Twinings Pyramid range, Waitrose Duchy range