Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
How about some sustainable household items to replace their disposable counterparts?
Trading disposable for sustainable
Many items we use daily at home have an undesirable impact on the environment in the long run. They are part of our old habits. The idea here isn’t to feel guilty or to demonize the objects in our household, but rather to ask questions and explore accessible and sustainable alternatives.
A few years ago, I scanned my entire apartment and realized that I had cut some corners without noticing, despite my efforts to make eco-friendly choices. I still have one or two old yellow and green sponges from the Dollarama from my former life, haha. Since I integrated the loofah sponge into my life, I haven’t bought any others.
We must remember that to reduce our ecological footprint, every little bit counts.
I wanted to help you discover 6 everyday items that are very easy to integrate and will make you want to relegate your old habits to the past!
1. Washable tissues
I’m starting off strong, haha! When I was little, I found it really funny to see Uncle Richard pull his white-dotted blue fabric handkerchief out of his pocket to blow his nose. Today, I think he was pretty smart.
The washable handkerchief is a real must for wiping a runny nose, regardless of the season. No more post-wash disasters of a Kleenex forgotten in your jeans pocket! Fabric handkerchiefs are soft: it’s a real pleasure to rub them on your nose. In terms of durability, unless it joins the parallel universe where our lost socks hide, this item will serve you for years!
Cut up an old cotton t-shirt or tank top to make squares of fabric. They make the best tissues! This type of knit doesn’t fray. Very handy when you have neither a sewing machine nor sewing skills, haha.
The washable handkerchief isn’t your thing? Don’t panic, you can still deal with your fluids in an eco-friendly way by using 100% post-consumer tissues or toilet paper. No way we’re cutting down trees from our beautiful forests to wipe our noses, no thanks!
2. Fabric makeup remover pads
Was there really a time when I took off my makeup and cleaned my face with anything other than washable makeup remover pads? Haha! The days of little bits of foam always getting stuck in my eyelashes are over.
In the same vein as handkerchiefs, washable makeup remover pads far eclipse their disposable counterparts in terms of softness, durability, and quality. Do I need to remind you of the HORRIBLE environmental impact of conventional cotton on the environment? Brrrr.
The ones we offer in our online store have a little slit that allows you to insert your fingers. That makes them easy to use!
Do makeup-stained pads bother you? Regular maintenance by soaking them in sodium percarbonate will keep them bright white!
3. Washable toilet paper
I really love the softness of the fabric of washable toilet paper. It’s like wiping with organic silk disposable paper, 10-ply, woven by magic worms under a full moon: the fabric is usually thin and long enough to be folded over itself and doesn’t irritate the perineal area at all like “cheap” disposable paper might.
Give your baby washcloths a second life. If you don’t have any, search Facebook groups or Marketplace pages. There are plenty of them!
Eww, washable toilet paper?
If the thought of using washable toilet paper feels like a sudden change in water temperature in the shower, know that there are tricks that can make using it more appealing.
- Use it only for peeing and then dispose of the washable toilet paper in a pretty basket reserved for this purpose while waiting for laundry day.
- Use it in combination with a bidet.
If you know us, you know we are addicted to our bidet. The bidet not only makes the use of washable toilet paper possible for number twos, but it also allows you to have a clean bum 100% of the time. An undervalued advantage, haha. Yes, it makes us use water. But the little that is used by the bidet and washing our little square of fabric is nothing compared to the amount of water needed to make disposable toilet paper. A drop in the ocean.
Personally, before I had a bidet, I used my washable toilet paper only for peeing. It still saved me a lot of toilet paper rolls every week!
Not ready to take the leap? Opt for toilet paper made from 100% recycled fibers.
4. Sustainable paper towels
I have never really used conventional paper towels. Like my mother, I have always preferred to opt for a fabric rag that, in my opinion, does a better job than a piece of paper. I’ve had the same rags since I left the family nest, haha.
If you are a fan of this item, know that there is an alternative with a lower environmental impact: compostable Swedish dishcloths. They are washable up to 300 times and are compostable at the end of their life. Yes, really, after just 28 days in a composting system, the eco-friendly Swedish cloth will be decomposed.
The amount of liquid that a single compostable Swedish cloth can absorb is mind-blowing. It makes cleaning really pleasant and it’s multifunctional, just how we like it. It’s really a kind of hybrid between a rag and a paper towel. Good for the kitchen, windows, bathroom, garage, patio, you name it!
5. Sustainable dish sponges/brushes
Who still has yellow and green synthetic sponges at home? This famous cleaning icon has existed since the 60s and is made of resin foam, a derivative of… petroleum.
My go-to alternative? The loofah sponge. The loofah is a fibrous cucurbit that, once dried and cut, perfectly replaces both the loofah glove for the skin and the sponge for dishes. It is ultra-durable and is dishwasher safe. A whole loofah can last more than a year…!
For slightly more stuck-on dishes, we love our rechargeable bamboo dish brush and our dishwashing knob (both our own brand) and the recyclable walnut scouring sponges.
6. Eco-friendly toothbrushes
An item that dentists recommend changing every 4 to 6 months or so, the toothbrush ends up in the trash very quickly! The wooden or bamboo toothbrush is a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic brushes. Many brands exist on the market and, as they all have their own characteristics, there is something for everyone.
Use your old toothbrushes for cleaning! There’s nothing like a toothbrush for cleaning small nooks and crannies. You can also give your handle a third life by using it to identify your plants and young vegetable seedlings in the garden.
Obviously, we can’t talk about toothbrushes without talking about dental floss. Rechargeable and compostable dental floss is another eco-friendly alternative that can send its disposable counterpart packing, immediately!
It goes without saying that opting for washable and sustainable alternatives has a positive impact on the health of the environment, humans, and animals. If being careful about our ecological footprint is the best reason to take the leap, no longer finding old, crusty tissues in the bottom of your pockets is a clearly underrated benefit of being eco-responsible.
See ya!
Audrey xx
