Eco-Friendly Kitchen Swaps for Beginners

Making eco-friendly swaps around the house isn’t always easy and trust me when I say that I know what an investment they can be at the beginning. This post, like most of my other posts has taken quite a while to put together because I want to really test items out before I put my stamp of approval on them. I started my household swaps a year ago and have put all of these products (any many more that didn’t make the list) to the test.

Instead of simply posting all of the products I have purchased (which I have done at the bottom of this post), I wanted to list them in order of easiest to hardest swaps to make. So if you’re just starting this journey or you have been in it for a bit and aren’t sure what else you can swap, this post is for you! So let’s get right into it!

Take The First Step and Clean Up Your Soaps

The easiest swap you can make is simply changing the products you purchase. You’re not changing any of your habits when it comes to the actually cleaning, which makes this step SUPER easy! It’s so easy to believe the “organic”, “all natural”, “chemical free” phrases on product packaging when you’re at Target but most of the time those products aren’t what you think. If you’re looking for something in a store near you, I always suggest Seventh Generation. Their products are about as clean as you can get in a store.

But if you’re looking to shop more intentionally and support a Black-owned, female-owned, small business you need to check out PUR Home. I use their products all over my house and love their dish soap too! They also sell them in recyclable refill packs! Because they are a small business, I also recommend that you order ahead of time and keep some extra around the house so you’re never waiting on shipping.

Now Let’s Change Out That Plastic Dish Brush

Another easy swap right here. No need to change your cleaning habits and there are a few different benefits. First, you’re reducing your plastic waste. I mean, I used to have my sturdy Oxo Brand Dish Brush with disposable heads but everything on that brush is plastic and with all the heads I would go through… Let’s just say it wasn’t a pretty sight. Another benefit is that unlike the plastic brush, the wooden brush heads are biodegradable so when you replace them, you don’t have to worry about more plastic waste. And last but definitely not least, it looks so good on your counter! No need to hide this thing under the sink. It’s gorgeous!

You can find wooden brushes like this in a variety of different places nowadays but if you’re looking for another intentional purchase, grab the one I have from this female-owned small business, Ardent Goods!

*If you’re wanting to take the extra step with your dishes, you can make the swap from dish soap to bar soap with Ardent Goods’ bar soap in a copper bowl. I have been using mine for a little over a month and am really happy with how easy it is to use but also way more happy with how it looks on my counter.

Who Needs Paper? – Paper Towel and Napkin Swaps

Alright, this was actual one of my first swaps but it requires a habit change on your end (as well as your spouse) which is why I put it further down the list. I started with napkins because honestly, I never really bought paper napkins that we used during meals. We usually just used paper towels. Classy, right? So this seemed like the easier sell to my husband. I went through WAAAAAY too many cloth napkins before I found the one I would put my stamp of approval on. The ones pictured below are of course from Food52 because their stuff is just amazing and that swap was so easy.

Now once we have made the napkin swap successfully, then I feel like we’re ready to talk about paper towels. This was definitely more of a transition for my husband than it was for me. So here’s how it went down… I bought one pack of microfiber clothes from Amazon (I tried a few small businesses first and no luck on quality). Then, I put this pack in an easily-accessed drawer in the kitchen and moved the paper towels from the counter, to a higher cabinet. I mean out of sight out of mind, right? Larry definitely still asked where the paper towels were and they have not completely left our house, BUT Larry and I don’t reach for the paper towels except for heavy duty messes that I don’t want to see in my washer later. So I’d say that’s a success!

**A FEW TIPS ON MAKING THE MICROFIBER SWAP:

Choose different colored towels for different purposes (i.e. gray for kitchen, blue for bathroom, and black for meat juices and other gross liquids)
Have a place designated for dirty cloths. This way, you AND your family members get in a habit of keeping a clean kitchen or house and you can easily wash them all at once.

Here Comes the Investment – Eco-friendly Food Containers

Well, I told you I would go in order right? This last area is going to get pricey. Unfortunately, that’s just how it is when it comes to food storage. However, take your time! No need to buy 15 new things at the same time. Slowly go through your cabinets and replace a few pieces at a time. Otherwise, you AND your wallet will be massively overwhelmed.

Let’s start with changing out that plastic tupperware! Plastic is no good for LOTS of reasons but when it comes to your food, it is all about toxins. Every time you warm up those leftovers, you are releasing all sorts of harmful toxins into the air and then you’re digesting them! Yeesh! No thanks! You can find glass containers almost everywhere now but these glass containers with dividers are the perfect solution for meal prep and even leftovers!

The water spots mean I use them both constantly 🙂

Now if you have kids and you’re thinking, there is no way I’m getting glass containers for their food… I hear you! How about some silicone bags? These are great not only for replacing your Ziplocs (like, I have COMPLETELY stopped using Ziploc bags) but they’re also perfect for kid-friendly snacks on the go. You can find a lot of different versions of these but the best BY FAR are the ones from Stasher. They are microwave and sous vide safe and you can even put them in the dishwasher to clean. These babies are quite the investment though. So again, take your time and choose a few pieces to swap out.

And Now, Your Last Counter Spray Purchase

For this one, I will be brief because honestly this is a personal preference. It’s easy to trade our dish soap or maybe try a new scent but when it comes to our counter sprays, people get defensive! I get it! Those Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal scents are nice, but they are not your cleanest option and they are costing you more money in the long run. Thieves is my go-to spray for ALL messes. Not just because it truly has all-natural ingredients but also because it works so well! I buy one large refill bottle that will last me over a year and a half (and I clean A LOT) and I have one glass spray bottle that I reuse over and over again. If I want to change it up scent-wise, I use some of my All-In-One Cleaning Concentrate from PUR Home in another reusable glass spray bottle.