So you swapped your plastic water bottle for a steel one and you use your own bamboo straw when you order a drink at a restaurant. These are perhaps two of the most common sustainable swaps that everyone has heard of or adopted. But there are so many other ways in which you can live sustainably. Here are some simple ways through which you can drastically reduce your trash volume and live a greener life.
Reusable makeup removers instead of cotton balls
Most of us use cotton pads or balls to remove our makeup. We usually have a box full of these on our dresser and they’re used and tossed without a thought. On average, we use at least two to three cotton pads per day. They are useful to remove eye makeup and foundation but that doesn’t mean their use is unavoidable. You get reusable cotton pads that are light and soft at various stores that sell makeup products these days. These can be hand washed or thrown in a washing machine (after placing them in a mesh bag). You can easily use these reusable options for over a year or even two without having to change them. Alternatively, you can even buy some cotton hankies and use these instead of disposable cotton pads.
Cloth napkins in place of regular paper ones
Paper napkins are found in every household. We use them almost every day during meal times and even more so when we have family and friends over for lunch or dinner. They are used thoughtlessly and frivolously. We often reach for a second when the first one is barely dirty, choosing instead to wipe our fingers or dab on the stain with a new one each time. Opting for cloth napkins can drastically bring down your use of paper napkins. They also look more classy on the dinner table. The reason most people hesitate to use them is because they don’t want to go through the trouble of washing them and some fear food stains are hard to remove. But all it takes is a bucket of water. You can simply soak them in detergent for 20 minutes and give them a good scrub and wash and hang them to dry. Most store bought napkins are polyester or some other fabric that can’t be easily stained anyway.
Carry your own cutlery to avoid plastic spoons and forks
Most people carry their own water bottles and straws but cutlery is often forgotten or not considered as important as a steel water bottle or glass straw. But you would be surprised at how often you use disposable spoons and forks if you just started keeping track of it. And you don’t just use them for takeaways. Many restaurants, especially fast food joints, give disposable cutlery when you are dining in as well. Carrying your own spoon, fork, and knife in a little pouch in your bag can help you cut down on plastic cutlery, reducing your carbon footprint. Eco-saathi Nepal has a nifty little set of bamboo spoon, fork, knife and straw that comes in a nice wrap around bag that you can easily tuck into your purse. It doesn’t take much space at all. Alternatively, you can also carry the regular ones you have at home. Simply pop them in a ziplock bag or a pouch you might have lying around.
The bidet instead of toilet paper
The bidet spray or the bider shower as it is called in many places is such a handy tool once you get the hang of using it. It delivers a steady stream of water to wash up after you use the restroom. If you are used to toilet paper, then this might feel a little strange at first but it’s a lot more hygienic than using just the toilet paper to clean yourself. It will help prevent UTIs and other infections. Every washroom is equipped with a bidet so it’s quite accessible as well. It’s also a gentler way of cleaning as toilet paper use can be abrasive in the long run. Once you start using it, you will not want to go back to just using the toilet paper. And trust us, you will be saving a lot of money as well.
A small chalkboard can replace post-its
Are you one of those people who easily forgets things and needs to write them down? Or do you regularly leave notes for your family members in little colorful post-its around the house? If yes, then you might want to consider buying a small chalkboard or even a digital notepad from your local stationery shop. Set it up where you and your family members can see it easily, like the kitchen counter or a shelf in the living room and you don’t have to use little scraps of paper anymore. This will reduce place clutter as well. While you are at it, buy colorful chalks to make your notes aesthetically pleasing. It’s a small but great way to reduce your daily consumption.
Make your own cleaning products instead of buying them
You don’t have to buy cleaning products from the store as most can be made at home. You just need simple ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda. Not only are home cleaning products gentler, and chemical free, they are also more effective and safer than all the packaged chemical-laced ones that you might be buying regularly. Replace your usual glass or kitchen cleaner with a simple solution made with one cup vinegar, a tablespoon of baking soda, and three cups of water. Keep this solution in a spray container and you can use this for all purposes, from cleaning window panes to getting stains and smells off from the couch.
