10 Lifestyle Switcheroos to Save The Planet & Your Pocketbook
Written by Shay Gabriel
Today we're taking some time to recognize our gratitude for our Earth Mother, as well as how we can continue taking steps to improve our relationship with the earth.
To celebrate this Earth Day, we're sharing some simple earth-friendly (& person-friendly!) lifestyle switcheroos we've made and love — and, spoiler alert, they're money-saving, too!
Check out the list below, complete with links to some of our favorite products we've discovered while taking steps to better care for ourselves and the earth. (We make a small amount when you purchase with these links, at no cost to you. We never link to stuff we don’t love!)
10 Earth-friendly & Money-saving Lifestyle Switcheroos
1. Excess paper towel —> washcloths + cloth napkins + reusable paper towel
If you're like me, you don't want to completely ditch paper towel. I treat it as a backup in our home, for times when we've fallen behind on laundry and have run out of cloth napkins or washcloths, for example. Or if something just seems too yucky to tackle with my Papaya reusable paper towel. (In my own life, there's an important balance between reducing waste and reducing stress!)
Hate those streaks left behind when wiping mirrors and windows? A real good microfiber does the trick!
2. Single-use cups —> reusable cups, thermoses, water bottles, tumblers, etc
Who needs those single-use cups at the workplace water/coffee station when you've got your favorite bottle/thermos at your service? And really, do you have to switch to a new cup at home each time you get a new beverage? Consider a quick rinse & reuse for in-home glasses, or continue using your favorite water bottle whether at home or on the go. I have two water bottles on hand so that one can always be in use while the other is being washed. I do the same with my 2-year-old’s drinking cups! We’ve really minimized the need for cups and dishwasher space with this simple lifestyle change.
Looking for a fun tumbler to take with you wherever you go? Check out our fave botanical print drinking cup and our “Strong as a Mother” tumbler at the Sprout and Blossom Botanicals shop!
3. Single-use straws —> reusable straws
I'm a sucker for cute paper straws at parties (anyone who was around pre-pandemic remember what parties are?). But when it comes to the regular smoothie or occasional boba, a set of silicone straws is all you need!
Stainless steel straws are great for taking on the go or pairing with the Sprout and Blossom water cup.
4. Excess toilet paper —> bidet/diaper sprayer combo
Anyone else discover the joy of a rinsed bum while using peri bottles postpartum? (Peri bottles also got me through that toilet paper shortage early pandemic…) When it came time to spray our baby's cloth diapers before washing, we opted for this sprayer that doubles as a bidet.
5. Disposable baby wipes —> washable flannel wipes
I couldn't stop telling other parents about these flannel wipes once I started using them on my infant! And here I am plugging them again… They just get the job done, and they do it really well. Use with bum spray or water, in a reusable spray bottle, as needed. No cold wipes, no excess rash-inducing wetness, no frustrating poo smears (and those breastfed poos pre-solid foods? SO wet and smearable!).
If you're cloth diapering, simply add used wipes to your used diaper storage. Using disposable diapers? We think you'd still love these, and you could even store them in a smaller, zip-up wet/dry bag until laundry day.
6. Store-bought cleaners in single-use packaging —> homemade household cleaners in reusable containers
Real talk: I made the switch to homemade cleaner after experiencing pregnancy loss and subsequent hormone issues. I wanted to help my body rebalance and make my home healthier, so I made the switch from chemical cleaners to homemade. I couldn't believe how simple and cost-effective it was to make my own multi-purpose household cleaner! The original castile soap and baking soda stash I started with is still going strong more than three years later!
I just reuse a large spray bottle, fill with water, add a half teaspoon of baking soda, give it a swirl, add a half teaspoon of pure castile soap, give it another swirl, and, in the words of my toddler, “ta-daaaa!”
Swiffer users, you can save so much money and waste by hacking your cleaner container for reuse. We have wood flooring throughout our home, so I make a cleaner with mostly water and a dash of Murphy's soap or white vinegar. Our large jug of Murphy’s has been with us since before we moved into our fixer upper home in 2016. I’m convinced it will last forever.
“An overflow drain cover is the best $6.00 I’ve ever spent!”
7. Wasted bath water —> overflow drain cover
If you love a good bath as much as we do, you know what it’s like to perpetually refill what the overflow drain has taken from you. Refill no more! Just throw on this overflow drain cover, and reduce water waste while you soak up that guilt-free, much-deserved me-time.
(Psst — can we plug our other favorite bath goodies? Find our collection of sitz bath blends, bath salt, & scentless wooden wick candles at the Botanicals shop! Everything is consciously-crafted and safe for pregnancy and beyond.)
8. Disposable breast pads —> washable organic breast pads
Breast leaks are not all created equal, and neither are breast pads. When I had a wildly forceful letdown postpartum, I hated the feeling of a damp disposable pad in my bra. Rather than fly through an entire box in no time, I purchased a couple sets of washable bamboo cloth breast pads and switched them out as freely as I desired. No stickers or waste to mess with, no extra fluff, nothing in the way of my nursling's sweet face when I’d unclasp my nursing bra.
9. Disposable pantyliners + pads —> washable organic pantyliners + period underwear
These organic pantyliners are so easy to use! They come with little wings that snap around your underwear. They work great, even on days with heavy cervical mucus. As backup for my menstrual cup on heavy overnights, I use period underwear. I’ve tried a couple of brands and found that I prefer the fit and feel of Knix.
10. Tampons —> menstrual cup
Perhaps the most monumental switch for me…menstrual cups! Where had they been all my life!? I made the switch postpartum (my period came back about 9 weeks postpartum, even with exclusively breastfeeding) and there is NO turning back, my friends. It took me a few tries to find the right match (brand, firmness, fold, size), but it was soooo worth the effort in the end.
Pro tip: You will read that if you've given birth vaginally, you'll need a larger size. This isn't necessarily true! (I found myself very frustrated with leaky cups when I first began, and the problem was that I had sized up more than necessary.) The cervix moves, too, so you might need a couple sizes for various points in your cycle.
We’ve got one more bonus recommendation to help save pennies and the planet: Investing in gender-neutral clothing that can be passed from child to child has impacted the way we shop for our babies and toddlers here at Sprout & Blossom. In a world where kids clothing is so divided, Sprout & Blossom’s founder, Annica, has created a single shop for modern, beautiful, gender-neutral clothing. Check out Sprout Baby Co!
Have you made any of these lifestyle switcheroos? Find us on social and tell us how it's going!
Shay Gabriel is the Content Director for Sprout and Blossom whose love of parenthood and psychology has merged into a super-obsession of all things birthy and baby. She believes an informed experience lends to an empowered experience, no matter where you are along the journey.