This post contains affiliate links and gifted products from Tru Earth, but all opinions are my own. Read my full disclosure statement here.
Making changes to become more eco friendly can be super intimidating. Time, cost, and the actual benefits of switching can feel overwhelming and cause stress even for those with the best intentions. Recently, I’ve been trying to find simple, frugal, and easy to implement ways to reduce waste in our household.
Here are 3 easy eco-friendly swaps you can make now!
For me, making eco-friendly swaps needs to make sense in all aspects. First, the swap needs to actually reduce my family’s impact (research before you commit!). It also needs to be simple enough that my family will stick with it. Finally, the swap needs to be cost effective. If these three boxes aren’t checked, it’s safe to say even swaps with the best intentions will die out.
With that, here are some easy eco-friendly swaps that have worked for us!
1. Cotton Pads to Reusable Bamboo Rounds
Between myself and my daughters, we fly through cotton pads. I typically buy 2-3 packs per month and use them for face washing and makeup removal. Although you can buy cotton rounds at the dollar store, I was still spending around $5 per month in cotton pads that went straight into the trash.
Switching to bamboo rounds was not only extremely easy, but really cost effective. For under $25, you can purchase a set that can be used and washed endlessly. They even come with a bag for the washing machine! It took no effort to make the switch – I just throw them into my normal laundry routine. They are super soft, can be used with or without makeup remover, and wash clean every single time.
I’ve used these Amazon bamboo rounds for a while now (Canadian link here), but recently fell in love with this set. Tru Earth’s set of 24 bamboo rounds are large, hold their shape well after washing, and come with different colours to assign to different people or body parts.
2. Bottled Laundry Detergent to Laundry Strips
It is truly astounding how much waste is created by detergents that come in plastic bottles. Laundry detergent is expensive, and when you learn that much of the product is actually just water, it’s a no-brainer to find a better solution.
The first time I tried Tru Earth’s laundry strips, I fell in love. They’re simple to store, dissolve easily, and work just as well, if not better, than any detergent I’ve used in the past. There’s no measuring, literally no waste (even the packaging is compostable), and they work in hot or cold water. I highly suggest trying these out – you can purchase them on Amazon here or on the Tru Earth website here.
3. Dryer Sheets to Wool Dryer Balls
The entire concept of dryer sheets is wild to me – a product that starts and ends in the exact same form. What we buy is exactly what we throw away, which leaves so much room for improvement.
I started using wool dryer balls years ago. Not only are they cost effective, they actually reduce drying time, soften your loads, and can be used hundreds of times. I even add essential oils right into the ball for a lovely scent. I’ve tried some amazon brands (my favourite here, Canadian link here), but I love Tru Earth’s wool dryer ball set as well.
Overall, these three eco-friendly swaps have been easy to integrate into our daily lives, and something our entire family has stuck with for quite some time now. I’ve learned that making eco-friendly swaps doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive!