Trash

*pic* If you get to a point where your trash is mostly dry (meaning you compost and don’t put anything that could promote mildew into trash), using a large glass jar for trash promotes mindfulness of waste footprint. It also makes it easy to collect trash for eco-bricks (more on that later). I have separate trash jars for things that can go into eco-bricks and things that can’t. If I could afford Ridwell, I would do that over eco-bricking. I was a subscriber before and loved it, but it’s tighter on a student budget. Terracycle is another option.

For trash bags, I use ones made of recycled plastic: GreenPolly 13 Gallon bags.

Swiffer pads

I found my Swiffer on Facebook Marketplace. I cut up old textiles in the shape of Swiffer pads and pair with any floor cleaner. Here’s a video on how to make them.

DIY Swiffer Pads // How to Make Swiffer Pads (2 Options - Wet and Dry)

If you aren’t crafty or don’t have time, you can buy reusable mop pads as pictured.

I use Blueland bathroom spray or wood floor cleaner depending on the room. I keep a separate laundry load for cleaning supplies like my reusable paper towels.

Rags

Like many families, our family has always used torn t-shirts or sheets as rags or drop cloths. I took it to the next level and turned my old t-shirts into cotton pads for washing my face, removing nail polish, etcetera. Here are some methods for that:

How to make Reusable Cotton Pads without Sewing! Zero Waste DIY

Crochet Facial Rounds | Textured Crochet Facial Scrubbies | Crochet Textured Facial Rounds

The crochet version you could even make out of t-shirt yarn

Use the nicest textiles for reusable paper towels/napkins/wipes. Sew at edges if desired to prevent threads from falling off. Otherwise you can buy reusable paper towels/napkins/wipes. I find that for large liquid spills, Swedish dishcloths soak up better than anything else.

Paper towels/napkins

If you like having towels on a roll, there are options for reusable paper towels on rolls for either DIY or purchase.

How To Make Reusable "Paper" Towels: Easy DIY Project < no sew method

*Pic of hand towels* 

We just use a basket for the towels because it’s easier than rolling them back up.

For nasty messes, use bamboo paper towels and compost them (unless the mess contains potentially infectious materials, like body fluids/waste from humans or pets). I find that putting paper products in a spot that is easy to access but not visible, like below the sink, dissuades guests or family members from mindlessly using them to dry hands.

How To Make Cloth Napkins with Mitered Corners

Make reusable napkins out of old textiles. Old pillowcases work well for fancier-looking napkins. Here is a link to purchase instead. I use the same brand for my reusable paper towels as my napkin basket on the table.

Reusable wipes

Here is a recipe for reusable cleaning wipes. These do not have the same power as a disinfecting wipe. Keep in mind that these should not be used to disinfect against COVID-19 or other pathogens because they have not been lab tested. Please note that there is limited scientific evidence for the purported uses of essential oils noted in the video.

The only compostable disinfecting wipe I’ve found: Natura Solutions

Some commercially available and lab-tested options include Green Works compostable cleaning wipes or Clorox compostable cleaning wipes. These are also cleaning wipes rather than disinfecting wipes. I could not find ethical sites to purchase those two cleaning wipes from unless it was in bulk. 

Toilet

I used to make my own toilet bowl pods to save money, but now I buy Blueland because time is also money.

Toilet brush

Random

Goo gone: soak in warm soapy water, scrape, 1tbsp coconut oil, 1tbsp baking soda, mix well and apply, leave to dry, wipe off

DIY Febreeze

I just put 1 cup of water, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, and 10-15 drops of an essential oil in a spray bottle and call it a day.

Hand soaps

I can’t get enough of Blueland’s foaming hand soap tablets. The reusable bottles are gorgeous, the scents are delightful, and it’s hard to beat $2 refills that don’t run out as fast as the cheap liquid soaps.

Soap bars are also great. My favorite brand is Haipazaza. I have used their different bars as both hand and body soap.

Laundry

Laundry soaps

In my experience, eco-friendly laundry soaps tend to hold scent for a much shorter period of time than petrochemical detergents. However, the Oxi Booster from Blueland has me smelling my shirts for serotonin all day long.

I first paired it with Ecos detergent since I still had a large bottle. Before I used GuppyFriend bags, I found that Blueland laundry tablets occasionally left some powder marks on my dark clothing. However, I later learned from a repair person that it is better to start your washer, place your pod, let it fill with water for a bit, wait until the machine starts turning your pod around to get the water sudsy, then put your clothes in. No more powder marks!

Wool dryer balls

Dryer sheets contain skin irritants, are toxic to pets, and are just wasteful. Some people have made their own DIY dryer sheets, but I have just always gone with wool dryer balls. They’re much easier.

Microplastic removal

When it comes to microplastic removal, I think GuppyFriend bags are the most effective renter-friendly option. However, if you have a good relationship with your landlord, I would recommend asking if you can install a microplastic filter in your building’s laundry. If they don’t want to do it themselves or subsidize it, offer to install and pay for it (usually saying that it would be attractive to prospective renters is enough to strike a deal).

Look into it to find what is best for you, but from my own research/trial and error, I have found Guppyfriend and Girlfriend Microfiber Filters to be the most effective products considering both price and performance.

Lint rollers

Removing fibers from my Guppyfriend is made even easier with a reusable lint remover. I use OXO Garment Brush for this and daily use. For removing fabric pilling, I use a heavier duty reusable lint remover.