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This curious gadget will also change how you go to the bathroom — and save you money along the way. It works by perfectly wetting a piece of toilet paper so you can clean your tush effectively without a wet wipe. We found that it cuts down on toilet paper usage, which is a positive for the planet and your pocketbook.
If you're more of a tumbler person, check out Stanley's ultra-viral Quencher. It's insulated, easy to drink out of and, most importantly, cute. Reusable bags like these from Stasher can be a great cost-effective alternative to replace oodles of plastic snack bags.
We love them for toting around snacks, packing lunches or storing leftovers and preventing food from unnecessarily ending up in the trash. If you opt to pack a Stasher sandwich bag in your lunch box instead of a plastic Ziploc one, in just 200 meals, the Stasher bag will become the more cost-effective choice for daily use. Amina Lake Abdelrahman , our home and gifts editor, swears by this silicone scrubber as an alternative to a loofah.
She said it's a more durable option since it's designed to last at least a year. It'll replace your limited-use loofahs and still leave you with soft, smooth skin. The upfront cost of these food wraps may be higher than a roll of plastic wrap, but the Bee's Wraps will last you about a year, saving you on both repurchasing plastic wrap and plastic waste.
After using one, you can gently wash it off and reuse it for your next round of food storage. When we asked Kellogg for her favorite sustainable swaps, she recommended a pair of period underwear . These super-absorbent, reusable undergarments let you skip single-use tampons and pads.
Our fashion and beauty editor, Sophie Shaw , is a fan of Proof's line, though there are plenty of brands to choose from. Another editor favorite for stashing leftovers, these stretchy lids can seal pots, bowls and other containers to keep your food fresh without using plastic wrap. Jolie Kerr , CNN Underscored's cleaning expert, swears by these dryer balls over fabric softener.
The dryer balls get tossed into the dryer with your clothes and help reduce static cling and eliminate wrinkles. Kerr also recommends tossing them in with bulkier items since they help redistribute fluff and leave items feeling soft and cozy. "A bidet attachment will reduce how much toilet paper you use, and it's so much cleaner," Kellogg said.
In our testing, the Tushy Classic 3.0 Bidet was easy to install and offered a comfortable, adjustable stream. And most importantly, it didn't cost a fortune, unlike some bidet seats.
When we tested 12 men's razors , this safety razor from Bevel came out on top for delivering a remarkably close shave. Replacement blades are affordable and sustainable, since they're recyclable and made entirely of metal. If you love taking your coffee to go, grab a mug that works just as well on the road as it does at home.
This Hydro Flask mug and lid set is ideal for your work commute, weekend adventure getaway or a cozy morning at home. Plus, if you choose a dedicated coffee mug , don’t worry about scrubbing it after each use. Just give it a quick rinse with water and let it dry for use the next morning.
No need to give up your daily coffee routine. Instead of single-use K-Cups or paper filters, opt for a French press coffee maker or, for pour-over lovers , this stainless steel reusable filter. By swapping your paper filters with this stainless steel one, you’ll have to use it about 300 times for it to be more cost-effective.
That means after one year, you’ll start saving money, not to mention skipping out on all those paper filters that would have ended up in the trash. Another coffee pod alternative: a top-notch French press. Kellogg made the switch and said it's more affordable and "makes a much better cup of coffee.
" Espro's P3 French press is our pick, as it provided the brightest and best-tasting coffee in our tests. Made from stainless steel with a rust- and puncture-resistant design, the Rambler is the best water bottle you can buy, sporting a sturdy and stylish design. If you find yourself reaching for at least one plastic water bottle daily, you’ll only need to use this Yeti bottle once a day for about nine months before the savings start kicking in.
When it comes to making larger home purchases, take a look at buying from sustainable furniture brands or investing in energy-efficient appliances. This Zero Waste Coffee Table from Avocado is made from upcycled beechwood, making it bright, durable and impact-resistant. Or, if you need a quick fix in a temporary space, look into renting furniture instead of opting for a cheap, quick fix you’ll discard during your next move.
Take a look at your consumption habits and see where it makes the most sense to make a change. “If you're constantly buying reusable grocery bags and treating them almost like single-use grocery bags, that's actually not an environmental benefit,” Miller said. Odds are, you might already have some tote-type bags at home.
But if your old bags are broken or busted, these organic cotton canvas bags are a great choice. These machine-washable produce bags are super helpful for keeping your shopping haul organized and for cutting back on those plastic grocery bags you’ll only use once. They’re also great to tuck in your bag for weekend farmers market trips or to help keep toys, cosmetics or other small items from shuffling about.
Reduce the plastic bottles in your cleaning cabinet by switching to this refillable cleaning kit from Blueland. Featuring multipurpose, bathroom and glass cleaners, all you need to do is order some refill tabs to keep your home in order. If you’re a frequent cleaner and not someone who just keeps sprays stashed away for emergencies, you’ll start to see the financial savings on these Blueland cleaners and bottles closer to the two-year mark.
“If you are able to reduce food waste in any form, you're going to both save money and have [an] environmental benefit,” Miller said. “Composting is great, but figuring out ways to reduce food waste is even better.” These glass Pyrex containers allow you to actually see your leftovers and are also great for meal prep or on-the-go lunches.
If you’re an avid home baker, consider switching out your traditional paper liners for these silicone ones. After you bake about 70 dozen-count batches of your favorite cupcake, muffin or mini quiche recipe, you’ll be saving money by using these silicone cups instead of single-use liners. They also double as snack holders for any packed lunches and are a breeze to clean.
Replace parchment paper and aluminum foil with these silicone slip mats, which are a reader favorite . Instead of using a square foot (or likely more) of aluminum foil, in about 211 meals, these slip mats will save you money on your pantry run restock and help keep single-use foil out of your trash. When shopping for clothes, avoiding fast fashion and shopping from sustainable brands is a great starting point.
Thrifting clothes, buying secondhand and even renting clothes for special occasions are all good routes for more sustainable buying. If you’re in need of something to help you brave the cold, this lightweight, water-resistant jacket is one of our favorites . You can also shop the Worn Wear collection for gently used Patagonia items at discounted prices.
Made of Certified Fairtrade Organic cotton canvas, this duffel bag from Terra Thread is great for use as a gym bag or for holding all your weekend essentials if your current bag is falling apart. Ditch your paper towels for reusable ones to tackle daily messes, drying and cleaning. These "un-paper" towels even come on a roll like traditional paper ones, making them even easier to grab for on your counter.
Or if Swedish dishcloths have become your thing, you can grab them in a roll style as wel l . Instead of spending hundreds of dollars a year replacing your paper towels, grab a roll of these for about $25 (less than four packs of six paper towel rolls on average) and launder them with your regular laundry load. Sponges shed microplastics every time you wash with them, making them terrible for the environment and your health .
Luckily, this eco-friendly brush is an easy swap. When your brush head has reached the end of its life, you can simply plop it into your compost and buy a replacement ..
