We’re all doing our best to make positive impacts not only on the environment but in our local communities as well. The cool thing is that when we take steps towards a more sustainable household, it can impact our communities and ripple out globally.
You may have tried taking steps in this direction by maintaining your home more sustainably (which is enormous), but there are other, cheaper ways to make an impact as well.
Let’s look at some sustainable house hacks that work, and you can implement them today.
1. Wearing and Washing
Like sneakerheads of the past, these days, we likely all have some denim enthusiasts in our lives, and they will all tell you the same thing – you should never wash your jeans if you haven’t worn them at least ten to twelve times.
The reason for this is that it sustains the life of the denim, and you could potentially own one pair of jeans your entire life. This concept translates to virtually all your other clothes, too – except for undergarments or visibly stained clothing.
Try washing your clothes less often and with sustainable cleaning products to extend the life of each piece of your wardrobe.
Additionally, investing in a clothesline will extend the life of your clothing because the hot heat of drying clothing expedites their deterioration and has a massive impact on your energy consumption.
If you don’t have a yard where you could implement a clothesline, a drying rack will work just as well, and you just can’t hang as many items at a time on them.
But, if you’re implementing the no-wash unless necessary habit, that shouldn’t present a problem.
2. Try Minimalism
Minimalism is on a ton of people’s minds these days – and for a good reason! On top of the fact that the less you buy and consume, the less your footprint will be on the environment, it leads to other positives in your life too.
Minimalism can help you become debt-free and experience financial freedom, and it can help with your anxiety, peace of mind, and so much more.
But, for the sake of the conversation, practicing the art of intentional spending and owning less adds up to massive sustainability for your home and the planet.
3. Reuse on Top of Recycling
At this point, we’ve all got the hang of recycling pretty much down – the problem is, a lot of our recyclables end up in the landfill or shipped overseas. So, make sure you’re putting your best foot forward when it comes to reusing things where you can.
Finish a jar of jelly? Upcycle that jar into something useful. Finish a roll of paper towels? Give them to your children for fun craft projects. Don’t have kids? Donate them to a preschool or elementary school.
4. Donate to Make a Difference
Speaking of donations, we often discard items we have purchased that were not what we were looking for. Instead of tossing them out, make sure you donate them where appropriate.
Or, if you have too much of something (bought bulk toothpaste and didn’t like the flavor), consider donating them to shelters and other non-profits.
Of course, you can’t donate toiletries that have been opened, but if you have unopened cosmetics, toiletries, or even packs of socks, make a difference in your community by donating them to organizations that serve those who truly need them.
5. Green Pest Control
Part of being a homeowner is maintaining your property, and depending on where you live and the climate – pests can be a big problem. But, simple hacks like diatomaceous earth and salt for fleas are an easy and much healthier way to eradicate them than toxic pesticides.
You can also deter all kinds of bugs and pests by planting herbs that they hate near the entrances of your home. For example, rosemary is an excellent mosquito repellent and grows veraciously.
Plant it in your yard to ward off flies, mosquitoes, and more – then enjoy the delicious herb in your cooking.
Of course, many other sustainability hacks work you can implement in your home and yard, but those, as mentioned earlier, are great starting points or add ons to your ever-growing toolkit.
We take little steps each day that compound to make significant differences in our immediate environment and beyond.
Here’s to you making a difference!
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