Everywhere you look, you see campaigns encouraging you to stop wasting so much, to turn the lights off, to reduce your portions, and to eliminate food waste. It is easier said than done for the average household, especially if your kids are picky eaters or too young to understand the importance of sustainability. Becoming more sustainable (especially overnight) can be challenging. But, you can take small but effective steps towards a more eco-friendly household.
Cleaning Supplies
You have probably spent hundreds on fancy grease-busting cleaning products over the years. Although they might work, they aren’t the only solution. For one, chemicals can affect your health and damage your surfaces. Plus, the continuous waste from empty bottles isn’t good for the environment.
Instead of buying cleaning products from the store, you can make an all-purpose cleaner using white vinegar and lemon juice. It works just as well, lacks harmful chemicals, and still smells nice.
Food Storage and Waste
If you’re looking for reliable zero-waste products, look no further than the various options for food storage. You don’t need to buy large boxes of pasta weekly or hundreds of plastic bottles of seasonings and spices. Instead, visit stores that let you fill containers and pay for the weight. For food waste, composting your scraps and uneaten leftovers gives them a purpose beyond going down the garbage disposal.
Old Clothes
Kids rapidly grow for around thirteen years, so consider what you’ll do with the items they grow out of. There are initiatives to donate or recycle old clothes, but you can also give them to friends or family whose kids are a little younger. As for your clothes, you can get creative with old dresses or jeans by turning them into curtains, tablecloths, or pillowcases.
Energy
High energy bills seem inescapable unless you light your home with candles and cook over an open fire in the backyard. Of course, this isn’t possible for most families, so looking for cheaper solutions is essential. There are options for community solar low income households that provide affordable and renewable energy options for you and your neighbors, which is worth exploring if you want to save money on your energy bills and reduce your reliance on the grid.
Educating Each Other on Household Sustainability
You can do everything possible to make your home more sustainable, but it won’t matter if the rest of your family continues wasting food and energy. Check out these fun ways to teach your kids about sustainability that encourage them to think more carefully about how their actions affect the environment. Demonstrating that you care about these issues makes kids more likely to follow suit. Then, you’ll see a dramatic increase in sustainable practices in your home.
Recap: Boost Household Sustainability
Your home will never become more sustainable unless you take dedicated steps to make it happen. Although this may demand a shift in your habits and behavior, it is all for the greater good. You can teach your kids the importance of sustainability along the way so they don’t make the same mistakes you once did.
