I’m looking to start a more non-toxic/low-tox lifestyle, but I want to keep it simple and inexpensive.
I’ve already started doing things like picking pesticide-free produce and switching to food-grade plastics, but I’m wondering what the next "low-hanging fruit" is.
What are some easy, cheap changes you made when you first started out? Any specific "swaps" that are actually worth it and don't cost a fortune?
What are some inexpensive ways to start clean living?
byu/ColdThroat8711 inFrugal
Posted by ColdThroat8711
16 Comments
Cook with cast iron or stainless steel; ditch all the non-stick, teflon coated cookware
Not using plastic when cooking. And I mean any plastic. Use metal, wood, ceramic/clay, and glass. That alone has helped me a lot.
Swap paper towels for cloth.
Don’t use scented products – no scented laundry sheets, no “air fresheners,” no scented candles.
Drink more water.
Use wool dryer balls instead of fabric softener liquid or sheets.
grow food. I started doing this when I was in an apartment, and it can be done.
Cook food from scratch.
You can make cleaning supplies out of white vinegar and essential oils.
Reduce your personal care products and your household products. A human body needs very little to stay clean. A normal house requires minimal product to stay tidy.
start buying in bulk and storing them in glass jars, preferably recycled from products you purchased. you have to make bright colored cardboards and plastics the odd material out, surround yourself with clean glass.
if you start storing things in large jars you’re going to start buying things in bulk amounts to fit those large jars. you’ll focus less on boxes of cereal cardboard and plastic and probably gravitate less to the aisles that are full of cardboard and plastic, more towards the things that you see in your house in those clear jars.
people use logos to identify what they’re eating, so when you go to the store you’re looking for those logos, instead of clean cheap food. produce section has clear bags for a reason, if they have to put a picture of what you’re buying on it so you know what it is, it’s probably not good for you or the environment. make your life transparent like the glass, look at all your food.
I use a little steam jet for most cleaning
Reduce the amount of clothes you buy, and repair those.
Make some bags for the produce at the grocery store, instead of the 5 random little plastic bags too thin to reuse. You can make the fancy net ones. You could use existing fabric ones, but that gets you stopped by loss prevention.
Washable cotton dishrags instead of sponges.
most chemical cleaning products can be replaced with a few drops of dish soap and/or vinegar
I’ve replaced any cleaning supplies like windex or cleaning sprays with spray bottles of rubbing alcohol. It works great and disinfects!
don’t use plastics at all.
to store use glass jars (keep or get some from people , many are thrown everyday in the trash) . to store dry food or even cooked in the fridge.
reduce your cleaning products to a minimum , also use white vinegar and baking soda (to deodorize, sanitize, get rid of limescale like in the washing machine/kettle …etc, clean …),
airfresheners are actually full of crap (use white vinegar and water in a spray bottle you can make it have a scent by using citrus skin inside (to infuse) or essential oils
dry naturally, don’t use fabric softener (vinegar does that too btw)
avoid scented products
make a small herb garden even if it is just on your windowsill
use your old unwearable clothes as rags/for cleaning
towels instead of paper towels
grow some food if you can
have some plants at home
aerate your house regularly , even in winter (to get some fresh air in, many things in the house actually generate toxic stuff in the air)
cook from scratch preferably
buy wild fish vs farmed
go for walks (good for your health, your heart, your head and more)
compost