There’s never a bad time to make more sustainable choices at home. Whether you’re trying to reduce your household waste, or want to save a little extra money, we’ve got tips that’ll help you do both. 

Every little helps, and there are plenty of small changes that add up to a bigger impact. We’ve got tips for just about every room of the house and your everyday tasks - let’s dive in. 

In the Kitchen 

The hub of the home, between cooking and cleaning, the kitchen can be a space where we generate a lot of rubbish (including plastic) - but there are plenty of ways to limit that. From cooking and storage to cleaning up after you’re done, here’s some inspiration to get you started: 

• Got leftovers? Forget the cling film and opt for something reusable like silicone bowl lids. Not only do they remove the need to keep buying more plastic wrap, they’re also microwave safe and won’t leach microplastics into your food. 

• Sick of those tupperwares with missing lids and pasta sauce stains? When you buy jars of sauce, pickles, or peanut butter, they’re a great option for storing ingredients in. Run them through the dishwasher and they’re good to go, giving you a perfect plastic-free and money saving option. 

• Instead of getting sponges made from plastic that degrade and fall to bits, opt for something like wooden scrubbing brushes instead. They’re longer lasting, do a great job, and pair wonderfully with liquid dish soap too! 

• Prefer to pop your dishes into the dishwasher instead? We don’t blame you, it’s a good way to save water when you do a full load (saving you money in the process). Make sure you also opt for plastic-free detergent, like our Aussie-made and totally naked dishwasher tablets. 

• Between coffee circles on the bench to a bit of sauce splattered on the wall when you’re cooking, the kitchen gets grubby pretty easily - which can mean you get through a lot of paper towels. To save money and reduce waste, opt for something like washable dish cloths instead. They’re soft, absorbent, won’t scratch your more delicate surfaces and some of them can even go in your compost bin when they’re too tatty to use anymore. 

On the Go 

When you live in a hot country like Australia, it’s not unusual to see everyone carrying a water bottle. Stainless steel bottles come in all shapes, sizes and colours these days, and they are a great way to reduce the amount of times you need to buy water in a plastic bottle. One thing to keep in mind is - you really only need one! It can be tempting to get a fresh colour or size but they’re made to be used for life, and keeping the same one for years will reduce plastic waste and save you money as well. 

The same goes for a reusable coffee cup, having just one that you use regularly is a great swap. No matter which city or state you’re from, Aussies love their coffee. Some cafes will give you a bit of a discount if you bring your own cup, but the key thing here is that you’re reducing the amount of single use cups that end up in landfill. Unfortunately they’re not recyclable because they’re made from a mix of plastic and cardboard, so a reusable option is a great way to go. 

The Grocery Shop

Wading through the aisles of your local supermarket can be overwhelming when you’re trying to incorporate more plastic-free products and swaps into your routine. While it’s not always easy to find everything you need without some form of plastic involved, there are a few things you can do that are easy, affordable and plastic free! 

• When you’re in the produce aisle, there’s usually a lot of loose fruit and veggies to choose from. Not only can you actually choose everything you want (no mushy or bruised ones in the batch this way!) but you can also do away with the plastic bags. Instead, pop some mesh produce bags in your tote bag and use them for all your fruits and vegetables. They’re machine washable and super lightweight, making them an easy, plastic-free and convenient way to stash your produce until you get home. 

• When you get to the checkout, make sure you have a few tote bags on hand for all your groceries. Stronger than paper, more environmentally friendly than plastic, and they look great too. Keep them in the car and you’ll never have to buy bags at the checkout again! 

• When you want more than just loose fruit and veggies, consider adding a bulk food store to your shopping rotation. You can fill your own containers and get charged by weight (bring those empty upcycled glass jars with you!). With everything from nuts, snacks, flour, pasta, and oats, you can fill your pantry plastic free. 

In the Bathroom 

There are a few common bathroom essentials that can be substituted for something plastic free or reusable, making it the final stop in our sustainable house tour list! 

• If you shave, consider swapping out the expensive disposable razors out for a safety razor. Super sharp, super effective, and totally plastic free. The replacement blades can be recycled and are a lot more affordable than getting a whole new razor every time the old one gets blunt or rusty! 

• Switch to using toilet blocks instead of bleach-filled toilet cleaners. Not only does it reduce the amount of rubbish your bathroom generates, they help to keep your loo clean with every flush. 

• When it’s time to wash up after each loo trip, add a refillable hand soap dispenser to your countertop. Refills are much cheaper than buying a new soap pump every time you run out, and glass pump bottles always look lovely near the sink too! 

The best changes are ones you can commit to long term, and it’s always good to use what you have then replace things as and when you need to. This list should give you a few ideas to get you started, saving you some money, reducing your plastic waste, and doing that extra bit for the planet.