Happy Earth Day fellow earthlings!
In honor of Earth Day, I put together a few simple changes you can make in your household to live a more sustainable life!
From Southern Living.
1. Save Energy at Home
It's easier than it sounds, I promise. Use a programmable thermostat to help reduce energy at off-hours or when you're not home, switch light bulbs throughout your home to LED bulbs, and use blinds or curtains to help reduce heat gain.
2. The 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Yes, the order is important.
Reduce - Try to minimize the amount of waste we produce by replacing single-use items with reusable ones. Make sure to read #7 for some simple swaps you can make.
Reuse - Use reusable bags for groceries or if you do get plastic bags, save them and later use them for another purpose. Buy secondhand items such as furniture and décor throughout your house - bonus: this also gives your home more character and can be a great conversation starter!
From Marie Claire Maison.
Recycle - For anything you are unable to reduce or reuse, make sure to recycle it (if it's a recyclable product of course)!
3. Ditch the chemicals & use non-toxic cleaning products
Not only are most cleaning products bad for the environment, they're also bad for your health! You'll have peace of mind knowing the products you're using throughout your home are safe for you and your loved ones (including your pets!).
From Toby Mitchell Creative.
Here are some of my favorite non-toxic cleaning products for the home:
4. Organic Mattress + Bedding
Conventional mattresses emit toxic VOC's (volatile organic compounds), we spend about 1/3 of our life in bed so it's important to have a clean space. If you didn't know, conventional mattresses are made from plastic. You know that memory foam mattress everyone loves? Yeah, that's made from polyurethane! That weird smell a new mattress has is all the chemicals off-gassing. I don't mean to scare you but it's always best to be knowledgeable so you can later make the best decision for your health!
Here are some materials to avoid in a mattress:
Foam
Vinyl
Synthetic Latex
Flame Retardants
If you're in the market for a new mattress, it might be a great opportunity to look into some organic, non-toxic mattresses from sustainable companies! Here a few of my favorite:
Don't forget the organic, non-toxic bedding!
From Coyuchi.
Not only is this good for your health, but it is also great for the environment as organic farming is less harmful to the Earth than conventional farming.
5. Invest in Timeless Pieces
When furnishing a home, keep in mind that trends come and go. You don't want to invest in anything too trendy as it will go out of style quick. Instead, find pieces that will stand the test of time. These pieces will never go out of style.
6. Design with Greenery
Indoor plants not only create a more inviting space but they also serve as a natural air filter purifying your homes interior!
From Toby Mitchell Creative.
7. A Few Simple Swaps
Plastic Wrap, Foil, and Ziplocs for Tupperware and Beeswax Wrap
Paper Towels and Napkins for Washcloths and Cloth Napkins
Plastic Water Bottles for Metal or Glass Reusable Water Bottle
Shopping bags for reusable bags
Dryer sheets for Wool Dryer Balls
What are some ways you are living a more sustainable life? Share with us in the comments!
From Country Living.
Here's your friendly Earth Day reminder to get outside and spend some time in nature today!
xo - Michelle