When it came to my first apartment, I knew there were some major lifestyle changes I wanted to make. In college I lived on-campus so my first NYC apartment was also my first ever apartment, making it a completely fresh start. With this in mind, I was very aware of what I was bringing into my space and took my time making conscious choices about the new products I was purchasing.
The two biggest switches I made were using non-toxic cleaning and cooking products and reducing single-use plastics. With the pandemic, I think we’ve all been cleaning our phones and spaces more than ever before. The constant use of Lysol wipes made me reconsider what I was cleaning my personal belongings with and I started looking into cleaner options. I’m also in an especially small space now and didn’t want to be breathing in fumes from traditional cleaners.
Switching to Non-Toxic
Enter: Branch Basics
The first purchase I made was the Basic Starter Kit from Branch Basics. The small business prides itself on being family-safe and fragrance-free non-toxic cleaning products that really work. Customer stories of how products eliminated irritation for kids with sensitivities and removed deep stains sold me.
The line is all based on one concentrate which is used for glass/mirror cleaner, hand soap, all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and laundry detergent, in different ratios of water:concentrate. This means you only ever need to order refills of one bottle, rather than 4-6. Using only one main product for a number of different solutions severely cuts down on shipping and is better for the environment since planes and trucks aren’t transporting bottles of (mostly) water. You refill the bottles with tap water at home, add the designated amount of solution, and are good to go.
As far as cleaning products, I think they work great. I’m not 100% sold on the laundry detergent yet but I’ve been experimenting with it as a stain treatment and adding oxygen boost to my loads. I don’t feel like I need to wear a mask to protect my sinuses when I use these products and don’t have to worry about putting fresh produce on the counter after wiping it down. The only cleaning product I haven’t replaced with a clean option yet is a hardwood floor cleaner.
Non-Toxic Dish Cleaning Products
Since moving I’ve been on the hunt for the best clean dishwasher pods. I started out with Ever Spring from Target and didn’t love the scent but found them to work well otherwise. I’m currently using Seventh Generation and still want to try Blueland, which has a similar approach to Branch Basics, and Dropps.
I’ve long been a fan of Mrs. Meyers hand soap and have been using Mrs. Meyers dish soap since moving. My dad claims the soap doesn’t cut grease quite as well as Palmolive but it well enough works for me.
I also swapped out classic sponges for the walnut sponges from Grove Collaborative. I love that they don’t contain any dyes or chemicals and are sustainably sourced.
I’ve been purchasing a number of my cleaning supplies from Grove as I love that they focus on natural and clean products. They sell everything from dish soap to shampoo bars and carbon offset every shipment, meaning they fund projects that reduce pollution such as wind farms to counteract shipping emissions. They also have shipping minimums to avoid single-item shipments.
Non-Toxic Cookware
I was adamant that I did not want Teflon or similar non-stick pans in my kitchen. After reading about the chemicals used to make Teflon non-stick I knew I wanted pans I was sure wouldn’t deposit any chemicals into my food. My mom gave me anodized aluminum pans she doesn’t use anymore and with a little oil they work well, but I ended up purchasing a set of frying pans from GreenPan which are so much easier to use and clean as they are non-stick but made with ceramic and free of PTFE and PFOA chemicals.
Adding in More Reusable Products
I added reusable paper towels and plenty of dish towels to my kitchen to reduce the need for paper towels. I haven’t completely eliminated paper but I consider it a win any time I skip it. I have a ton of storage space to keep extra rolls, but they’re a pain to bring home from the store so that’s an additional motivator to reduce the use of paper towels.
Food Storage
Pyrex food storage containers have been one of my favorite home purchases. I wanted to avoid plastic as much as possible this year and I love that I can put these safely in the microwave and dishwasher without fear of plastic melting. They preserve food really well thanks to the way they lock-in. I put an apple in a small container face down and the next day it was still in perfect condition, not brown at all. I got this 20 piece set from Target and it’s been great.
Beeswax Wraps are another food storage solution I’ve been using. They’re much easier to apply than I expected and work perfectly for things like cheese or half a piece of fruit. I purchased mine from Grove Collaborative in the three size pack.
I started using Stasher bags over a year ago (first mentioned them here) and continue to love them. I think they keep food fresher longer compared to plastic bags like Ziploc bags and they’re dishwasher-safe which makes them easy to clean.
If you’re looking to start making swaps, don’t feel like you need to toss everything you already own. A great way to ease into it is not re-ordering your current products and replacing things as they run out, break, or wear down. I’m always looking for more ways to be environmentally friendly and cut out toxins. What sustainable swaps have you made in your kitchen or home that you love?
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