One of my most popular blog posts was “10 Things you could do without in your home”. I talked about how we do without a microwave, plastic wrap, tin foil, tampons, plastic bags, paper towels and more! Billie Razor reached out to me to test out their new razor (which I had already bought a couple months prior- thanks FB ads!). It made me think how disposable razors are something we should do without in our homes. Instead invest in a nicer razor that you only have to replace the blade every month. Plus Bille Razors are actually cute hanging on your shower wall! So let’s dig in and share 10 more things that you could do without in your home, because according to the survey, the average U.S. household has 52 unused items around the house! So we could do a lot more of these types of blog posts!
10 Things you could do without in your home-
1- Disposable Razors
I recently read that “disposable razors are the new plastic straws.” That statement gave me pause because I never really thought of that! But when you think about it, disposable razors are meant to be used a few times and then tossed and really can’t be recycled. Not only that, but in my opinion, disposable razors don’t really do that great of a job and the price quickly adds up!
While I am not ready to go to a straight razor, I found the Billie Razor–my new favorite razor for shaving! This razor shipment program is made specifically for women and the razors do such a good job!!! They have a reusable handle and you only dispose of the cartridge so it is also a more eco-friendly option! Speaking of the cartridge– it has five blades encased in charcoal shave soap–which is good for even sensitive skin. The shave soap is nontoxic and free from any bad additives (something I am really passionate about)!
My favorite part about this shaving system is the magnetic holder for your shower! It’s the little things, but it really keeps the blades nice having it up on the wall and out of a floor puddle. Check out the darling color options here! I love that the you use the same handle and they ship you FOUR cartridge refills at a time when you need them. All shipping is always free, and they’ll ship you four replacement blades whenever you need them for only $9!
2- Mail
How often do you go to the mailbox and then make a stop directly to the recycle bin? If your mailbox is overloaded with catalogs and junk mail each day, take a few minutes to cancel subscriptions and stop unsolicited junk mail. It can be as simple as going online or picking up the phone to be removed from a mailing list.
Let’s take this idea one step further by signing up for electronic statements and bills from your bank, your utility providers and any other bills that offer this service! Who among us waits for the paper bill to reconcile our budgets anyway?
I actually wrote a blog post on the only papers you need to keep! So either file it (if it is on the list) or shred it. Hopefully stop it coming into your home before you have to even shred it!
3- Breakfast Cereal
I have shared on this blog all the food that I typically eat in a day, and cereal isn’t something I eat- however, two adults live in this house and one of them likes his cereal. There are a few reasons that you may consider doing without cereal- number one would be the ingredients. We only need to glance at the side of most of the popular cereal options to see corn meal, corn starch, corn sweetener and a handful of chemical that have been assembled into something resembling a ring of some sort version of a the letter “O.” When I do the shopping, I only like organic if we buy it. But, honestly, I’d rather not buy it at all. Another great reason to ditch cereal is that cereals are expensive way to still be hungry in an hour. Eating an egg or drinking a protein smoothie in the morning is much more satiating and, as such, are a bigger bang for your food budget-buck.
After talking about it with Kevin, we decided to try going without breakfast cereal for a month (and then re-assess)! Think he can do it? We will do eggs, oatmeal (not instant), smoothies, pancakes or waffles. Anyone else want to join us in this challenge???
4- Baby Food
When our babies are ready to transition to “real” food, the majority of Americans reach for a pre-packaged, puree of foods of dubious origin. I am not judging you! I have totally been there, too! It’s what EVERYONE does.. it is NORMAL. But there are so many other, healthier, cost-effective ways to feed our little ones! I have always made my kids food, just because it seemed the best for our family.
This one may seem overwhelming. After all, the transition to pureed foods often comes when parents are too tired and overwhelmed to take on much more. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be hard! No need to recreate the purple carrot, apple and squash pouch that costs $3. To make puréed sweet potatoes, for example, you first buy a sweet potato. Peel, chop, cook and purée the sweet potato. Feed child. Repeat.
It sounds simple enough, but the convenience of having something pre-made and in a squeeze-able pouch is pretty hard to beat! I get it. Did you know that you can store homemade baby food in the freezer? Measure small portions into an ice cube tray, freeze and then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Make sure to mark the date it was made. The smaller portions will prevent waste.
5- Fruit Pouches
Something I admittedly buy. But do not want to anymore. I just want to buy fruit. I like to think that what is left behind after we eat an apple as a snack is the core. A core that will biodegrade within a few weeks. Alternatively, when we eat a squeeze applesauce, there is the pouch and the cap that will outlive us all.
I also love to support local fruit stands while in season! It is great for your community, for your gut health and the earth. And talk about convenience. Pick up apple and eat, done. My kids do like applesauce, but I plan on doing what I have done in the past- buying a large jar of apple sauce and putting it in containers. You can see I have snack packs in our fridge- finishing those up and changing our ways!
6- Ear Swabs
Sometimes you hear a phrase that just sticks and you’ll always remember it. Such it is with this: NEVER PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR EAR SMALLER THAN YOUR ELBOW. I actually use ear swabs mostly to remove mascara that gets all over my eyes when I get going to fast! So I have been using my eye shadow brush to remove the excess mascara rather than a q-tip!
But how do I clean my family’s earwax?? Starting now, keep the outside of your ears clean with a wet washcloth. I know many of you like to use these swabs for applying cosmetics. Invest in some washable small cotton pads instead. All in all, you will save money, the planet, and your eardrums.
7- Liquid Body Wash
This one may be another paradigm shift. We are conditioned to think that a sudsy loofah full of coconut or melon-smelling fragrance will get our bodies cleaner. It acutally won’t. Switch to bar soap. In addition to the plastic packaging, so many body washes that we purchase and use are also full of chemicals that you don’t want in your body!
Top 5 ingredients I suggest you avoid:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Fragrance
- Propylene Glycol- sometimes just called “oils” but not what you want. Instead it would say- pure essential oils
- Parabens
- Alcohols
If you are one that doesn’t like the idea of sharing the bar soap with the person you share a shower with, consider getting each their own. Pair it with a cute soap dish and you won’t miss that jasmine, honey, melon mixture you have sitting in the shower. I have also found that bar soap actually makes me feel more clean and gives me more control over what is being cleaned. Ahem. Sometimes the reinvention of something just isn’t as good as the original. The OG bar soap for the win.
8- DVD’s and CD’s
This one’s a no-brainer. You don’t need these anymore. Don’t buy them. If you have them then I highly recommend letting them go. All the music and movies you want are on the internet now or can be stored on a hard drive. So upload them and make some space on your shelves. I donated mine to my local library. I know some hospitals will take them too, like a VA hospital.
9- Television
I just find this one- not owning a TV very intriguing, how about you? While I am not onboard to get rid of completely I agree with less tv!!!
I reached out to my friend, Jenna, from White Shanty to tell me all about her experience in ditching the television from her house! Not only does she have amazing style, but she is a home-schooling mama to five kids and she and her husband run their own business.
Here is what she has to say about not owning a TV-
There is so much I could say about not having electronics for our kids; but in a nutshell, it just makes for a happier, more peaceful home without it.On the rare occasions we have let them watch tv, they quickly become less engaged with us as their parents, and each other. They’re more argumentative and more prone to disconnect from us. They become less creative and depend on us to fill each minute of their day with some kind of entertainment.In essence- we have found that less is more. Less media, less toys, and less entertainment in general makes for more creative and happier kids. They spend more time outside exploring, creating, and playing imaginative play- which is so important for their development. The exceptions to electronics for us is music- always add music- and audio books.
10- Faux Plants-
Did you guess this would be in my list?? Ditch the plastic plants. Plus why not add something that improves your air quality! I read an article that 100% supports my plant addiction!! NASA researchers have done studies and research on the best and most efficient ways to clean the air in space stations, and they recommend 18 plants for an 1800 square foot home or apartment. Plants can absorb toxins through their leaves and serve as a natural way to filter the air in your home! (article source).
In the words of the tiny canal cottage- “The world needs far more plants and far less plastic. I know there are some situations that make having real plants a challenge, but if you’re not in one of those situations, perhaps consider skipping the artificial greenery and nurturing some air cleaning plants instead.”
You could print this out and frame it our attach it to a plant that you gift to someone! Print the PDF Version of the 18 for 1800 Rule HERE
If you missed it see the first post I wrote about the top 10 things you can do without- paper towels to tampons! Read it HERE
Cheri says
My daughter was telling me about the Billie razor, and then you mentioned it in your stories. Sooooo I signed up! Your comment about disposable razors being the new plastic straws did it for me. I only use glass straws now. I like the ones that are bent a little. The metal scare me. But the glass ones are awesome!!
Thanks so much!!
Cheri
[email protected] says
Oh that is so great!!! Thank you for sharing that!
Sarah says
Yes yes yes to all of this—- except tv because that truly is my guilty pleasure when my kids are asleep!
[email protected] says
same- I can’t ditch the tv- I can make my kids ditch it tho! ha! Or weekend movies!
Cindy says
All good ideas…. but I think you should let Kevin enjoy his cereal. He’s such a good guy, he deserves it!
Christina says
Love all these! I feel the same about the tv as you. Lol. I am slowly working toward changing our house for the better- thanks to you. I almost have done all of the things you suggested in part one! Now to start on part two. I just ordered the Billie razor and now off to the bar soap. What bar soap do you recommend? Shampoo and conditioner?
Thanks!
[email protected] says
yay!!! Way to go!!! I actually use Young Living Soap- all plant based- toxic free!
Amy Jarrell says
Instead of puree for your kiddos. I highly encourage those to look in to Baby Led Weaning! They eat the same food you do and without any special preparation. I did with mine and they are such great eaters now. I really think it’s because they were getting table food from 6 months on.
Joy Haver says
Do you guys compost? I feel like that would be right up your alley. I never composted before, mainly because I lived in apartments in Houston, but my husband and I moved to CO last year and started composting– it’s so fabulous (we also have chickens who eat a lot of our food scraps). The bummer about food waste going to landfills is that it doesn’t decompose as it normally would if it was in soil so it releases methane gas. The other plus for composting is it creates nutritious soil for gardening! All we did for our composting container was take a large plastic storage tote, put some holes in bottom, and stuck it in our backyard. I feel like this would be so fun for your family! Also, totally support doing backyard chickens too, they’re a blast 🙂
Thanks for being so pro-reducing waste! You’re influencing so many people!