Question

What kind of reusable/renewable things have you switched to since starting your savings journey? We have: Started using dryer balls-love them Switched to cloth paper towels, napkins, and tissues Switched to cloth pads Switched to cloth makeup remover pads Switched to reusable snack bags Switched to metal water bottles

Answer 1

Tell me more about cloth paper towels, please.  

Comments

@depone what do you want to know

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Ashley, do you just use rags, buy them, do they hold up, are they good for everything? After our kitchen remodel, I went back to cloth napkins and we save so much. I bought a 12 pk of paper towels and it lasted us 7 weeks.  

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@depone no my rags are the Gerber cloth diapers, the cloth paper towels I made out of flannel fabric. I like them to look pretty. I also bought something from Amazon to replace lysol wipes.  

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Ashley, can I see a picture of your towels? Also, what did you buy to replace Lysol wipes?  

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@depone these are ones I made for a friend

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Ashley, you use these for Lysol wipes?  

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Ashley, omg these are super cute! Are they easy to make? My daughter starting sewing a year ago (I cant sew for my life) I wonder if she could make them. Do you have an Etsy shop?  

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@depone no to etsy shop. And yes it is easy to make. Flannel fabric. Cut desired size. Face design side together. Sew 80% around the edge. Flip right side out and sew around the edge.  

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Ashley, I think I’m going to have her make me some.  

Answer 2

Menstrual cup!  

Comments

@neral I have yet to try one but have thought about it. I love my cloth pads

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Life. Changing.  

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@neral made the switch a few months ago, love it!  

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@neral really? Been thinking about purchasing one for a while. Might get one since everyone seems to love it !  

Answer 3

Reusable paper towels, tissues, make up remover, cleaning cloths, pads, sandwich box for lunch, water bottles, soda stream, dryer balls. I am sure I am forgetting something

Comments

@plunkett how do you like your soda stream?  

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@dactylography1290 love it. We use it every day and have them at my mil house and beach house

Answer 4

I got one of those refillable mist sprayers for cooking oil so I don’t have to buy cooking spray so often and loving it so far!  

Comments

@meningitis this is a fantastic idea!  

Answer 5

Do you add anything to the dryer balls to get a fabric softener scent?  

Comments

@toxicant you can add EO to them if you want

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@toxicant sometimes I’ll add some essential oil but not all of the time.  

Answer 6

And better for the environment too! The single use attitude is killing our budget and planet!  

Answer 7

We started to go more green prior to budgeting ( probably a good thing since I spent so much money). We use reusable bags (all sizes from snack to gallon for the freezer), dryer balls (also cost effective to make if your semi crafty), unpaper towels (so basically kitchen rags lol), cup and cloth pads/liners, mason jars and glass Tupperware, glass water bottles, I had my MIL make the washable swifter pads, we use unsponges for the dishes we do by hand, not that it’s significantly better because it’s still plastic but I got those heavy plastic plates to replace using paper - which I know sounds crazy but something about using one of those vs our heavy glass/ceramic plates is better to me and I don’t hate washing them lol. Beeswax wraps. I’m sure there’s more but off the top of my head that’s what I can think of.  

Comments

@appropriation I’ve tried beeswax and have had mixed reactions. Still on the fence about it a bit.  

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@dactylography1290 I don’t mind it. I like it for chucking over bowls and what vs using like foil or cling wrap. My husband hates it for work lunches so I had to get some of the reusable bags for his sandwiches.  

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@appropriation I might need to give it another shot

Answer 8

Anybody use blue land or similar pods/drops for cleaning? Do they save money?  

Comments

@dactylography1290 I’m curious about this too!  

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@recalesce67845 right? I like the idea the idea of less waste. It also looks like it might be cost effective over time.  

Answer 9

Concentrated cleaners so I can mix and refill the bottles versus buying a new bottle every time

Comments

@lavin what brand do you use?  

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@dactylography1290 I’ve tried several I did Melaluca for awhile but I didn’t buy enough from them regularly to make the subscription worth it. I love the stuff though and it lasts forever so it may be something I have others order for me. I also make some from oils or if I am not worried as much about toxins (like for dog messes) super concentrated Lysol that I mix

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@lavin do you have a multi-surface oil recipe that you like?  

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@dactylography1290 I use on guard about 10 drops with about a cup of water for counters etc

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@lavin thanks

Answer 10

Reusable ziplock bags. All sizes. Cloths napkins. Metal straws. Made from plastic bottles - reusable water bottles. Cloth veggie bags. Cloth grocery bags. Mason jars for bulk nut/seed storage. Glass containers for storing noodles and rice and coffee in bulk. Reusable/washable face cloths. Dryer Wool balls.  

Comments

Do you have a brand of reusable ziplock bags that you can recommend I tried some and disliked them

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@mckinnon the stasher bags are really great as well!  

Answer 11

I just started cloth diapering. no more kcups (reusable pod), real plates instead of paper, rags/wash cloths instead of paper towels.  

Answer 12

Just curious - do reusable paper towels really save that much?  

Comments

@slaty I think so. The biggest culprit in my house was my husband - need to dry hands, paper towels, need a napkin -nope grab paper towels, oh something spilled - use like a million paper towels. So I have have several stacks like my solid white ones are strictly for cleaning needs, we have a senior cat that sometimes pees and dribbles some when she gets out of the box - basically any needs I don’t wanna use it then on our faces. Lol I have pretty pattern ones we use for everything else.  

Answer 13

What are some brands of cloth napkins you love? I’ve tried a few and either they leave lint all over your clothes, come out of the laundry in a wrinkled mess, or don’t absorb crap. Still on the search.  

Comments

@embryonic good idea!  

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Samantha, good idea. I have 100% cotton and some of them aren’t bad (I wish I remembered where I bought them) the others ones come out a wrinkle mess. These ones we use for just our family because I don’t have time nor do I want to iron them.  

Answer 14

Right now cloth diapers, cloth shopping bags. I tried switching to reusable ziplock bags to replace the plastic ones but dont like the ones I got so going to try different ones. With that being said we use our glass containers as much as possible though. Waiting on produce bags and dryer balls to come in the mail.  

Comments

@mckinnon we loved our cloth diapers. We had to do some disposable too because our daycare would not allow cloth unfortunately.  

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@dactylography1290 I really regret not using them with our son. I just love them. We use some disposable for when my parents watch them because my dad just doesn't understand how cloth works  

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@mckinnon we had to do that with the grandparents too lol

Answer 15

Tell me about the makeup remover pads.  

Comments

This is what I use it’s awesome!  

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@embryonic just minky fabric? I could make those.  

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I use smaller circular bamboo ones from amazon. They’re great!  

Answer 16

Sea sponges as tampons. I've been using them for 15 years now and LOVE them

Comments

@nitro I might have to look into this

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@dactylography1290 they're really soooo much nicer and if you get the premium ones they are insanely soft. I get mine from Jade and Pearl.  

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@nitro I will definitely check them out. Do you find them expensive?  

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@dactylography1290 the premium ones I buy are about $35 I think and they last me 6-9 months. I hate the cups because they always get too stuck and leak, so this is the best option for me :)

Answer 17

I make my own cleaners from the Clean Mama recipes. More because of my allergies but it is really inexpensive.  

Comments

@jotunheim I will check it out. Thanks

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@jotunheim love clean mama!  

Answer 18

Where can I find cloth makeup remover pads? Never heard of them!  

Comments

@representationalism I got mine from amazon but Etsy has a bunch too

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@representationalism makeup eraser! It’s AMAZING and really takes it all off with just water

Answer 19

Invest in Tupperware. Reusable everything! (With a lifetime warranty so NEVER buy replacements if they break. -- because lets face it, you'll eventually have to spend money to replace things you buy that's "reusable" #factoflife Amazon is full of cheap products with low quality. ) Dryer balls, Invest in Norwex cloths for cleaning (no buying any more cleaning products saves a TON of money) Embracing my natural hair and face. ;) I only keep a liquid foundation around for the times I need to even out my skin tone. lol

Answer 20

I switched to using a lot of Norwex products. They have warranties, it eliminates the use of harmful chemicals in my house and it saves a ton of $$ in the long run! We use the detergent, a 1/2 tbsp in a regular machine does a large load! Wool dryer balls eliminate the need to buy dryer sheets! Envirocloths and window cloths eliminate basically every chemical cleaner out there The dust mitt prevents me from buying furniture polish and also reduces the amount of dusting that I have to do! Kitchen cloths cut back on paper towel usage Makeup remover cloths eliminate the disposable wet remover cloths that you have to keep buying Body cloths exfoliate and also eliminate the need for shaving cream while shaving! The MOP eliminated my use of a regular broom and also the use of my regular mop and swiffer! I honestly could go on and on lol

Comments

@cleliaclellan61352 the body cloths work that well?  

Answer 21

We use the Norwex mop/sweeper system, Norwex cloths for everything cleaning wise. I don’t buy paper towels anymore, nor do I buy floor cleaners. I still buy counter cleaner from my Scentsy business because I get it free. I use the cup for my cycles most of the time. I need to swap to dryer balls next. I still love my fabric softener.  

Answer 22

Switched to menstrual cup Switched to reusable menstrual pads Make my own cleaner

Answer 23

How are reusable ziplocks? Anyone have a brand they love?  

Comments

@guerin we love these

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@guerin hi! I love the stasher bags. You can get them on amazon too!  

Answer 24

No more paper towels or plastic lunch bags.