20 Green Swaps to Make a more Environmentally Friendly Home

With a little effort, you can easily make a more environmentally friendly home. There are many ways to do this, from using eco-friendly household cleaners to using natural air fresheners. Below is a list of 20, simple, eco-friendly swaps that can help you make your home a greener place to live. Oh, and they won’t break the bank either!

Kitchen and Bathroom Swaps

1. Instead of using paper towels and napkins use washable cloth towels or dishcloths. For anything from washing and drying dishes and hands to wiping up spills on the floor, there is a sustainable option out there! Options include biodegradable cloths, bamboo scourers and washable cloths which can be used and reused for many years to come.
2. If you really must use paper towels (we know, sometimes it’s the best option) buy recycled paper products in paper packaging. Try to only use what you need to reduce wastage.
3. Swap out chemical laden cleaning products and use organic, homemade cleaning products. You can make effective, environmentally friendly cleaning products at home using ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. Keep these ingredients in the cupboard and you’ll be able to find recipes online for all cleaning purposes. Not only can you clean surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom without harsh chemicals that can harm the environment and your health, you’ll find it works out a lot cheaper too!
4. Use a compost bin to compost food scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and other food waste. Instead of throwing them away where they will rot in landfill, reuse the waste to fertilise your garden.
5. Swap plastic wrap for reusable, washable food wraps made from fabrics like muslin and cotton. Cling film and foil are frequently used and sadly they are not very eco-friendly. As an alternative use purpose made fabric coverings which can be washed and reused.
6. Use a reusable straw instead of buying disposable straws. There are so many sustainable alternatives to plastic straws, help the environment and make the switch!
7. Buy organic food. Organic food uses less pesticides and harmful chemicals during the growing process. Switching to organic foods can help to improve the footprint of your household.
8. Use a natural deodorant or baking soda instead of commercial deodorant. Deodorants are full of harmful chemicals. Use one of the many natural options available now. Bonus points for finding one with sustainable and reusable packaging.
9. Swap plastic household items for bamboo. There are many plastic household items which now have bamboo alternatives - toothbrushes, scourers, hairbrushes, cotton buds. Look for plastic items around your home and have a quick Google to see if there is a bamboo swap you can make.
10. Use a natural, hand-made soap over commercial, chemically-laden soap. There are lots of great recipes for homemade soaps online. Have a craft day and enjoy making an environmentally friendly soap.

Day to Day Swaps

1. Use natural air fresheners instead of toxic ones that emit harmful chemicals.
2. Or, instead of using an air freshener at all, use house plants and essential oils to keep the air pure and smelling fresh.
3. Buy organic cotton clothes and sheets.
4. Use a clothesline or drying rack instead of a tumble dryer.
5. Choose soy or coconut wax candles over petroleum candles or paraffin candles.
6. Plant native and/or invasive-free plants in your garden to help the ecosystem.
7. Make the switch to reusable water bottles and water filters instead of bottled water.
8. Use reusable cotton or canvas shopping bags instead of plastic bags for life.
9. Buy used or second-hand items instead of new. Look in charity shops, vintage stores, antique shops and online marketplaces such as E-bay, Facebook Marketplace, Depop, Freecycle and Gumtree.
10. Up-cycle your existing items. Learn to sew and fix your old clothes, tailor ill-fitting clothes to suit you better. Resole and reheel your shoes. Repair broken items instead of replacing and refurbish your home by up-cycling furniture. Use paints, swap fixtures and other techniques to get your old things looking brand new. If something is outside of your skillset there are plenty of specialists who would take on the job. 

When it comes to up-cycling, focus on your biggest household items which create the most waste. For example your sofa! Don’t throw a perfectly good, high quality sofa into the landfill. If you have a Mulityork sofa we can restore it to as good as new. Contact us for more information on our replacement covers.