In this blog post I will cut straight to the point giving you a list of 10 things you can do to go to a dollar tree or your dollar store and get to live a greener life.
My household always enjoyed the use of single use items especially as a big family no one wants to take full responsibility. As a big sister and the oldest mom I had to take on much more responsibility and because of my love for the planet and wanting my family to stay on a low budget I chose to start our zero waste journey with Dollar tree.
There would be times when we go into a dollar tree to buy a pretty pointless thing or thing we thought we would use but up till this day don’t even know where it went. Can you relate…???
Remember my goal here is to help you live a more zero waste life. It does not matter if you don’t have the money to buy all those fancy things some companies claim are zero waste.
The whole idea is to really buy less , reuse and be as creative as you possibly can to send little to no waste to landfill.
Remember we are on a budget and the list below are just essentials to help you reduce waste in and sound your home.
1. Dish towels and cleaning rags
Instead of wasting paper towels when cleaning around the house, pick up a pack or two of towels to get you started.
It looks so much more welcoming with towels instead of the paper that creates waste.
This swap is easy and simple and I feel much better not having paper towels around.
Helpful tip during this transition try making a cute sign to serve as a reminder to use the cloth towels if you need to and remember to always have the cloth towels close by the sign.
This Swap saved me money, too! You can often find microfiber rags at dollar stores they are super absorbent.
2. Baking soda
As you go along your journey you will realise you don't need 10 different cleaning products to get a job done around the house.
Not only as a refrigerator and freezer refresher, baking soda is a great cleaning product especially for bathtubs and showers.
3. Vinegar
A long lasting and excellent cleaning item that should be a staple in every home. Dilute in water in a spray bottle and use on windows, mirrors, and just about everything else. It’s
great for areas where your pets may frequently spend their time.
4.Epsom Salts
Dollar store recently started stocking up on epsom salt this is a big deal as epsom salt are normally expensive. This salt is perfect for detox baths and it usually is on the expensive end so this is a great buy.
5. Wood & Wire Dish Scrubber
This scrubber obviously has tags on it, but if you were to buy the same item online it would have a box and possible plastic packaging to go with it.
6. Refillable water bottle & Coffee cups
Refillable water bottles are great!
No need to buy the expensive one dollar tree that has affordable ones both big and small. It also helps if you get a reusable coffee cup too. It is always good to be prepared. Caring your own bottles and cups around help you to REFUSE!
7. Clothesline and clothespins
For those nice Spring, Summer, and Fall days – go ahead and hang your laundry out to dry and save energy and don’t run your dryer. It’s especially helpful if you have heavy blankets or maybe really light clothes.
This one that is underestimated but I hope you remembered when I said ou will eventually be a DIY nerd ad that is good. Hanging your clothes to dry not only help you to save money but make your clothes last longer.
8. Tote bags
While there are many waste to DIY a tote bag its still okay to purchase it as a starter. Tote bags are extremely helpful in reducing single use plastic and saving our planet.
Most dollar stores have various reusable tote bags available that can be used for grocery shopping, errand running, and even for lunches for school or work. No need to buy
paper lunch bags anymore or collect plastic bags when you shop.
Pro Tip: Always keep a reusable tote bg in your car, handbags or at your door so you can remember it whenever you go outside. As humans we tend to make spontaneous purchases and you want to always have your OWN BAG so you can REFUSE!
9. Glassware and Mason Jars
I almost always pick up a couple on my trips to the dollar store because they are perfect for storing dry goods and seasonings in and glass is best when it comes to food storage. I use these for everything, even watering my plants, drink tea the possibilities are endless with mason jars.
So forget about the plastic containers, masons jars will last longer and trust me you ill find use for them.
10.Organic soaps
I see organic bar soaps at the dollar store all the time and this is a great thing to stock up on when you see them as well. They normally come in recycle boxes and are much safer than other brands with lots of chemicals.
I recently started to make my own soaps for my household. Let me know in the comments or via email if you would like a recipe.
You might even have at least 3 or more of these in your home and that is good. You are off to a good start. I can guarantee you these products will definitely come in handy throughout your zero waste journey. Let me know if this post was helpful to you.
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