3 Easy Sustainable Kitchen Swaps

The swaps that will go beyond your kitchen!

Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfectly eco-conscious? 

You’re not alone, I feel this way all the time so I want to make this easy for you. Here are my top 3 kitchen swaps to replace paper towels, plastic sponges, and toxic dish soap to get you started on the right foot.

1. Swap Paper Towels for The Swedish Dish Cloth or Rag   

Why not paper towels?

Imagine throwing your cash right into the garbage. This is a paper towel. They are expensive, bleached, one time use & kill trees. 

OK OK. BUT THEY WORK LIANNA!

Insert The Swedish Dish Cloth! CLAP CLAP CLAP

It's like a sponge that can pick up any spill or mess. The difference - reusable, made with 100% compostable material, dries quickly leaving behind the stinky rag smell, can wash it in the dishwasher or washing machine, last several months, is less wasteful and takes up less counter space. The best part! It works!

Not only is it for your kitchen but you can use it anywhere in the house!

Retire your old dish cloth to clean your bathroom before it is composted for good!

Favorite Dish Cloth Brands:

1. Three Bluebirds
2. No Tox Life 

BUT LETS NOT FORGET THE RAG - 

This option is truly sustainable. 

Drawbacks:

• Can give you a stinky rag smell if not washed often enough.
• Drags water around more than picking it up. 

Benefits:

• Lasts the longest! 
• No need to compost or throw away.
• Can be sourced from sustainable materials.

Sustainable Rag/Dish Cloth Brand:

      1. 100% Cotton USA Made/Grown Dish Cloth

2. Swap Sponges for The Wooden Dish Brush

Why Not a Sponge?

Sponges stay wet and harbor tons of bacteria. Yuck! They tend to spread bacteria instead of cleaning! Most sponges(those classic yellow and green ones) are made up of polyurethane aka plastic. A Danish study found that it takes only 24 months of exposure to Danish weather for a household polyurethane sponge to break down into microplastics.

The Bamboo Natural Fiber Dish Brush! Yaayyyyy

I have tried many wood dish brushes but the No Tox Life Dish Brush  takes the cake. The ergonomic design fits perfectly in your hand for a comfortable dish washing experience. The entire brush is made with responsible materials such as pesticide free bamboo and agave or plant fiber bristles. Not only is it sustainable but it actually works!

My Favorite Dish Brush:

1. No Tox Life Dish Brush(found on our website in the Home section).

The Perfect Pairing

A Bamboo dish brush with Bar Dish Soap. 

• Why? You don't have to push on any nozzle to release soap! You just take your dish brush and rub it directly on the soap removing that extra step.

3. Swap Toxic Dish Soap for Non-Toxic

Why Not Toxic Soap?

1. Many brands in the store such as Dawn, Palm olive, Ms. Meyers and even Seventh generation contain chemicals that leave residue on your dishes! Gross!

2. Creates plastic waste - you can avoid this by refilling your liquid soap in a glass container from a refill store. 

Why Swap?

1. Reduce toxins in your home for you and your family
2. Support better brands that care about you and the environment 
3. Reduce plastic
4. Feels good to use products that do not harm you or the environment

Non-Toxic Soap to switch too.

Kitchen Bar Soap 

1. Lianna Soap-Dish Soap - contains only Coconut Oil and Olive Oil leaving the guesswork out of the ingredient list.
2. No Tox Life Dish Block - non-toxic and performs well(especially if you cut it into smaller pieces so it lasts longer)
3. Meliora Dish Soap - non-toxic preforms well 

Kitchen Liquid Soap 

1. Rustic Strength Kicthen Dish Soap  - Shop online or visit your local refill store to ditch the plastic bottle.

Not Ready to Make the Switch?

Visit EWG  for a full list of verified products with low concerns for toxins.

Want to learn more about DIY cleaning in your home? 

Visit EWG's guide to greener cleaning in your home.

What are your favorite kitchen swaps?