Zero Waste for FREE: Cleaning Edition
Welcome back to my Zero Waste on a Budget series, which was previously randomized, but I am working on organizing slowly but surely. You can check out the full series here with nearly 500 ways to live zero waste without spending a single dollar. Some are organized into themes, and others are random, so watch which ones you prefer.
Today, let’s dive into zero-waste on a budget cleaning edition! From cleaners to vacuuming to decluttering, we cover it all in this post without spending a single dollar.
Feel free to drop your eco on a budget tips below to help this series continue to grow.
Cleaning
Use what you have first! If you still have Windex, Lysol, or whatever “wasteful” brand you have under your sink, it’s okay to use it. You already paid money for it, and it’s going to end up in the environment whether you use it or throw it away. So you might as well use it first before opting for the more eco-friendly options.
Make your own cleaners when it’s time to try some eco options:
Use lemon peels/lemons going bad for cleaning: It's easy! Citrus makes a great cleaning agent. If you accidentally bought too many lemons, don't know what to do with your lemon rinds, or have lemons going bad, use them to clean. Cut them in half or quarters and use them to scrub your microwave, surfaces, or even clean your dishes. Add a bit of baking soda for extra efficient scrubbing and cleanliness! You can also put small pieces in your drain and run the garbage disposal to give it a good clean.
You can use citrus peels to also make your own liquid cleaner. I outline how in this video.
Or simply just use ingredients you likely already have at home, such as baking soda, salt, and vinegar, for cleaning.
When using the dishwasher or washing machine, make sure it is a full load.
If you have a dishwasher, use it as opposed to hand washing dishes. I mean, don’t put something easily rinsible in the dishwasher, but don’t waste the water rinsing something and then putting it in the dishwasher. Dishwashers are actually more water-efficient than using a sink. But if you don’t have a dishwasher, wash your dishes in a smart way. I mentioned one easy way to do this in part 1, but if you have an abundance of dishes, one way is to start with the biggest dish, shut the water off, and then use that water to wash the smaller dishes. OR if you have two sinks, use one for wash water and one for rinse water so you don’t have to run it the whole time.
Turn old fabric into rags and wipes instead of buying some. You don’t even need to sew! Just cut to the size you want and start using!
Don’t throw out a bag of trash that isn’t full, so as not to waste bags. Also, crush and squeeze items into trash bags so more fit into them, and you’re not wasting space (and therefore bags).
Properly secure your trash in the first place. Make sure nothing will rip the bag, make sure it’s tied all the way, and don’t set it out in the rain. Water might prevent some recyclables from being recycled! This might sound a bit obvious, but when there is a storm, secure your items. Specifically, garbage and things that will fly away and/or break. They will all just turn into litter! Make sure your trash can isn’t overflowing and the lid closes so stuff doesn’t blow out.
Reuse dryer lint vs throwing it out: There are a few ways! My personal favorite is the ultimate upcycle, as I take dryer lint and stuff it inside an old toilet paper tube and cover the ends in some wax to make fire starters. This is great for camping or just a backyard fire. I've also seen people save the lint to make their own cushions, too. After all, dryer lint really is mostly fabric fibers (maybe a few hairs). So keep that out of the landfill. You can only compost dryer lint if you don't own any synthetic fibers.
Open the windows on a nice day as a natural AC and also a natural air freshener. Another alternative to conventional, hard-to-recycle air fresheners is potpourri.
Use a broom over a vacuum to reduce energy consumption. Obviously, if you have carpet, use the vacuum. But if you’re looking to save money on your tile and hardwood, try a broom!
Reuse old toothbrushes to scrub dishes and grout. Especially your plastic toothbrushes that won’t break down, it’s better to give them new life!
Don’t wear shoes in the house! It saves energy by not needing to vacuum or generate your own energy from sweeping with a broom.
If you have super crusty jars, enlist the help of some dried rice. All you need is 1-2 tablespoons of dried rice, some soap, and a bit of water. Add all of that to your crusty jar and give it a shake. It should work in seconds! This will help you save water, soap, and energy, spending hours or even days trying to get it clean otherwise. Here’s how I did it.
Decluttering
Just decluttered? Think before you throw away. I sort my items into piles of keep, donate/sell, and throw away. The throw-away pile should be the smallest. Try to see what you can donate first, and even sell to make some extra change. You can donate to places like a local thrift store/second-hand store, and you can sell on places like Facebook marketplace, ThredUp, and more
Collect hard-to-recycle things that can still be recycled. They might just not be able to be recycled in your curbside pickup, but they can be recycled at special facilities. So, save up a bunch of them and then once a month take a longer trip to drop them off. Some companies will even pay for shipping for you to ship them the recyclables. Things like batteries, thing plastics, toothpaste tubes, glasses, and more.
Little libraries: get books second hand and donate old ones!
Litter Clean Up
Don’t litter! I hope that goes without saying. But this also goes for gum (which contains hidden plastic), cigarette butts (which contain hidden plastic), and food waste, which can attract animals to the roadways and put them in danger, and also put humans in danger if you litter on the trail!
Pick up litter when you see it. It’s gross, it’s not your fault, but we all have a part to play in protecting our home. Even if you can’t pick it all up, picking up one piece still matters!
When picking up litter, I used to just dump out the water in water bottles. But, it’s still perfectly good so I take it home to use to water my plants before putting the bottle into the recycle bin.
When picking up litter, do your best to sort it into recycling and trash piles. Don’t wishcycle but also ensure that valuable items like metal and glass get recycled properly.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed. Again, let us know your eco on a budget tips below to help this series continue to grow. And you can check out the full series here with nearly 500 ways to live zero waste without spending a single dollar.
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
