How To Reduce Waste In Your Home

by Jodie Franklin 11/08/2020

When you own a home, you want to reduce your costs as much as possible. As a homeowner and environmentally conscious person, you may also want to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce the amount of waste that you and your family produce. Read on for some tips on how to reduce the amount of trash you produce on a weekly basis and see what a difference you can make in your little corner of the world.  


Find Reusable Products In Lieu Of Disposable Ones


There are so many convenience products that we find on store shelves. For every type of product that you can just throw away, you can find something reusable. Products that you can substitute include:


Washcloths instead of disposable makeup wipes

Reusable water cups instead of disposable bottles

Washable plastic cups substituted for disposable ones

No paper plates

Use washable plates instead of paper plates

Dust with rags, not paper towels

Use reusable grocery bags

Drink coffee out of a refillable mug

Buy reusable containers to pack a lunch in


Any products that provide less buildup of waste are better for the environment. Many times, we rely on convenience for ourselves and our families, but convenience can be costly to both the environment and our budgets.  


Use Natural Cleaning Products


Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that are dangerous for our bodies and our environment. There are many things right inside of your kitchen cabinets that can be useful and effective in cleaning your home. Items that you can clean with include:


Baking Soda

Vinegar

Lemon juice

Castille soap


Wth just a few products, cleaning naturally is easy. You won’t have to worry about harming children, pets, or yourself by using these all natural items that can be found right in your kitchen. You also will have more space in your cabinets because you’ll need fewer bottles to stock your cleaning supply. Vinegar can be used to clean most things in your home, and it does the job pretty well compared to its harsh chemical counterparts.


Your new lifestyle that consists of less waste will take some time. You can gradually switch different products and containers as you move through your days. This will be a much more practical approach than just starting from scratch all at once. Not only is changing your lifestyle a time investment but a money investment since you’ll need to buy new products to replace old ones initially. Over time you should see a big difference in your wallet and your trash can with your waste-free lifestyle.         


About the Author
Author

Jodie Franklin

I love helping people find their dream home or sell their house in order to achieve their next goals. I have been working hard for my clients for over 18 years throughout southeast Michigan. I have experienced every kind of transaction there is. 

Helping my community and being involved is extremely important to me. I am Past President of the Michigan Ability Partners board, which helps Veterans and people with disabilities reach independent, self-supported, and satisfying lives. I have also been a member of the City of Milan Tax Review Board and Zoning Board, and involved in Milan Main Street. I have been a major sponsor of events for Michigan Ability Partners, Aid in Milan, Milan Main Street, and many more organizations that work to make our communities better. 

I was 2018 President of the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors, Realtor of the year in 2016 for AAABOR and nominee for Michigan Realtor of the Year. I serve on many committees with the local board, state board and was a member of the Housing Opportunity Committee for the National Association of Realtors (2018-19). I am currently serving my second term as a Michigan Realtors Board of Directors. 

I have liked in Milan for over 20 years and enjoy living here with my husband Cliff, son Evan, and dog Rosie.