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I am always on the lookout for new-to-us and new products that meet any of the following criteria:
- are non-toxic (free of all or many harmful ingredients)
- are reusable and create less waste
- are free of microplastics
- help us save money
I try to feature these products within my blog posts, but also thought it would be helpful to have one page you can view for all of my recommendations. Keep in mind, my goal is not to provide you with sales or discount codes, but to alert you to products that meet the above characteristics any time of year! NOTE: This will be a growing page with new links as I post new blog posts and find new products!
Beauty:
Magnetic clips: My oldest son bought my mom a necklace from Israel. It was turning her neck black because she wasn’t able to take it off each day. Her fingers cannot do clasps. I found these magnetic clasps we were able to join to the ends. She is happy to be able to take it off each night and still get to wear it as she likes!
Bamboo toothbrushes: In our efforts to find more eco-friendly and non-plastic options for our home, I found these bamboo toothbrushes to replace our standard plastic ones! The bristles are made of plant fibers, so you are not swallowing microplastics from your toothbrush!
Silicone bath scrubbers: For years we have used loofah bath sponges. I had to replace them at least twice a year as they came apart. Then I learned that they breed bacteria and shed microplastics! But an answer was found! Silicone bath scrubbers! These last much longer than nylon bath/shower sponges and are easy to clean!
Food and food-related:
Glass containers: We try not to use plastic bags in our lunches each day. These glass containers come in lots of colors and have two perfect sizes for lunch items (and leftovers). They stack nicely in the fridge, too!
Stasher bags: Our other favorite product for lunches are these Stasher bags. I have tried other reusable bags and none compare! These are sturdy, easy to clean, easy to close, and save you money over the long haul! They come in many different sizes for lunches, storage, and more! These bowls are one of my favorite size sets. I also recommend this set.
Torani sugar-free vanilla syrup: I used to be awful about drinking enough water! I often want sparkling water or Zevia. But I found a hack! I pour a little of this vanilla syrup in my water bottle each day and it makes my water taste delicious! They have lots of flavors to choose from, too! It is not just for coffee!
Stainless-steel colanders: In our efforts to get rid of microplastics in our home (especially for plastics that touch hot food), we found this great colander set. Comes in 3 sizes, easy to clean, and is made of 18/8 stainless steel.
Silicone trivets: We used to use wood or cork trivets for hot food on our table. We found that they often didn’t hold up very well. They either got burned, cracked, or snapped in half after regular use. We found these and love them! Easy to clean and look great on the table! Lots of colors and 2 styles to choose from.
Cutting boards: The past several months I have been trying to replace things in our home that could shed microplastics. I have been reading and hearing about the dangers they can have on our bodies. One of the first things we replaced was our cutting board! The thought of all those pieces of plastic getting in our food with each slice made me very worried! I searched Amazon for just the right one, made of a safe wood, without harmful glue, and the right size. I found this one and we love it! The XL+ size is great for vegetables and the XL size is good for meat.
Replacement steel straws: My friend gifted me with a wonderful Owala water bottle. I love drinking from steel water bottles and it works great. However, I wanted to get away from using plastic water bottle straws. They grow bacteria easily and yet again this is another product shedding microplastics into our bodies. I found this great straw set on Amazon. It comes in a four-pack with a cleaning brush and two lid gaskets, too!
Stainless steel spatulas: Another category of items in our kitchen that we have replaced is our cooking utensils. I wanted to get rid of as many plastic utensils as possible. I was looking for silicone or 18/0 stainless steel, which is the safest steel you can get. We liked many of the products from this company and bought others in the line, too (the spoon set and the pasta set)!
Basics:
Reusable shopping bags: One of the ways we reduce waste is by bringing our own bags for shopping. I don’t always remember to use them, but I try! To make sure I have them on the go, I keep two of these in my purse. They roll/fold up into a small bundle! They have lots of color and pattern choices!
Gifts:
Durable plastic gift bags: I love to buy these beautiful reusable bags with drawstrings to give gifts in. Then the recipient can reuse the bag for a later gift or for anything they want! They come in other sizes, too.
Cloth gift bags: These bags are also nice because they come in 3 sizes and 4 different designs. Beautiful and versatile! Again, less waste because they can be reused!
Cookbook holder: This is one of my favorite gifts to give as a wedding present or wedding shower gift (if I can’t afford anything on someone’s registry.) They hold your cookbook up for easy viewing during cooking and keep your cookbook clean.
Home products:
In order to save money on our water bill, we installed these smart shower faucets on both of our showers. The faucet turns off when the water gets hot. This way you are not wasting water while you wait and you know when it is ready!
Nightstand: We have a small entry way and sometimes we need a landing spot for things going out or for a guest to put a purse or bag. Our previous solution had been our boys’ Lego organizer! After we sold that, we wanted something nicer! This bamboo nightstand works perfectly!
Clip-on basket labels – I had been looking for labels or tags that would work on plastic woven baskets. Sticker nametags worked great for solid plastic containers, but not on our woven plastic baskets! They kept falling off! Then I discovered these! Worked great!
Travel:
Luggage scale: This small gadget comes in handy when flying. With bag costs rising and many airlines offering only 1 bag free with your ticket, it is important to make sure your bags are not over the airline’s limits or you will be charged extra. This scale also helps when deciding if a bag is small enough to be a carry-on. It has a simple screen, works easily, and changes between measurement units. Easy to hold while lifting your luggage, too!
Surviving on a tight budget 