Tag Archives: sustainability

Reduce Your Environmental Footprint at Home

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Creating a more sustainable home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Small, mindful changes can significantly reduce your environmental footprint while also saving money and improving your well-being. Whether you’re just starting your eco-friendly journey or looking to take it to the next level, these simple tips will help you build a greener, healthier home.

1. Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting
Replace incandescent bulbs with LED or CFL lights. They use less energy, last longer, and save you money on your electricity bill.

2. Reduce Water Waste
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets, fix leaks promptly, and collect rainwater for watering plants. Small steps can lead to big savings in water usage.

3. Choose Sustainable Materials
Opt for furniture and decor made from reclaimed wood, bamboo, or recycled materials. Eco-friendly paints and finishes also help reduce indoor air pollution.

4. Minimize Single-Use Plastics
Switch to reusable bags, containers, and glass or stainless steel water bottles. Reducing plastic waste helps keep our planet cleaner.

5. Improve Home Insulation
Proper insulation keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing energy consumption. Consider weather-stripping doors and windows to prevent drafts.

6. Compost and Recycle
Start composting food scraps and yard waste to reduce landfill contributions. Set up a recycling station to make sorting waste easier.

7. Grow Your Own Food
Even a small herb garden can make a difference! Growing your own produce reduces transportation emissions and ensures fresh, chemical-free food.

Making your home more eco-friendly doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, and gradually incorporate more sustainable habits into your daily life. Every positive change, no matter how minor, contributes to a healthier planet.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found these tips helpful. If there’s a topic you’d love to see covered in a future Thoughtful Thursday post, let me know—I’d be happy to explore it! 😊

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Thoughtful Thursday Dryer Sheets vs Dryer Balls

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Laundry is never ending and so is the expense. But if you want your clothes to feel soft, be static free and have a nice scent you need to add a new dryer sheet to every load of laundry and that’s costly.

The majority of dryer sheets are made from a thin polyester material that’s coated with a softening agent and lots of chemicals including fatty acids, fatty alcohols, alcohol ethoxylates, stearic acid plus harsh perfumes. None of which are healthy for your body and the waste isn’t healthy for the planet.

Luckily there’s an alternative to these sheets, dryer balls. The dryer balls work by bouncing around in the dryer, separating clothes and allowing air to circulate more efficiently. As a result they soften your clothes and reduce drying time, wrinkles and static cling. Plus there are no harsh chemicals.

I’ve used dryer balls for years and love them. I started with the plastic kind shown below on the right and they worked great. But eventually they broke down and had to be replaced with new ones that gave off a slight plastic odor which I wasn’t crazy about.

I thought there had to be a better way so I did a bit of research for a natural alternative and found wool dryer balls (shown above on the left). I followed an online tutorial at DIY Natural to make your own set which required roving wool and that can be hard to find in South Florida.

Fortunately, there are quite a few companies that make and sell dryer balls online. This is a link to the set I purchased a year ago on Amazon and they’re still going strong! The best part is you can add your own essential oils to wool dryer balls and freshen your laundry, naturally without harsh chemicals. Plus you’ll save loads of money and reduce waste. It’s a win-win!!

Hope you enjoyed this post today, thanks for stopping by!!

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