Swapping. No, not that kind.

Sustainable Living Wellesley Facebook page was all a flutter as the new year began. It all started with Courtney’s simple question about what others are doing for sustainable swaps in their homes.

This is such a great question as we all aim to ditch the bad habits from last year and aim for new ones that go easier  on the planet (and our wallets)! 
    
A key factor in finding sustainable items is getting items that can be reused numerous times rather than once. 

Let's start in the kitchen:

• An easy swap is to switch from paper towels or napkins to cloth alternatives. After each use, just throw your cloth napkin in the wash and it’s good as new. Wellesley town resident, Joan Minklei, shares that they have washcloths that she stashes under the sink to use instead of paper towels.
• Make the swap to reusable snack bags. The little ziplock bags that so many people use for leftovers, storage, and school and work lunches contribute to the billions of pounds of plastic already conjugating in our oceans. These reusable snack and stasher bags are a sustainable option that can be used over and over! Not sure how to clean them? Kelly Caiazzo posted on the Facebook Page that she just puts her “stasher bags in the dishwasher by stretching them over the rack prongs gently and then just towel dry the inside.” Or, if it’s laundry day, Courtney Carter adds “I dump the crumbs out and then flip them inside out and throw them right in with the kids’ laundry.” Easy; affordable and helps the planet.
• Elizabeth May recommended buying “in bulk as much as possible” to cut down on the packaging. She admits that they have had to swap out some of their former “everyday foods in plastic packaging like yogurt and certain ice cream brands.”
• Others mentioned buying cleaning products in bulk as well.

 
Moving on to the laundry room:

• Wellesley residents have swapped out dryer sheets for wool dryer balls which can be used hundreds of times and absorb moisture to help dry clothes more quickly. Courtney Carter made the switch a few years ago and admits “I love mine so much I bought my mother-in-law some for Christmas” because who wouldn’t want wool dryer balls for Christmas? 

Bathroom:

• Resident Meredith Lepper has switched to shampoo and face soap bars. Rather than buy these essentials in the usual plastic packaging, these alternatives are waste and package free. They’re simply your usual shampoo, conditioner, face wash, etc., but in bar form instead of liquid that you rub to create a lather. 
• Others are using reusable razors as well.

Closet. Yup, we said it. Your closet!:

• Got some clothing items you don’t wear anymore or don’t fit? People are able to sell their clothes to consignment or thrift stores where others can buy them secondhand. Buying second hand is great for the environment and for finding extreme discounts on items! When using websites such as The RealReal and thredUP, Kelly Caiazzo explains that “not only do I sometimes score amazing designer dresses for a steal but it's a huge environmental win because of the waste produced by the textile industry.” 

    
We loved the communal idea generation on a topic near and dear to all of us. These items may seem small individually, but at large can make a difference.

These were just a few ideas shared in that chat. For more ideas, join Sustainable Living Wellesley Group on Facebook!
    
​Thanks to Kate Lapierre for contributing to this story!
    

---