March 2025 Newsletter: Reusable Swaps for Consumable Household Items
- Jackie
- Mar 24
- 7 min read
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Ecomorphosis Newsletter. As a small business owner, I appreciate your continued support. Feel free to share this with anyone who you think may benefit from our services, or would be interested in the contents.
This month, we're going to focus on reducing waste with reusable swaps. These are just a few of the reusable swap options you can use in your home. If you want to find out more, book a Home Sustainability Audit with Ecomorphosis and I'd be glad to go in depth with you about your options. Ideas will be personalized based on what you are already doing well, and ways that will be easiest for you to implement.
When it comes to making sustainable changes in your home, these are some of the first things I suggest to people. These swaps are great because they replace items we have been trained to use once, then throw away. They save you money in the long run and help the planet. WIN-WIN.
The assumptions made for the numbers in the following examples are based on real pricing data from Kroger.com, https://stasher.thj6q2.net/21NYWO (my affiliate link) and a local zero waste store in Cincinnati https://www.simplyzero.co/ All projections are based on current pricing from March of 2025 and not including future inflation or price increases.
Dryer Sheets < Dryer Balls
If you are using dryer sheets, then this swap's for you. Trade dryer sheets, full of artificial perfumes for wool dryer balls, and if you feel like adding some subtle scent, try a few drops of essential oil.
Store brand dryer sheets pack of 100
$3.99
Let's say you use 2 packs a year, 200 total a year is $7.98
That's $39.90 over 5 years and $79.80 for 10 years
Bulk wool dryer balls from Simply Zero
$6 each. $24 for 4
I've used my set since college. I don't remember exactly which year, but to be safe let's say my last year, which was 2015.
I am still using these dryer balls, and have purchased 1 extra set in those 10 years (as they get lost in baskets sometimes before I do the next load.)
2 sets over 10 years= $48
PLUS they are made of wool, no artificial perfumes and once your dryer balls are so beat up you can no longer use them for reducing static, downcycle them for a safe dog or cat toy, or compost them
Disposable Plastic Razor < Reusable Metal Razor
Instead of throwing away the entire plastic razor, or even just the cartridge heads, consider investing in an all metal reusable razor. The durable handle construction means it will last for years. The all metal blades are easy to install, and can be sent in to Leaf shave or recycled with your local metal recycling center. Do not put the blades in your curbside bin. I've had my Leaf razor since 2020 and I absolutely love it. Here are the numbers to consider:
Gillette Venus comfort glide white tea women's razor blade refills cartridges $15.99 (pack of 4)
Assuming you already have a handle you reuse
Let's say you use 8 per year (maybe 1 per month, but you don't shave as much in winter), so two packs per year = $31.98
$31.98 x 5 years = $159.90
$31.98 x 10 years = $319.80
Pivoting head safety razor $85 includes razor and 1 starter pack with 10 blades
I use 3 razor blades on my safety razor.
That seems to last me at least 4-6 months.
I probably only change the blades 3 times a year, but we'll round up to 4
Refills are $14 for a pack of 50 single edge leaf razors blades at Simply Zero
So 50 in a refill pack plus 10 in starter =60
I use about 12 blades a year, so I personally need a refill pack once every 5 years (60/12=5 years)
That's $99 for 5 years ($85+14)
Then the next refill pack for the next 5 years to make it 10 year grand total of $113
Disposable Zip top Plastic Baggies < Stasher Bag
There is a reason that Stasher bag is my first and only affiliate link. If you click on the link and order from the website, that order will be traced back to me and my business. I thank you in advance if you choose to support me in this small way.
Stasher bags are one of my favorite reusable swaps. I think they are so useful and innovative. Made of solid silicone, a manufactured material made with naturally derived silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, it is a very durable material that is safer than plastic for food storage. If you want to learn more about silicone, read this Healthline article.
Stasher bags can be used in place of whatever you would normally use a plastic bag for. Use for storage, freezing food, cooking food, taking things on the go, TSA liquids bag and so much more. I bought my first one in 2021 and I am still using it. It is easy to clean by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher, and does not get the bubbles that plastic containers do when you wash them, not to mention no microplastics either.
To support me purchase Stasher bags through my affiliate link here.
One Stasher bag is currently on sale for $10.39 as of 3/24/25 on the website (though I highly recommend getting a bundle!)
But these are Stasher bags vs. zip top plastic baggies by the numbers:
Let's say you have the average (practically speaking) 2 kids
170 school days in Ohio each year
2 kids x 170 school days=340 sandwich baggies per year
Kroger double zipper sandwich bags 280 count $5.99
If you get the store brand that's 1.21 boxes per year= $7.24 per year
$7.24 x 5 years=$36.24
$7.24 x 13 years (Kindergarten through 12th grade)= $94.22
Ziploc sandwich bags with easy glide trademark 40 count $3.49
If you get the name brand, you need 8.5 boxes per year (340/40) x $3.49 = $29.67 per year
$29.67 x 5 years = $148.33
$29.67 x 13 years = $385.65
And if you thought that these FREE reusable swaps were helpful for you, consider how much more you will save after our comprehensive home sustainability audit. For only $99 I will review reusable swaps you can make in your home, as well as make suggestions for better energy efficiency, recycling, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy or an electric vehicle and more.
After the home audit is completed, you will receive a full report of everything discussed in the audit.
Bonus Swaps for the Blog:
Disposable Mop Pads < Reusable Mop Pads
Bona is a reusable alternative to using a mop with disposable mop pads. It comes with washable microfiber cleaning pads. I've been washing and reusing my Bona mop pads since 2016. It does not use any electricity to use the mop, as it is just a push mop. You can buy the Bona cleaning solution or use whatever cleaning solution you prefer, and it is easy to fill it. The only cost to continue using the Bona mop over time is washing the reusable mop pads. The downside is these mop pads are polyester, so when mine are finished I would probably look for a cotton alternative. I do a towel load about once a week, so I simply throw it in with bath towels, kitchen towels, rags and washable tissues. Here are the numbers:
Bona hardwood floor spray mop $36.99
Includes spray mop
Washable microfiber cleaning pad
Hardwood floor cleaning solution
Swiffer WetJet multi-surface floor cleaner spray mop pad refill 24 count is $15.99
$15.99 let's say you use 1 mop pad each week, that's 2.25 packs a year, so= $35.98
$35.98 x 5 years= $179.89
$35.98 x 10 years = $359
Single Use Tampons < Reusable Washable Menstrual Cup
There are multiple options for replacing single use period products out there. Reusable, washable period underwear, pads, and menstrual discs are just a few. But today we are going to examine my favorite one: the menstrual cup.
If you are an avid tampon user, then you may have become accustomed to replacing them multiple times a day, being stuck out in public without one, or having to run to the bathroom because your tampon wasn't absorbent enough to last the whole night. That is just the user experience, not even considering the waste generated, the cost, and the lack of transparency from most tampon manufacturers on the ingredients used inside tampons.
I personally recommend using a Diva cup instead. There are other brands out there, but this is the only brand I have used. Within the last 11 years, I have only ever purchased 2. Menstrual cups are also made of medical grade silicone, are washable, reusable, and wearable up to 12 hours at a time, and ultimately 10 years of use. It catches the flow instead of absorbs it, so there is a lower risk of toxic shock syndrome and often reduces the severity of your period cramps. If you are out and about, you can simply empty it into a toilet and reinsert with clean hands, or wash it with mild hand soap and water if you have easy access to a sink. I have experienced far fewer accidents with the Diva cup than when using tampons, because it holds 1 ounce of flow (a super tampon only holds about 12-15 grams, or half an ounce according to verywellhealth.com). This usually lasts me the full 12 hours, though on particularly heavy days I wear a reusable period pad or underwear as a backup. In addition to the environmental and health benefits you can experience, there also also massive financial ones:
Box 18 regular Kroger tampons $3.79
You could easily use a box per cycle (4.5 tampons a day) x 4 days
$3.79 x 12 months per year= $45.48 x 5 years = $227.4
X 10 years = $454.80
$36 for saalt brand Menstrual Silicone Washable Cup from Simply Zero
Can reuse and wash with mild hand soap and warm water for up to 10 years
EVEN IF, you only use it for 5 years, it's only $36 plus the cost of soap and running water for 60 seconds each wash
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