I’ve always
wanted to be a Minimalist, as many of us would want to be, I mean who wouldn’t
like to do something good, not only for himself but also for the environment.
However, I kept carrying the idea without taking action on it until I stumbled
upon this inspiring TED talk delivered by Bea Johnson the author of Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste.
Now to set
minimalism as a goal is too vague. However, setting the goal of zero-waste home
helped me become more minimalist.
It even helped
me to buy less because I was dreading the garbage I’ll have left from the
package. I ended up feeling much better with each item I didn’t buy because I
don’t need most of them in the first place and eventually, I found better
alternatives.
Start using baking soda:
- As a shampoo: mixed with
water alone or with your shampoo.
- As a
deodorant: to neutralize your body odor.
- As a
mouthwash: in a half glass of water.
- As a handwash
dishes: with your regular detergent
- As a cleaner: to the oven,
microwave, floors, furniture, shower curtains, laundry with your regular
detergent.
- As a
deodorant: for your refrigerator, trash can, drains, dishwasher,
lunch boxes, closets, cars, shoes…
To live
zero-waste lifestyle, try the following tips:
- Prepare some
jars, containers for milk and juice and some cloth for the bread which can be a
simple pillowcase.
- Buying without
package: see what’s available in the supermarket without packaging, go to bulk
stores and buy, when possible, second-hand clothes.
- Stop accepting
freebies, business cards if you already have the contacts or you know you won’t
need it. Stop accepting plastic bags when you have your own reusable bag.
Kitchen
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| Photo by Creatv Eight on Unsplash |
1- Swap paper
towels for reusable rags.
2- Shop
vegetables and eggs from farmer’s market and take with you the egg’s carton and
your basket or a reusable bag.
3- Reuse the
single-printed papers to write down your shopping list.
4- Reuse
vegetables and fruits cleaning water to water your plants.
5- Use baking
soda and white vinegar to clean the kitchen (oven, microwave, refrigerator,
dishwasher…).
6- For the food
that can be frozen, cook much of it and save it in the freezer for later.
7- When buying
food, don’t buy more of it just because it’s on promotion. Only buy what you
really need and in the quantity that you really need. Write a list before you
go shopping and stick to it.
8- Grow your own
herbs. If you have a little garden, make it useful and plant in some vegetables
you eat constantly. Even if you don’t have a garden, you still can grow them in
pots.
Bathroom
 |
| Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash |
1- Use baking
soda as a deodorant
2- Refill your
bottles with bulk shampoo.
3- Buy
package-free solid soap.
4- Swap your
regular plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.
5- Start using
safety razors instead of plastic ones.
6- Start including
natural remedies in your skincare routine.
Check out these natural remedies:
Closet
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| Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash |
1- The rule is:
Anything you didn’t wear for a year and a half you’re not going to wear it
ever, so donate it.
2- Keep your
closet minimal.
3- Shop as few
times as you can per year to avoid compulsive buys.
4- Buy
second-hand clothes.
5- Bring a
reusable bag for your purchases.
6- Use the
worn-out clothes as rags.
7- Learn few
sewing tricks. Repair your clothes or make something useful out of it instead
of throwing it.
Cleaning
1- Start using
natural cleaning alternatives such as baking soda, white vinegar, Castile
soap, borax… here are 25 DIY Green Cleaning Recipes For the Whole House!
2- Buy
dishwasher and laundry detergent in bulk.
3- Open the
windows instead of using an air freshener and let houseplants absorb toxins.
4- Do the
laundry as few times as you can.
General tips
 |
| Photo by Maria Ilves on Unsplash |
1- If you have a
habit of coffee, make it at home. If you want to drink it at work, make it at
home and take it with you in a flask.
2- Sign up for
free customer rewards program, but don’t buy just to collect points. Let it be
a long-term investment.
3- Turn off the
TV. It not only consumes energy, but your time too. Instead of spending time in
front of TV, do something you love.
4- Use the
nearby park to jog and do your exercises, instead of going to the gym. It not
only saves you money, but also having some fresh air can reduce your stress
considerably.
5- Cut down your
expenses. Remove luxuries from your budget. Buy what you can from thrift and
buy exactly what you need.
6- Consume less.
When it comes to saving electricity and water, it might not seem that consuming
less of them will pay off or make any difference at least on the short term.
But it actually makes a difference, it’s a way to train yourself to live as a minimalist.
7- Use cheaper
transportation. Walk when you can and
use carpool. When using your car to shop, start with the furthest destination
for maximum fuel efficiency.
8- Always have
shopping baskets and bags in your car. You can buy them or make them. Here’s away to make your own grocery bag.
What would you like to add to the list? Share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below.
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