Sustainable Kitchen Swaps
6 Swaps I made in my sustainable kitchen and why I won’t look back!
Anyone who knows me, knows I do not like the kitchen. I don’t enjoy cooking and I don’t enjoy cleaning the kitchen. Mind you I would rather clean the kitchen than do the cooking. This was the rule in most share housing situations I’ve been in, my roommates would cook, and I would clean.
Over the years as I learned more and more about being sustainable and seeking eco-friendly alternatives to kitchen cleaning products like plastic scourers and scrubbing brushes. Here are my 6 go-to kitchen essentials for a sleek sustainable cleaning routine.
Eco Coconut Scourers
Made from the husk of discarded coconuts, these scourers are perfect to get into those hard-to-reach places. The bristles are gentle and don’t damage the surface making them perfect for non-stick frying pans and glass Pyrex dishes. The set of two allows you to throw one in the dishwasher or laundry for extra cleaning when not in use. They are very quick drying. One negative is the disposal of these items. There is a bit of a process to discard these when you are done. It is recommended you remove the bristles to compost and place the wire into the normal recycling. It might seem a little tedious, but it is well worth the alternative.
Stainless Steel Soap Cage & Dish Soap Bar
The amount of plastic dishwashing liquid bottles I have stopped purchasing is mind-blowing. I love my soap cage and dish soap bar. It does take a little to get used to as the soap doesn’t always suds up as well as what we are used to with the nasty chemicals from the plastic bottles. But knowing I am using an all-natural product and my dishes come out just as clean, I can’t argue with that!!
Stainless Steel Dish Swisher for Soap Bars
Long Handle Bottle Brush Scourer
I have been really getting into my smoothies and juicing lately. This bottle brush is perfect for my juice jars. Gets into those crevasses that my scourer would never reach!
Swedish Dish Clothes
I was so pleasantly surprised by these reusable clothes. Swedish clothes are made from Cellulose (a tree fibre) and cotton. They are hard when dry and turn into a lovely sponge cloth when wet. You can be as rough as you want with them. I use mine to clean the stovetop and it’s amazing how well it cleans. Once you are done, you can wash it in the dishwasher or on a gentle cycle in your washing machine.
Sisal Straw Cleaner
This one is self-explanatory. The very first kitchen swap I did was purchasing stainless steel straws. I have sensitive teeth; I need a straw when I am out and about. Now that I have a range of straws (metal, glass, silicone, bamboo, short and tall) I love the freedom I have to be able to purchase any drink knowing I have the straw to go with it. Once I’m done a quick trip to the bathroom to clean out my straw with my sisal straw cleaner (I have two sizes, small which has thinner smaller bristles and a thicker bigger one for my smoothie and larger straws) and back into my straw pouch, it does for round two!!
Unpapertowels
I no longer buy paper towels, not only is it mass produced and destroys our lush forests, the amount of water it takes to make these is insane! I have one roll of unpaper towels on my bench which clip into each other. Highly absorbent and can be used repeatedly. Once they are dirty straight into the wash to be reused.
What sustainable swaps have you made in your kitchen?
Switching over to these sustainable alternatives has given me a newfound desire to be in the kitchen. Cooking is another story but knowing I am using quality products that are gentle on my dishes and the environment is very rewarding.
