Single-use products are convenient, but they come with a high cost — to the tune of hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. Fortunately, cutting back on, or even eliminating, them probably won’t significantly affect your daily routine, but they may put some change back in your pocket. Here are some ideas for single-use items to eliminate from your home to save some money, as well as some alternatives for getting by without them.
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| The average household uses two or three rolls of paper towels a week, for an annual cost of about $180. In reality, they should only be used as an emergency tool for extreme messes, not as an everyday tool. You can affordably replace them with cotton towels, or even old cut-up cotton t-shirts. |
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| Swapping out plastic wrap for glass containers with lids, reusable silicon stretch lids or beeswax wraps saves money. It’s one of the most used single-use plastic items, and it is almost impossible to recycle, so every single piece that has ever been used still exists in a landfill. |
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| Unless you live in a state or city that has placed fees on them, plastic grocery bags don’t directly cost you money, but their environmental cost is enormous. The average American uses a whopping 365 plastic bags per year, but it’s simple to make the switch to reusable totes. |
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| Regularly buying bottled water can add up to $500 or more a year, plus all of those plastic bottles introduce harmful toxins into your body and create a tremendous amount of waste. Instead, invest in stainless-steel water bottles for on-the-go hydration. If you don’t trust your tap water, use a filter pitcher. |
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| Pre-moistened cleaning wipes are convenient, but expensive and easily abused. Try substituting them with a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a set of microfiber cloths. Then, reserve a small canister of disinfecting wipes strictly for illnesses. |
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| Fabric softeners and dryer sheets don’t just cost money outright, they can damage your appliances and cause health issues ranging from skin irritation to asthma, migraines and hormone disruption. They also leave a waxy coating on fibers, making them absorb less dirt and water. Instead, add white distilled vinegar to the rinse compartment to remove buildup and odors, and use wool dryer balls and low heat to eliminate static cling. |
