Eco-Friendly Favorites — Mandy Senske

You guys, I know there is a lot going around about the pollution problem in the US and there’s no doubt about it that we have some great options to switch out products that result in less waste and it makes me so happy! These are a few things I’ve switched over to that I’m loving and you might love too!

#1. Hydro Flask. I’m obsessed with this water bottle, I have the 32 oz. Switching to a reusable water bottle has probably been the biggest change in terms of household waste because we aren’t throwing away plastic water bottles 24/7. They keep water super cold and coffee super hot. I’m a huge fan of drinking any cold beverage through a straw so I got this lid to go with it and I love, love it. I used to be so addicted to sparkling water but felt guilty for all of the cans I was using all of the time so I’ve committed to straight water until Sean buys me a kombucha fountain (my birthday is in September, make it happen babe).

#2. Reusable Grocery Bags. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I go to the grocery store every single day. Every day. Even on Sundays. I can confidentially tell you that these bags are SO GOOD. I love that they fold up into a a small, flat square that I can tuck in purse for the next grocery run. If you’re anything like me, you remember to grab the bags when you are walking up to the checkout. I usually carry two in my purse. I’ve been using them for close to a year and prefer them to the rectangle bag tenfold. There have been zero issues. They have 100% stood up to wear and tear and they hold a ton of groceries. If you are in any group texts with me, you already know about how good I think these are.

#3. Silicone Straws. Like I said, I love drinking out of a straw so these are a staple in our house. I can’t believe how much more manageable they are. The kids and I use them daily and I thought clean up might be a hassle but I was wrong. They are really easy to clean and maintain and they also stay in a cup so much better so the kids aren’t grabbing for a replacement time after time. I also got metal straws but I didn’t care for them as much as the silicone.

#4. Thieves Cleaner & Amber Bottles. This is a big one for a couple of reasons. It’s a natural product which is great but it is also super concentrated so you won’t be buying a bunch of chemicals stuffed in a bunch of plastic bottles. I have two amber bottles, I use one for an all purpose cleaner and one for a window cleaner and they are just the cutest. Thieves is the real MVP. I use their entire cleaning line, hand sanitizer, hand soap, etc. and I think it would be hard to change it up after knowing how good it is. Once you know, you can’t unknow… ya know? I even use it on clothing because it gets all the stains out. Thank you Young Living. It’s all it’s cracked up to be and then some.

#5. Reusable K-Cups. At home, we (especially Sean) drinks so much coffee we brew an entire pot, but at work we use the reusable K-Cups and they work so nicely. I read an article that said the amount of K-cups in a landfill could wrap around the earth 10x. I haven’t done the math but either way, making small changes doens’t hurt and it all adds up.