Sustainability part one: during your organising project.
Here is the list of ideas you can implement in your organising project or around your home, focusing on sustainability.
It might sound trendy to talk about sustainability. Still, I can’t stress enough how important it is to make critical changes in our lives on every level towards consciously choosing practices that support a more liveable future. Not only for our sake but for the upcoming generations to enjoy this beautiful planet.
So, how can we do it better?
It depends on your individual circumstances. You need to look at where you are and how you wish to approach this in your own home and from your own budget.
Let us start with the basics.
1. Clear it out.
Get your sorting going. Focus on categorising your household items by prioritising them. I know how difficult this step is, but I guarantee it is worth the hassle. Keep only dose items that are being used regularly and do not overstock. It is best to donate items that are still in reasonable nick. It not only minimises the amount of rubbish that goes into landfills, but someone can save on buying these items in an op shop, reducing the need for manufacturing. Just think about how much energy and resources are used to mine metals. And how do furniture and other wooden household items making affect the quantity of timber cut down for our use? In the process, contributing to deforestation, air pollution, and essentially putting a strain on our healthcare system. If you end up with items you have to throw out, make sure to recycle them. Suppose you are ever in doubt about how to recycle; Brisbane City Council has excellent tips and resources to guide you.
2. Repurpose.
After you are done clearing out your old items, sort them through and see what you can repurpose. Sometimes, these items can be used as they are or adjusted to your situation with minimal effort.
- Just think about the wooden crates and boxes and how appealing they are in your pantry when storing your root vegetables or in a cupboard used to store small items like shoes, toys etc.
- Reuse shoe boxes to store stationery items, wrappings, craft supplies etc. Sometimes you can even use them to store shoes that are not frequently used and keep them tucked away.
- Another tip, in most cases, you can easily use old empty jars, which are still airtight, to store all sorts of things, starting with legumes, biscuits, nuts and seeds, just to mention a few. It might be difficult from an aesthetic point of view to use identical jars or other storage items when repurposing your existing items. But you might appreciate these shabby looks.
3. Have your own green cleaning materials arsenal.
Eco-friendly household cleaning materials are becoming more and more readily available. Check out your local store for a range of possible choices. Before you do that, please read this blog post on the topic, which can educate you on the many aspects of natural cleaning solutions. Luckily, you can also make your own general cleaning stuff. Using some well-known ingredients that perhaps you already have in your household makes it easy to create a cleaner that best suits your circumstances. On this page, you can learn more on the topic to help you make a choice that you feel happy about. If you are interested, here is a brief summary.
- Vinegar. The use of vinegar in cooking has been well known for ages. People started using it as a preservative to keep their goods lasting during travel or during the year’s colder months. Just think of the variety of fantastic pickles we can choose from. But it’s not only pickles. We use them to enhance flavour during cooking or add a twist to the combination of spices and drizzle that delicious salad to lift it to the next level. As a cleaner, it has an amazing cleaning effect on appliances, bathrooms, floors etc. The best part? It is non-toxic to you or the environment like many of our usual cleaning stuff. It helps to get rid of stains or bad odours, and the list goes on and on.
- Baking Soda. It is so versatile and can be used in many situations. Starting with cleaning showers and bathrooms paired with a wet microfibre cloth. Works well on a drain system that is getting clogged up. It is an excellent all-purpose scrubber but has to be used cautiously by following the grain of the surface to avoid scratching. Cuts through kitchen grease accumulation g on your stovetop. Combined with lemon juice, it can be used on stainless steel sinks and even has its place when mixing your laundry detergent. And finally, it eliminates bad odour.
- Eucalyptus oil. Just think how refreshing and clean it smells. But also, eucalyptus is an excellent adhesive and grease removal. Do you ever have problems with those small price stickers you can find on stuff you buy in stores? Try eucalyptus oil, and you will be in for a great surprise at how effectively this miracle material removes any remaining adhesive.
4. Use environmentally friendly decor applications.
- One fine example is if you would stick with using water base paint if your organising project requires this depth. It is rather rare to get this deep into renovation during an organising project, but sometimes you want to use different colours in the pantry or kitchen, one that would refresh the space or work more harmoniously with your new design ideas. Water-based paint is not only more eco-friendly, but when you use them, you will notice the difference compared to the strong and lingering smell of any oil paint. Treat yourself the best you can and avoid oil paint. They are terrible for your lungs and your general health. As a bonus, water-based paints have come a long way in the last decade. They are equally or even more durable than the oil counterparts used in the past. If you are still unsure how to tackle this, read an article on the differences between oil and water-based paint.
- Of course, do not forget about what you use in decorating your newly created space. Go green and avoid using petroleum-based products like plastic in any shape or form. There are countless natural options to choose from for modern decoration. Consider using wood, rattan, seagrass, jute, bamboo, or straw. Pick your favourite or go wild and experiment with materials you are not familiar with yet. Have you considered earthenware? But if you are anyone like my hubby, collecting seashells, rocks, and driftwood sticks are just a few options to add to bring sparkle to your home. Play and experiment with this a little. Let your imagination take you away when you are vacationing.
5. Have as many plants in your home as you can.
They are not only pleasing to the eye, but given their nature, they are natural air purifiers and oxygen generation powerhouses, but the benefits are wide-ranging. Yes, they need special attention to stay healthy and fantastic looking. But with a little bit of education, anyone can master the basics of botany. Have you ever had a bonsai? Just take a quick glance here to be amazed by this form of art that brings these natural elements into our homes on an entirely different level!
Given the sheer size of the topic of sustainability and, luckily, how we progress towards new frontiers, we can talk about sustainability for hours on end. Therefore, I am keeping the topic segmented for easier digestion for you, dear reader. More posts will come in the upcoming weeks.
Hopefully, I am able to give you support, inspiring you to take steps to create your own sanctuary.