Sustainability
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Sew reusable tote bags from thrift store fabric scraps.
It is zero waste and frugal.
one person who lived it
- Learn basic self-taught sewing skills to treat thrift stores as a source of customizable clothing.1
Place an anti-slip mat below fabric rugs to prevent slipping.
Falling is not nice.
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Reuse pickle jars for storing dry goods like pasta to avoid the cost and replacement uncertainty of buying new containers.
Buying new specialized containers can cost around $5 each, and replacements may be unavailable if they break.
- The jars may retain a pickle smell.
one person who lived it
Use free USPS Priority Mail boxes and envelopes to save on shipping supplies.
USPS provides these boxes for free.
- Priority mail postage costs significantly more than first class.
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Dye black pants or work clothes regularly when they fade to restore their color.
It saves money.
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bags, old, cut, reusable68
Cut the sleeves off unwearable shirts to use as rags for cleaning floors.
Place broken glass or sharp items in cut bubble mailers before putting them in the garbage.
It prevents the garbage bag from breaking and keeps children safe if they access the trash.
one person who lived it
Use reusable bags only for short-term storage (about one to two days) for non-refrigerated items like crackers or lunches.
For longer storage or large items like bread, another method is needed.
- Not suitable for longer than a day or two
- Not suitable for large items like bread
one person who lived it
Repurpose clear plastic sheet set bags as clear bags for concert venues.
Most concerts require clear bags as a security measure, and these bags are surprisingly sturdy with two interior pockets.
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Cut tags off cheap shorts to use as free stickers for potty training rewards.
Stickers are highly motivating for children.
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Build a mini storage locker from cardboard boxes with a working cardboard lock and key to store gifts.
It provides a fun way to reveal gifts without using wrapping paper.
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Reuse Ziploc bags only if they held easy-to-clean items; discard them if they held raw meat or greasy substances.
Plastic degrades and does not wash completely clean; soft plastic is not considered cleanable from a food safety perspective.
- Some users report that single-use bags should never be reused due to food safety concerns.
one person who lived it
Hand-sew an old baby blanket into a stuffed animal to create a cherished gift.
It becomes a beloved item that the parent went out of their way to create.
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Hand-sew a new zipper into a hoodie if the original breaks.
It is very simple, though it takes some time.
one person who lived it
Use shoe goo to repair damaged footwear by building a thick layer.
It is legit.
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Give reclaimed cashmere yarn as a gift to friends who knit or crochet.
It is an awfully fine gift.
one person who lived it
Cut old tights into strips to use as hair ties.
They are soft, stretchy, and do not pull or snag like store-bought ones.
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Stitch leather scraps onto gloves to repair them, then seal the seam with paste glue.
It creates a good patch, even for beginners.
one person who lived it
Buy spices, lentils, rice, and similar items from the bulk foods aisle to save money.
They are cheaper there.
one person who lived it
Save bubble wrap from packages to use for packing other items.
It is much cheaper than buying fresh rolls.
one person who lived it
Keep bread bags on counters to collect vegetable scraps during prep, then tie them off to contain odors.
Keeps odor in if you don't make much trash.
one person who lived it
Use empty KT Tape containers to store earrings and earring backs.
Both the top and bottom of the container screw off.
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- Use empty KT Tape containers as pill organizers for your purse.1
Look for boxes with separate lids, such as printer paper cases, for durable storage.
They are pretty sturdy and stack well, making them ideal for moving.
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Do not donate stained or damaged clothing to homeless shelters.
Staff often throw it out, wasting their time.
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Dry washed Ziploc bags by setting them open on floor vents or using plastic chopsticks stuck upright in a jar as a drying rack.
The chopstick method takes up less space.
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Store weed in dark glass jars, such as beer bottles, because glass is non-porous and light degrades the product.
Glass is non-porous and exposure to light degrades weed.
one person who lived it
Add water to a nearly empty detergent bottle and shake it to rinse out the remaining product.
It is faster.
one person who lived it
Clean plastic parts of shoes with nail polish remover.
It dissolves dirt.
one person who lived it
Sell official replacement game cases on eBay, including artwork and manuals if available.
People will pay for official replacement cases; some want the artwork or manuals, while others just want the cases.
- DVD cases may not sell as well individually; consider selling them in lots.
one person who lived it
Reuse standardized glass jars from pickles, jelly, or mayo as cups or storage containers for dry goods and leftovers.
Lids are often interchangeable or can be purchased to match the standard sizes.
one person who lived it
Dye old clothes different colors using organic dye made from expired food to make them feel new again.
To make them 'new' again.
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Give away foam packing peanuts for free on Craigslist or to online sellers to reuse as packing material.
Packing supplies are not cheap.
one person who lived it
Buy Pyrex glass sets for food storage.
They are reasonably priced and will last forever.
one person who lived it
Use Stasher brand reusable silicone bags.
They seal incredibly well and are easy to clean.
one person who lived it
Use old socks with holes as cleaning rags for woodwork and shelves.
The nubbly soft texture is effective for cleaning these surfaces.
one person who lived it
- Repurpose old clothes, underwear, socks, or towels that no longer fit into cleaning rags for grease, engines, or general messes.3
Donate old DVD or game cases to libraries to replace beat-up ones.
Library cases are often worn out.
one person who lived it
Sew a heating pad cover from cashmere sweater fabric.
It would be super luxurious.
one person who lived it
Put liquids like shampoo in Ziploc bags when traveling.
To prevent leakage in luggage.
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Cut old jersey clothes into half-inch strips and loop them together to create fabric yarn for crocheting bath mats or rugs.
one person who lived it
Use thick material like canvas for DIY tote bags.
It ensures durability for the long term.
one person who lived it
Offer a discount on feed bag totes if customers add a bag to their purchase to encourage low waste.
To avoid buying plastic grocery bags for customers just to throw away.
one person who lived it
Use an electric lint remover on clothes with lint to reduce sensory issues.
Lint sometimes triggers sensory issues.
- Sometimes it doesn't help.
one person who lived it
Use wax paper and masking tape to wrap bagel sandwiches instead of repurposing CD spindles.
CD spindles are hard to clean, often don't fit all bagels, and require punching holes that make a mess.
one person who lived it
Touch up scuffs on the back of heels with red permanent marker.
- The texture is not perfect and they are not as good as new.
one person who lived it
Insert insoles from one pair of sneakers into another pair with worn soles.
Quite comfy.
one person who lived it
Freeze fresh fruits individually on cooking sheets before putting them into reused Ziploc bags.
This keeps the fruit separate when put into bags.
one person who lived it
Collect vintage cotton pillowcases and sheets.
Current ones do not have the same feel, and vintage ones often have fun patterns you don't get anymore.
one person who lived it
Buy a durable mop instead of cheap disposable ones to save money on replacements and reduce waste over time.
Cheap plastic mops break frequently, requiring constant repurchases.
- It requires a little more work than disposable options.
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Cut the sleeves off unwearable shirts to use as rags for cleaning floors.
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- Use cut-up t-shirts as reusable dusting pads instead of disposable Swiffer pads.1
Line wool skullcaps made from old sweaters with old sweatshirt material.
It reduces itchiness and adds coziness.
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Sew reusable makeup remover pads from old flannel pajamas.
Flannel is soft on the face and machine-washable, eliminating the need to buy cotton pads.
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- Combine old towel fabric and flannel pajamas to make reusable wipes, storing used ones in a bag for washing.1
Donate clothes locally rather than to large organizations like the Red Cross or Salvation Army.
Large organizations may send clothes abroad at low prices, potentially crippling local industries.
- Sending clothes abroad can provide income for people in those regions.
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Cover store logos on reusable bags with fabric pockets to hide advertising and provide a spot for receipts or flat items.
It prevents giving stores free advertising.
one person who lived it
Buy Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries for their long life and efficiency.
They are superior to other AAs for long life and efficiency.
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Sew a dress from an old t-shirt for children's activities like tie-dyeing.
one person who lived it
- Make skirts and shorts for children out of clean, non-faded old adult clothing.1
Cut leggings with holes in the knees and hem them to create bicycle shorts for summer wear.
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- Repurpose leggings with holes in the seat into yoga mat bags by knotting the leg ends together to form a handle.1
Sew patches onto worn-out jeans to refresh them; they can be cut off later when the child outgrows the pants.
one person who lived it
Flip gift bags inside out to reuse them as new gift packaging.
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Use clear plastic sheet set bags to store electronics cables in separate bags by type.
This minimizes tangling.
one person who lived it
Use a pill container to organize earrings while traveling.
It makes managing them easier.
one person who lived it
Cut up old gift bags to use as material for collages with children.
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Add vinegar to laundry washes to kill bacteria and eliminate odors from clothes.
It kills bacteria and eliminates odors.
one person who lived it
Thread cables through the hollow center of empty KT Tape containers for cable management.
It keeps the cables relatively contained.
one person who lived it
Sew leftover curtain fabric into a sturdy shopping bag using existing yarn; it takes about an hour and costs nothing extra.
one person who lived it
Cut buttons off old shirts and keep them in a basket for later use, such as replacing mismatched sets.
one person who lived it
- Before discarding clothing, salvage buttons, zippers, snaps, lace collars, and appliques for future projects.1
Save large ziplock bags found in online order packing materials for storage purposes.
one person who lived it
Turn black pants inside out and apply black electrical tape to the underside of holes.
one person who lived it
Apply palm balm wax to dog paws to moisturize them and protect against ice scratching or cutting the thin skin.
It keeps the beans moisturized and prevents ice from scratching or cutting the thin skin.
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Air dry dyed garments laying flat to prevent uneven dye distribution caused by tumbling in a dryer.
Dryers cause garments to turn, move, and squash, which can bunch up remaining dye in specific places.
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Wind unraveled yarn into a loose bundle, soak it in water, then dry it under tension with a weight.
This process helps remove kinks from yarn that has been knit and unraveled.
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Steam unraveled yarn to relax fibers.
Steaming helps improve the appearance of the yarn.
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