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Sustainable Home Ideas That Caught Our Eye on Social Media This Month
From turning your old clothes and packaging into food storage, to properly maintaining your car and washing machine, these helpful tips from social media prove it doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming to become more sustainable at home.
(Image credit: Lisa Fotios/Pexels)
Since TriplePundit launched our Sustainable Living Challenge, I'm seeing way more eco-friendly living tips pop up on my "for you" pages across social media. As they say, once you have an eye out for something, you start to see it everywhere. These simple, accessible recommendations for creating a more sustainable home stood out most to me this month, and they're helpful for anyone looking to cut their personal footprints down to size.
Become a laundry pro to make your clothes (and washing machine) last longer
Denise Jordan has "managed a home for more than 50 years" and shares her top tips for the younger generation on social media, including her YouTube channel Homemaking with Denise that boasts more than 67,000 followers. In this quick video, she provides a wealth of helpful information that can improve anyone's laundry skills.
While sustainability tips like using the cold-water cycle and washing during off-peak hours are fairly well known, fewer people think about the things they do when washing that can make their clothes — not to mention their mashing machines — wear out before their time. Simple steps like turning clothes inside out, avoiding overfilled loads and using the right amount of detergent can help extend the life of both. Trust us, you'll be thanking Denise later, and she's got plenty more where that came from on her account.
Reuse your peanut jars more easily (and get a snack in the process)
I love reusing old jars as food storage containers, and peanut butter is a common pick. But I won't lie, removing those leftover bits can be a major pain. Believe it or not, when I worked for a low-waste lifestyle publication many moons ago, we wrote a whole article about the best way to clean your PB jar to reuse it, so you're not wasting so much water that you cancel out your good eco deed.
This method, though, is way better than a soak and elbow grease. Simply follow this recipe to turn those leftover PB dregs into a tasty peanut sauce for stir fries or salads. Once you're done, the jar will be way easier to reuse and no bits of your peanut butter have gone to waste. The video is part of an ongoing "scrappy cooking" series from Carleigh Bodrug of the plant-based, low-waste Instagram account PlantYou. Check out her page for more ideas.
Turn your old clothes into reusable wax food wraps
This is a classic example of how creating a more sustainable home doesn't have to cost money. Wax wraps act in place of tin foil or plastic film to keep foods fresh and contained. They're easy to find for purchase online and in local shops, but the sticker price is often much higher than a roll of cling film.
It makes sense why reusable wraps would cost more, especially if the brand prioritizes things like sustainable sourcing and equitable pay. That's great to support, but not everyone has the financial means to spend more upfront, even for something they plan to reuse. And that difference in sticker price can reinforce the idea that sustainability "isn't for me" or is only "for rich people."
It really is not, and this is a case in point. This method from Alessandro Vitale, an urban gardener with over 4.5 million followers on Instagram under the moniker SpicyMustache, uses low-cost materials to transform old clothes and other household fabrics into wax wrap replacements for free. If you have any "ick" about reusing clothes in this way, disinfecting them first with common household items like baking soda can help.
Maintain your car with help from an Internet Dad
If you have a car, keeping it maintained can improve fuel economy, which reduces the carbon footprint of your trips. Proper maintenance also keeps your car running better for longer, and as we know, the most sustainable thing is the thing you already have. Still, knowing which things to check and fill can be overwhelming for those who aren't used to it.
Dad Advice From Bo is here to help. The popular Instagram account amassed more than 3.5 million followers by sharing practical advice from a father of six who likes to fix things himself at home. This video featuring "dad advice" for basic car maintenance, in partnership with NAPA Auto Parts, is a great place to start for keeping your car in top shape.
Create a tasty reuse solution for that half a cabbage in the back of your fridge
We tried out making homemade stock from leftover vegetable scraps earlier this month, but we were saddened to learn that cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can make your broth bitter and aren't the best fit. If you struggle to get through the whole head of cabbage, this recipe is a quick and tasty solution.
Kathryn Kellogg, who shares sustainable and frugal living tips on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, posted her favorite recipe for roasted cabbage in a miso maple dressing that is tailor-made for cabbage that's already started to go limp. It's part of an ongoing recipe series based on commonly-wasted food items, so check out her account for more ideas.
Tips to create a more sustainable home all year long
Jhánneu Roberts shares sustainable home and travel recommendations with more than 50,000 followers across channels like YouTube and Instagram. In this short video, she lists five things that almost anyone could try to become more sustainable at home in 2024. From choosing loose-leaf tea to leaving paper towels behind, it's a good reminder that creating a more sustainable home doesn't have to mean changing everything right away. Even small shifts add up over time, which is a notion we're always here for.
Have you tried out anything new to reduce your environmental impact at home this month? We'd love to hear your sustainable home ideas, advice and experiences! Get in touch here for the chance to be featured in an upcoming TriplePundit story.
Mary has reported on sustainability and social impact for over a decade and now serves as executive editor of TriplePundit. She is also the general manager of TriplePundit's Brand Studio, which has worked with dozens of organizations on sustainability storytelling, and VP of content for TriplePundit's parent company 3BL.
