Ever since my little guy came along, I'm way more conscious about what I put into my body and the products in my home. To put it bluntly, I am super paranoid about harsh chemicals affecting Bo.
But, as we all know, buying organic foods and natural cleaning and body products (not to mention organic mattress, clothes, etc.) is way more expensive than conventional versions.
Nevertheless, I've decided to tackle the project of making the switch to "cleaner," more environmentally-friendly, and safe products for our home.
Here are a few things I've learned about keeping things budget-friendly when making the switch:
But, as we all know, buying organic foods and natural cleaning and body products (not to mention organic mattress, clothes, etc.) is way more expensive than conventional versions.
Nevertheless, I've decided to tackle the project of making the switch to "cleaner," more environmentally-friendly, and safe products for our home.
Here are a few things I've learned about keeping things budget-friendly when making the switch:
- Prioritize - it's okay to take things slowly. I'm not rich lady, so I'm not going to empty out my pantry and buy organic versions of everything at once. So, I had to make some decisions about where to start. I decided on fruits and vegetables. There's clear guidance out there (see image below) about which fruits and vegetables have the most chemicals - this was super helpful for me. After I started with my fruits and veggies, I started working on my meat purchases.
- Before buying expensive natural cleaners, try using baking soda for cleaning. IT'S A MIRACLE WORKER and IT'S CHEAP. When we moved from our apartment into our house, I used baking soda to scrub down all 4 bathrooms, kitchen appliances, and sinks. It gets up pretty much any stain and makes everything look brand new. I would put a little bit of Mrs. Meyer's All-Purpose Cleaner on a sponge, sprinkle baking soda over whatever it was I was cleaning and go to town. Hooray for clean things, without harsh chemicals or big money involved. Goodbye Clorox, hello Aldi-brand baking soda. There's a ton of stuff out there about all kinds of homemade cleaners that are pretty simple involving vinegar, lemon, essential oil, and baking soda. Here's a guide from HGTV if you want to start learning more about homemade cleaners. If you want a list of the worst household cleaners (i.e. that have the most scary chemicals), here's a starting point.
- Gradually switch out your body and non-perishable food products - don't buy the organic / harsh-chemical-free version of a product until you run out of the old one first. Ideally, I would get rid of all harsh chemical products at once. But for me, that's not financially feasible. For most of us, it's probably not financially feasible. What I've done is replace my body products with a less harsh one ONLY when the first one runs out. This means I'm replacing only a few products a month rather than a whole bathroom full. Last month, I bought shampoo, conditioner, and hand soap. Same goes for foods that are non-perishable. Only switch when you run out.
- Do your research. This one isn't as fun. Sorry. Only a few nerds out there, like me, like to research. But seriously, there's big business in labeling cookies "organic," but that doesn't mean they're good for you. I know this isn't a quick tip like the others, but it matters people. This is how I made decisions about what I'd prioritize in buying - or how I found out about cleaning products like baking soda. It takes time, but it pays off.
Any other tips for how to save money when it comes to making the switch to safe, natural, organic products?