Single-use products are convenient, but they come with a high cost — to the tune of hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. “They are among the most frequent and easiest-to-fix cash flow leaks I see in household budgets,” says home budget expert Cody Schuiteboer. “Cutting that spending will lead to real savings.”
Of course, single-use products also come at a high cost to the environment and often to our own health, thanks to the chemicals they contain and the pollution created by their manufacturing.
Fortunately, cutting back on, or even eliminating, them probably won’t significantly affect your daily routine. I know, because I’ve personally managed to axe just about all of these from my home. While it took a minute to adjust, I’m all the happier, healthier and wealthier for it.
Here are some ideas for single-use items to eliminate from your home to save money, plus easy alternatives for getting by without them.
Paper Towels
The average household uses two or three rolls a week, for an annual cost of about $180. To save money and trees, cleaning expert Marisol Rivera encourages her clients to use paper towels only as an emergency tool for extreme messes, not as an everyday norm.
Affordably replace them with cotton towels, Swedish dish cloths or even old cut-up cotton T-shirts. “While the transition to this system takes about two weeks to become fully automatic, the benefit will last a very long time,” says Schuiteboer.
Plastic Wrap
Swapping out plastic wrap for glass containers with lids, reusable silicon stretch lids or beeswax wraps saves money, plus cuts down on pollution. “Plastic wrap is a product that should be banned from every kitchen drawer in America,” says Schuiteboer. “It is one of the most used single-use plastic items, and it is almost impossible to recycle, so every single piece that has ever been used still exists in a landfill or in the ocean.”
Grocery Bags
Unless you live in a state or city that has placed fees on them, plastic grocery bags don’t directly cost you money — but their environmental cost is enormous, from animals ingesting them to the pollution and greenhouse gases created during their manufacturing.
The average American uses a whopping 365 plastic bags per year, but considering that in Denmark that number is just four, it should be pretty easy to make the switch to reusable totes. To streamline the process, Rivera recommends keeping a few foldable bags in your car or purse at all times.
Disposable Cups
Single-use disposable cups and lids can accumulate quickly, especially if you make daily coffee runs or host a lot of entertaining. To replace them, Rivera recommends purchasing a basic set of lightweight cups or mason jars for guests, and a good-quality insulated travel mug for drinks on the go.
“Once the travel mug becomes second-nature to grab, that greatly reduces the amount of disposable cups you throw away,” she says. Many coffee shops are also happy to refill your reusable mug with your favorite beverage.
Bottled Water
Regularly buying bottled water can add up to $500 or more a year, plus all of those plastic bottles introduce harmful toxins into your body and create a tremendous amount of waste.
“Bottled water demonstrates a clear lack of financial consideration,” says Schuiteboer. “I advise clients to cut this spending, as it is both quick and easy.”
Instead, invest in stainless-steel water bottles for on-the-go hydration. And if you don’t trust your tap water, use an under-sink or pitcher filter. To make the transition easier, Rivera suggests filling reusable bottles the night before and leaving them ready to go next to the door.
Disposable Razors
“The disposable razor industry operates on the assumption that it must normalize disposables,” says Schuiteboer. But, a quality cartridge razor or a safety razor with disposable blades, will pay for itself in well under a year, plus save on plastic waste.
It will also save on frustration, says Rivera, by eliminating that drawer full of possibly still good disposable blades.
Cleaning Wipes
Pre-moistened cleaning wipes are convenient, but expensive and easily abused, says Rivera. She recommends substituting them with a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a set of microfiber cloths. Then, reserve a small canister of disinfecting wipes strictly for illnesses.
Microfiber cloths also clean better, says Schuiteboer, since they’re more effective at trapping bacteria and dirt. Pro-tip: color-code your cloths, with separate colors for the kitchen, glass and bathroom.
Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets
These chemicals don’t just cost money outright, they can damage your appliances and cause health issues ranging from skin irritation to asthma, migraines and hormone disruption.
“They also leave a waxy coating on fibers, making them absorb less dirt and water,” says Schuiteboer. “This makes your towels less effective.” Instead, add white distilled vinegar to the rinse compartment to remove buildup and odors, and use wool dryer balls and low heat to eliminate static cling, says Rivera.
Shower Puffs, Sponges and Loofahs
Save money by switching to regular washcloths. “Loofahs and mesh shower puffs in your bathroom are popular, but rarely cleaned well,” says medical expert James J. Chao. That results in organic material and moisture becoming trapped in the pores, promoting microbial growth. “They can also cause folliculitis or minor skin irritation if you continually rub them on your skin,” says Chao.
The same goes for kitchen sponges. Switching to dishcloths you wash and replace daily, or a brush that can dry standing up, will save you money and microbes. “A few dollars spent on rags can literally save you thousands in skin infections,” says Chao.
FAQ
What counts as a single-use item?
A single-use item is a product designed to be used a limited number of times, then discarded. “Even if the packaging is not labeled ‘disposable,’ the product’s price point dictates its purpose,” says Schuiteboer. “If it’s low-cost enough that washing it or keeping it for future use isn’t rational, it is single-use.”
Won’t reusable items create more laundry?
Yes, a little more. “But the math doesn’t support this as a meaningful argument,” says Schuiteboer. “Most homes can easily fit the additional items into laundry cycles without adding an extra load.”
Rivera recommends combining those additional cloths with existing loads of towels, then line-drying them for extra savings.
About the Experts
- Cody Schuiteboer is president and CEO of Best Interest Financial, where he talks to customers about household budget optimization every day.
- Marisol Rivera is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid Austin.
- James J. Chao, MD, FACS, is co-founder and chief medical officer of VedaNu Wellness in San Diego, California.
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