Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic Usage and Save Money

After getting hooked on shampoo and conditioner bars, I decided to stop using plastic containers for my laundry detergent, pet shampoo, and dish soap. I was throwing dozens plastic containers into my recycle bin each week, and it bothered me that I was contributing to the 515,000 tons of plastic waste that ends up on the curb each week. Newsflash: China is not buying our plastic waste anymore so our plastic waste goes to the landfill!

It’s really easy to make 5 gallons of laundry soap.  It only needs a few ingredients and you can make it in about 5 minutes.  I went to Home Depot and bought 5-gallon containers (OK, I bought 5-gallon plastic containers that I’ll reuse indefinitely!), ordered the ingredients online, and now I have a year’s supply.  I refill glass containers with a spigot so it’s easy to use.  I love the fresh smell from using wholesome ingredients. 

While I was on a roll, I also made 5 gallons of dish soap that I also use in my liquid soap containers in all of the bathrooms. Next I made a gallon of pet shampoo.  I wanted to make sure my giant dogs (black labs/German Shepherd) liked it before making 5 gallons. 

The best part, I don’t have to lug heavy gallon containers of laundry detergent, dish soap, and pet shampoo from the grocery store to my car, and then from my car to the house, anymore. I save lots of money, too.  And the most important part is that I am reducing the amount of plastic containers that end up in the landfills!