Let’s be real, people. If you’ve read a handful of my posts, you know this momma is cheap. I don’t mean it in a bad, two dollar hooker kind of way. I just mean if I can save a buck (or ten) you better believe I will.
Luckily this works nicely with my desire to be nice to the world we live in. I mean, the whole reduce, reuse, recycle mantra should tell you straight off the bat that thriftiness is an eco-friendly lady’s best weapon.
Since Earth Day is next Monday, I thought I’d let my inner granola-crunching, tree-hugging hippie run wild and show off a few of my favorite eco-friendly organization tips.
All of the tips I’m sharing today are ideas for reusing something you would usually just throw out, like this coffee creamer container. Instead of throwing it in with the rest of my recycling, I decided to reuse it.
I peeled off the label and washed it really well (I used a bottle brush to make sure I got in all of the nooks and crannies. A funky old milk smell is not something I’m going for) and filled it with Goldfish. We buy them in bulk at BJs and they come in plastic bags that I inevitably rip straight to the bottom.
This idea works especially well on car trips and picnics–or anytime you need to throw some snacks at the babes on the go. Added bonus: it fits in my cabinets much more nicely than the annoying bag.
One of my favorite things to reuse are empty wipes containers. I usually just buy refill packs and fill up the same container over and over, but once in a while we end up with a new tub. They’re great for storing small things like the girls’ washcloths, craft supplies, and even baby shoes.
I stuff this container with their washcloths and put it in the linen closet knowing that I won’t have to dig for them when bath time comes around. They don’t fall on the floor or get mixed up with the rest of the mess I have going on in there.
We were going to throw out this old spice rack but I decided it would be perfect to hold beads that didn’t have homes. I cleaned out each of the jars (and broke a couple in the process because it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t) and have slowly started organizing my jewelry making supplies.
These would also work well for buttons and even office supplies like paperclips, thumbtacks and rubber bands.
My all-time favorite eco-friendly organization tip though has to be the shoe box. I can’t tell you how many shoe boxes are sitting around in different places in our house.
I started out using them in the girls’ dressers so that I could keep their socks together. It’s especially helpful with teeny little baby socks which seem to get lost any time you think about them. It has made life so much easier when I’m trying to dress them quickly because we’re running late (again). I also started using them to hold the eight trillion pairs of tights they both seem to have.
I really use shoe boxes just about everywhere. I use them to keep all of our nail polish together, to organize bathroom drawers, and to hold craft paint. I used one to make a craft caddy for Sam and to separate their winter gloves from the rest of their winter accessories mess.
I’ve even started using other cardboard boxes to store things. This graham cracker box is filled with toilet paper tubes that we put all sorts of wires and chargers in. The toilet paper tubes keep them separated so they don’t turn into a big tangled mess.
Some cardboard boxes hold up better than others (this one has seen better days). Shoe boxes are probably the best if you’re going to be moving and touching it a lot. This graham cracker box is OK for the wires because we don’t use these very often.
Samantha has even started to pick up on my shoe box habit. She has a pretty extensive lip gloss collection (this is not all of it, believe it or not) which she has started hiding from her sister in this shoe box.
It’s inexpensive, eco-friendly and it’s taming our mess. I’m thinking this whole reusing thing is a big fat win.
Do you have any eco-friendly organization tips to share? You know I’m always looking for new ones!
Linking up with: Craft-O-Maniac, Skip to my Lou, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Cupcake-n-Bake, Alderberry Hill, and Keeping It Simple.
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Hi! I'm Jen, a freelance writer and girl mom who loves reading the newest children’s books as much as I love a good psychological thriller. I believe fiercely in the power of kindness, empathy, and really good quality chocolate. When I'm not knee-deep in glittery crafts and girl talk, you can probably find me sprawled out on my couch in the middle of a Netflix marathon with dark chocolate smeared on my face. The struggle is real. 
Love these ideas! I’m going to take a closer look at all the bottles and cans we toss in the recycling bin each week 🙂
You’ll be amazed! And I have to say– if it saves me some money, I’m all for it!
Use parmesian cheese cans ( the kind with the green lid) are great for when you buy spices in bulk. LIke minced onion and parsly flakes. Also good for making your own cinnamon sugar mix for toast. Also great to put Baking soda in, it keeps it from absorbing odors in your cupboard, or keep it by the kitchen sink to sprinkle it to clean pots or the sink even. Use it to put powdered sugar on french toast or baked goods when you bake. Flour when you are making dough, to sprinkle on your counter before kneeding.
They are also great for crafts. Store all kinds of things in them.
when you buy in bulk you can also you these for goldfish crackers , raisins, cheerios, etc, the large hole lets you pour easily. Uses are endless.
Such a great idea! They’d probably make a pretty good glitter shaker too.
Also, love the idea of keeping baking soda in one! I use it to clean so many different things and it would be perfect to shake into the bathtub and the sink!
Yes! All of the above! I love using shoe boxes for organization, and don’t get me started on all the empty glass and plastic jars that are waiting for me to reuse in some form or fashion. Green AND thrifty!
It’s the only way to be! 😉