How We Saved Money and Went Tree Free with Reusable Cloth

Our clever munchkin recently dropped a bombshell, saying, "Mommy, did you know we blow our noses into trees?" I immediately switched to eco-warrior mode and replied, "Not in our house, kiddo!" We've revolutionized our nose-blowing game by ditching disposable paper and embracing reusable cloth. Sure, it means a smidge more laundry, but it's totally worth it. Okay, fine, I'll admit, on those super snotty days, we bring out the big guns and surrender to a box of Kleenex. But for everyday use, we've saved a truckload of cash by avoiding tissue and paper towel hoarding.

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These trusty cotton handkerchiefs have been the MVPs since our little ones were tiny humans. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they're also like a soft cloud caressing their delicate noses. These babies dry quickly, so you can rinse and hand-wash them if needed, but let's be real, we mostly just toss 'em in the washer and dryer to keep them sanitized and ready for the next sneeze.

Speaking of keeping clean, our sensory sensitive littles can't stand the feeling of stickiness or messiness on their hands, especially during mealtime. They're always reaching for a napkin, which is why we're saving money and trees with these fabulously colorful dinner napkins. And guess what? They're not just for wiping mouths—napkin folding crafts are a fun way to combat boredom on a rainy day, and cloth is the only way to go for napkin folding masterpieces.

In the kitchen, we've upgraded our cleaning game with dish towels and cotton flannel reusable towels. They're perfect for cleaning up spills, wrapping up food, or even mopping up bacon grease (our kid's a bacon fiend!). And since we're talking grease, we toss these gems into the dishwasher before joining the laundry pile. A pack of 24 lasts us ages before we have to roll them back onto the cardboard roll. Oh, and the best part? They're only a smidgen pricier than a 12-pack of paper towels. Who needs a pantry hogged by a tower of paper towel rolls anyway?

But hey, before you jump to the conclusion that our home is completely paper free, there are two instances where only paper will do for us. First, toilet paper – although, if you're the proud owner of a bidet, you could totally rock washable TP too. Second, printer paper and arts and crafts paper.

So we found a fantastic compromise—bamboo! Unlike trees, bamboo grows like crazy, and using it for paper doesn't leave the resource high and dry. Bamboo paper has so many perks, besides being better for the planet, it's also softer and stronger than that single-ply recycled stuff that screams "Divorce!" so it's better for your marriage too! Our go-to is Cloudpaper. Use my referral link and get $10 off bamboo toilet paper and paper towels, plus they'll plant 5 trees with your purchase.

As for printing and drawing, we scored a stash of TreeZero sugarcane-based paper back in the day, but until that becomes an affordable option again, we're guiltlessly embracing 100% post-consumer recycled paper. No more paper waste regrets when the kids unleash their creativity on hundreds of sheets.

So there you have it—our journey to save the rainforests, one nose blow, meal mess, and spill at a time. As parents, you too can become the unsung heroes of eco-friendly consumerism, fighting the battles against waste and championing sustainability in your own unique way and inspiring the next generation of eco-warriors.