50 Acts of Green: Day Twenty Seven - Dishcloths

As I go through this 50 Acts of Green Challenge, I keep being surprised by the number of little things we can do which make a huge difference. Most of the things I have written about in the last four weeks have not had huge price tags, they have not been total life make overs. They have been simple and easy things which over time save our landfills, our oceans, and our planet amazing amounts of resources. Less plastic, less water pollution, less waste, less harmful chemicals in our lives do have a way of being game changers though. Once you start the path of caring for the Earth, you find so many ways of showing you care by being mindful of what is good and what is harmful.

Today's act of green is definitely in the category of a small change that can make a huge difference for landfills and toxic chemical waste. Dishcloths. You know, all those little bits of cloth and rags your grandmother used to make and wag at you when she was washing the dishes. Today, many households use disposable sponges. Disposable sponges are problematic for the environment in many ways. First, they are usually made with plastics, which do not easily break down in landfills and have a horrible way of letting out toxic chemicals when they do start to break down. Second, they hold lots of bacteria, which can get into the water system after they have been thrown out. Third, they create landfill fodder. Since they collect bacteria and start to smell after a certain number of uses, people buy more of them, and keep throwing them out! 

Luckily, there are hundreds of other options. Environmentally friendly scrub brushes, natural sponges, recycled material sponges or scrub brushes, or good old fashioned dishcloths, made out of recycled cloth, yarn, or naturally made materials. All of these, in all the different brands and designs, are much more eco-friendly than disposable sponges. So find what works for you. 

One small act of green, plastic saved from landfills everywhere!

My drawer of well used dishcloths and reusable sponges.