Though you might not be a diagnosed hoarder, I bet your closet is a bit fuller than it needs to be. When preparing to move myself toward a capsule wardrobe, I noticed items that should have been long gone.

Now, don’t worry! I won’t tell you that you should wear the same outfit every day — though it did work for Steve Jobs!

I’m simply trying to help you figure out what needs to go and what can stay for a bit longer. Do you think I read one too many of Marie Kondo‘s books?

Items That Are Faded/Stained/Hole-y

Apparently, WordPress doesn’t recognise the word “holey,” which is why I tried to fix it with a hyphen. Now it looks even weirder. I even googled it; it does exist. Google knows best.

Back to the topic. You need to get rid of all the stained t-shirts, faded trousers, and most importantly, holey underwear (there it is again!). You seriously can’t expect to take over the world when you’re Target underwear looks like something that got chewed up by your [insert your pet].

Bottom line: If you can see through it, it needs to go. If the shape reminds you of an unidentified object, it needs to go.

Items That Are Too Small

Yes, I know. When you lose weight, you’ll fit into it again. I hate to break it to you, but by the time that happens, that item will probably be out of style.

Just get rid of it now. Does it not make you feel frustrated every time you look at it, knowing you can’t wear it?

Items That Are Hard To Match

The skirt you threw away in step #1 was the only one that matched your yellow top? Chances are, you probably wore it only once in the past 6 months. Unless there is some sentimental explanation behind your unwillingness to bin the top, you might as well just do it now.

Worn Out Shoes

Finding the perfect pair of shoes is hard, especially when it’s the only one that matches your favourite outfit. Since we’re dealing with shoes, do you have any that are too uncomfortable to wear? Ditch those too — they’re just taking up space anyway.

Items That Make You Feel Frumpy/Yucky

I’m sure we all have couple of them. The skirt that fits, but something is just not right. The dress that you almost immediately regret wearing. Why waste time and closet space on items like that?

Note: Isn’t it funny how we think that a particular piece of clothing will fit us better/feel less frumpy than the last time we tried it on (and hated it)?

So, there you have it! Five things that you need to toss out immediately. Just to clarify, by “tossing out,” I don’t necessarily mean throw in the rubbish. Sure, if it’s not wearable anymore, just get rid of it.

Some items, however, might be a blessing to other people. Have a garage sale, drop your clothes off at Goodwill, or simply ask your friends if they want it — just try your best not to send it to the landfill.

Zero Waste Tip: Old t-shirts, cotton dresses, jersey lounge pants, etc. make amazing cleaning cloths. If you don’t want to go out and buy reusable rags or washcloths, make your own! Just cut them up into squares or rectangles (or stars, if you really want to) and you’re ready to clean that sink!

Love Sophie Kinsella’s books? Don’t forget to enter my giveaway! There are only ten days left!

My environmentally conscious friends already know that the carbon footprint of the dairy industry has become an increasingly hot topic over the last decade. When examining a product’s environmental footprint, we must consider variables like greenhouse gas emissions, water use, chemical runoff, and soil degradation. No matter which plant-based milk you enjoy drinking (my favourite is cashew milk), you can cut out an entire chunk of the process that eats up resources and produces greenhouse gases by making your own plant milk at home.

When buying store-bought nut milks, you have to deal with all the crazy ingredients manufacturers like to add to increase shelf life. Though I love drinking a homemade almond milk, straining the pulp from the liquid is more trouble than it’s worth. Homemade cashew milk, however, is a completely different story. It is super easy to make, creamy, and absolutely delicious! Because the nuts blend entirely into the water, cashew milk retains all of the fiber and nutrients present in the nuts.

Ready to make your own? Try my three-ingredient recipe:

Print Recipe

Best Cashew Milk

A delicious and creamy plant-based alternative to dairy milk.

Prep Time4 hrs

Cuisine: Vegan

Keyword: Cashew Milk, Plant-Based Milk

Servings: 5 cups

Equipment

• Blender

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 4 cups water
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preparation

• Soak the cashews in water for at least four hours (overnight is best) in the refrigerator.
• Drain the cashews and rinse thoroughly.

Blending

• Add cashews, water, and vanilla extract to the blender.
• Blend on a high setting until all the nuts are completely blended.
• Store the milk in a covered glass container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Cashew milk should keep for 3 to 4 days. 

As you can see, this recipe is super easy to follow. Cashew milk is packed with nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. If you’re trying to move toward a zero waste lifestyle, this cashew milk offers a great solution for your milk needs — no plastic required. Just get your cashews from the bulk section of your grocery store and bring your own jar! Did I mention that there is absolutely no straining required?

Interested in the sustainability of different milk options? I highly recommend this BBC article!

If you took the time to read my #20for2020, you already know that this year I am trying to reduce the amount of waste I dispose. While the bathroom might be the smallest room in your house, it can create a whole lot of waste. Before jumping into the list, I do want to take a second and discourage you from heading into the bathroom and tossing out everything that’s made out of plastic. Wouldn’t that be wasteful by default? Zero waste lifestyle won’t happen overnight. My advice is to use up what you have (all of it!), and purchase zero waste products as needed. Okay, now that I got that off my chest, I’m ready to show you my favourite zero waste or sustainable bathroom products.

Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar

While Lush has been popular in the UK for quite some time, it is just now gaining people’s favour in the States as well. This particular shampoo bar leaves your hair clean, shiny, and smelling amazing! The best part about this product? Absolutely no packaging! Lush also carries conditioner bars, but since my hair is short, I can get by without it — though I might try it one day.

Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrush

In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 1 billion plastic toothbrushes will end up in landfills every year. Sadly, all this plastic somehow makes its way into our oceans. Millions of animals die every year because they digest our non-biodegradable waste. Why would you wanna stick PVC in your mouth several times a day anyway? Want to make the switch? You can try these Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrushes! You won’t regret it.

Pachafetti Bar Soap

Made with sustainably produced palm oil, wild harvested unrefined Shea butter, and hydrating castor seed oil, this is an amazing gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan product without SLS, parabens, or sulphates. It keeps my skin perfectly hydrated, and the lovely lemongrass scent leaves a smile on my face every time I use it. I get this product from Whole Foods, but I did some research, and you can get it from the manufacturer’s website as well.

Dutchess Menstrual Cup

Thanks to Generation Good’s period campaign, I started paying attention to the materials store-bought menstrual products are made of. Sure, you can buy eco-friendly, organic tampons and pads, but there are numerous reasons you should switch to menstrual cups. For example, it is much better for your body — tampons absorb over 30% of your natural moisture, causing a pH imbalance. It is also better for the environment. One cup can last you a decade! Imagine not having to buy any menstrual products until 2030. According to the GoingZeroWaste blog, by switching to a menstrual cup, you’re diverting at the least 2,880 tampons and pads from the landfill.

Now, just like with tampons, there is a learning curve with menstrual cups. I remember watching about a dozen YouTube videos on how to insert/remove your menstrual cup, but I was still quite freaked out when I had to actually do it. Now, couple months later, I would never go back to tampons. I only have to change my cup twice a day, and there is never any smell or leaking. There are many different brands of menstrual cups on the market. It is best to do your research before you settle on one. I personally use the Dutchess Menstrual Cup.

Though my bathroom is not completely sustainable or zero-waste (it’s actually nowhere near it), I am very happy about the little steps I have taken so far. As I mentioned already, this lifestyle won’t happen overnight, but every step you take towards better environment counts!