Roland’s post the other day prompted me to think about all the different ways I’ve eliminated disposables from my life and prolonged the use of other items. A lot of them quite a few readers already practiced, but I figured I’d try my hand at trying to gather a list of disposable items that can be replaced by multi-use products. Like Roland, I’ve replaced paper napkins with cloth napkins. Sponges have been replaced by dish rags (and one bristled pot scrubber) and tissues with handkerchiefs.

I’ve discovered the handkerchiefs also have the added benefit of functioning as towels when using public restrooms. I keep one folded in my back pocket and the outside functions as a towel while a section folded in the middle acts like a kleenex. When folded well, the inside part never touches the outside section that comes into contact with my hands, preventing the spread of germs. A handkerchief devoted to the gym also works great for cleaning equipment after use, if you frequent a gym. I use one to wipe off my bike after using my bike trainer.

I also try and extend the life of my towels by putting thread-bare and ripped towels to new use. Like toothbrushes taken out of service, these towels haven’t outlived their usefulness yet. One particularly shabby towel was split along the worst parts to create towels for cleaning up spills on the floor, my projects hand towel for when I need to clean my hands after working on my bike and a towel devoted to cleaning the road grit off my bike (particularly with all the salt on the road now). Rather than using paper towels, each particularly dirty task has a specific towel devoted to it. Before going through the wash, they get a thorough rinse in the utility sink and then get added to the other linens.

Plastic bags are another item that I’ve been able to get away without buying for some time. Many people are buying the reusable store bags that are sold at grocery stores, but how about replacing the plastic bags you buy with Tupperware? Too many of my friends just chuck stuff in ziplock bags that can be put in reusable containers. My special treat to myself every three months or so is take out veg korma from my favorite Indian place. Rather than chucking the container, it gets a thorough scrub and is added to my Tupperware collection for use storing my next batch of granola. Got too much Tupperware? Here are some other suggestions for when you’re over run.

I’ve also been able to do away with buying is disposable pens. After my high-school art teacher made a project out of collecting abandoned writing implements and filling an entire bucket, I began to pick up pens. Ok, so none of them are beautiful fountain pens, but I’ve found some pretty nice ones. Found pens go into two categories: nice ones to keep (which I refill with ink) and pens to have on hand when someone asks for a pen.

For me, ditching disposable goods is more about reducing waste than it is about saving money (though it’s a nice coincidence when being environmentally conscious is also cost effective). Of course, our readers usually one up me on a lot of reusable stuff, so if you have any suggestions, let’s hear them in the comments.

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