To Replace Or Not To Replace?

Countless online articles jammed with affiliate links entice readers to modernize. To swap what's working with something better. To stay relevant with the sleekest and newest. Some such guides even amplify the health and safety benefits associated with upgrading certain home items. But is replacement our only option? How can consumers truly know? On today's show we take 8 common household items and ask the singular question: Do we *really* need to swap out these items with newer models? Here's a preview:  [3:00] Should we actually replace our toilet bowl brushes on the regular (or is a simple cleaning enough)? [7:00] What's the truth when it comes to replacing personal care products? [16:00] Hold up: do surge protecters need replacing? [22:00] Let's talk cutting boards [26:00] All-things mattresses ... again [29;00] Everything you need to know about the efficacy of your smoke alarms Resources mentioned: Sorry, but It’s Probably Time to Replace These 17 Household Essentials (via Wirecutter from NY Times) Tushy toilet brush with replaceable coconut husk cleaning pads Berkey water filters Izzy Zero Waste mascara How to Clean and Care for Wood Cutting Boards (via NY Times) Episode: #208: How to protect yourself from EMFs at home Episode #256: The Best Things In Life Are Free: Sleep -- Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Om Podcasten

Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).