Welcome to the A Drop in the Ocean blog!

Every Monday we're popping into our EcoWarrior community's inboxes with practical + actionable tips for living more sustainably, and we're always working hard to add those emails to our blog as well. But we're a small team and sometimes we get behind because, hey, we're human.

So if you want these kinds of tips every week, without even leaving your inbox, join the EcoWarriors for Make Waves Mondays - because that's one thing we don't get behind on. Pinky promise.

Blog

How to Use a Zero Waste Dish Soap Bar

I’ve been using a zero waste solid dish soap bar for years and I can’t imagine ever going back to liquid. It’s just so much more convenient to use, is quite literally zero waste, and honestly just looks better next to my sink than a plastic bottle of Dawn. But if you’ve never used a solid dish soap bar before, you might be hesitant to make the switch. So let's talk about it!

How to Use a Safety Razor for a Plastic-Free Shave Routine
My safety razor is my all time favorite zero waste swap! So today we’re gonna take a dive into the world of plastic-free shaving and what makes safety razors the ultimate zero waste swap you’ll ever make - plus a step-by-step guide for how to use a safety razor for a totally plastic-free shave.
A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: The Ultimate Guide to Swedish Dishcloths
We're taking a DEEP dive into one of our favorite zero waste essentials - Swedish dishcloths. We're covering everything you ever wanted to know about them - from what they are, why they're a must-have in any sustainable home, how to use them, how to care for them, and ultimately how to dispose of them.
A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Store: 60+ Ways to Live More Sustainably Every Day

I did an audit of all the random things I do in a day to live more sustainably that I honestly don’t even notice anymore. Because living sustainably isn’t a checklist or a to-do list. It’s our small choices, every day, that add up to the big stuff. These small changes have had real, tangible, impacts in reducing my waste - whether wasted time, energy, or money - without having to think about them all the time.

A Drop in the Ocean Shop: How to care for reusable period underwear
Switching to reusable period underwear has been a freaking GAME CHANGER. But if you've never used them before, they can seem "gross" if you don't know how to clean and take care of them. So today we're taking a deep dive into how to properly care for zero waste period undies - with no mess and no smell.
A Drop in the Ocean Shop How to Use Powder-to-Liquid Hand Soap

While some of our eco-products are obvious and easy to understand, many of them may not be. There’s so much innovation happening in this space, and today I'm showcasing one of my favorite, new, innovative zero waste products on our shelves - powder-to-liquid hand soap.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Blog: Everything you need to know about wool dryer balls

Let’s dive into one of my very favorite and very first zero waste swaps - wool dryer balls. Whether you’re trying to reduce waste, cut out fragrances, avoid chemicals, save time, or save money…wool dryer balls are an absolute necessity. So let’s break down what exactly dryer balls are, why they’re so great, and how to get the absolute most out of them.

7 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Toothbrushes

One of my favorite zero waste tools for deep cleaning? An old bamboo toothbrushI mean, we gotta brush our teeth anyway, right? So today I'm sharing some of my favorite ways to reuse bamboo toothbrushes around the house once they're retired from cleaning our teeth.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Shop 5 Simple Tips to Make Soap Bars Last Longer in the Shower

Two weeks ago, I shared my top 7 reasons to switch to shampoo and conditioner bars. They’re some of my favorite, easy, zero waste swaps, but if you’ve never used them before, you may not  know the best ways to take care of them. So today I’m sharing five ways to care for bar soaps and make them last as long as possible.

7 Reasons to Switch to Shampoo + Conditioner Bars

If you’re anything like me, one of the first zero waste swaps you heard of was shampoo and conditioner bars. But sometimes the idea of switching from a liquid bottle of shampoo from Target to a sustainable, package free shampoo bar can be a bit uncomfy. So today, I sat down and made a list of seven reasons I love shampoo and conditioner bars, and why they’re such a great swap to keep your bathroom waste free ✌️

A Drop in the Ocean Shop Zero Waste Deodorant Vendor Spotlight with Bai-li Essentials
We’re turning the mic over to our zero waste vendors! This week, get to know Bailey Noble, who makes our zero waste all-natural deodorants. In this video, we’re chatting about everything from how Bai-li Essentials got its start, to the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant, to our personal searches for effective deodorant.
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Store Izzy Mascara Review

Lemme tell ya, the sustainable mascara journey has been a frustrating oneSo after waiting for FAR too long, I finally decided it’s time to stop using the same mascara I’ve been using for three years. And in my quest to find the best products out there, I was excited to finally give Izzy zero waste mascara a try, and I’m excited to share with you my experience!

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Shop Vendor Spotlight with Potluck Press
We’re turning the mic over to our zero waste vendors! This month we’re hanging out with Rosie and Karen from Potluck Press, who print our zero waste Swedish dishcloths. In this video, we’re chatting about everything from how Potluck Press got its start to the process of printing a Swedish dishcloth!
A Drop in the Ocean Tacoma Zero Waste Store 5 Swaps I Didn't Know I Needed

Today, on our third anniversary, I'm looking at our little zero waste shop and I’m reminded of this journey - and how you have helped shape A Drop in the Ocean into what it is. So I thought I’d take some time to share five zero waste swaps we've added to the shop because you, our EcoWarriors, asked for them.

6 Ways to Wrap Furoshiki
There’s a lot we can do to reduce our waste during the holiday season, including how we package our gifts. Let's take a look at the beauty of Furoshiki wraps, and we'll show you how to wrap six different types of gifts using just one wrap, all with zero waste.
A Drop in the Ocean Shop 3 Reasons to Ditch Paper Towels

How much more sustainable are reusable items versus disposable? What a great question! Let's take a look at paper towels and how much water we can save by making the switch to reusables.

A Drop in the Ocean Shop 8 Tips for a Low Waste Wedding

This past weekend I was away at a wedding that was so beautiful, so full of love and happiness, and so...low waste! I couldn't help but document the whole thing to share with you. So today, here are 8 tips for a zero waste wedding, inspired by Kirk and Meghann’s big day.

A Drop in the Ocean Zero Waste Sustainable Living Blog Back to School

I may be a wee bit late to the party, but back to school is in full swing! I’ve compiled nine of my favorite tips for a zero waste back to school season, just for you. Or, if you’re returning to your office soon and need a revamp, think of this as your guide to a zero waste back to office season 😉