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These 15 Everyday Items Are Just Not Worth Buying Anymore

March 12, 2024 · Shopping
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Photo by Rattiya Thongdumhyu on Shutterstock

Disposable makeup wipes

Disposable makeup wipes are pretty convenient when going on a trip. But are they really worth it with all the chemicals they contain? And to be honest, they do not wipe your face completely, meaning you still need to apply another cleansing product.

The idea is that disposable makeup wipes are not biodegradable, they are thrown in landfills, thus contributing to waste accumulation. Washcloths and facial cleansers are way more economical and kinder to your skin and to the environment.

Plastic toothbrushes

Plastic anything should be out. Traditional toothbrushes are made of plastic, which means they are on the “naughty list” for their role in plastic waste and ocean and land pollution. Given their mix of materials, it is complicated to recycle them, which means they should be replaced by other more sustainable and economical toothbrushes, like bamboo ones.

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30 responses to “These 15 Everyday Items Are Just Not Worth Buying Anymore”

  1. Alex says:
    August 26, 2024 at 8:46 pm

    There’s only one snag to recycling. By the time you’ve sorted everything and taken it to the appropriate disposal points (assuming there are any), there’s no time left to do anything else.

    Reply
    • Philip A Smith says:
      April 6, 2025 at 9:44 pm

      We have single stream recycling in Baltimore County. Once a week, we set out any combination of carboard, papers, tin cans, bottles (plastic or glass) and wood products (broken down) and the conveyors and machines at the county’s processing plants sort everything. The days of having to tie together papers and cardboard have long since past by decades in my area.

      Reply
    • Darlene Wurzer says:
      April 9, 2025 at 6:17 pm

      If you’ve EVER gardened, you know paper anything is recyclable! Wood pulp! Cotton! And paper towels deteriorate pretty quickly! As does kleenex, although the fragrances and lotions are not good. Anyone with Septic or an RV knows about TP. And if you’re lucky (like some in Placer County) you live in a place where you don’t have to separate garbage from recyclables. They have a conveyor system that separates garbage and recycles easily and automatically. That’s what we need to push for, is more of these types of systems. But even in my area, I can put ALL recyclables (except batteries and other toxic items) in my recyle bin, and the waste company comes by every week with it’s robotic arms and dumps my recyle and my trash bin. They make it easier all the time, and people who don’t at least attempt to recycle are irresponsible. And before you go ballistic, that includes me, as I do what I can, but there’s ALWAYS more you can do with very little effort. I don’t want those who come after me, to blame me for problems that could and should have been prevented!

      Reply
  2. David Rowinski says:
    August 27, 2024 at 12:18 am

    There are only a couple items that I still buy – like paper towels.
    Some alternatives I did not know about – like bamboo products. I do have a bamboo filled pillow.

    Reply
  3. Fatima Mello says:
    August 27, 2024 at 2:08 am

    This has been very helpful. While I’m well-aware of so
    Many
    Of these no-no’s, I was spirited by some products I had no
    clue of. Please keep us updated and info as to alternatives.
    We need to save our planet!

    Reply
  4. Dwight A Olson says:
    August 27, 2024 at 3:35 am

    Yep! Still getting them all….
    Leaving up to libs to destroy us another way…

    Reply
    • Michelle james says:
      January 28, 2026 at 10:07 pm

      What an ignorant reply. That ground you walk on sir. Ain’t making anymore of it. It’s called taking care of HOME.

      Reply
  5. Dwight A Olson says:
    August 27, 2024 at 3:36 am

    Yep! Still getting
    them all….
    Leaving it
    up to
    libs to
    de st r o y us another way…

    Reply
    • Carter says:
      January 31, 2026 at 2:05 pm

      You make no sense.

      Reply
  6. Jeff Whitehurst says:
    August 27, 2024 at 12:35 pm

    I’d say everyone I know uses and has most everyone of these items

    Reply
  7. Andrew Wilkins says:
    August 27, 2024 at 8:29 pm

    I buy all of these things except the diapers. I refuse to be inconvenience just to save some trees or some such.

    Reply
    • Ann M Lindsey says:
      April 6, 2025 at 8:50 pm

      I had 6 babies and could not afford to pay for disposable diapers. Rincing them out and wasing them was not an inconvenience, but rather a responsibility and gift of love for my babies.

      Reply
      • motrin says:
        January 31, 2026 at 1:52 am

        well all the welfare stay home moms with 3,4, 5, kids have plenty of time to wash cloth/reuseable diapers, what else do they do
        protest

        Reply
    • Tikun says:
      April 6, 2025 at 9:03 pm

      Well that’s a lovely attitude!

      Reply
    • Ramona A says:
      April 6, 2025 at 9:52 pm

      WOW… what a selfish pr—..

      Reply
  8. Janice says:
    August 27, 2024 at 11:34 pm

    I stopped buying laundry detergent and shampoo over3 years ago. I buy baking soda in bulk. So I’m Clean, shiny and ‘Poo less’

    Reply
    • Armommi says:
      April 10, 2025 at 1:22 am

      Yes. I make earth friendly dishwasher pods, laundry detergent, cleaning products and skin products. Very cost effective and they work well. I have pets so I boil water and use a few drops of essential oils or cinnamon for room freshener after cooking fish or strong vegetables with an odor.

      Reply
  9. Jessica Ortiz says:
    August 28, 2024 at 11:19 pm

    Wow those where a lot of things I use everyday. I will have to start practicing what it recommends like bringing my own bags when I go shopping. I learned from this and I hope others will too!

    Reply
  10. ANNE M SACOMAN says:
    August 29, 2024 at 2:08 pm

    I think that you are spot on with these things. The issue that I have is getting people to listen and then to act on what they learned. Keep the good advice coming !!

    Reply
  11. David J Nero says:
    August 29, 2024 at 7:01 pm

    I liked this article. I saved it.

    Reply
  12. Marilyn Milioti says:
    August 29, 2024 at 8:59 pm

    I am 73 and must wear like an adult diaper because my bladder leaks. Is there another way I can exist without using them? Please suggest something.

    Reply
    • Darlene Wurzer says:
      April 9, 2025 at 6:24 pm

      Leaks are awkward, but rarely much liquid. Think of panty liners for absorption, but make them of real fabric. And they do make waterproof panty’s, which save clothing. Add cloth liners to these and you’ll have waterproof AND absorbent. And while the panty’s probably have some sort of plastics in them, they are at least washable and reusable.

      Reply
  13. Cheryl Philson says:
    August 30, 2024 at 11:00 am

    This is ridiculous ! Stopping the use of plastic anything is stupid. What happened to recycling everything aluminum, plastic and paper! If humans are so smart than figure out the solution. What is next a ban on plastic diapers ! Choose your poison wisely !

    Reply
  14. P. says:
    August 30, 2024 at 2:00 pm

    I use paper towels because cloth rags and sponges are germ carriers and germ spreaders if not properly sanitized and changed out often. I use paper towels up to three times, such as wiping my hands, then using them to wipe spills on the counter and then finally, spills on the floor or pet messes. Then I throw them away. I also rip them up into smaller pieces since not every spill needs a full sized towel. I am trying to cut down on the waste, but I don’t think sponges or rags are really safe.

    Reply
  15. Lou Baldwin says:
    August 30, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    We are not going back said new moms about one month after using washable diapers for a short while. Just no.

    Reply
  16. Ron C says:
    August 31, 2024 at 12:17 am

    Very very naughty list…?? Are you people nuts? Use the plastics in roads and sidewalks and stop banning everything! Use your brain to start stabilizing the waste so it doesn’t harm the environment!

    Reply
  17. Word7 says:
    August 31, 2024 at 11:06 am

    Lots of environmental propaganda in here. The false statements are consistently mixed in with true ones. Too much hog wash to parse through.

    Reply
  18. Kerry says:
    September 1, 2024 at 12:30 pm

    These are not items that people are not buying anymore. These are items the author wants people to stop buying because the author is an environmental wacko. The proof is in the writing of each item. Each item is described as how bad it is for the environment and then an alternative is offered. Doesn’t say that people are now buying the alternative except for incandescent light bulbs. LED’s have replaced incandescent bulbs because of technology. I actually wanted an incandescent bulb for its heat to keep a water line from freezing. Could not find one anywhere. Had to buy a small space heater. Way more expensive and way more heat than I needed. I’m all for taking care of the environment, but not by the extreme measures of wacko environmentalists.

    Reply
  19. Tammy J O'Malley says:
    September 3, 2024 at 4:24 am

    I can see the validity in several of these; coffee cups, and polystyrene are definitely on the list of NO.
    However, diapers; cloth diapers are horrible when you have to be out in the public and need to change your baby. If there’s no place to dump the contents they stink. And the bleach isn’t great either. Everyone seems to be making stuff from bamboo; has anyone thrown of a disposable diaper from bamboo?
    And I will keep my electric toothbrush. Make an ecological one but I’m not getting rid of it.

    Reply
  20. Armommi says:
    April 10, 2025 at 1:24 am

    Yes. I make earth friendly dishwasher pods, laundry detergent, cleaning products and skin products. Very cost effective and they work well. I have pets so I boil water and use a few drops of essential oils or cinnamon for room freshener after cooking fish or strong vegetables with an odor.

    Reply

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