What’s in My Sustainable Kitchen Setup

What’s in My Sustainable Kitchen Setup

Hey there, I’m Porsha, owner of Porter Lee’s Reusables, mom, market-obsessed small biz gal, and self-proclaimed lover of all things practical and cute. Over the past few years, I’ve slowly transformed my kitchen into a low-waste zone, and today I’m taking you behind the scenes to show you exactly what that looks like.

Whether you’re just getting started with sustainable swaps or already knee-deep in reusables, I hope this inspires you to find a rhythm that works for you... no pressure, no perfection, just progress. ✨

🧻 Reusable Paper Towels

Let’s start with the heart of it all: my reusable paper towels. These are truly my ride-or-die swap. I keep a roll of them on the counter next to the sink (where the disposables used to be), and we use them for everything, Porter spills, wiping down counters, drying hands, you name it.

My favorite print right now is our Farmer's Market design!

How I use them:
I toss the dirty ones in a little wet bag snapped to the oven handle and wash them all once a week with my regular towel laundry. No biggie.

🧽 Washable Sponges

These babies are the underrated heroes of the kitchen. Ours live right next to the sink and I use them for washing dishes and wiping down surfaces. They last over a year, don’t smell gross like regular sponges, and go straight into the dishwasher or laundry when they need a refresh.

Pro tip:
I keep one on the counter and another in the drawer, so when I wash it I always have another handy without having to wait for laundry to finish!

 

🧼 Dish Soap Refill System

I bring my own jar to my local refillery (shoutout to Mama & Hapa’s—we love you!) and refill dish soap, hand soap, and sometimes all-purpose cleaner. It’s a super simple routine now, and I never run out of soap because I actually enjoy the refill errand. Who am I!?

🧃 Mason Jars + Leftover Storage

We use mason jars for everything - leftovers, smoothies, soup stock, overnight oats, homemade salad dressing, all of it. They stack, they don’t stain, and they last forever.

Bonus: I’ve totally stopped using plastic wrap or sandwich bags. We use beeswax wraps, silicone bags, or just toss things in a jar and go.

🌱 Compost Bin

Is it glamorous? No.
Is it necessary? Absolutely.
We keep a little compost bin under the sink and dump it into the curbside bin every few days. Food waste = down. Guilt = also down.

🧻 Cloth Wipes for the Whole Fam

Yes, we even use cloth wipes in the kitchen. They’re great for sticky toddler faces, napkins at dinner, or surprise messes that require more than a paper towel moment. Porter calls them “soft napkins,” and honestly? He’s right.

What I’ve Learned

Living more sustainably doesn’t mean doing everything all at once—it means finding small swaps that fit your life and building habits over time.
You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. Just start with one thing and go from there.

And if you ever want help figuring out which swap is right for your household, I’m always happy to help!

Want to start building your own low-waste kitchen?

Here are a few customer faves to check out:

You’ve got this—your kitchen (and the planet) will thank you. 🌍


💖 Porsha
Founder of Porter Lee’s Reusables

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