Reusable Products On The Go: Practical Everyday Guide

Simple usable advice for carrying items you can use again, every time you leave the house.

Start with what you already own

Many people begin by looking for new products to buy, but you probably already have half of what you need at home right now. Go to your kitchen drawer. Look for a solid drinking vessel that fits in your bag side pocket. Grab a clean cotton napkin you use for dinner. Take the ordinary metal fork you keep in the cutlery tray. None of these need to be special. You do not need items marketed for travel. You just need things that will not break, that you can wash when you get home, and that you remember to take with you. The biggest mistake people make is buying a whole new set of things, then leaving them on the hall table every morning. If you use something every day at home, you will remember to bring it with you. Add a loop of string around the handle if it helps you hook it inside your bag. That one small trick works better than any fancy product feature. Browse Travel Essentials for plain, hardwearing options.

For daily commutes

For days you go to work, class or run errands, you only need three items. That is it. One vessel for drinks. One small cloth. One flat container for any food you might pick up along the way. All three should fit in the side pocket of your bag, so you never have to dig for them. Do not carry anything that requires you to take apart three pieces to wash it. Do not carry anything that weighs more than an apple. If it is annoying to carry, you will stop after three days. For drinks, pick something that closes properly, does not leak when you tip it over, and can go in the dishwasher. For food, pick something flat enough that it will not squash your notebook. For the cloth, pick one that dries fast. You can use this cloth to wipe your hands, wrap a sandwich, mop up a spill, or rest a hot cup on. You will end up using this more than any other item you carry. See Luggage & Travel Bags for styles with useful side pockets.

For longer days and trips away

When you are gone for more than one day, you can add two more items to your bag. First, a small pot that seals tight. You can use this for butter, sauce, leftover food, lip balm, small bits of soap, or loose change. It does not matter what it is made of, as long as it closes properly. Second, a foldable bag that rolls up smaller than your fist. Keep this tucked in an inner zip pocket of every bag you own. You will use it when you unexpectedly buy extra groceries, when someone hands you something to carry, when you need to separate wet clothes, or when you need something to sit on. Do not buy one with patterns or branding. Buy plain. You will be less embarrassed to pull it out anywhere, for any reason. You will find plain hardwearing pots in Household Supplies.

How to build the habit

It does not matter what items you own. What matters is that you remember to bring them. Keep one full set permanently in each bag you use regularly. Do not move them between bags. Do not take them out to wash and then put them somewhere else. Have one set in your work bag. One set in your gym bag. One set in the bag you take for walks. Yes this means you will own three drinking vessels. That is fine. It is much better than buying single use items every day because you forgot yours at home. Every Sunday evening, spend two minutes rinsing all the sets and putting them back. This takes less time than waiting in line for coffee. Find simple routines for daily habits in Kaizen Home Organization.

When something wears out

All items will wear out. That is normal. When your cup leaks, when your cloth tears, when the seal on your pot stops working, do not immediately throw the whole thing away. Check first if you can fix it. A new seal can be cut from old rubber matting. A tear in cloth can be stitched over. A scratch does not stop an item working. If you cannot fix it, pass the broken part on to someone who can use the material. If it really cannot be used any more, then replace it. Only replace one thing at a time. Do not use a broken item as an excuse to buy a whole new set of twelve things. Read our Fabric care guide for tips to make items last longer.

What you do not need to carry

You do not need twelve different items for every possible situation. Many people end up carrying a whole pouch of things they never once use. You do not need a special straw. You do not need separate containers for every type of food. You do not need anything that has to be hand washed only. If you find yourself carrying something for three weeks without using it, take it out. Leave it at home. Your bag will be lighter, and you will not resent carrying the things that you actually do use. You can see simple, tested everyday options in Lucy's Picks. 5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose.

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