This post contains practical ideas for swaps to make if you want to detox your life from microplastics!
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Microplastics and their effects on human health and the planet are an increasingly concerning issue. You may have seen the documentary “The Plastic Detox” on Netflix, or perhaps you read my post about Why Plastic is Bad.
In any case, if you’re filled with an overwhelming sense of dread after learning about microplastics, you’re in the right place. While plastic pollution is a societal issue that will take a lot to solve, there are things you can do to minimise your exposure to microplastics in your daily life.
To detox from microplastics, you have to start by realising that nearly all products you find in common shops contain plastics. Because plastic is cheap and widely available, brands will use it as much as they can get away with, even though it is known to lower quality and harm people and planet.
But clean, sustainable alternatives exist. There are plenty of brands that choose natural materials that have been used for centuries before plastic was invented. You just have to make some intentional effort to switch to them.
Now, don’t immediately throw out every plastic item you find in your home. For most items, wearing them out is still more sustainable and healthy than throwing them away. But as you naturally replace your old items, you can make practical swaps that can reduce your microplastic exposure dramatically.
19 Practical Swaps to Detox from Microplastics
Microplastics and their associated chemicals are released faster when plastic is heated or agitated in some way. And they affect our health the most when they are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. So, this list focuses mainly on swaps with the highest risk of microplastic exposure: products that touch our food and bodies.
1. Coffee to go → Coffee in a reusable cup
A classic and often the first step people take towards a plastic-free and Zero Waste lifestyle: reusable coffee cups. The disposable cups you get at coffee places are made from or lined with plastic, which releases microplastics and chemicals when the hot coffee is put in them. A stainless steel or glass reusable cup first easily fits in your bag, reduces single-use waste, and prevents exposure to microplastics. Some shops even offer you a discount if you bring your own cup!
2. Plastic bottles → Stainless steel or glass bottles
Any water that you buy in plastic bottles contains microplastics. It’s a simple swap to start using a stainless steel or glass reusable water bottle. In many areas in the world, tap water is perfectly drinkable, and filtered water stations are pretty common. Your water will taste better without those microplastics and chemicals in it!
3. Plastic food containers → Glass food containers
To detox from microplastics, a big focus should be on anything that comes in contact with food. Plastic food containers for leftovers leach microparticles and chemicals into your food, which is accelerated when you use them for reheating. Similarly, any food you store in plastic containers or packaging for some time will gradually release microplastics.
An amazing solution is glass food containers. They are infinitely reusable, are completely non-toxic, and keep your food fresh for ages. It can be a small investment, but you make that money back quickly by never having to buy plastic containers again.
4. Plastic cling film → Beeswax wraps
Similar to food containers, using plastic cling film or cling wrap is an easily avoidable source of microplastics in your food. There are plant-based, biodegradable cling films on the market, but they still shed microplastics, even if they are fewer and less persistent in the environment.
The better solution is beeswax wraps. They are natural, plastic-free, reusable, and just as good at keeping food fresh if you use them correctly.
5. Non-stick pans → Cast iron, Ceramic coated, or Stainless steel pans
Most traditional non-stick pans are made with a Teflon coating, which is a synthetic polymer officially called PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). When damaged or overheated, these pans can release tiny microplastic particles into food. They also often contain PFAS “forever chemicals” that pose long-term health risks.
The best pans, both for quality and health, are either ceramic-coated or uncoated pans like stainless steel or cast iron. They are a bit of an investment, but if properly cared for, they can last a lifetime. When it is time to replace your current pans, choose a non-stick coating-free pan to detox from microplastics for the long haul.
6. Plastic kitchen utensils → Wooden kitchen utensils
Plastic kitchen utensils degrade quickly and shed microplastics straight into your food. Wooden utensils are better in every way: they are sustainable, non-toxic, durable, don’t risk scratching your pans, and also look way nicer!
7. Plastic cutting board → Wood or Bamboo cutting board
Every time you cut food on a plastic cutting board, you are cutting away microplastics that mix in with your food. An easy swap is a wood or bamboo cutting board.
Both of these are completely natural, last much longer than plastic cutting boards, and, unlike common misconceptions, they are super hygienic and won’t build up bacteria if you just clean them after use. Yes, you do have to handwash them as they can’t go in the dishwasher, but in my opinion, that’s a small price to pay for your health and the environment (I don’t have a dishwasher anyway).
8. Most kettles → Stainless steel or glass kettles
A source of microplastics that I only recently learned about is kettles. Most kettles are made of plastic, and if not, then most still have plastic components inside, like the filter. So every time you boil water, microplastics mix in!
It takes a bit of research to find completely plastic-free kettles, but there are options out there. Generally, aim for stainless steel or glass kettles, and examine the insides to see that there are absolutely no plastic components where it touches your water.
9. Teabags → Loose leaf tea
To make your tea completely microplastic-free, you also have to consider teabags. Unfortunately, many common brands have plastic teabags, though there are some brands with biodegradable options.
But the best option is to avoid teabags altogether by switching to loose leaf tea. Aside from being plastic-free, you also reduce waste, and the tea is much nicer! Just get a nice metal strainer or a ceramic cup with a built-in strainer, and you’re good to go.
10. Prepackaged food → Loose food
I will admit that plastic has its uses in keeping food fresh when being transported. But plastic packaging has gone completely overboard, especially with food like vegetables and fruits. Most produce has a natural protection layer already, so why are we adding single-use plastic to it, which pollutes the food with microplastics?
So, whenever you go shopping, make an active choice to avoid packaged food as much as possible and go for loose, unprocessed produce. To take it a step further, find refill stores that let you bring your own jars for staples like pasta, rice, cereals, and spices.
11. Traditional kitchen sponges and cloths → Natural sponges and cloths
Another easy swap is replacing worn-out plastic sponges and kitchen cloths with natural versions.
Natural sponges are often made from the loofah plant for the scrubby side and plant cellulose for the spongy side. And natural cloths are usually made from cotton or bamboo. They achieve the same cleaning results with a much lower impact.
Suggestions
- Ethical Superstore has lots of options for natural sponges and natural cleaning cloths!
12. Plastic cleaning brushes → Natural brushes
When it comes to cleaning products, plastic is predominant because it is perceived as more hygienic and sterile. But this is untrue; bacteria still build up in plastic brushes and shed microplastics, which pollute the waterways. There are plenty of plastic-free dish brushes out there, often made from wood or bamboo with bristles made from plant-based fibres.
Suggestions
- I personally use this wooden brush from EcoLiving with a removable head. Completely plastic-free, and by only having to replace the head, you reduce waste!
13. Standard soaps, shampoos, and conditioners → Plastic-free soaps
Most soaps, shampoos, and conditioners come in single-use plastic packaging, shedding microplastics into the products you use on your skin and hair.
There are many options for plastic-free soaps, though. You can start with plastic-free packaging like aluminium or glass, which you can also reuse. But the best options are solid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners that are usually wrapped in just some paper. This way, you avoid microplastics, and solid soaps have a lower environmental impact than liquid soaps because they don’t require transporting water.
14. Disposable period products → Reusable period products
A really important area to detox from microplastics is period products. Period products are unfortunately often made with plastic and chemicals, which is crazy because they touch your most sensitive areas! I switched years ago from single-use pads to reusable pads, mainly because I was getting so much irritation from the chemicals in single-use versions. I sometimes use a combo of menstrual cups and period panties as well.
Reusable is really the way to go for period products. You cut down on a ton of waste, save money, avoid plastic and chemicals, and they are easy to use and clean. There are three main types:
- Menstrual cups: made from silicone
- Reusable pads: look for cotton on the inside. They usually have synthetic fabric on the outside to avoid leaking
- Reusable period panties: again, focus on natural fabric for the internal gusset, even if the entire pant isn’t plastic-free
15. Plastic shower loofah → Natural shower loofah
Just like a cleaning sponge, shower loofahs are usually a plastic imitation of the real thing they’re named after. Make the simple switch to a natural loofah, made from the loofah plant, and get all the benefits without the microplastics.
Suggestions
- Look for natural loofahs on Ethical Superstore
16. Standard toothcare → Plastic-free toothcare
You can detox your dental care from microplastics with simple swaps.
Usually, plastic-free toothbrushes have a wooden or bamboo handle. Pay attention to the bristles – some still have nylon bristles, but to go completely plastic-free, you need to look for plant-based bristles.
I have been using tootpaste tablets for years, and they work just as well as regular toothpaste, prevent a lot of waste, come in glass, plastic-free jars, and are super practical for travelling. If tablets are not your thing, you can also find toothpaste sold in glass jars instead of plastic tubes.
And don’t forget other dental products like plastic-free floss (usually made from silk or cornstarch), metal tong scrapers, and refillable mouthwash in plastic-free bottles.
Suggestions
- I’ve tried out a few toothpaste tablets, but my favourite ones are these from EcoLiving.
- Ethical Superstore has lots of plastic-free options for all kinds of dental care, including toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss, and more.
17. Plastic hairbrush → Bamboo hairbrush
Most hairbrushes are made from plastic, brushing microplastics into your hair every day. An amazing swap is bamboo hair brushes. Not only are they way more sustainable and plastic-free, but I also find them easier to clean, they brush better, and they are great for stimulating your scalp to promote hair growth.
18. Synthetic clothing → Natural fibres and semi-synthetics
Clothing can be a huge source of microplastic exposure, since you wear it for hours directly on your skin. Unfortunately, most clothes nowadays are made from synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon, which are plastic. They not only release microplastics during wear but also shed an estimated 700,000 microplastics with every laundry wash. Synthetic fibres are also lower quality, less durable, less breathable, and a huge source of plastic pollution when they inevitably end up in landfill.
Fortunately, natural fabrics avoid all these problems and are a key swap when aiming to detox from microplastics. Learn to read clothing labels and only choose fabrics like organic cotton, linen, hemp, and wool or (sustainable) semi-synthetics like Modal and Lyocell. Check out my guide on the most and least sustainable fabrics for a full breakdown.
While harder to find, switching your activewear from synthetic to natural fibres is extra important, because they are more exposed to heat and sweat, which accelerates microplastic exposure. Focus specifically on finding cotton, merino wool, Lyocell, or Modal fabrics for activewear.
19. Synthetic bedding → Cotton or linen bedding
Similar to clothing, you want to avoid synthetic fibres in your bedding. My favourite option is linen for duvet covers. It feels so nice and looks chic and cottage-y. For mattress covers, I tend to go for brushed cotton.
I hope you got some new ideas to help you detox from microplastics from this guide. Remember, you don’t have to swap everything all at once; just focus on one step at a time as you naturally replace things. I have several other guides with more tips on swaps aimed at reducing plastic. You can find them below!
