This post lists some amazing ideas for swapping to plastic-free household products!
All brands and products I linked in this post are my own recommendations and I receive no financial compensation for them.
It is becoming increasingly known how bad plastic is for the environment and our own health (check out this post for a breakdown).
Plastic itself is not necessarily the problem, as it does sometimes have useful applications that can’t be achieved with natural materials. The real issue is that plastic is currently applied almost everywhere, in products that are designed to be single-use or shed microplastics, and most packaging. Plastic has taken over our world because of our addiction to convenience, overconsumption, and a throwaway culture.
Once you start paying attention, you quickly get horrified at how much plastic has infiltrated you life (I know I did). While it may seem impossible to change the big drivers of plastic like Big Oil lobbyers and consumerism, changing your purchasing choices and habits is the start of signalling that we want change. The more you reject unnecessary plastic and switch to plastic-free household products, the better you protect your health and the environment, at least in your own home.
So where to start? I have some other posts about reducing single-use plastics, avoiding plastic packaging when shopping, and choosing natural clothing fabrics. This post is focused on how to switch to plastic-free household products, from the kitchen, bathroom, cleaning, and other daily use items.
As you look through the tips below, keep in mind that sustainable living is not about throwing out all your plastic items and replacing them with eco-friendly versions all in one go. Wear out your old items until you would naturally throw them away, and then choose a plastic-free option that works for you.
24 Ideas for Plastic-Free Household Products
1. Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Let’s start in the kitchen. Plastic kitchen utensils degrade quickly and shed microplastics straight into your food. Wooden utensils are superior in every way: they are sustainable, non-toxic, durable, don’t risk scratching your pans, and also look way nicer!
2. Non-stick Free 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 cut down on microplastics for the long haul.
3. Beeswax Wrap
Replace your cling film with Beeswax wrap! A simple switch that can save you a lot of wasted plastic film over time.
4. Glass Food Containers
Another great food storage option are glass food containers. Replacing your worn-out plastic containers with glass means you stop risking microplastics seeping in your stored food and you can place them straight in the microwave and oven to reheat leftovers.
5. Silicone food bags
If you like using freezer bags for storing food, consider replacing them with silicone food bags. You buy a bunch of them once and then can reuse them over and over again, without any risks of microplastics or creating plastic waste.
6. Food in Glass Jars
Another great plastic-free food storage tip is to prioritise buying foods that come in glass jars, and then reusing those jars for food storage. It’s thrifty, zero-waste, and much healther.
7. Wooden Dish 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 sheds 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.
8. Natural Sponges
Another easy swap is replacing worn-out plastic sponges with natural versions. These are often made from the loofah plant for the scrubby side and plant cellulose for the spongy side. They achieve the same cleaning results with a much lower impact.
9. Refillable Cleaning Products
Instead of common cleaning products which are full of toxic chemicals and single use plastic packaging, try out some brands that offer 100% natural products in a refillable format. There are a number great cleaning products on the market that are tablets or sachets that dissolve in water to make eco-friendly and effective cleaning products. I personally use Smol and I love them, but there are many other options like Neat and Ocean Saver.
10. DIY Cleaning Products
Simple, natural ingredients like white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, soda crystals, and oxygen bleach can replace most cleaning products and are often available in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging. I get mine from Peace with the Wild and Eco Living. You can combine them to create simple but effective DIY cleaning products, like spraying white vinegar on some bicarbonate of soda. Oxygen bleach is super effective as a toilet cleaner!
11. Biodegradable Bin Bags
Don’t neglect your bins in your mission to go plastic-free. There are some plenty of biodegradable bin bags available, usually made from some form of plant starch. For my food caddy I use simple paper bags which I put straight in my compost bin with the food waste itself.
12. Solid Deodorant
Spray deodorants contain aerosol and toxic chemicals which pollute the environment, and they are usually packaged in plastic. There are a lot of sustainable solid deodorants on the market now which come in cardboard or refillable cases so you can ditch the plastic ones. And most of these are natural deodorants which are much kinder on the planet and your skin. I personally use Fussy, but there’s many other great ones like Waves or Wild.
13. Solid Sunscreen
Choosing sunscreen in metal tins or solid sunscreen in carboard tubes are a great alternative to regular SPF. At minimum, choose a mineral over a chemical sunscreen to protect reefs and avoid toxic chemicals. Solid sunscreens are also great for travelling since they don’t go towards your liquid allowance!
14. Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Also great for traveling and at home is replacing liquid soap and shampoo with soap bars. They can work just as well as the traditional plastic bottled versions and are usually made from natural and more sustainable ingredients. They are also more concentrated (since they are solid instead of liquid) so they often last the same amount of time as two or three plastic bottles.
15. Safety Razor
Disposable razors are super wasteful and are almost entirely made of plastic. But standard razors with exchangeable heads are also a source of plastic waste, since the heads contain plastic too and can’t be recycled.
The best switch to make is to invest in a stainless steel safety razor, where you only have to replace the metal blade. They are plastic-free, higher quality, more durable, save money, and give a much smoother shave than most 5 blade plastic razors.
16. Reusable Period Pads
One of the favourite zero waste switches I ever made was switching to reusable period pads. Single-use pads are almost completely made of plastic and contain chemicals and even perfume, which can be very irritating and disrupting for your lady parts.
Reusable pads prevent so much waste, save you a lot of money, are so much more comfortable and non-irritating, are much healthier for your privates, and many are almost completely plastic-free.
If you’re intimidated by reusable pads, trust me, they are so much more convenient than you might think. Just give them a quick rinse under the tap when changing them, and then throw them with your regularly laundry wash. Most brands also give you a leak-proof hygiene bag so you can change them easily on the go.
17. Menstrual Cups
If you prefer tampons over pads, I also recommend menstrual cups! These are made from silicone and, as the name says, work like a cup rather than absorbing your period like tampons. Like reusable pads, they prevent a lot waste, save you money, and are chemical and plastic-free.
Menstrual cups can take a bit more time to get used to and, in my experience, feel a little bit messier when emptying if your flow is heavy, but once you get used to them, it is so worth it. Just follow the instructions that come with it and practice a few times at home to get the hang of it, and rinse it or wipe it down every time you have to empty it.
18. Period Panties
A final menstruation recommendation is period pants. I use these in combination with a cup or only on low flow days because while they can hold a lot, it is obviously more difficult to change them during the day when you’re out and about. Do make sure to find one’s made from mainly natural fibres, as many options are still made with polyester and polyamide. My favourite ones are from Wuka, though I have yet to find one that is 100% natural fibre.
19. Cloth Diapers
Parents have used reusable cloth diapers for centuries before the current disposable diapers were introduced. And I get why they are more convenient when you are already in the new-born trenches, but they do usually contain a lot of plastic and chemicals, which is bad for both the environment and the baby.
There’s lots of reusable or partially reusable cloth diaper options out there now. And you don’t have to be drastic with it – why not try using cloth diapers at home and your normal disposable ones when you’re outside the house to start with?
20. Natural Shower Loofah
Just like a cleaning sponge, shower loofah’s are usually a plastic imitation of the real thing it is named after. Make the simple switch to a natural loofah, made from the loofah plant, and get all the benefits without the plastic.
21. Wooden Toothbrushes
Another simple swap is replacing your old, standard toothbrush with a plastic free one. Usually these 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. Peace with the Wild and Eco Living have some great options.
22. Toothpaste Tablets
Did you know you can get toothpaste in the form of tablets? I have been using them 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 is not your thing, you can also find toothpaste sold in glass jars instead of plastic tubes.
23. Bamboo Hair Brush
Bamboo hair brushes are an amazing swap from plastic brushes. Not only are they way more sustainable but I also find them easier to clean, they brush better, and they are great for stimulating your scalp to promote hair growth.
24. Biodegradable Phone Case
A last tip is to look for a plastic-free phone case the next time you need to replace your old one. These are usually made from biodegradable, plant-based polymers. A well-known brand is Pela case, or if you are in the UK like me, check out Wave case!
See, plastic-free household products are not that hard to find. Try out a few at a time, as you naturally wear out your old items, and in no time you will have a sustainable, plastic-free, and healthy home.
