Alternatives to Plastics

Bathroom:

• Bamboo or other biodegradable toothbrush

• Toothpaste tablets, tooth powder, mouthwash tablets

• Silk or bamboo floss in a glass container with refills

• Cardboard tubes for lip balm, deodorant, powder, sunscreen, bug balm, Glide

• Deodorant stones

• Alternative packaging, tins and glass/aluminum cannisters

• Bulk liquid soaps, lotions, shampoo and conditioner

• Bring your own container

• Mason jar lids including pumps, sprayers, and pourers

• Shampoo and conditioner bars

• Soap bags

• Wooden hairbrushes and combs with natural bristles

• Plant fiber washcloths

• Cotton shower puffs

• Cotton cosmetic rounds

• Alternative menstrual products i.e. cloth pads, menstrual sponges or cups

Kitchen:

• Bulk liquid dish soap, bring your own container

• Dish soap bars

• Mason jar lids including pumps, sprayers, and pourers

• Natural compostable cellulose sponges

• Cellulose/cotton sponge cloths

• Natural Skoy scrub cloths

• Copper scrub rounds

• Wood handle dish brush with replaceable natural bristle brush heads

• Tear old clothing into rags, keep a stack handy

• Bag dryer, to dry washed, reused plastic bags

• Cloth or mesh produce bags

• Glass, metal, or silicone storage containers

• Mason jars for leftovers and freezing

• Silicone ziplock bags, freezer to reheat in boiling water

• Beeswrap and silicone wraps 

• Silicone and cloth bowl covers

• Wooden, stainless, or silicone cooking utensils

• Compost bucket for collecting food scraps to compost

Lunch and School

• Glass or stainless water bottles and thermoses

• Glass, insulated, metal, silicone containers for lunch food

• Metal or wood cutlery

• Reusable mugs and beverage containers

• Washable wraps and bags

• Compost food scraps at work or bring home to compost

Cleaning and Laundry

• Bulk cleaning and laundry liquids and powder

• Essential oils or fragrance-free liquids

• Bring your own container

• Microfiber-trapping bags

• Mason jar lids including pumps, sprayers, and pourers

• Mix with water cleaning tablets: All-Purpose, Bathroom, Glass

• Washable cleaning cloths for glass and stainless

• Washable mop heads and dusting heads

• Natural fiber cleaning brushes

• Tear old clothing into rags, keep a stack handy

Reducing Laundry Microfibers

• Wash less often in cold water with the minimum recommended amount of gentle detergent.

• Wash full rather than partial loads, preferably in a front loader, to minimize friction between clothes.

• Use a shorter cycle to reduce the time that clothes are agitated. 

• Use a microfiber-trapping filter or wash bag.

• Air dry on a rack or line instead of using the dryer.

(Feel free to share with family and friends!)