Easy/creative ways to eliminate plastics in our homes?

[Anonymous]

Looking for ideas, especially when it comes to eliminating plastic in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Um, stop buying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, stop buying them.

thanks for this - super helpful!!

[Anonymous]

I try to buy the biggest sized jar if it’s something with a long shelf life like peanut butter. It’s still plastic but I figure one big jar is less plastic than two.
If something comes in both paper/cardboard and plastic packaging, I will choose paper. Eggs for example.
I have started order products from Ethique.co
If you can get refills in a bag over a plastic container, opt for that. Dishwasher pods are an example.
Don’t get the prepackaged stuff when possible - things like precut fruit or veggies. Buy the real thing and chop up yourself.
And, of course, use your own grocery and produce bags.

[Anonymous]

When buying produce, don’t use the little plastic baggies.
Always pick paper over plastic
Wrap sandwiches in paper (like wax paper) instead of plastic wrap
For picnics/outdoor eating…take real silverware and wipe it with a wet wipe when done.
Buy in bulk
Avoid stores/brands with lots of extra packaging
Buy glass containers instead of plastic containers
Buy wooden serving spoons instead of plastic
Etc…..

[Anonymous]

I clean and reuse glass jars instead of buying new plastic storage containers. Use stash bags instead of ziplock, or glass jars or plastic reusable containers. I also save bags that other food comes in — like tortillas — and use that for things like cheese that do better in bags.

It’s really hard when it comes to food. Try buying cottage cheese or yogurt without plastic — almost impossible. Same for things like PB. I have a goal of trying to do more shopping from the bulk containers at MOMs but I don’t really realize it.

[Anonymous]

Not plastic, but we have a bunch of micro fiber cleaning cloths that we keep in the kitchen for cleaning up messes and drying things off instead of paper towels. We still have paper towels too, sometimes they are needed, but i prefer the microfiber for a lot of tasks.

[Anonymous]

Paper sandwich bags.
Silicone straws.
Silicone or metal lunch containers.
Glass storage containers (still have plastic lids).
Powder detergent instead of pods, or fill your own container at one of those bulk stores.

I can't get into the beeswax wrap, unfortunately. It doesn't work for me.

However, I did recently start using flannel menstrual pads and I love them.
I also like the laundry detergent that comes as sheets.

[Anonymous]

I went to the thrift store and bought a bunch of mismatched silverware for school lunch and camping use. I also keep a set in the car so I don't need disposable.

[Anonymous]

Dishwasher tabs

Tide in Powder form

Shampoo bars

[Anonymous]

Diva cup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, stop buying them.

thanks for this - super helpful!!

I’m sure you think PP was just being snarky and s/he was but that’s pretty much the game. Identify where most of your plastics are entering your home and replace that with a better, plastic free alternative. If you insist on bottled water, get one of the services that brings huge drums of it to your home. For one example, anyway. If it’s a thing that pretty much is going to be plastic (looking at you, garden hose), buy the sturdiest, best one you can find and make sure it’s one of the ones that doesn’t leach plastics (or heavy metals) into your garden bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paper sandwich bags.
Silicone straws.
Silicone or metal lunch containers.
Glass storage containers (still have plastic lids).
Powder detergent instead of pods, or fill your own container at one of those bulk stores.

I can't get into the beeswax wrap, unfortunately. It doesn't work for me.

However, I did recently start using flannel menstrual pads and I love them.
I also like the laundry detergent that comes as sheets.

I use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets.
I use glass instead of plastic storage containers, reuse Ziploc bags, use reusable containers or paper bags in lieu of Ziploc bags, use reusable straws, cups, silverware, etc.

[Anonymous]

Like the previous poster, I also reuse old glass jars. I save my pickle jars and jelly jars and use them to store leftovers, cut veggies, fruits. I also bought some large wide-mouth jars with tin lids from Target. I use them to hold hard boiled eggs or a cut half of an onions. To keep the fridge from smelling, I cut a piece of wax paper and place it over the top before screwing on the lid. I also have some mixing bowl sets with lids that I've bought over the years.

For microwaving, I use glass casserole dish that comes with glass lid. It's perfect for leftovers and frozen meals. Glass feels safer than using RubberMaid.

I rarely use Saran wrap or plastic baggies anymore.

[Anonymous]

I try to buy as much packaged in glass or paper as possible. And, try to shop at local farm stands or markets where I bring my own bag or where they use paper bags.

I bought a set of those pyrex dishes with lids and use those to store food in the fridge. The square or rectangular can be stacked easily. Now I only buy plastic wrap once every few years or so.

We.make our coffee at home in a coffee maker every day, and also use glass or metal bottles to refill with water. If we do get soda, I buy cans instead of plastic.

We use enough distilled water for various things that I bought a countertop water distiller, and fill up our extra washed reusable bottles with it instead of buying distilled water on plastic.

I didn't make all these changes at once, but only when I thought of them or when I ran out of something plastic.