Plastic-Free Swaps.

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I'm sure there's some of us who are trying to reduce our plastic usage.

What are your best swaps? What are relatively easy? Any tips?

Mine are mostly bathroom related, so far we're using bamboo toothbrushes, I use tooth soap, soap instead of body wash and a shampoo bar. I have a deodorant bar too. I'm also using a reusable feminine product (words changed in case there any sensitive men reading this!).

We have bars of soap by all sinks rather than hand wash, and I'm back on washing powder rather than liquid detergent.

The thing I'm struggling to find is plastic free bubble bath. Anyone come across a reasonably prices one?
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
LUSH! LUSH! LUSH!

I'm a bit obsessed!

All their bath / body / skincare products are amazing! Some say a little pricy but for a £4 bubble bar you can get 3/4 baths! The majority of their products are packaging free and those that are can be recycled!

(Just don't ask @littleme who was almost killed by a bath bomb....)

Happy to recommend if you're after something specific?

Our house isn't on mains sewerage - instead we have a soak-away so anything that goes down the drain ends up in the soil so I've had to switch to all eco cleaning products.

I used SMOL on the recommendation of a friend but on the hunt for something else as I've not been impressed so far!
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks, my deodorant bar is from Lush, not sure if I should be happy that it's lasted over a year or if I'm using it incorrectly!

Ecover are supposed to be good aren't they?
 

Gadget

Well-Known Forumite
We have bamboo toothbrushes, soap bars, shampoo bars, deodorant bars. I'm using Smol for the dishwasher, re-fillable washing up liquid for the things that must be done by hand. I swapped to soap nuts for my washing machine and have the smol refillable softener. I'm using ocean savers cleaning stuff that just dissolves in a re-useable spray bottle of water. I've swapped to eco pot scrubbers and we have our milk in glass from the milk man. Husband has his soft drinks in cans now instead of bottles and as I like my water fizzy we have a soda stream. We make our own bread. We have bamboo ear buds too.
My best swaps are the soap nuts. I bought a 1kg bag last Spring and am barely half way through them, we're a family of 5. Also the switching to cans, it's made a huge difference on how full the recycling bin gets. Shampoo bars are great and last waaay longer than a bottle of shampoo ever did.
I've found I'm saving money in the long run as well as trying to help the planet.
I can't help on the bubble bath front I'm afraid but I'm sure there are lots out there. We are looking to move to more eco friendly feminine products but it's an investment so I need to do it gradually. We get some donated to us through Spawn #3's school, I've been opting for re-useable when asked for a choice.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Ah yes, I forgot about the milkman too, paying the farmers a better price and reusing rather than recycling. He even delivers oat milk in glass bottles now.

I have gone down the cup route for the feminine product, I wasn't sure before I took the plunge but it's paid for itself in the 18 months I've had it and I actually find it less messy...
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Great thread.

My best swaps are shampoo and conditioner bars. Used to use Lush but am converted to Gruum. I've spread the word at running and at least 6 others are also converted. We all have lovely soft shiny hair now!

https://www.gruum.com/?v=79cba1185463

We also use Faith in nature bars of soap instead shower gel or hand wash. Available in Oxfam.

Cat food in tins not sachets and all food where possible in glass jars not plastic and also fruit and veg from the greengrocers in paper bags not supermarket plastic!
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
Tesco have done away with plastic bags in the produce section and now have paper bags. We rarely use them as we have bought some netting bags from Aldi and use those instead.

And as for shopping with plastic bags - we stopped using them well before the charge came in and use jute bags instead. They are easier to use anyway.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I was using Friendly Soap but saw an offer for gruum when it was almost finished, and so far so good. I have 5 bars and given it takes me about a year to get through one I'll be using them for a while.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
Aside from the toothbrush. All household products I refill at Roots Larder. I can’t suggest and recommend this enough. Fabric conditioner, washing up liquid, household cleaner, shower gel, hand soap etc. All refilled by them. Also milk delivered in bottles by ADW. PG tips tea bags also doing plastic free bags that are fully compostable as well as the film that goes around their boxes. A lot of tea companies are using PLA which is plant based but not home compostable.
 
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