Plastic alternatives

[knittedthrow]

Can we have a thread of plastic free alternatives for things we use in every day life. With brand name if possible for ease of amazon ordering

We want to make a real effort to cut out plastic in our house but the stuffs just everywhere and it's hard to easily find alternatives. I guess there's other families that feel the same.

Getting rid of wipes will be a big one for me. We no longer use wipes for sticky hands and faces (use a face cloth now), we also don't use kitchen and bathroom wipes anymore (re usable cloth with antibacterial spray).

I do use baby-wipes for DS bum though. I don't like the idea of washing pooey cloths tbh.

So for the first suggestion can anyone suggest plastic free wipes that are completely biodegradable? Do they exist?

Is cotton wool completely plastic free?

Dishcloths and scorers rather than sponges

Bar soap/shampoo rather than bottled

Glass Tupperware (advantage is you can pop straight in oven/microwave when reheating food!)

I bought a bamboo toothbrush recently but I HATE it - bristles are all the same length and too soft so am reverting back to plastic on that one (for now!)

We use bar soap now, have been for about a year. I much prefer it.

Glass Tupperware sounds good. I have a drawer full of plastic stuff just now though. I assume it's more environmentally friendly to use what I have and replace with glass when it wears out?

I can't get on with bar shampoo yet unfortunately, I will keep trying different brands.

I like this article about alternative wipes

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/beauty/organic-natural/best-ecofriendly-alternatives-to-wet-wipes-a3838076.html%3famp

DS is in disposable nappies but he's potty training now. If we're lucky enough to have another child I will use terry.

I bought some reusable drawstring bags to put fruit and veg in at the supermarket instead of using single use plastic bags.

They are nylon so still plastic originally but I have had loads of use out of them and they can go in the washing machine. I use them for my work lunch as well.

www.amazon.co.uk/LDFV-Reusable-Washable-Friendly-Vegetable/dp/B07MR8K76Q/ref=asc_df_B07MR8K76Q/?hvlocphy=1006682&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=344352605429&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos=1o2&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-716650354002&hvrand=12672437256294415475

I replaced sponges with loofah, which I actually love.

Started saving any glass jars that come my way for ease of shopping at the "bring your own container" shop nearby.

You have so many more options than terry nappies now! The days of safety pins and soggy PJs are long gone! We've used BumGenius nappies with DC1 and about to use them for DC2 - they are all in one, quick drying, easy peasy!

If you're happy to consider reusable nappies then what's the apprehension about reusable wipes? We've found our Cheeky Wipes to be totally amazing; they clean bums SOOOOO much better than any disposable wipes; and there's no smell with the storage etc.

Do you use reusable menstrual products? I'm a die-hard menstrual cup convert, but have friends who use washable pads and like them as well. TBH I'd struggle to convert back to normal pads and tampons now, i LOVE my Mooncup.

We're lucky to have a local(ish) supplier of fill-your-own eco toiletries and cleaning stuff, so no plastic packaging for that.

I struggle with food packaging, for us that's the main source of our plastic waste. I haven't yet worked out how to logistically and affordably manage a sustainable (for my life, rather than the planet!) food shop solution that doesn't rely on supermarkets, and so there's tonnes of stuff in plastic packaging.

I’ve started using a damp facecloth when changing DD’s pad (she has a disability so is still in nappies age 6) and then rinsing it in hot water/ putting it in wash if needed. I use toilet roll if there’s a poo and put that straight down the loo.

Feeling a bit despondent and suspecting nothing we can do will ever work though after watching HFW talking about how all the fibres from washing have plastic in though as I think some of the cloths I bought are micro fibre.

There is no way on earth we could ever manage cloth nappies, I have tried and feel very guilty but it’s unmanageable for us.

While I wrote this I looked out the window and saw 3 plastic bottles people have just chucked in our street

So some of us are getting very anxious about plastics and literally struggling to deal with shit. While others don’t give any sort of shit about the planet. Which is nice.

@Yugi great idea. I wonder if there's a bamboo alternative as well.

@captaincorellisvaseline I just used terry to mean reusable It's my understanding that there's a liner in the nappy that contains the poo and a thrown out or is that wrong?
Ds suffers from toddler diarrhoea and makes such a mess of himself that the thought of reusable wipes makes me feel a little ill. How do you manage with cheeky wipes out and about?
I have just found some 100% biodegradable wipes, they're expensive but I don't mind.

I can't use a moon cup, I use cotton pads just now that are biodegradable but they're not reusable. Are the reusable ones very absorbent? I have to change my pad every hour or 2 and regularly leak through at night

Food packaging is the big one isn't it. I can't see any feasible way for us to cut down on that. I don't know of any shops that do 'fill your own' near me. I'm not in a city.

I use reusable nappies and wipes, always have done. I don’t see what’s so disgusting about it tbh, pretty sure if you have had a baby at any stage then poo or wee has been in your washing machine before.

You have a washable ‘wet bag’ to carry dirty wipes and nappies around in when you’re out and about. It’s no biggie and doesn’t smell.

@Pinkmouse6 it's the carting them around with you or storing them until they can be washed that puts me off. Did you have a system that worked? I'm imagining a bulky box full of pooey cloths in my handbag but maybe I'm wrong

Cross post

Loofco loofah sponge instead of washing up sponge

Flannels instead of sponges in bathroom

Washable pads from Ebay to remove eye make up

Cloth wipes for mucky faces instead of disposable wipes

Splosh for cleaning products, shower gel and soap (refillable bottles)

Ocado dishwasher tablets (no wrapper and in cardboard box)

Washing powder instead of liquid/gel/pods

Tupperware containers to get ham/cheese etc from deli counter in supermarket

That's all I can think of for now!!!

Does anyone know if cotton wool is plastic free btw? I've also read that cotton itself isn't very environmentally friendly it's hard to know what to do for the best sometimes.

@knittedthrow

I really don't know if cotton wool has plastic or not in it, I recently swapped to re-usable cotton pads to take off makeup, my thinking is that even if it's not 100% environmentally friendly it's still better than going through hundreds of pads a year, plus the packaging that they get sealed in!

Although I could be wrong in my thinking

@optimisticpessimist01 I'd say reusable anything is always better. I've just finished my last (huge) bag of cotton wool pads. I'm ordering myself some make up removal oil that can be used with a hot cloth and apparently is good at removing mascara etc.

I only used to use 1/2 pads to remove my eye makeup then used a cloth to wash the rest of my face which is why the bag lasted so long.

My thinking is when I run out of a disposable or plastic product to try and replace it with reusable or at least biodegradable/ plastic free.

I use reusable pouches and snack bags for DS lunches! Really easy to use and has stopped me buying the little plastic kids yogurts and pouches we just buy a big tub of yogurt and fill either a bowl or a pouch!
Got my bits from a website called NOMNOMKIDS.com got the starter set it cost me £9.50 I think? And that's more than enough for my son

I think your replacing-as-stuff-runs-out approach is probably really sensible, OP. I can imagine that could prevent it all from becoming overwhelming.

I use oil and a facecloth for makeup - I just use olive oil but you can get fancy ones so I'm sure yours will work. It feels sort of luxurious to me as well.

As pp have said, a couple of wet bags is all that's needed to keep clean and dirty wipes in a rucksack or whatever. You can get liners for nappies, they tend to claim to be flushable but they really aren't, so there's usually an element of scraping into the loo required anyway. If you can bear it, I'd suggest cleaning a horrid poo with some scraps of damp cloth just once to try; I bet it will be SO much easier and tempt you across!!

Oh, and my friend who's just switched to reusable CSP (also can't use a Mooncup) has been really impressed with the absorbancy; on very heavy days she wears a reusable pad as well as period pants and it works well for her.

@captaincorellisvaseline worth a try I suppose. I have issues with dirt if I'm honest but really want to get on board with reusable products. Should you use an antibacterial clothes wash in the machine? Does 60 do or should it be 90?
When ds was at his worst with his diarrhoea I used to just put him under a shower 😂

I was just looking at a 'cheeky wipes' starter kit online there. Once my current stock of baby wipes has run out I think I will order (if ds isn't completely toilet trained by then).
Thinking it might be a nice present for my friend that's currently pregnant actually.

So I have just got these bamboo toothbushes www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JJCGMN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 they are ok, the bristles are 2 different lengths and are fairly stiff. I might try a different brand once I finish these 5 but yeah not too bad.

I've also been buying stuff in as bigger bottles as I can, so I bought 5 liters of oil on amazon instead of a small bottle in the supermarket. Still plastic but less per liter of product.

I try to avoid buying and using plastic clothing (microfibres etc) unless I am buying it second hand. So my aim is to not contribute to the creation of more plastic. I also choose recycled cotton for the same reason (cotton production uses loads of water). Wool is a good option.
I crochet and so I have made little round cotton pads (using recycled cotton) for makeup removal which I use with coconut oil in a glass jar. These can be washed.
You can make your own pads and liners with old material, towels etc. There's loads of tutorials online. You can buy special absorbent material for the inside and add a waterproof backing if needed.
Dirty nappies etc can be stored in a large bucket with a lid and sterilising solution until ready to be washed. This is how our mothers did it.
Use old clothes/tee shirts to create little bags for produce.
Take tubs, jars etc to the supermarket deli and meat sections and insist they use them. They just sticker the outside for you.
Go to supermarkets that have in-store bakeries to get bread that isn't packaged and put it into your own cloth or paper bags.
Go to lush for soap bars - the shampoo ones are great and last forever. They also sell little tins to travel with. (and they don't count as liquids for flights).
Cut up towels for cleaning cloths.
Reuse old cleaning spray bottles and fill them with vinegar sprays (you can buy vinegar in glass bottles).
Use your local milkman.
Buy tinned foods rather than plastic.

I think there are some plastics that are Ok - useful even. It's about if they can be used more than once. So plastic containers, toothbrushes, children's utensils. Things like that can be used over and over and so put plastic to good use. Plastic isn't the end of the world - it is incredibly useful. But we just need to think about how many times we will be using it and if it is harmful to the environment while we are using it.

A good example is a plastic water bottle that is refillable. it is hygenic, unbreakable, easy to clean, will last for years and lightweight. In my view it's a good use of plastic - compared to single use plastic water bottles.

I’ve just cut up some old t shirts to use as reusable wipes. If any get really messy I can just bin it.

Wax cloth wraps instead of cling film

Milk delivered in glass bottles rather than buying plastic from supermarkets

Period pants instead of tampons / pads

But here’s the thing most people don’t want to accept: the primary difference you can make is giving up eating fish and seafood. 60% of the plastic in the world’s oceans is discarded fishing equipment. It’s great to reduce single use plastic where you can, but the difference it will make is honesty negligible in comparison to the difference you can make by giving up or massively reducing your consumption of fish.

Woohoo OP, do it! I have a Cheeky Wipes voucher I think, not sure what for but I think some money off. I will look it out and pm you.

I use a 60 wash with regular detergent, dry outside whenever possible. If there's a particularly minging one in the load I'll do a quick cycle / rinse with no detergent to start. I'm also pretty religious now about cleaning the machine regularly with a hot vinegar wash.

@rememberatime - most reusable nappies are stored dirty and dry now; even easier. No need to slosh full buckets around.