The BBC’s Blue Planet highlighted the global problem of plastic waste in your oceans. Some of the ocean’s most loved and precious creatures are suffering and dying as a result of this issue — so anything we can do to make things a little better should be embraced.
If every one of us reduces our use of plastic in our daily lives, the difference we can make could be massive. Cleaning in the home these days uses more than its fair share of plastic — most of which is simply not necessary.
Here are seven simple ways to reduce your use of plastic while cleaning.
1. Use vinegar for cleaning windows
Instead of buying a window cleaning spray — which invariably comes in a plastic bottle these days — use distilled white vinegar instead. You can also use it to remove scale for taps and showerheads.
Create a solution of one part vinegar and three parts water, and transfer it into a reusable spray bottle. Spray it liberally over your windows, and polish with paper towels. Not only does vinegar cut through dirt and grease, it leaves glass streak-free afterwards.
2. Trap plastic microfibres in your washing machine
Believe it or not, many clothes are made with tiny plastic microfibres these days — which are obviously very difficult to keep out of our oceans. Every time you wash synthetic clothes, thousands of these tiny fibres break away, and end up being flushed down the drain. Fortunately, you can trap these fibres in your washing machine with the use of a special device.
3. Switch to reusable detergent bottles
Take a quick look along the cleaning aisle of your local supermarket, and you’ll struggle to find any type of dishwashing detergent that doesn’t come in a plastic bottle. You can slash your use of plastic by switching to a homemade alternative. You can now order detergent in reusable pouches from companies like Splosh. You simply refill your own bottle with refill boxes sent through the post.
4. Switch to an eco-friendly dishwashing detergent
If you feel like getting creative, there are some homemade recipes you can try. However, the easiest solution is to switch to tablets with soluble wrappers. Stored in a cardboard box, each tablet is wrapped in a biodegradable film — which simply dissolves during the cycle.
5. Embrace bicarbonate of soda
If you use bicarbonate of soda from a cardboard box, you might be able to ditch several of your plastic-reliant cleaning chemicals. For instance, bicarbonate of soda mixed with vinegar makes a great degreaser. You can also use this basic cooking ingredient as an air freshener — just place some in a bowl and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.
6. Use washable cotton cloths
Some of the cheaper cloths on the market today are actually made with plastic compounds. And if that’s not bad enough, they are sold in plastic wrapping. These things often get thrown into the bin, and eventually end up in our watercourses — and ultimately the sea. But by using cloths made with natural fibres such as cotton, you’ll cut the waste and ensure tiny particles of plastic don’t end up being washed down your kitchen sink every day.
7. Give your life a little loofah
A lot of scrubbing brushes, pads and sponges contain plastic, which often ends up being flushed down the kitchen sink. Instead of using these potentially damaging items in your kitchen, switch to natural loofah scrubbers. Yes, they’re more expensive, but they last longer. And most importantly, they’re completely biodegradable. Once you’re done with them, simply throw them in your garden compost heap.
As a society, we have become reliant on plastic without really noticing it. But when we really put our minds to it, we can all cut our usage and make a real difference to the environment.