Have you ever thought about the amount of waste that your home creates on a regular basis? Take that one-step farther, and think about the amount of plastic waste that your family creates. There are so many disposable products that we use everyday, but don’t ever take the time to think about. I try to be conscious about the amount of waste that we create as a family. Not only does cutting down on waste help the environment, it helps to save money. Recently, I have tried to make a conscious effort to reduce our disposable plastic usage. There are so many products that I have easily replaced. Check out this post to see 14 ways that you can eliminate single use plastics from your home without too much effort. Some small changes will really help you to reduce plastic waste.

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Before we get started, I’d like to point out one disposable item that is creating a huge problem at the moment – masks! Please, please be conscious of your disposable mask usage. Consider a reusable mask if that is an option for you. If disposable masks are unavoidable, make sure to dispose of them properly.

Here are 15 ways to eliminate single use plastics and reduce plastic waste:

1. Switch to reusable snack bags

All of those plastic baggies add up over time! Think about the pile that you would create each week just by using one each day. Try using reusable plastic or fabric snack bags instead. Small bowls or mason jars (great if you prefer entirely plastic free) work awesome for packing snacks as well.

2. Ask for no straw

Ah, the great straw debate! You’ve probably already heard that skipping the straw is a great way to save on plastic. If you really need a straw, you can always bring a metal or reusable plastic one with you. They even make collapsable straws that you can carry on your keychain. That seems a little silly, but if you really like straws and really want to save the environment, there you go!

3. Bring your own cup

One step further than bringing your own straw is bringing your own cup. All of those coffee and soda cups really do pile up overtime. My favorite go-to for iced coffee and other cold drinks is a tumbler like this one. Keep one if your car for those spur of the moment coffee runs. This switch alone will make a huge difference in an effort to reduce plastic waste around the world.

4.Use wooden/bamboo toothbrushes

We recently made this switch and it was so easy. I found these bamboo toothbrushes on Amazon for $12 for a 4 pack. They’re a little more expensive than plastic, but even if we each get a new one every 2 months, that’s only $36 per year for my husband and I. It’s a little change that doesn’t add up financially, but will make a big difference in the landfills.

5. Bring your own silverware

Instead of grabbing the plastic utensils from the break room, bring a fork or spoon with you from home. We have a set of these handy little spoon-fork things that I just throw in my lunch box every morning.

6. Switch to metal razors

My husband and I recently joined Dollar Shave Club  and I am loving it so far! Metal razors don’t waste as much plastic and feel higher quality. I always thought that they would be more expensive, but a higher quality razor lasts longer. In the end, it’s about the same and I get a better shave. If you’re not into subscription services you can always just buy metal razors from the store or Amazon.

7. Just say no to disposable water bottles

This one seems too simple to need an explanation. Disposable water bottles are expensive and not biodegradable. Invest in a nice glass water bottle, you’ll be happy you did.

8. Bring your own grocery bags

Another simple switch to make. Many stores even offer a discount for bringing your own bags. Plus one big tote bag is easier to carry than a bunch of little plastic bags. I try to keep a couple of tote bags in my car, but I also have a little key chain bag like this as back up. You can also use smaller bags or boxes for your produce instead of the little clear plastic ones.

9. Try bar soaps and shampoos

I’ll be honest, I haven’t given this one a try yet. I saw a friend share a bar shampoo that she really likes recently, and I may give it a go when my current jumbo size bottles run out.

10. Don’t buy individual servings

We’re back to small containers or mason jars again! Instead of buying individual sized snacks, buy full-size and portion them out yourself. This is one that your wallet will really appreciate overtime in addition to the environment. Next time you’re at the store do a price per ounce comparison on a giant jar of applesauce versus the small plastic containers. You will see what I mean!

11. Ditch the dryer sheets

Dryer sheets are full of gross chemicals and…you guessed it, plastic. Wool dryer balls fluff up your clothes instead of weighing them down with heavy gunk. If you like the smell, try using a few drops of essential oils on a damp washcloth or making some DIY dryer sheets.

12. Switch to menstrual cups

Tampons and pads are made mostly of cotton (bleached and processed with things you don’t want in your body), but the applicators and packaging contain plastic. I made the switch to a menstrual cup and was surprised to find that it’s actually more convenient than tampons in a lot of ways. Check out this quiz to see what cup might be a good fit for you.

13. Stop using k-cups

They’re so convenient, right?? Well, those little plastic cups are expensive and not biodegradable. Try a reusable cup in your single-serve coffee maker instead.

14. DIY your cleaning products

This one eliminates plastic bottles as well as other avoidable chemicals from your home. Try making your own cleaning products in glass bottles instead of going for the pre-made. I love this orange spice cleaner for my kitchen. If you don’t want to make your own cleaners, you can buy concentrates. That way, you’re not paying for the water in the bottles and you get a much smaller amount of plastic packaging.

15. Switch to Cloth Diapers

In updating this post, I realized that I failed to include one of the biggest sources of waste for most parents – diapers! I read once that diapers take hundreds of years to decompose. That means that every single diaper that has ever been dumped into a landfill is still on our planet! How gross is that to think about? We made the switch to cloth diapers, and I am so happy when I think about the amount of diapers that we haven’t contributed to that pile. If you’re considering cloth diapering, check out this post to see what it takes to get started.

1. What are some other favorite ways to eliminate single use plastics from your home? Do you have a super simple tip to help reduce plastic waste? Share in the comments.

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