Easy Plastic Swaps to Reduce Hidden Microplastics at Home

These easy plastic swaps go beyond the obvious and help you to reduce hidden plastics in your home.

You might be thinking going easy plastic swaps is mainly ditching the straws and shopping bags. But did you know that some of the biggest culprits for microplastics come from places you might not expect. The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your entire life to make a difference.  From your laundry routine to your tea time, small, simple changes can add up to a big impact- especially when they help keep microplastics out of our oceans, air, and even our bodies!  

Firstly- What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny particles that come from larger plastic products. We've done a whole other blog post on the microplastic problem that we'll link here, but in short- they often end up in our waterways, food, and research now shows they're even in the bodies of young kids.

Although most of us know the obvious plastics by now, below are some easy plastic swaps you can make that you might not have thought of, but are actually super easy in order to reduce microplastics in your daily routine.

1. Swap Synthetic Clothes for Natural Fibres

Here’s something most people don’t realise: many of our clothes are actually made from plastic. Fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex are all synthetic fibres, aka plastic in disguise. Every time these clothes go through the wash, they shed thousands of tiny plastic fibres called microplastics.

These microfibres are too small to be filtered out by most water treatment systems, so they end up in our rivers, oceans, and even in the food chain. One wash can release up to 700,000 fibres, depending on the fabric and washing conditions.

What to Choose Instead:

• Choose natural fibres like organic cotton, linen, hemp or wool.
• If you do have polyester clothing going in to the machine, trying washing with a garment bag like a Guppyfriend Bag or even install a microplastic-catching filter.

2. Switch to Natural Cleaning Tools

When we think of microplastics, cleaning products usually aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but they should be. Many conventional laundry detergents, dishwasher tablets, and surface cleaners contain microplastics in the form of microbeads, liquid polymers, or plastic fillers. These ingredients help with texture, foam, or fragrance release but they don’t break down in water.

Once rinsed down the drain, these tiny plastic particles bypass most water filtration systems and head straight into rivers, oceans, and marine life.

Even sponges, brushes, and scrubbers are often made from plastic-based materials that shed microplastic particles as they wear down, especially when used with hot water or harsh scrubbing.

What to Choose Instead:

• Use natural, plastic-free cleaning powders or refillable detergents. You can make your own like these, or if you're looking to purchase we've always been a fan of Koala Eco and Dirt Laundry.
• Replace plastic sponges with compostable options like loofah or cellulose.

3. Choose Microplastic-Free Personal Care Products

Face scrubs, body washes, even toothpaste sometimes contain microbeads, tiny plastic particles used as exfoliants or fillers. Beat the Microbead is a great database that features safe products and it's a super simple as one of our easy plastic swaps.

What to Choose Instead:

• Avoid ingredients like polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Choose bar soaps and scrubs made from oats, salt, sugar, or coffee.
• Bonus: look for cardboard or glass packaging to cut even more plastic.

4. Say No to Plastic Tea Bags

This is one that even surprised me! Many tea bags are sealed with plastic or made from nylon mesh, which breaks down when exposed to boiling water and releases microplastics right into your cup.

What to Choose Instead:

• Look for certified plastic-free or compostable tea bags. There's a great list included here.
• Switch to loose-leaf tea and a stainless steel infuser for a totally plastic-free brew.

5. Chewing Gum: A Sticky Source of Microplastics

Did you know that most chewing gums are actually made from plastic? The “gum base” in many brands is a mix of synthetic rubbers and plastics that don’t break down naturally. When chewed and discarded, these plastics can fragment into tiny pieces, contributing to microplastic pollution in the environment.

Plus, gum often ends up as litter on streets and parks, where it sticks around for years, breaking down slowly into microplastics that can harm wildlife and pollute waterways.

What to Choose Instead:

• As part of easy plastic swaps, choose natural chewing gums made with chicle or other plant-based gum bases. Here's a list of safe brands.
• Or try gum alternatives like mints or herbal chewing sticks.

6. Switch to Plastic-Free Kids Plates, Cups, and Toys

Plastic dinnerware and toys can degrade over time, especially when microwaved or washed repeatedly, releasing microplastics in the process. Of course, this has been the driving force behind our brand and we've done many blog posts regarding this in the past. It's also one of our favourite easy plastic swaps as we've put our absolute heart and soul in to it!

What to Choose Instead:

• Choose stainless steel or plant based dinnerware options for kids’ plates, bowls, and cups (like our EcoCubs range 😉). Always read the fine print when it comes to bamboo dishes, as many contain synthetic binders like melamine.
• Go for toys made from natural rubber, wood, or organic fabric- ideally those that can be used endlessly but are also recyclable or compostable at their end of life.

Start Small: Easy Plastic Swaps That Make a Big Impact

Reducing microplastics starts with awareness and a few easy plastic swaps around your home. You don’t need to be perfect to make a difference. Whether it’s switching your tea bags or changing your laundry routine, every step helps protect your family and the planet. And the great thing is that they're really easy and inexpensive to do!

These easy plastic swaps, whether it’s switching your clothes, cleaning products, or even chewing gum will help add up to a healthier home and cleaner planet.