WE all know it's time to start thinking about how to reduce the amount of plastic we use around the house. 

It is hard to do, but if you find the whole issue hard to deal with, it's possible to make just one or two changes at a time.

That way it is not a big deal – you get used to choosing a plastic-free alternative and it becomes part of your lifestyle, write the experts from 

Sustainable action groups suggest the following switches:

In the bathroom:

Swindon Advertiser:

Pic. Getty

  • Bamboo toothbrush instead of plastic
  • Bars of soap and shampoo bars instead of bottles
  • Safety razors instead of disposable razors
  • Reusable cleansing pads instead of cotton wool pads
  • Toilet bowl cleaner: sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax (from supermarkets) instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight distilled vinegar.

In the kitchen:

Swindon Advertiser:

Pic. Getty

  • Ditch the wipes – most of them are made from plastic. Use wash cloths and make your own cleaning spray. It’s easy to put the wash cloth in the washing machine with your normal washing.
  • Countertops: mix 2 parts distilled vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour, and wipe away.
  • Floors: mix 4 cups of distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.
  • Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton wool ball; stash it in a corner of the room. Keep out of reach of kids. Try relaxing lavender. Or cinnamon, clove, and citrus oils. Try peppermint in the car to stay alert.
  • Doing all of the above changes will get rid of all those hazardous chemicals polluting your home and our planet. You will reduce the amount of plastic you throw away because you will be reusing some of those handy spray bottles for your home-made cleaning fluids and not buying any more. You will be saving a lot of money too.

Happy ditching and switching!

Find out more HERE