Microplastics are one of those things that feel everywhere once you notice them; our water, our food, our laundry, even our bodies. Yikes. The good news is you donât have to overhaul your entire life or move off-grid to make a difference. A few intentional swaps can dramatically cut down the amount of plastic shedding into your home and the environment. Read on for five simple ways to reduce microplastics at home.
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Reducing Microplastics
Here are five realistic, family-friendly ways to reduce microplastics:
1. Skip Dish & Laundry Pods (Yes, Theyâre Convenient⌠But)
Laundry and dish pods are often wrapped in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). While marketed as âdissolving,â research suggests this material doesnât always fully break down and can contribute to microplastic pollution in waterways, and eventually back to us.
The swap: Powder detergents in cardboard or refillable containers⌠or better yet, homemade.
Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent (Takes 10 Minutes)
Youâll need:
- 1 bar castile soap, natural bar soap, or Fels Naptha (grated) I use Dr. Bronner’s
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
Instructions:
- Grate the soap finely.
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Store in an airtight glass jar.
- Use 1â2 tablespoons per load.
⨠Optional: Add a few drops of essential oil to the wash (not the container) if you like a light scent.
⨠Hot Tip: Canât find washing soda? Itâs super easy to make! Bake one cup baking soda on low (200) for an hour. Voila!
Itâs cheap, effective, and you know exactly whatâs touching your clothesâand your skin.
đ Want more low-waste, budget-friendly home swaps?
Checkout my upcoming book HERE
2. Plastic-Wrapped Food (Bread, Iâm Looking at You)
This one is tough. Plastic-wrapped food is everywhere, and bread is the biggest offender in my house. I love baking bread, itâs cheaper, healthier, and honestly kind of magical. But making enough loaves to keep up with our busy family schedule is not currently realistic.
What I do instead (progress over perfection):
- Buy bread when needed
- Reuse the plastic bags as long as humanly possible
- Store bread in cloth bread bags or towels once opened
- Freeze loaves in reusable freezer containers when I can
Is it ideal? No. Is it better than doing nothing? Absolutely.
đĄ Bonus tip: Many âecoâ products still come wrapped in plastic. Donât beat yourself up. Focus on reducing new plastic whenever possible.
đ Looking to cut plastic in other household staples? Toilet Paper was our next biggest offender:
3. Rethink Food Containers (This Oneâs a Two-for-One Win)
Plastic food containers scratch easily, and those scratches shed microplastics into your food, especially when heated, wether in a microwave or the dishwasher.
The swap: Glass containers.
Why I love them:
- No plastic leaching
- Oven-safe, microwave-safe, dishwasher safe
- Donât stain or hold smells
- AND⌠they double as serving dishes
⨠Bonus hack:
Serve dinner in the glass container. Less plastic, easier cleanup, and suddenly you feel wildly put together.
4. Balloons⌠Letâs Talk đŹ
Unpopular opinion incoming: balloon arches are out.
Theyâre a massive source of plastic waste and a serious choking hazard for babies and young kids. Even biodegradable balloons donât break down the way weâre led to believe.
I understand the impulse; they’re fun, and everyone loves playing keepy-uppy. But remember, you’re not depriving your kids of anything when you make choices to protect their future. In fact, once my kids were old enough to understand plastic pollution, they were actually upset that I had ever purchased them balloons!
Better alternatives (still fun, still festive):
- đż Floral arches or arrangements (real is ideal, but reusable faux can be an alternative IF you will get a lot of use out of them)
- đ¸ Photo booth backdrops
- đĽď¸ Green screen + light photo editing (great for parties, and older kids will love doing their own edits!)
- đŽ Paper lanterns are stunning, reusable, and endlessly customizable
Celebrations donât need balloons to feel special. They need people, connection, and maybe cake. Or any dessert, really.
5. Ditch Ziplock Bags (Freezer bags were the hardest for me!)
Single-use plastic bags are one of the sneakiest sources of microplastics, and one of the hardest habits to break.
The easy swaps:
- Silicone reusable bags
- Beeswax wraps (great for snacks, sandwiches, cheese)
The hard one: Freezer meals. I get it. Those gallon ziplocks are so convenient.
Alternatives that actually work:
- Glass jars (leave headspace for freezing!)
- Stackable glass containers
- Silicone freezer trays for soups and sauces
- Freeze meals flat in reusable silicone bags for easy storage
Itâs not about never using plastic again, itâs about slowly reducing how much ends up in landfills, waterways, and eventually⌠our bodies.
Final Thought: Small Changes Matter
Reducing microplastics isnât about being perfect. Itâs about being intentional. Pick one swap. Try it for a week. Then add another when youâre ready.
Your home doesnât need to be plastic-free to be healthier. It just needs a little awareness, and a few good glass containers
đđ If you want more simple, budget-conscious living ideas for real families:
Check out my book Resourceful Living coming soon!