How is everyone getting on with ditching plastic at home?

It is hard to do, but luckily in Wallingford we have shops which supply many of the alternatives that we are all looking for.

If you find the whole issue hard to deal with, why not try just making 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.

Read also: Waitrose plastic-free zone to be rolled out at two more Oxfordshire stores

Then it is time to introduce one or two more changes.

This is a fairly stress-free way of making these changes and gives you time to appreciate each change.

Some of our suggested switches are as follows:

In the Bathroom:

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 or Champions) instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight distilled vinegar.

Read also: Now Sainsbury's is testing its own plastic-free zone

In the Kitchen:

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 at

sustainablewallingford.org