Plastic is overfilling our landfill sites, polluting our oceans and impacting our ecosystem. But making small adjustments to the products we use at home and buying plastic free alternatives can make a huge difference. Also, opting for more natural cleaning products instead of chemicals are much better for the environment.

Here are five ways to clean your house using less plastic.

 1. Remove stains with Bicarbonate of Soda. Bicarbonate of Soda comes in a cardboard box and is great for removing stains. If you mix it with water to create a paste, you can use it to clean worktops, sinks, cookers and saucepans. Bicarbonate of Soda also removes bad odours from your fridge. If you place a shallow bowl on one of the shelves for a few hours, it’ll absorb any nasty smells.

2. Use reusable cotton cloths. Avoid using disposable cleaning cloths which cannot be recycled. Also, avoid plastic and synthetic scrubbers. Instead opt for natural, reusable and washable cloths. You could even repurpose old T shirts or other items of clothing and use them as cleaning cloths.

3. Wear natural rubber gloves. Instead of buying your typical marigolds, try natural rubber gloves. If You Care make great hard wearing, durable and plastic free gloves which are biodegradable and home compostable.

4. Clean with lemon juice. Lemon juice is one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties. If you dilute lemon juice with water and fill up a spray bottle, you can make a great all-purpose kitchen cleaner. Just make sure you rinse any surfaces with warm soapy water and dry with a clean cloth afterwards. For cleaning a microwave, a great trick is to put a lemon cut in two into a cup of water, microwave on high power for three minutes, then let the lemons stand for a further five minutes inside the microwave. The steam trapped inside will loosen all the dirt, making it easier to wipe off. However, be aware that you can’t clean any countertops and flooring made of natural stone, or anything brass plated, as the acidity in the lemon juice will damage them. Also, be careful of antiques. If you’re unsure, test a small spot first.

5. Buy cleaning product refills. For household cleaning, Ocean Saver has a great range of eco cleaning products. To use them, first buy one of their ‘bottles for life’ or reuse an old plastic bottle. Next fill it with warm water, add one of their concentrated eco-cleaning refills, let it dissolve and shake it up. They have refills for bathroom, kitchen or multi-purpose cleaner. Once you run out, instead of buying a new bottle, just buy a new refill box.