Microplastics have been detected in drinking water, food, the air we breathe, and even the human body. While scientists continue to study their long-term health effects, many people are looking for practical ways to reduce their everyday exposure.
Your daily bathroom routine may expose you to more plastic than you realize. These five simple swaps can help reduce potential sources of microplastic exposure while also reducing plastic waste.
1. Switch to a Bamboo Toothbrush and Plastic-Free Toothpaste Tabs
Most toothbrushes are made almost entirely of plastic. As you brush your teeth, plastic bristles can wear down and break off over time, creating another potential source of microplastic exposure.
Instead, choose a bamboo toothbrush or another low-plastic alternative.
Research has also identified microplastics in some toothpaste tubes. To help reduce your potential exposure, consider switching to toothpaste tablets packaged in glass, aluminum, or compostable materials.
2. Swap Your Plastic Loofah for a Natural Sponge or Soap-Saver Bag
Many bath poufs and loofahs are made from plastic materials like polyethylene or nylon. As they wear through regular use, they can shed tiny synthetic fibers.
Natural alternatives, such as plant-based sponges, sisal scrubbers, or cotton soap-saver bags, provide gentle exfoliation without relying on synthetic plastics.
3. Choose Plastic-Free Cleaning Products
Many everyday bathroom cleaning products and tools contain plastic or come in plastic packaging. One study analyzing several household cleaning products found the highest concentration of microplastics in toilet bowl cleaner. Plastic scrub brushes and microfiber cloths can also shed synthetic fibers over time.
To minimize microplastics, look for refillable cleaning tablets, powders packaged in paper or metal, and natural cleaning tools such as cellulose sponges or wooden scrub brushes.
4. Use Bar Soap Instead of Bottled
Liquid hand soaps and body washes are typically sold in plastic bottles that can shed microplastics into your products over time. Choosing bar products packaged in paper or cardboard is a simple way to reduce the amount of plastic that comes into contact with products you use on your skin every day.
Bar soaps are also highly concentrated, often lasting longer than liquid alternatives while reducing unnecessary plastic waste in your daily routine.
5. Avoid Cosmetics That Contain Microbeads
Microbeads are tiny plastic particles added to some exfoliants and cosmetic products. Avoiding these ingredients is a simple way to reduce direct contact and pollution.
Although many countries have banned microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, some personal care products may still contain intentionally added plastic particles. Check ingredient labels for plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or nylon, and choose products that do not contain these ingredients whenever possible.
The Bigger Picture
Making simple swaps in your bathroom can help reduce your contact with plastics and limit potential sources of microplastic exposure. However, the most effective way to reduce microplastic exposure is to stop plastic pollution before it enters our environment.
The largest source of microplastic pollution is clothing, which releases tiny plastic fibers every time it is washed. Those fibers can enter rivers, lakes, and oceans before making their way back into our food, drinking water, and the air we breathe.
Installing the CLEANR microplastics filter for washing machines helps capture these fibers before they enter waterways, reducing pollution at its source. By preventing microplastics from entering the environment, we can help reduce future exposure while protecting our waterways.
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