Ditching plastic in seven days is totally doable—and we’ll prove it step by step.
You think you’re doing okay with plastic—maybe you bring your own bags or skip the bottled water now and then. But try going a full week without using any, and you’ll quickly realize just how sneaky and overwhelming plastic has become in everyday life. It’s in your food packaging, your kids’ snacks, your bathroom, even your laundry routine. Going plastic-free sounds noble, but for a family? It can feel impossible.
The truth is, it’s totally doable if you break it down day by day—and commit to progress, not perfection. You don’t need to overhaul your whole lifestyle overnight. You just need to learn where the plastic’s hiding, swap it out smartly, and get everyone on board. This one-week plan will show you how to ditch the waste without losing your mind (or your family’s cooperation) along the way.
1. Ditch the plastic-packed groceries and shop like your grandma did.
The grocery store is a plastic minefield—clamshell containers, shrink-wrapped veggies, plastic bags for everything. Instead of grabbing the usual prepackaged stuff, start shopping like people did before everything came in plastic. Hit up the farmer’s market, buy loose produce, bring your own cloth bags, and skip anything with unnecessary packaging. You’ll probably realize how often you choose convenience over sustainability. The switch isn’t just about what you buy—it’s how you think. Bring jars to the bulk bins, say no to plastic produce bags, and plan ahead so you’re not forced into plastic-laden last-minute meals.
It might feel weird at first, but once you see your trash bin shrinking, it gets strangely addictive. Plus, your food ends up fresher, tastier, and often cheaper. Bonus: you might even start eating healthier without all that plastic convenience food lying around.
2. Swap out plastic water bottles for the one reusable bottle you’ll actually use.
Plastic water bottles are sneaky. You grab one in a rush, at the gym, or while traveling, thinking it’s no big deal. But they add up fast—and they stick around forever. The fix? Find a reusable water bottle you genuinely like. Not the clunky one buried in your cabinet. One that feels good in your hand, fits in your bag, and makes you want to drink more water. Once everyone in the family has a personal bottle, label them and make a habit of grabbing them before heading out.
Keep extras in the car for emergencies. After a few days, buying bottled water will feel ridiculous. You’ll start noticing how many places offer refills, and how much money you’re saving. It’s one of the easiest shifts with the biggest payoff—for your wallet and the planet.
3. Say goodbye to plastic sandwich bags and hello to reusable containers.
Lunches, snacks, leftovers—plastic bags are the go-to, but they’re totally disposable in the worst way. You use them once, then toss them, often without a second thought. That’s where reusable containers or silicone bags come in. They’re not just more eco-friendly—they actually keep food fresher and don’t rip at the worst possible moment. You can find tons of shapes and sizes, and most are dishwasher safe.
The key is convenience: keep them visible, washed, and ready to grab. If your kids are used to plastic baggies, make the transition fun—let them pick their own colors or labels. Within days, you’ll forget plastic sandwich bags ever existed. Plus, when your trash isn’t overflowing with crumpled plastic, you’ll realize how small changes seriously add up.
4. Replace your plastic wrap habit with beeswax and silicone alternatives.
Plastic wrap is one of those kitchen items you don’t think about—until you try to quit it. That clingy sheet is everywhere: over leftovers, half-used veggies, random bowls. But there are better options. Beeswax wraps mold around containers and food with the warmth of your hands. Silicone lids stretch over bowls and keep things sealed without waste. Both are reusable and surprisingly easy to clean. It takes a little practice to reach for the beeswax wrap instead of the plastic roll, but once you get into the habit, it’s second nature.
You’ll love how much longer food stays fresh, and your fridge will look way less chaotic without a mess of plastic shoved on top of everything. And when you realize you haven’t bought plastic wrap in months? That’s a win worth celebrating.
5. Banish plastic toothbrushes from your bathroom once and for all.
You probably don’t think much about your toothbrush. But every three months, it gets tossed—and joins the billions of others sitting in landfills. That’s a lot of plastic for something so small. Bamboo toothbrushes are the game-changer you didn’t know you needed. They’re just as effective, feel great to use, and some are fully compostable.
Make it a family switch—let everyone pick their favorite color or bristle type. Keep a stash for guests so they’re not tempted to bring disposable ones. You’ll be amazed how one simple swap makes your morning routine feel more intentional. And when your bathroom’s no longer full of plastic tubes and tools, it starts feeling a little calmer, a little cleaner—and a lot more eco-conscious.
6. Stop buying liquid soap in plastic bottles and go old-school with bars.
Liquid soap is convenient, but it’s also one of the biggest sources of plastic waste in your home. Between hand soap, body wash, and dish soap, those bottles pile up. Bar soap, on the other hand, is often packaging-free, lasts longer, and looks way cuter on your sink. There are so many great bar options now—from moisturizing facial soaps to shampoo bars that actually work. You can even find dishwashing bars that cut grease like a champ. Make the switch room by room.
Once you try it, you’ll realize it’s not just better for the planet—it’s often better for your skin. And there’s something weirdly satisfying about ditching all those clunky plastic bottles and keeping things simple and clean.
7. Cut out plastic trash bags by rethinking how you throw things away.
This one feels extreme until you actually try it. Plastic trash bags are a habit, not a necessity. Start by reducing what you toss in the first place. Compost food scraps, recycle more carefully, and cut down on packaging. For the little bit of trash that’s left? Try compostable bags, line your bin with newspaper, or go bagless if your container’s easy to wash. It forces you to be more aware of your waste—and that awareness leads to even less trash over time.
You’ll notice how much of your garbage used to be plastic in the first place. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about challenging the default and choosing smarter ways to manage waste without wrapping it in more waste.
8. Say no to plastic straws and utensils—then keep reusable ones handy.
You think you’ll remember to say “no straw, please”—until the server drops one in your drink anyway. Or you grab a to-go fork without thinking. The solution? Be prepared. Toss a little pouch in your bag or car with a stainless-steel straw and cutlery set. Make it easy so there’s no excuse. For kids, get fun colors or collapsible sets they’ll actually want to use.
It turns saying “no thanks” into a habit. And once you start refusing plastic straws and forks, you’ll notice how often they’re offered—and how unnecessary they really are. It’s such a tiny change, but it gives you that quiet satisfaction every time you opt out of single-use junk. Bonus: no more weird-tasting plastic in your iced coffee.
9. Declutter your cleaning cabinet and ditch the plastic-heavy products.
Your cleaning supplies might look harmless, but they’re often packed with plastic bottles, sprayers, and throwaway tools. Time to rethink it. Go for refillable concentrates, reusable cloths, and even DIY vinegar-based sprays in glass bottles. You’ll spend less, waste less, and probably clean just as well—if not better. Microfiber cloths and Swedish dishcloths replace rolls of paper towels.
Concentrated tabs dissolve in water, so you don’t keep buying the same plastic bottle over and over. Once you set up a system, it’s easy to maintain. And your cabinet starts looking less like a plastic graveyard and more like a smart, streamlined toolkit. Cleaning suddenly feels a little less like a chore and a lot more like an act of conscious living.