Making the switch to cotton has huge benefits for your family’s health and the environment. Clothes made from natural cotton fibers are breathable, move sweat away from the skin, and are hypoallergenic. In fact, many dermatologists consider 100% cotton materials best for skin sensitivities and conditions like eczema.¹

But this includes more than just our clothes. Cotton towels absorb more liquid, cotton sheets are breathable, durable, and versatile, and cotton produce bags can be reused over and over again. 

And trust us, we know it won’t happen overnight. We want to give you a guide that you can easily follow and won’t leave you overwhelmed!

Learn More: Cotton vs Plastic: A Healthier Future Starts with Better Choices

This post is sponsored by Plant Not Plastic. 

Practical Month-by-Month Switch to Cotton: Your Year of Better Choices 

Making the shift to a pure cotton household doesn’t mean throwing out every synthetic sheet and microfiber towel overnight. In fact, doing so would miss the point of choosing a more sustainable, intentional way of living. 

Over the next twelve months, this guide will walk you through a thoughtful, step-by-step transition to natural fibers. By focusing on one room or routine at a time, you will systematically upgrade your daily routine.

Don’t worry, this isn’t an all-or-nothing overhaul. We’re in this together, and we’ll do it in four easy steps. 

1. Check the label, choose cotton
2. Choose one category to swap out each month.
3. Shop secondhand and look for sales on trusted cotton brands. 
4. Track your progress with a simple checklist. 

Before you know it, you’ll be a natural cotton-fiber household in 12 months, with reduced synthetic exposure across your home.

Switch to Cotton: Month-by-Month Plan

Before we get started, there is one ground rule – we’re doing this a little bit at a time. 

Baby steps.

Below, we’ll explain what’s involved with each month’s category, why it benefits your family, and some ideas of how to implement the switch. If you’re super busy and only have time for a quick glance, we’ll recap each section with a bulleted list for that month’s plan. 

Here we go!

JANUARY: Skin-Closest Items

We’ll start with an easy one – items that directly come into contact with our skin. Think underwear, socks, base layers. These items are most likely to affect our health, trapping sweat and irritating the skin.

Do an inventory to see what you already have that’s made of cotton and what isn’t. When you know what needs upgrading, New Year’s sales are a great opportunity to get 100% cotton at a discount. 

January Recap

• Underwear, socks, base layers 
• Check the tags
• Prioritize 100% cotton or high-cotton blends
• Look for New Year’s sales 

FEBRUARY: Everyday Tops and Tees

T-shirts, tank tops, and long-sleeve basics are the next closest textile to our skin all year. We wear them under jackets and sweaters during the winter and as shirts during the summer. You’ll hear this a lot, but check the tags and make an assessment of what needs replacing. 

Spring sales will start popping up soon, so February is the best time to start keeping an eye out for those summery shirts, made of breathable cotton.

February Recap

• T-shirts, tank tops, and long-sleeve basics
• Check the tags
• Shop secondhand 
• Breathable material under winter layers and hot summer weather

MARCH: Sleepwear and Loungewear

If you run hot when you sleep, you’ll love this month’s overhaul. It’s time to check the labels on your pajamas, robes, and lounge sets. When you make the switch to cotton, you’re more likely to experience better sleep and comfort because the material can actually breathe.² 

Better sleep makes the whole family happy. Do your assessment for the month to see what needs replacing, and keep a lookout for sales.

March Recap

• Pajamas, robes, lounge sets
• Check the tags
• Better sleep and comfort
• Cotton is naturally breathable for when you have night sweats

APRIL: Bottoms and Casual Pants

Let’s focus on pants. When checking the tag, look for cotton or high-cotton options. This time of year, stores are getting ready to clear out their winter pants and bottoms selection to make room for shorts and summer dresses. 

After you do your tag and inventory assessment, keep an eye out for those sales. 

April Recap

• Shop secondhand or look for pre-summer sales
• Look for chinos or leggings 
• Check the tag
• Look for cotton or high-cotton options

MAY: Bathroom Textiles

You’ve already made great switches to staples in your wardrobe, and we’re not even halfway through the year! Now, we’ll start making our way through the home, starting with the bathroom. Take out your towels, washcloths, bath mats, and hand towels, check the tags, and see what you can keep and what needs replacing.

Cotton bathroom textiles are an ideal option for bathing because of their natural absorbency. As it ages, the fibers loosen, holding the liquid deeper in each thread for better absorption. 

May Recap

• Towels, washcloths, bath mats, hand towels 
• Check the tag
• Cotton absorbs more with age
• Look for Memorial Day sales

JUNE: Bedding

Let’s check out what we’re sleeping on. Bedding is almost as important as our base layers because it touches our skin for 8 hours each day. Check the tags on your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers to see if they’re made of cotton. 

Since cotton is naturally breathable, it allows air to flow more easily and helps regulate your body temperature while you sleep. Plus, it gets more cozy with every wash. 

June Recap

• Sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers 
• Check the tag
• Breathable cotton for better rest
• Hypoallergenic
• Gets more cozy with each wash

JULY: Kitchen Textiles

You’ve made it halfway through the year – only a few more areas left! Let’s take a look at what you’ve got in the kitchen. Think dish towels, hand towels, aprons, and cloth napkins. Cotton towels and cloth napkins are more absorbent, heat-resistant, and durable. You’ll notice a difference in quicker spill clean-ups and easier handling of hot pots. 

You’ll also use fewer (if any) paper towels and paper napkins after the switch to cotton.

July Recap

• Dish towels, hand towels, aprons, and cloth napkins. 
• Check the tag
• More absorbent, heat-resistant, and durable
• Use fewer paper towels
• 4th of July sales

AUGUST: Reusable Shopping, Produce, and Back-to-School Bags

You know we’ve been itching for this category to come up in the plan, and it’s finally here!

As you prep for the first day of school, let’s take a look at your shopping, produce, and lunch bags. Cotton holds more weight than plastic (so they don’t rip), they’re machine-washable, and they eliminate single-use waste.

And of course, they’re more breathable without trapping moisture around your fruits and veggies. Many families have said that their produce lasts longer in cotton vs. plastic bags, which also means less food waste. It’s really a win all the way around. 

August Recap

• Switch to reusable cotton produce bags or totes for grocery trips
• Check the tag
• Dramatically reduces plastic waste
• Supports fresh produce handling, decreasing food waste
• Produce stays fresh longer

SEPTEMBER: Cleaning and Household Cloths

Microplastics can land on surfaces, so let’s talk about what we use to clean those surfaces: cleaning clothes, dusters, and rags. Our favorite things about cotton cleaning cloths are their durability, absorbency, gentleness on delicate surfaces, and ease to toss in the wash when you’re done.

Be sure to check the tags so you can confidently clean your house without moving microplastics from one surface to another. Look for cotton cleaning cloths in bulk for better pricing and share extras with your family and friends.  

September Recap

• Machine washable 
• Reusable cotton cleaning cloths, dusters, and rags
• Check the tag
• Handles heavy-duty cleaners, bleach, and polishes without breaking down
• Naturally softer on scratch-prone surfaces like wood, ceramics, and stainless steel

OCTOBER: Kids’ and Family Items

As moms, we know how sensitive our babies’ and kids’ skin can be. Babies explore the world by putting everything in their mouths. Stuffed animal covers, blankets, and clothing can have settled microplastics that our little ones can ingest. Even if we wash everything regularly, the plastic particles still release into wastewater with every wash. 

Remember that cotton is absorbent, so it helps the skin stay dry from drooling, sweat, and diaper leaks, which means less heat rash. Check those tags and let’s get these family items swapped out!

October Recap

• Children’s clothing, blankets, stuffed animal covers
• Check the tag
• Avoids ingesting microplastics
• Keeps wastewater clean during washing

NOVEMBER: Laundry Habits and Final Replacements

We’re almost done! We talked a little bit about laundry in October’s action plan. Now let’s go all in on our laundry habits. The friction of the wash cycle, temperature, and chemicals all contribute to breakdown in fibers, releasing microplastics into the environment. 

Wash your clothes with full loads in cold water using liquid detergent (not powder). If you can, skip the fabric softener and air dry. Since Black Friday deals are running all month long, be sure to add any leftover cotton replacements to your shopping cart as we round out our switch to cotton. 

November Recap

• Optimize washing (cold water, full loads) 
• Skip the fabric softener and air dry 
• Replace any remaining high-use synthetics
• Black Friday deals 

DECEMBER: Review, Celebrate, and Sustain

You did it – you made the switch to cotton! Review your checklist for a full household audit. You just made so many great updates to make your household synthetic-free, healthy environment for you and your family, and that’s no small feat. Now it’s time to celebrate! 

As you clear things out, be sure to responsibly dispose of or recycle your synthetics and set intentions for the new year to keep the cotton momentum going. 

December Recap

• Full household audit
• Responsibly dispose of or recycle old synthetics
• Set intentions for the new year and celebrate your progress
• Celebrate!

Pro Tips for Success and Shopping Smart 

The most important thing we want you to remember from the Plant Not Plastic campaign is this… 

Check the Label. 

Similar to checking the ingredients of packaged food, we’ll check the “ingredients” of our clothes. 100% cotton is our go-to choice when shopping for clothes and textiles. But if it’s a cotton blend, aim for the highest cotton blends available. 

When shopping online: Look under “details” to see what fabrics that specific piece of clothing is made from. 

When shopping in person: Check the label on the inside of the back of the shirt where you usually look at the size. There is a tag that has a “fabric composition label” that lists out the fabrics of that piece of clothing.

Remember that this doesn’t need to be a giant overhaul this week. This is about making small changes that add up to big health and environmental benefits over time. Look for sales, shop at secondhand stores. Remember that investing in durable cotton means it lasts and doesn’t need to be replaced as quickly. 

We love involving our kids in our projects, especially when it comes to creating fun ways to improve our health and habits that they can use for life. Have them help you pick out towels in their favorite color, go shopping together for new or second-hand clothes, and celebrate with an ice-cream date each month when each category is completed. 

Have fun with it!

Support American Farmers

At The Produce Moms, we are big about supporting our American farmers. When you become a natural fibers household, you support farmers across 17 states. By choosing biodegradable cotton over plastic when possible, you help support American agriculture that feeds, clothes, and strengthens the nation. 

To celebrate 250 years of United States culture and pay homage to our hardworking farmers who feed, fuel, and clothe the world, we put together our 50 States of Agriculture series. You might be surprised to find out how much of your produce is grown right here in the U.S. 

Bonus: Be sure to use the Plant Not Plastic resources for videos, fact sheets, and social channels to help explain the switch to your kids. 

Sources: 

1. https://plantnotplastic.org/
2. NCC Launch Press Release (Sept 2025):
3. Cotton Today microplastics/biodegradability article 
4. The Hidden Truth Fact Sheet
5. Your Wardrobe and Wellness Fact Sheet 
6. The Tag Truth Fact Sheet
7. The Produce Moms 50 States of Agriculture hub