Have you ever wanted to make some zero waste bathroom swaps? You’re in the right place!
If you’re anything like me, you’ll love being in the bathroom. In the shower, the bath, getting clean; I always feel a thousand times better when I step out of that room and feel completely refreshed.
But I looked around and all I could see was plastic bottles and tubes and that gorgeous feeling of being clean… wasn’t so gorgeous anymore.
Slowly, I’ve managed to swap pretty much everything plastic out of my bathroom!
Bamboo toothbrush
My toothbrush was the first swap I made in my bathroom. I ditched my electric toothbrush years ago – I always forgot to charge it and loathed that I even had to in the first place.
Traditional toothbrushes are 100% made from plastic, and while not single use, changing it out every 6 months generates a lot of plastic that doesn’t often get recycled. Instead, used toothbrushes end up in landfill.
Behold, the bamboo toothbrush!!
Unfortunately, I’ve not come across a perfect toothbrush that is 100% biodegradable, even if the label says that they are. Most bamboo toothbrush bristles are made from nylon, which is plastic. There ARE 100% natural toothbrushes that use boar bristles, but I’d rather not take my chances on where those boar bristles come from.
I’ve made my peace with the fact that for now, the closest I’m going to get to reducing plastic waste as much as possible is a widely available bamboo handle toothbrush. Remember to pull out the bristles with or snap off the head before you toss it into your recycle bin!
Toothpaste tablets
I’ve gotta say, I was sceptical. Would they taste weird? Would my teeth still be clean?
Turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about. It took a week or so to get used to it not being a gel – you have to chew it up in your mouth until it’s a paste – but after that, there’s no change. My teeth actually feel cleaner than they ever have done!
I buy the Denttabs brand without fluoride directly from Peace With the Wild, here! They come in either a glass jar or a refill paper bag, including 180 tablets (3 month’s worth). I bought the jar first (£8.50) and now just order the refill bags (£7.50).
Of course, there are other brands and options on the site, or you can shop around! Other zero-waste alternatives include powder, paste, and even soaps.
Body loofah
Plastic sponges are SO last year. Loofahs are 100% natural and sustainable, and are my favourite out of all the zero waste bathroom swaps.
They’re fairly cheap to buy, and I’ve found they last a lot longer than any of the plastic sponges I’ve used.
Naturally exfoliating, holds moisture well, and is super flexible; just like a plastic sponge.
It’s generally cheaper to buy a much larger size than you need, which you can then cut down to what you need and save the rest for when the sponge is spent. I like to use mine for pretty much everything: body, washing dishes, and cleaning the house.
Wooden Hairbrush
A super simple swap, but one that you probably won’t need to make for quite a while since you’ve probably already got a hairbrush!
I still have my plastic ones too, and I’ll use them for as long as they’ll last, but couldn’t resist investing in a lovely wooden brush. They’re kinder on your hair, naturally anti-static, and they’re great for massaging the scalp and encouraging circulation.
Keep it clean to avoid product and oil build up, and your wooden brush will be a vital part of your hair care routine.
Shampoo bar
Full disclosure: I struggled. I struggled to find a shampoo bar that suited me. I did research after research, tried far too many different bars that claimed to clean hair like a regular shampoo and not leave any residue. They all did, because they are made out of soap, which contain oils!
I read countless articles explaining that my hair was just ‘adjusting’ to the natural process of the bar and I had to let it transition, but honestly, I don’t believe that. It might be true, but I could not bear to have my hair feeling so awful for so long!
Most articles explained that it would help need to do an apple cider vinegar rinse after shampooing. Or using bicarb of soda to ‘prep’ my hair before washing. That’s not what I wanted to hear. Like most people, I’m on a budget and buying a second product just to keep my hair clean seemed excessive.
Fortunately, I used the bars that didn’t work for my hair on soap for my body so they didn’t go to waste, and persevered trying to find a bar that worked for me.
Which I did! The bar pictured is by Eco Warrior and is the first one I’ve used that left my hair feeling normal after washing. It took some trial and error, but it has been so worth the effort!
Soap bar
Another simple ‘swap’ – why did people stop using soap bars?!
There’s not a lot I can really say about bars of soap that would be a revelation. I did love having fruity bottles of lathering shower gel to clean myself but let’s face it – we don’t need them. Plain old soap does the trick just as well!
I like to use 100% organic, natural soap bars that are vegan and cruelty free – and not wrapped in plastic of course 🙂
Are you making any of these zero waste bathroom swaps?
While some of the options may not be for everyone, I’m sure that there’s something on the list that you would love.
Remember that nobody is perfect, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up for not wanting to persevere with products that aren’t working for you or are making your life harder than it needs to be. Transitioning to a zero-waste, sustainable lifestyle will take time and it’s meant to be fun!
Take your time trying new products, maybe even go halfsies with a friend and try new things out together to find out what works best for you.
If you’re interested in more zero-waste swaps, you can read about plastic free dishwashing and my most recent product review HERE.
As always, leave a comment below and I’ll see you next time on Sowing Wild!
We’ve switched to “pebble” bars – which I use in place of soap, body wash, shampoo and shaving cream and I love them.