There are so many areas of the home that can be made more low-waste and sustainable with a few simple and inexpensive swaps. Much like the kitchen (See Creating a Low-Waste Kitchen), the bathroom is a room that gets used multiple times a day and can easily be greened up with a few changes.
There are so many simple, low-cost ways to reduce waste in your bathroom. Here are my top 10!
10 Tips for Creating a Low-Waste Bathroom
1. Use What You Have
In our consumerist culture, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in what you need to BUY in order to be more environmentally friendly. Yes, there are a lot of swaps that do require the purchase of something new, but the best place to start is to always use up what you have while you are researching future alternatives.
Take your time. Not every swap will make sense for your lifestyle. A few small changes can make a big difference, and will likely be a lot easier to keep up with than a complete overhaul.
2. Rethink Your TP
Toilet paper. We all use it, but how much of an impact does that little roll have on the environment? I am a huge fan of Who Gives a Crap, a certified B-Corp company that sells recycled TP, bamboo TP, bamboo tissues, and bamboo/sugarcane paper towels. They use 50% of their profits to help build toilets in areas of need. Plus, no plastic packaging!
3. Refill Your Products
In order to cut down on the waste caused by product packaging, I have moved to using more products that can be refilled, such as liquid soap, lotion, and even floss. I am lucky to live in a city that has a shop dedicated to refillable and package-free items, but the good news is that there are many online options as well. Here are a few to start with:
The Good Fill (Also has a physical shop in Nashville, TN)
Greenhouse Mercantile (Also has a physical shop in Newnan, GA)
The Pale Blue Dot (also has a physical shop in Hamilton, ON)
Package Free Shop (Also has physical shops in NYC and Brooklyn, NY)
The Refill Shoppe (Also has a physical shop in Ventura, CA)
No Tox Life (Also has a physical shop in Los Angeles, CA)
4. Ditch Your Loofah
I hate to break it to you, but not only are standard loofahs bad for the environment (hello, plastic) but they are also pretty gross! All kinds of bacteria grow on those things. A traditional washcloth is definitely better than a loofah from a plastic-free standpoint, but it still serves as a breeding ground for bacteria. A great alternative is a bamboo washcloth. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, so you can feel confident that you are actually getting clean while also helping the environment.
5. Switch to a Safety Razor
If you shave, and you shave often, you know how quickly you can go through razor cartridges. These are often made out of multiple materials, including metal, plastic, and soaps or lotions, making them nearly impossible to recycle. Companies often recommend replacing your cartridge every 5-8 shaves. If you are someone who shaves daily, all those little cartridges can add up quickly. The alternative? Try a safety razor. Although these can take some getting used to, their all-metal design allows for the blades to be easily recycled. Brands like Albatross and Leaf even have the option to send your used blades directly back to them.
6. Bite Your Toothpaste
With toothpaste, the packaging is the real problem. Those tubes are nearly always made out of plastic. Enter the toothpaste tablet. These little things are typically packaged in refillable, glass containers. All you do is bite down and brush with a wet toothbrush! Simple and plastic-free.
Bonus: Surely, I can’t be the only person out there who never knows how much toothpaste they should really be squirting onto their toothbrush. This takes the guesswork out of the amount.
7. Swap Out Your Cotton Balls
If you wear makeup, you probably go through a lot of cotton balls and cotton pads while removing it. All of that trash adds up, and it simply isn’t necessary. Enter reusable facial rounds. You can use these the same way as a traditional cotton ball or pad, but when you are done you can simply wash, dry, and reuse them. These are typically sold in packs to ensure that you have a few different pads to rotate between, allowing them to fully dry out between uses.
8. Eco Your Deo!
I am a sweaty person. It just is what it is. I grew up thinking that there was no possible way I could ever function without the one-two punch of antiperspirant and deodorant. The older I got, the more I realized that what was in traditional antiperspirants and deodorants really wasn’t doing my body any favors. Not only was the ingredient list the length of my arm and full of chemicals I couldn’t pronounce, but I was literally keeping my body from sweating, the natural physical response to help me cool down. So about 5 years ago, I switched to natural deodorant.
If I’m being honest, it has taken many, MANY attempts at different brands and compounds to find something that works well for me. My favorite is by Humble Brands (5 ingredients!), but Native is a close second and also offers plastic-free packaging.
9. Use Eco-Friendly and DIY Cleaning Products
The way you clean your bathroom can be just as impactful as the daily bath and body products that you use. There are a lot of great companies that make cleaning products without harsh chemicals and bleach, but there are also easy ways to make your own non-toxic cleaning products. Here are two of my favorite “recipes”:
Easy Grout Cleaner
In a bowl, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide. Mix together, and use an old toothbrush to scrub into grout. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then wipe off and rinse with water.
All-Purpose Cleaner
Do you eat a lot of citrus? Lemon and orange peels are great for this! Simply add rinds to a glass jar, and cover with white vinegar as you go. Let sit for at least 2 weeks once full. Strain out the peels and pour the infused vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray onto any surface and wipe away to clean and disinfect.
10. Invest in Low-Waste Period Poducts
Hear me out: if you have a uterus, you know that periods are a pain and that the products that go along with them often aren’t much better. Have you ever thought about what kinds of chemicals are in your standard pad or tampon?
Enter the menstrual cup. There is definitely a learning curve, but I am a die-hard convert. I use a Lena cup, but there are a lot of options out there. Instead of having to carry around a bag full of pads, tampons, etc. while I am on my period, I just keep a couple of pantyliners handy and I am good to go. You can also purchase a few pairs of period underwear so that you are covered for any leaks, completely removing the need for any sort of disposable product. I recently bought a couple of pairs from Thinx and I am looking forward to trying them out.
As you begin to create a more sustainable bathroom, be gentle with yourself. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a low-waste lifestyle. Take the time to figure out what works for you. Be curious. Try new things. These ideas are just a start!
Featured Photo by intan Indiastuti on Unsplash
