Necessary tips for having a zero-waste bathroom
Table of content
Does the bathroom create so much waste?
How to create a zero-waste bathroom?
Is it expensive to have a zero-waste bathroom?
When thinking of starting to live an eco-friendly life, building a zero-waste bathroom is extremely essential. Some bathroom plastic products like PVC plastic showers contain harmful chemicals that can harm your health and the environment.
Using eco-friendly bathroom products that don't release toxic chemicals or creating a zero-waste bathroom can push you a step closer to sustainable living.
In this article, we discuss necessary tips and zero-waste bathroom essentials.
Does the bathroom create so much waste?
As a result of the constant need to replenish items such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, shampoo, and cleaning supplies, the bathroom represents a major source of household waste. Most bathroom products come in plastics that end up in the environment or landfills.
However, even compostable items like 100% cotton pads are often sent to landfills since they cannot decompose there. In time, all these things combine to make a disaster for nature and landfills!
Figuring out how to reduce our bathroom waste helps us to be more mindful and makes our environment a healthier place to live. Being more careful about our consumption habits helps us save more money too.
How to create a zero-waste bathroom?
You'll need to learn how to adjust to new habits after switching to a zero-waste bathroom. You might also need time to figure out what works best for you when it comes to finding replacements for the products you'll want to replace. This process will involve an iterative process, so give yourself time to do so.
Try to find products that are at least recyclable or reusable. Or look for alternatives as best as you can. In addition to take-back programs, we also provide alternative products that meet the same needs as the current products.
If you need any additional encouragement, take a look at the alternatives suggested in this piece. No matter what your circumstances are, you can make a difference if you try your best.
1-Declutter your bathroom and no extra products
The first step in creating a zero-waste bathroom is decluttering it of extra products that you don't really need. Keep only what you need and use. Sort out old expired products properly as they no longer can be used.
You can donate things like blow dryers and straightening irons that you don't use anymore and sort the broken ones for recycling at a scrap metal recycling center.
Generally, you should know that one of the most significant parts of starting a sustainable life is reducing the number of things in your home. So stick with the essentials.
2- Use plastic-free cotton swabs
The packaging and product of some cotton swabs are completely plastic-free. By using bamboo and cotton swabs instead of plastic ones, you can move closer to your zero-waste bathroom.
3- Switch to eco-friendly shampoo bars
Another way to make a zero-waste bathroom is to switch to eco-friendly shampoos. These are also great shampoos to travel with because you don't have to worry about weight, leaks, or empty plastic bottles.
These shampoos look like a bar of soap but act like real shampoos. Trust me, they have better ingredients, and the producers are more environmentally conscious. Don`t wait and use these lovely shampoo bars as soon as possible.
4- Look for a plastic-free wooden comb
Wooden combs offer the same simple design as old plastic combs but are even stronger and more durable, so they are a plastic-free option.
5- Find a Zero Waste Toilet Paper
Generic toilet paper is made using tons of bleach, water, and trees, so choosing a sustainable one is an excellent choice. These zero-waste toilet papers are available from several brands, just search for them.
You can`t find toilet paper without a plastic pack in stores, but you can buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper online or in an unpackaged store.
6- Buy a deodorant in one piece or make it!
Similar to other sustainable products like shampoo, deodorants should be in one piece. There are some deodorants without plastic packaging.
You can even make zero-waste deodorants easily at home! No matter what you prefer, whether you prefer creams, deodorants, or sprays, you can create them at home with natural ingredients anyway.
Or you can make a roll-on deodorant with just a few simple ingredients. If you want to know how to prepare them, you can find instructions and the needed ingredients on the internet.
7- Use Plastic-free hand and shower soap
For both hand soap and shower gel, there are plastic-free alternatives without harmful substances. Plastic-free soap can be used for different purposes thanks to its natural ingredients. So, use them for washing your face, hands, and body.
8- Consider a Plastic-free soap bag
Soap bags can store used soap and keep it safe for transport. This helps keep the other contents of the toiletry bag clean. No matter how much you care about not using plastic, I still recommend getting a cotton soap sachet. It arrived in a plastic-free box that was also free of waste.
9- Store the soap in a wooden soap dish
Instead of storing soap in a plastic dish, you can put it in a wooden dish and place it in the sink or bath. It can give a beautiful look to your bathroom and make it a zero-waste place. It is possible to find soap dishes made of bamboo or olive wood.
10- Use a wooden bathbrush
If you want to be a bit closer to a zero-waste bathroom, you can find classic bathroom brushes made with no plastics. These bath brushes are made of beech wood and natural fiber bristles.
11- Brush with a bamboo wood toothbrush
Have you ever seen your grandmother brush her teeth with a wooden toothbrush? After the use of plastic became popular, wooden toothbrushes were forgotten, so nowadays plastic toothbrushes are seen more than anything else in stores. Plastic-free toothbrushes have gained popularity as an environmentally conscious alternative to plastic toothbrushes today.
12- Say hello to toothpaste tablets
Instead of toothpaste from a plastic tube, you can use toothpaste that is plastic-free in the form of tablets. It can be an effective alternative to producing less plastic waste in your bathroom.
It is easy to use tablet toothpaste, and it softens in your mouth quickly. Tablet toothpaste is as effective as other types of toothpaste. When you try it for the first time, you may have a strange feeling but you only need a short time to get used to it.
13- Use Dental floss without plastic
Instead of using dental floss that is usually found in the supermarket, we can choose plastic-free dental floss to have a zero-waste bathroom. Normal dental floss is packed twice in plastic and it is made of plastic itself. Plastic-free dental floss is made from wax and is available in practical refill packs that contribute to sustainable living.
14- Buy plastic-free tongue cleaner
Most tongue cleaners are made of plastic and cause so much waste. To avoid wasting plastic and harming the environment, replace copper tongue cleaners in cloth bags with plastic ones. They last forever.
15- Put toothbrushes in a wooden cup
If you already have a toothbrush mug, keep it, and don't replace it right away. But do you want to buy a new toothbrush mug? A toothbrush mug made of olive wood or bamboo wood is an excellent plastic-free alternative when the time comes to buy one.
16- Shave with a zero-waste razor
Disposable razors are considered the worst because they don’t last long, and they end up in the garbage. Instead of using disposable or plastic razors, consider switching to a reusable safety razor.
It's a zero-waste alternative that doesn't pollute the environment and allows for a comfortable shave. Shaving oils paired with this safety razor make it a great sustainable option over standard razors.
17- Replace shaving foam with a soap bar
Shaving soap comes in a bar when it`s plastic-free. It's a great alternative to shaving foam from a plastic pack that exists. Choose a bar of plastic-free shaving soap and eliminate the need to use plastic wrappings in the bathroom. Soap is normally rubbed and the resulting foam can be applied to the face. Allow it to sit for a short time and then wash it off.
18- Use Zero-Waste Period Products
Using zero-waste period products is a great way to reduce your environmental impact by eliminating plastic use. They are an excellent choice for anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact.
These products are reusable, meaning that you can use them over and over, reducing the amount of waste produced. Here are the best zero-waste period products:
menstrual cup: Menstrual cups are currently a trendy alternative to pads and tampons. Many people initially ridiculed their popularity. Nevertheless, women can use them for a long time without making any regular garbage with them.
Plastic-free sanitary pads: They are usually made with natural, biodegradable materials like bamboo, hemp, or cotton, and are designed to be reusable. Additionally, they are often more comfortable and healthier than disposable pads, since they are free of chemicals and fragrances.
19- Towel Off With Organic Materials
Cotton farming requires 4.7% of the world's pesticides and 10% of the world's insecticides. This makes cotton one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world.
That's why we don't pick cotton towels as eco-friendly towels. You've relied on organic towels for years thanks to the fact that you bathe in a chemical-free zone. But actually, they were pesticides.
Luckily, there are organic towels that use materials like organic cotton to eliminate the absorption of water in the bathroom instead of chemicals into your skin.
20- Be Conscious About Your Shower Curtains
When considering bathroom essentials with zero waste, people often forget about their shower curtains made of PVC plastic. These curtains contain harmful chemicals that are unsafe for both the environment and the health of people.
Every time we lather up with an eco-friendly shower curtain, toxic chemicals won't be released into the air. Choose hemp fabric, linen, or organic cotton curtains to minimize the amount of waste created.
21- Scrub Up With Zero Waste Bathroom Cleaners
It`s essential to consider cleaning products when it comes to having a zero-waste bathroom. Luckily, you can buy zero-waste cleaning products in bulk. You only need to remember to bring your jars.
If you can`t find any bulk near you, you can buy your favorite all-purpose cleaners from online stores. They offer eco-friendly cleaning products and you can buy them easily when you're at home.
Is it expensive to have a zero-waste bathroom?
Having a zero-waste bathroom doesn't have to be expensive. There are many simple, budget-friendly swaps you can make to reduce your environmental impact. For example, you can switch to biodegradable toilet paper, bamboo toothbrushes, and natural soaps.
You can also switch to plastic-free menstrual products and reusable cotton rounds for your facial care routine. Although some of these products may be initially more expensive, they often last longer and cost less in the long run. Additionally, many of these products are available in bulk and can be found in natural food stores or online.
Conclusion
Making your bathroom as plastic- and waste-free as possible requires implementing the tips listed. I’ve provided an overview of the things you should consider when starting your zero-waste lifestyle. It may be possible to implement some of the tips immediately, while others may require waiting until your current bathroom utensils are no longer usable or used up.
It may take some time to adjust to this new way of thinking, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t have it down perfectly the first time. Even experienced zero-wasters have a glass jar filled with compostable items in their home. It’s important not to stress about what you can’t eliminate from your life. Instead, focus on getting the most you can out of your efforts by choosing zero-waste alternatives when possible.
