10 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

10 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

Spread the Sustainable Gospel!

10 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

 
The bathroom ranks number 2 on most wasteful room in your house. We use a lot of disposable products in there! Luckily, there are Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps for nearly everything that we discard. Start phasing out the following disposables and you’ll eventually have more floor space with no need for that trash can!
 
 
I honestly felt that making sustainable swaps in the bathroom was the easiest by far and for anyone starting out, this is probably the place to start. Rather than feeling I had to “get used” to something different, the changes I made here enhanced by life by a lot and made disposables seem cumbersome.

Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps

1. Zero Waste Toothbrush

 
There are many brands of bamboo toothbrushes out there and it can be overwhelming knowing which one is the most sustainable. I always scrutinize any company based on a few factors. 1. Does the company practice sustainable farming or acquire goods that don’t compromise habitat or promote deforestation? 2. Does the company give back? 3. Is the packaging sustainable?
 
Right now I’m in love with Brush with Bamboo. Get one of their toothbrushes HERE.
 
(retire your plastic one once it wears out and replace it with a bamboo alternative that can be composted) 
 

2. Zero Waste Toothpaste

 
Toothpaste tubes are destined for a landfill – not to mention that some of them have/had micro plastics in them for an abrasive property which is crazy. Once, your current tube runs out, try making your own! Check out my recipe!
 
Related: Remineralizing Zero Waste Toothpaste

 

toothpaste

3. Cotton Balls

 
Instead of throwing your money away, invest in some organic cotton rounds to remove makeup. They are much softer on your face and can be easily washed  either by hand or thrown into the washing machine. I put all of my used rounds in a garment washing bag so the they don’t get tangled up and lost in other clothing.
 
Find them handmade on Etsy HERE!
 
And if you want to save money, I really don’t think it’s necessary to purchase anything. Reusable cotton rounds can be easily made with scrap fabric or simply use an old wash cloth to remove make up.

 

4. Shampoo 

Try alternatives to the plastic bottle of shampoo. Buy in bulk, buy shampoo bars that come in paper packaging, make your own, or try the no-poo method.

Related: Homemade Dry Shampoo

Find it HERE!
 Shampoo Bars

5. Razor

Replace the disposable razors with a safety razor. A box of stainless steel blades will last quite a long time and can be recycled once dull.

Find the one I use HERE!

Related: Shaving with a Safety Razor
Related: Moisturizing Zero Waste Shaving Cream

6. Tampons

 
Instead of disposable tampons, try using a menstrual cup or another type of sustainable menstrual product. There are so many options now! I’m not going to go into depth on each one since I already have articles explaining them so I will just say that if you aren’t a fan of cups, fear not!
 
Related: How to Have a Zero Waste Period
Related: 5 Reasons to Switch to a Menstrual Cup
Related: My Advice on Returning to a Menstrual Cup after Pregnancy
 

You can also find my FAVORITE menstrual cup HERE!

 
 

7. Menstrual Pads

Like I said above, there are a lot of options when greening up the red time of the month. Rather than throwing money away with disposable pads, get some cloth pads instead.

I assure you they are much more comfortable and way less diaper like. I’m loving Lunapads right now!
 

8. Floss

Most floss either comes in plastic packaging or is not biodegradable so finding other options can be tricky. Over the last year, I have come across a few Zero Waste alternatives – some may work for you, some might not.

Related: 4 Ways to Floss Zero Waste

I personally use a waterpik and that is because I used to have orthodontics. It’s just a habit/preference now as a result. If a waterpik is not for you, there are a couple “plastic-free” brands of floss out there. You could also use silk thread or horse hair. My grandmother raised horses and would use horse hair that she collected as a result of grooming.
 

9. Bath Scrubby

This is a simple Zero Waste Bathroom Swap. Are these really necessary? Couldn’t a wash rag suffice? If not, you can purchase a loofah sponge from your farmer’s market or grow your own.

Since natural loofahs are organic, they can be composted after they are no longer useful.
 

10.Toilet Paper

There are a few options to toilet paper. I choose to use toilet paper made from recycled paper in paper packaging only so I can compost it later – I find this at club stores. You could also install a bidet or go with the “family cloth” option. That’s up to you.

Related: What are Bidets?
Related: Zero Waste Alternatives for Toilet Paper
What Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps are your favorite?

12 thoughts on “10 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps”

    • Instead of the cotton rounds you could also use washable make-up remover cloths. I bought a pack of two from Ulta and they’ve lasted a couple of years so far and were relatively inexpensive.

      Reply
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  11. I’m currently in the period of transitioning to low-waste lifestyle so I’m investing in lots of reusable and long lasting things. Very excited about that! Sadly, I have to order everything to the address of someone I know who lives abroad and then get them. I read about the Diva cups, but they advise to get new ones after a year, which, I think, is ridiculous. And also, I stumbled upon bamboo menstrual pads (which I’d use for every day ‘leaking’), so I guess that’s a better option than the organic cotton ones. Or you think they’re equally alright?

    I’m following you on instagram and it’s great to see all the tips, but you’re super lucky to be able to get lots of stuff in bulk. That’s not really an option for many things in many countries, I think. But ok, I’m gonna try the best I can. 🙂

    Reply

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