This post is all about the Sustainable Swaps for the Bathroom. Swaps that we have made over the last few months. The bathroom may be the smallest room in the house but can it be the most wasteful! Since starting our zero waste journey back in January we have made a lot of changes to our lifestyle. When we move into our own home, we have vowed that there will be no plastic bottles or plastic in general!
Personal Care
Bamboo Toothbrush
Swapping out your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one has to be one of the simplest and easiest swaps you could make. It’s crazy to think that every toothbrush ever used is still around and sitting in landfill. Yum!
Toothtabs
There are so many different types alternatives to toothpaste. One of my favourites being toohtabs. Lush have an amazing range of Toothytabs that do the job perfectly. They also have mouthwash tabs too!
Safety Razor
Swap your plastic disposable razor for a safety razor. Safety razors are made of stainless steel which means they can be recycled at the end of their life, but they’ll probably never even get to that point because they are very durable and last an incredibly long time.
Wooden Brushes and Combs
You probably have a plastic hair brush or comb. When the time comes, why not switch to a wooden hair brush or comb? A wooden brush or comb does a much better job of pulling oil from the root to tip so you might be able to go an extra day without washing.
Plastic Free Deodorant
There are many DIY deodorant recipes out there and I have tried a few of them. My favourite has to be this one that I found on Pinterest. It works bloody wonders!
3 Tablespoons of Shae Butter
2 Tablespoons of Grated Cocoa Butter
3 Tablespoons of Arrowroot Powder
2 Tablespoon of Baking Soda
2-3 Teaspoons of Vitamin E Oil (
Melt the grated cocoa butter using a double broiler. Once the cocoa butter has liquefied add the shea butter. When the shea butter has liquefied, pull it off the heat. Add in the baking soda and the arrowroot. Stir well to combine making sure there are no lumps. Add in the vitamin E oil.
Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is a saving grace in the morning when I don’t have the time or energy to wash my hair. My hair is also super fine and can get greasy very quickly. Back in my school days, I’d wash my hair every day and this just damaged my hair and stripped natural oils from it. Dry shampoo allows me to go a day or two between washes. More if I don’t plan on leaving the house! This is what you need! It works great in dark or light hair.
1 Tablespoon Bentonite Clay
1 Tablespoon Organic Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
1/2 Tablespoon of Cocoa Powder
If you have light colored hair, omit the cocoa powder. Darker hair, add more!
Bath and Shower
Soap Bars
These bad boys will save your bathroom from plastic clutter, and last longer! A lot of people don’t like using soap because it can dry their skin out a little. However, there are soaps out there that are super nourishing and hydrating. Lush have an incredible range of soaps. What I love the most about getting my soap from Lush is that you can buy as little or as much as you like. Just ask for a specific weight and the staff will cut a piece off for you.
People also worry that soap bars will get wet, sit in water and go soggy. This is true if you leave it on a tray in the shower. You can now buy wooden soap racks, and ones with stones in the help water drain away. You can also buy little soap bags to pop your bar in and wash with. Two in one. Just hang it up when done. There are ones made of flannel as well as some beautifully handmade ones.
Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
I made the swap to shampoo bars earlier in the year. We were in London with friends ( shout out Neil and Christy ) and we went to Lush Oxford street. I was extremely unsure of the shampoo bar to get due to how awkward my hair is and how quickly it can get greasy. Seanik shampoo bar works perfectly for my hair. It leaves it clean and with volume which I love, as having naturally dead straight hair means its also flat AF.
For the Ladies
Reusable Pads
Personally I am yet to use these as I luckily got on well with the cup. I think when I have another baby, I may try them after Birth and see how I get on! I know a few people who do use them and swear by them. Easy and softer to use than plastic pads. Did you know that the conventional menstrual pad contains just as much plastic as 4 plastic carrier bags? That statistic just baffles me! Cheeky Wipes have a range of liners, day pads and maternity/night pads available in the most beautiful patterns. But I am sure there are other sellers out there.
Menstrual Cup
When I first went to use the cup I was terrified. Legit, petrified. Not exactly sure why, but I was. I had ready many articles on them and seen many people give them a go and love them. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but after a few tries, I managed to get it into position and I’ve never looked back. The cup is soft, springy and easy to clean. When inserted properly it didn’t leak and I couldn’t feel it. It did take some time to get used to it, but that’s the same with all cups for first time users. The instructions say to turn the cup 360 degrees once inserted to ensure proper positioning. If you struggle to grip it like I did at first, push down on your pelvic floor just enough to be able to grip the base of the cup. You should then be able to rotate it.
Once you find a fold that works for you, and you become more confident with inserting it. its super easy! I am now completely converted and carry it everywhere just in case. It comes in a cute little drawstring bag making it easy to pop in any bag.
Period Pants
When you think of period proof underwear, you might think of boring grandma underwear that resembles a diaper. Luckily for you, there are some great brands out there that make fashionable and comfortable period proof underwear you should 100% try. My absolute favorite are from a brand called Modibodi. These pants are leak free (hold up to 2 tampons worth of blood), very hygienic, eco-friendly (hooray!) and machine washable!
You can find my experience with Plastic free Periods here!
Other
Toilet Paper
I know people who use cloth for the whole family, and I think that’s bloody fantastic! If that’s not your thing, then there are plastic free toilet papers out there. One of the biggest and well known companies out there is “Who gives a crap”. Not just just because they provide completely recycled toilet paper, wrapped individually in beaut paper. But because they donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. They have had a huge impact and helped so many – They are amazing!
Toilet Bombs
I’ve seen these all over Pinterest recently and It really got me thinking. I have never thought about the chemicals we are literally flushing away which can end up harming Wildlife and marine environments. They can contain harmful substances such as sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, phenol and cresol, ammonia and formaldehyde. Buying cleaning products that contain natural soluble/biodegradable ingredients helps to prevent these nasty fluids. But you can also make your own! Toilet Bombs are super easy and fun to make;
1 cup of bicarb
1/3 cup of citric acid
15-20 drops of essential oil ( tea tree and Lemon are great as they have antifungal and antibacterial properties )
a spray bottle of cool boiled water.
Mix the dry ingredients together making sure there are no lumps. Add in your essential oils a little at a time and mix well. Then, grab your spray bottle and spray the mixture until it feels like damp sand. Fill up your desired moulds and leave them to set (preferably overnight).
There you have it. Sustainable Swaps for Bathroom that we have made so far this year. Have you tried any of the above?
Make sure you keep an eye out for more Eco Friendly Swaps!
