5 Simple Switches for an Zero Waste Bathroom
I think transitioning to a more eco-conscious lifestyle should be simple so that everyone can do it! Before my research in sustainability, my bathroom was full of chemical laden products and lots of plastic. I’m very pleased with my minimal waste, ecofriendly bathroom now. I’d love to share some easy steps you can take to transition to a zero waste bathroom. We truly can make an impact, and it starts in the small changes we make like using products that are better for the environment and our own health. Here’s a list of 5 simple switches you can make today for a more ecofriendly bathroom:
#1 Bamboo Toothbrush
Whenever someone asks me about the zero waste lifestyle, I always recommend swapping plastic toothbrushes for compostable bamboo first. I think it’s such a simple choice that the whole family can take part in. Every person uses several toothbrushes each year, so in swapping to bamboo, it’s a practical and clear way for us to eliminate trash going to the landfill and consequently our oceans. You can grab a family pack of brushes here or just one for yourself. Did you know we even have kid sized bamboo toothbrushes now!
#2 Soap Bar
Instead of body wash in plastic bottles, switch to organic soap bars. This is an absolutely zero waste transition because there’s no packaging involved and the entire product is used. We have several organic, palm oil free, vegan soap bars in our online shop! These include Activated Bamboo Charcoal, Bali Flowers, and Papaya Ginger Lemongrass. Also check your local farmer’s market for organic soap bars. It’s always great to support local small businesses.
#3 Shampoo Bar
An interesting swap that many people haven’t heard about is switching to shampoo bars instead of bottles of shampoo. Just like soap bars for your body and face, these are completely zero waste. We have several shampoo bars to choose from in our shop that we absolutely love including: Agave Nectar Aloe and Coconut Milk Thai Lime. They smell great and are wrapped in flower seed paper that you can soak and plant to grow wildflowers 🙂 If you’re curious how shampoo bars actually work, check out my blog post How to Use Shampoo Bars for more information!!
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Get 10% off your first zero waste order and all the latest Tiny Yellow Bungalow news!#4 Safety Razor
Say goodbye to those silly plastic disposable razors, and find yourself a beautiful safety razor which can easily be purchased online or locally. I received a safety razor as a Christmas gift this year, and I love mine. To learn more about zero waste shaving, check out this blog, Zero Waste Shaving! Using a safety razor has been one of my favorite zero waste bathroom swaps. You get a much closer shave with safety razors!
#5 Lotion Bar
Another simple swap is using solid lotion bars instead of plastic bottles of lotion. These are great too, because you can pack them in your bag for travelling and not have to worry about spills in your bag. Also, you can reuse the lotion tins for all sorts of useful things. I like to put a magnet on the back of mine, fill them with spices, and hang them on the refrigerator. We have quite a few lotion bars to choose from in our Tiny Yellow Bungalow online shop.
Other Eco-Conscious Bathroom Switches
The next few switches are what I would consider eco challenges. They require a little more effort compared to our simple switches list but definitely something to try out if you’re interested and up for a challenge!
- Menstrual Cup/Reusable Pads – Using reusable menstrual products reduces A LOT of landfill waste. Making the change can be a bit strange at first. But in reality, it’s mostly because our society has a single use obsession. To learn more about zero waste period practices, check out this blog post, Zero Waste Period! I made the switch to a menstrual cup several years ago and am so happy with the change! Menstrual cups can be an investment in the beginning but you really do save a lot of money in the long run. We’ve got the Lunette Cup in the Tiny Yellow Bungalow shop now if you’re interested in making the switch!
- Cloth Tissues – I’ve seen a lot of zero waste bloggers who’ve made the transition to using cloth tissues instead of boxes of throw away paper tissues. I haven’t jumped this hurdle yet, but definitely something to try out if you like a zero waste challenge! You can shred up an old t-shirt to use as reusable hankies. Then, simply throw them in the washing machine to clean. **UPDATE** I started using HankyBooks this past year and can you say Game Changer!! They’re basically little booklets of organic cotton. You use a page and then flip, so you never have to touch any boogers 😉 To be completely, I was a little grossed out by the idea of handkerchiefs in the beginning but when I learned about HankyBooks, I was all in! Who knew hankies were so much softer on the nose too? I keep one in my purse at all times now.
- Bidet – Another interesting idea is to add a bidet attachment to the toilet. This can significantly reduce the amount of toilet paper used in your house. Bidets seem to be a rarity in homes in the USA but commonplace in other countries. It could be an fun addition to your ecofriendly and zero waste bathroom 🙂
- Homemade Toothpaste – Another common practice for zero wasters is creating your very own homemade toothpaste and storing it in a glass jar. The perfect complement to your bamboo toothbrush! This will eliminate toothpaste tube trash. It’s also nice to know you can pronounce all the ingredients in your homemade paste. You can find lots of different recipes for toothpaste over on Pinterest! **UPDATE** We now carry a zero waste tooth paste and zero waste tooth powder in the Tiny Yellow Bungalow shop, if you’re not really in to the idea of DIY toothpaste! Both of these goodies come in glass jars that you can infinitely reuse or recycle.
What’s your favorite zero waste bathroom switch?! Which do you find most challenging?
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If you want more zero waste bathroom swaps, check out another Tiny Yellow Bungalow post, 3 Simple Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps!
Hello!
My name is Dominique, and I am an eighth-grade member of Central Middle School’s Lego robotics team, which is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Our team has read your blog posts, enjoying your interesting view on living a trash-free lifestyle.
For our project, in particular, we are trying to transform common toiletries including floss, toothpaste, and toothbrushes to more eco-friendly products.
Attached below are some questions regarding our project and your lifestyle and we would be greatly honored if you could answer them. We hope to put your responses in our project and thank you so much in advance for taking the time to read this email!
Sincerely,
The Golden Gladiators
The Questions
1. How did adjusting to a trash-free lifestyle affect your mentality and attitude towards daily life?
2. What inspired you to start changing your everyday lifestyle to a more environmentally friendly way?
3. How do we get the rest of the world to do what you accomplished?
4. Are there any cons about trash-free hygiene products (ex. cost, health conditions, feasibility)?
5. Is there anyone you admire or look up to regarding environmental issues especially trash related problems? Anyone we could contact for more information?
6. Do you have any other additional advice you might give us about our research?