How To: Create a Plastic-Free Bathroom

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When trying to cut down my plastic use, I started with the great advice I’d been given by a friend: start paying attention where I buy or use plastic each day. Then, when I need to replace that item, instead of buying plastic, buy a version which doesn’t use plastic, whether it’s paper, wood, metal or glass. Do that room by room, item by item. Over the course of a few years, you’ll no longer be using plastic.

Its really hard to become completely “zero waste” – where we don’t have any garbage at all – but every single piece you prevent from going to landfill counts.

Related: EXPLAINER: What Is the Zero Waste Movement?

Every time you switch from an item that uses plastic to one that doesn’t, you’ve made a decision which helps your local area’s environment but also helping prevent a future where climate refugees are the norm.

So, I’m not completely “zero waste” yet. This is a process and I’m learning too. But I am trying to actively make swaps to reduce my single-use plastic use.

I started one room at a time. And for me, I started with the bathroom.

I’m going to share with you how I’ve become (almost!) plastic-free in my bathroom.

BTW – this post contains affiliate links, which means if you buy something through the links we recommend, we may get a few dollars. This helps us continue to make free content for this site. Thanks for supporting us!

No plastic toothbrush

Not only is this toothbrush plastic-free, but it looks absolutely gorgeous. I feel like I am staying a fancy hotel every time I use my bamboo toothbrush.

Love it? Get one here.

 

 

No shampoo or conditioner bottles

We all go through masses of shampoo in a bottle, right? It’s not the only way! I discovered shampoo bars and I haven’t gone back. Just like soap, you rub it in your hair to clean your hair.

Some also come as shampoo and conditioner combo bars, or you can DIY an apple cider vinegar rinse.

Get in on the shampoo bar action here.

 

I particularly love shampoo bars because they also avoid using travel shampoos if you are travelling.

No more body wash

I confess, I was hesitant to switch to soap from body wash. I remembered cheap soap from my childhood drying out my skin and smelling like chalk. Then I just bought nicer soap!

When I switched to soap and a loofah, I used a soap that was plant-based. I currently have a clear soap that is lavender based and it is like a dream.

Grab gorgeous soap here (and a loofah!)

 

Fun fact: my loofah isn’t even plastic either. It’s plant-based. Did you know that the word loofah comes from the plant loofah which can be dried and used as a body scrubber?

I thought it would be quite harsh to my skin, but it’s soft and honestly, it has held out longer than some of my old plastic ones!!

Biome Eco Stores - Zero Waste, Toxin Free, Ethical Choices

Plastic-free deodorant

This one was the biggest leap for me, and, it was the thing that took me the longest to switch. As a teen, I’d used spray-on deodorant. Then I switched to roll on, to have a little less impact on the planet.

But then I discovered that there are a whole heap of other deodorants out there – pastes, powders and sticks.

 

 

I’m currently using a powder deodorant and very I’m happy with it. I was paranoid the first few weeks I switched, asking my flatmate every few days “you’d tell if I smell, right?!”. After this conversation became very old, it became clear that my smell wasn’t.

My bathroom is quite literally a ‘powder room’ now, too!

Where to next?

As I said, I haven’t completely switched over my bathroom yet. I honestly can’t afford to switch everything at once, I do want to use the things I have to the end of their life before swapping over, and every new product has a little learning curve to work out how to use it, so for me, I prefer to switch gradually.

Here are the items on my wishlist:

No plastic in my razor

A safety razor is a razor designed a little bit different to regular plastic razors, so take a little getting used to (and requires a little practise to master!). But these are plastic-free and last years.

 

No plastic packaging in my makeup

I’ll be honest, I have started DIYing some of my beauty products like dry shampoo. I keep these in upcycled glass jars in my bathroom.

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DAY 22: DRY SHAMPOO & PLASTIC FREE HAIR BRUSH #30plasticfreewaysfor30days Dry shampoo is a way to stretch out the days between washing with water and shampoo; for a quick freshen up on the go; after sport; or while camping when water is scarce. As you work dry shampoo powder into dirty hair, it makes your hair look and feel clean again by absorbing excess oil on your strands and scalp. It also adds some nice body and volume. Using powder on your hair like cornstarch has been around for a while, but it has been hijacked by the beauty industry and turned into an aerosol product! The dry powder comes out under pressure. The list of chemical ingredients is often lengthy and toxic. Making your own can help reduce the amount of shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles you use. It’s good in conjunction with shampoo bars also. DIY RECIPE Our talented DIY formulator at Biome, Nancy, made this dark hair version for me. · 2 tbsp Cornstarch · 1 tbsp Arrowroot · 2 tbsp Cocoa Powder · 2 tbsp Moroccan Lava Clay · 1 tbsp Bi Carb · 6 drops each of Lavender and Rosemary Essential Oils Sieve all the ingredients together several times to make the powder fine and silky. For light hair, remove the cocao and replace the lava clay with kaolin white clay. TIPS ON USING DRY SHAMPOO▫️Put it in your hair while standing in the bath or shower area as it can make a mess. ▫️Don’t apply while wearing a dark colored top. ▫️Tip head upside down and work powder with clean fingertips into roots and scalp. ▫️Lift your head up again and work a little more around the sides if needed. Avoid dumping powder straight in your part on top. ▫️Leave for a few minutes if you have time, then shake your fingers through hair, or brush as normal. ▫️Try putting it on at night so it has time to absorb all the oils, and brush in the morning. WOODEN #HAIRBRUSH If you have not tried a brush with wooden bristles before…omg! It gives amazing scalp stimulation, and reduces static and fly away hair. Pictured is my Brightwood Bamboo brush – Style model. All our DIY ingredients come in this 120ml glass jar, and I added a Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker Lid. #dryshampoo #naturalhaircare #plasticfree

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But if you aren’t into DIY, there are heaps of companies that create makeup with limited plastic.

One step at a time.

Q and A

You might be thinking “What if I’m the only person in my house cutting plastic? Is it a waste of time?”

I believe that if you live with other people and they aren’t making the switch, that’s okay. This is about your impact on the planet. One day, they might decide that they are ready, but they aren’t there yet. Like a forest, every tree grows at different speeds and is ready at their own time.

All I’m doing in setting an example to give someone the seed if an idea.

Related: 7 Instagrammers to Follow to Inspire Your Zero Waste Journey

In fact, my flatmate uses shampoo in a bottle. They aren’t ready to switch to everything zero waste. But I know they use my soap bar because we haven’t had any new body wash in the house in months. So they aren’t ready to make the leap, but it might be a little less intimidating for them now.

Maybe in the future when they go shopping, they might choose a plastic-free option because it’s something they are more aware of now. It might be next week, or it might be next year – or I might not even see them make the change. I’m showing that there are other options out there.

DIY inspo

Take a moment to look around your bathroom. What uses plastic? Pick one item to switch this month and give a plastic-free version a go!

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