Zero Waste Bathroom -10 Essential Bathroom Items that I have Stopped Buying

This post was most recently updated on March 18th, 2020

In my endeavour to go plastic free (which we are failing at terribly but are trying!) there are 10 essential bathroom items that I have simply stopped buying. Reducing waste in the bathroom is one of the hardest things to do. These are not totally zero waste options, but they have significantly less waste than what we were doing before!

Why are we trying to go zero waste in the bathroom?

We have been trying to reduce the amount of plastic we are using in our house. This is for several reasons, and while I know that buying at a bulk store isn’t the best solution, I feel like we need to be doing something to reduce our plastic and waste usage.

Zero waste bathroom items are becoming more and more readily available, there are a good range of recipes to make your own, and plenty around to purchase if you prefer that option.

Below are the 10 bathroom items that I have stopped buying, and what we are using instead. If you are interested in going plastic free, here are 5 things that you can do today to greatly reduce your plastic consumption.

10 Bathroom essentials that we have quit buying (and what we use instead)

1. Shampoo and conditioner

Shampoo and conditioner are the biggest bathroom scam ever. 90% of what you are paying for is water. And packaging. Personally I use washing soda and vinegar to wash my hair. Many people find great success with Baking soda, but I find washing soda is better, and cheaper.

If washing soda and vinegar is too basic for you, you can swap to a shampoo bar. Many people find these absolutely fantastic.

2. Soap, Body Wash, Shower Gel

We have become all too accustomed to the overwhelming perfume and bright colours of modern-day shower gel, body wash and face cleansers.

There is nothing wrong with good old soap and water. We make our own bar soap and liquid soap for a fraction of what you can buy it for. This way we avoid all the plastic cellophane packaging and bottles, not to mention all the preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients in the commercially produced products.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to make your own soaps, there are plenty of sustainable small companies making delicious soaps.

3. Disposable Razors

If you use 2 razors a week from age 15-85, that is a whopping 7280 razors over your lifetime. We have swapped to a metal safety razor. They are SUPER cheap and just as effective as the disposable variety but way better for the environment.

The do look a little scary, but they aren’t really.

4. Plastic Toothbrushes

We did have electric toothbrushes until we realised just how much the heads were costing us. We talked with our dentist who said that a thorough clean with a medium softness toothbrush is just as effective as using an electric toothbrush and that we have been sold a scam by marketers.

We have swapped to bamboo toothbrushes, and while they still have nylon bristles, that is A LOT less plastic than what is in entire toothbrushes.

 

5. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is one of those things that we presume we need, and that humans have had it forever right? Wrong. Many traditional peoples have never seen a toothbrush and as a population, they have amazing teeth. To be fair they haven’t seen sugar or white flour either…

We make the minty fresh tooth powder. We used to make toothpaste, but I have heard scary things about coconut oil clogging drains, so if you prefer the paste option, spit in the bin not in the sink.

If you prefer not to make your own – you can buy tooth powder in a tin.

6. Shaving Gel

When I bought my husband his safety razor I also splashed out and bought a shaving soap and brush. He loves it. His sensitive skin doesn’t react to the soap like it did with the shaving gel. I bought him the soap and the

7. Deodorant

I got sick of all the hundreds of deodorant bottles we were ending up with, and after reading the research on aluminium, I decided to swap to a home-made recipe.

I was super surprised at how easy, how cheap and how effective this stuff is!!

Several companies have jumped on the bandwagon and you can now buy natural deodorant.

8.  Make Up

Come on girls, just ditch it. Your skin will thank you and so will your wallet!

9. Moisturiser

I swapped this out years ago, there are several natural options. For day to day moisture I like natural coconut oil. When my skin is particularly dry I reach for pure shea butter.

10. Menstrual Products

Girls this is for you. Think of how many products you go through in a month. How much money do you spend over a lifetime? A lot! I have a whole article here for you on this subject.

I love my luna cup.

What plastic items have you swapped in your zero waste bathroom? Tell me about it in the comments below.