Of all places in the home, it can often be most difficult to reduce our plastic use in the bathroom - but there are so many non-plastic alternatives to choose from these days that make it easier for us to make sustainable swaps. 

This blog isn’t to say throw out all your plastic items or products right now and replace them with plastic-free options, but rather providing you will options when it comes time to replace them. Remember - the most sustainable option is always to use what you have before buying anything new! 

10 tips for creating a plastic-free bathroom 

1. Reusables wipes and cotton rounds, and bamboo earbuds

Choosing reusable alternatives is our number one tip for reducing not only your plastic use but your overall bathroom waste. Reusable cotton rounds and wipes will not only save you a whole lot of money, but they also save on plastic packaging and sending waste to landfill. You can even sew them yourself! When you do need to choose disposables for things like cotton earbuds, choose ones that have a biodegradable stick instead of plastic, like the Go Bamboo Cotton Buds (which are also packaged in cardboard).

2. Swap bottles for bars

Whatever happened to good old fashioned bar soap?! Choosing soap bars for your face and body over the bottled stuff will save countless plastic bottles (which are often not recycled) from going to landfill. There are plenty of options to choose from for a variety of skin concerns, from detoxifying charcoal soaps to ultra-nourishing facial cleansing bars and even exfoliating soap bars for your body. You can also find lotion bars instead of using bottled creams, and swap your bottled shampoo and conditioner to solid shampoo bars and conditioner bars instead, and there are shaving bars too!

3. Find a local refill service

If you just can’t part with your liquid soaps, cleansers, shampoos and conditioners, see if there is a refill service in your local bulk food or health food store. You’ll be able to take your old bottles along and refill them again and again to reduce your plastic waste. 

4. Use an exfoliating body brush or glove instead of body scrub

Bottles and jars of body scrub need to be replaced frequently (and usually come packaged in plastic), so choose a reusable and longer-lasting alternative like a biodegradable exfoliating glove or a dry body brush. Both with get your skin feeling equally as smooth, without the waste!

5. Use refillable floss

In the past, we found it super tricky to find a plastic-free dental floss alternative - but not anymore! Luckily, there are now a number of refillable, plastic-free floss options available, and we love this plastic-free floss by Georganics. The floss itself is made from ahimsa silk, which is compostable, and the refillable bottle is made from glass with a metal dispenser lid.  

6. Switch to a safety razor

Ditching your disposable razors and refill cartridges for a safety razor is not only better for the environment, but it’ll save you a whole lot of money. Many safety razors are made of metal and have stainless steel or chrome blades, which are easy to use and replace (and cost less than $1 each). You can get safety razors in a range of different lengths and weights to suit your preference - generally speaking, a longer handle safety razor is better for shaving harder to reach places like your legs, whereas shorter safety razors may be a better choice for your face. You can shop the most popular safety razors here. Pair your safety razor with a plastic-free shaving soap for a close and comfy shave!

7. Use menstrual cups and reusable cloth pads during your period

It’s estimated that each menstruating person uses over 10,500 disposable period products in their lifetime. Crazy, right? But by switching to a reusable menstrual cup or reusable cloth pads, you can cut this number right down. Menstrual cups are made from silicone and worn inside the body (like a tampon) to catch your menstrual flow, and is emptied and reinserted. You then sanitise your cup between each cycle, and it can be reused for up to 10 years with proper care. Cloth pads, on the other hand, are worn just like regular disposable pads in your underwear, but instead of plastic adhesive, they have wings that wrap around your underwear and are secured with a button snap. You can wash and reuse your cloth pads for many years, and they are a more comfortable and hypoallergenic alternative to disposable pads.   

8. Choose toilet paper that’s wrapped in paper, not plastic

Don’t forget about your toilet paper! There are some great plastic-free toilet paper options available - just be sure to look closely in the supermarket, or order from a service like Who Gives A Crap.

9. Toothpaste and mouthwash tablets

So many of us opt for toothpaste in tubes and mouthwash in bottles because it’s more convenient - but what if there was an even more convenient option? The good news is that there is, and it’s more environmentally friendly too! Georganics toothpaste tablets and mouthwash tablets are easy to use and come in completely plastic-free packaging. For the toothpaste, just pop a tablet into your mouth and chew it before brushing as normal. And for the mouthwash, all you need to do is add one tablet to a little water. Easy, and minty fresh, without any plastic waste! Added bonus - if you’re travelling, you can take just enough mouthwash or toothpaste tablets with you for the duration of your trip, saving valuable space in your bag. 

10. Brush with bamboo 

According to 1 Million Women, over 30 million plastic toothbrushes are used and disposed of by Australians each year - that’s about 1000 tonnes of trash in toothbrushes alone! Making the switch to a bamboo toothbrush is a great biodegradable alternative. And although your hairbrush lasts much longer, when you’re next due for a replacement, why not choose a bamboo alternative? Bass Brushes make some fantastic bamboo hairbrushes and combs, and they’re great for helping to distribute your hair’s natural oils, too. No plastic, great hair... win-win!

Have more sustainable bathroom swap suggestions? We’d love to hear about them! Follow us on Instagram for more tips for living a life with less waste, and feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions.