The modern bathroom is a waste filled, unhealthy, convenient design. Almost every aspect of the bathroom is labeled into convenience, if you think about it… No, really… think about it. Plastic scrubbing brushes for the toilet, individually wrapped toilet paper rolls, plastic toothbrushes and plastic-tubed non-biodegradable toothpaste, plastic cotton swabs and face wipes, I mean truthfully we could go on forever here.
It’s unfortunate, however, that many people don’t know of the alternatives. Many people don’t realize there are simple things they could be doing to minimize the waste they create in the waste-room. Whether it’s in the shower, in your skincare routine, in your other habits that happen in the bathroom.
Here, separated by duty, we’re going to give you some recommendations to the typical products you have held hostage in your bathroom.
Habits to Change in Yourself
Around 300 toothbrushes are used in a lifetime by a single person. When was the last time you used an eco-friendly toothbrush? If the answer is never, you’re well on your way of leaving a trail of 300 toothbrushes forever living in our ecosystem. Making its first appearance in 1938, the synthetic bristle brush has been a necessity ever since. Some people make do with old toothbrushes, using them as cleaning utensils once it’s done its time in their mouths, however, these brushes will still exist in the environment, no matter how long we use them for and for whatever purpose. We recommended doing away with the plastic brushes and starting to use a bamboo toothbrush. Because of their popularity within the past few years, they have become very much more accessible and much more inexpensive. They can be found at Target, Trader Joe’s, Public Goods, and Zero Waste, coming in at a price of around $4 for two.
Toothpaste itself is not good for the environment, nor is the packaging it comes in. It often contains chemicals that are considered harmful to the environment. The containers are no better as most of them can’t be repurposed or recycled. The manufacturing of toothpaste is overall very harmful for the environment. When talking about eco-friendly toothpaste, two images come to mind. The first one being the typical looking toothpaste but now in eco-friendly packaging (which is always a plus!). The second one is far more entertaining, interesting, and overall fricken cool. Zero-waste toothpaste tablets have become it. They are the ‘it’ girl of 2021. We recommend you jump on the train. You will always be using the right amount of toothpaste, the packaging is reusable or biodegradable and the overall necessity of brushing your teeth has turned into something truly eco-friendly. Thank you, Toothpaste Tablet Gods.
Here are a few more miscellaneous items you can put onto your wish list if you’re looking to do a full 360 in your oral health regimine.
Toothbrush Holder for on the go.
Tooth Pickers to keep some convenience in your life.
Mouthwash of course the tablet version :-)
Plastic, in regards to showering, has become troublesome. 550 million shampoo bottles are thrown away each year in the United States alone (This is similar to the amount of toothpaste tubes used as well.). It’s hard though, as many shampoos are enticing - promising silky hair, healthy hair, non-frizzy hair. We know. We’ve seen it all, too. Funny enough, shampooing hair did not become a popularized part of personal hygiene until the early 1900’s. So what was it that kept Aphrodite so absolutely enchanting? Jokes aside, we recommend a few things. The first is switching from shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles to shampoo and conditioner in soap blocks. We know this is hard, especially since people now associate “greasy” hair with being unhygienic. Your hair may feel clumpy or oily, but this is all a part of the process. (Same goes with body wash… you know the drill. #BoycottBathandBodyworks #Thisisajoke #Dontcancelus)
Cotton swabs. The small plastic sticks are known for cleaning but also, unfortunately, for polluting the ocean. 543.75 billion of these small pieces of plastic were sold in 2017. With plastic being nonbiodegradable, we have another problem here. It’s a simple and small change to make but you can help in decreasing the waste caused by these. Try switching to a zero-waste option like the ones listed below.
Or try out
Face wipes. The average makeup/cleansing wipe takes over 100 years to degrade. They are not recyclable or compostable. And over 7.6 billion pounds of wipes are thrown into the landfill every year. One company that has done a very thorough job at helping with this: Makeup Eraser. There are plenty of options out there, including reusable facial rounds, reusable bamboo cleansing cloths, or bamboo wet wipes. Below are a few options.
Disposable razors. A nightmare. Over 2 billion disposable razors are used worldwide in a single year. One more figure that is not going to be decomposing anytime soon. Try using a safety razor; the same ones that have been used for over 100 years. They are safe.
A few more items to trade out for that can make a difference in your bathroom.
Family cloth (we know this one is debatable)
Habits to Change in Cleaning
The final and last time we’re going to talk about needing to get away from plastic products in this post. This one is a biggy only because we know people have more than one of these in their house. We know they are not being recycled. We know they end up in the trash and then ultimately in the landfill. And we know it is something that can be changed. Plastic-free toilet scrubber for your worst nightmares. From plastic to bamboo, the stereotypical switch.
Trading in your typical toxic toilet cleaner with an eco-friendly toilet cleaner. One that has a recyclable container, biodegradable ingredients, and is zero waste. Or you could go the DIY route which is a plain and simple mixture of equal parts vinegar, baking soda, and water.
Coconut scouring pads for hard messes in bathroom settings. They are completely biodegradable and leave no microplastics to the imagination. Try one of them out.
Tips for an Overall Eco-friendly Bathroom
Reduce your shower time
Line dry your towels and clothes
Save on soap by making your own
Low flow showerheads & toilet
Use LED bulbs
Get rid of the non-necessities
Start living a simpler life
Recycle anything you can
With love from Sunny San Diego,
VIRON
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How to shop eco-friendly on Amazon: When checking out on amazon.com there will be a recyclable "Amazon Frustration Free" packaging option. Click there! Consolidate your purchases. I.E. Do not purchase the items in your cart until you know you're done shopping for the good foreseeable future. Happy shopping!
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