A Minimalist Zero Waste Bathroom

Our zero waste bathroom has been a two years in the making. It was in fact the easiest part of our lives to cut waste dramatically. Pretty much over night I made eco-friendly, plastic free swaps. The only difference from two years ago to now is that I have found my favorite products. Plastic free, zero waste products I’m happy to stick with.

However, I’m a firm believer in not just cutting out the plastic but minimizing what we use by finding our essential bathroom items. This means my zero waste beauty routine is not only better for the environment but less stressful for me. Yes, I’m looking at you pile of half used bottle making the bathroom look untidy.

watering flowers in the bath, a minimalist bathroom.

A ZERO WASTE LEARNING CURVE.

Like with everything in life there was a learning curve along the way. What I eventually learnt was I needed to find what my ESSENTIAL bathroom products were. This is key! What is essential. Just because you stopped buying all the plastic doesn’t mean you should run around buying every Lush bar because they smell yummy, 5 different lip balms in stainless steel pots that you will never use, or the shaving foam bar that really did the same job as lathering up as a bit of soap. This in it’s self is an unsustainable.

HOW DO I MAKE MY BATHROOM MINIMALIST.

For me a low waste lifestyle goes hand in hand with a simplified, more minimal lifestyle. All the trials and errors like the shaving bar we realized we didn’t need or the range of different shampoo bars I tried out, helped me figure out my essential items and the best products to buy for those said essential items.

This also means if you cannot find a plastic free product that you can get along with its okay as long as it’s an essential item that serves you, weather that be practically or emotionally. In which case, could you find a more natural, ethical version of this essential item?

I’ve broken down my essential, zero waste items. Everything that’s in our bathroom cabinet right now. Everything that serves us well and isn’t sat there for months collecting dust because we might use it one day.

Pin me for later…

Pin. “Essential item in a zero waste bathroom.” Plastic free soap and shaving brush.

WHAT’S IN OUR ZERO WASTE BATHROOM CABINET?

BAMBOO TOOTH BRUSHES.

This is a super easy switch as most supermarkets now stock them. Colegate have brought out there own one. The Truth Brush is a personal favorite.

SOLID DEODORANT.

This was my very first switch and I haven’t looked back since. I did spend the first few weeks asking Mat if I smelt, to which he did lots of eye rolling I might add. However not long after he started using a Lush Solid Deodorant Bar too. I’ve tried a few and find this the easiest and gentlest to use.

PLASTIC AND NON PLASTIC TOOTHPASTE.

This was one not to easy one. We do still use the standard toothpaste in a tube but I do also like the Lush Toothy tabs. They don’t contain fluoride so I switch between the two. In future I will look for some that do contain fluoride as they work well although a little pricey.

SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER BARS.

zero waste, minimalist bathroom products. ethique world

I’ve written all about making the switch to solid shampoo and conditioner. It’s a switch I find more people struggle with. I have had good, bad and okay experiences with this, only changing to great when I discovered Ethique’s Products. I cannot recommend them enough. We also have their baby friendly soap/shampoo which lasted us 9 months so if your worried about them seemly more costly worry not. They are far larger than most bars and don’t take much to lather up nicely.

A LUSH REUSABLE BUBBLE BATH BAR.

Santa delivered us these and we love them. Hold them under the running tap and see the bath fill with bubbles. One thing I missed since giving up the bottles was bubbles in the kids baths. These have lasted well too.

For grown up baths I recommend, Epsom Salts, any kind of bath bomb, or simply rose petals from the garden

MOISTURIZER.

This Lush Bar is life.

I also have Beauty Kitchens body moisturizer for when I want a little extra, plus their daily face moisturizer. Their sold in Holland and Barrett (and recently Sainsburys) who will collect back the empty containers for them to be sent back, washed and reused. (Not yet sure if Sainsburys will offer this same service.)

SOAP BARS.

Probably the easiest way for anyone to cut down on their plastic usage. We have one at the sink for hands and one in the shower for body washing.

I have heard on numerous occasion some not liking a soap bar because the idea of more than one person using them isn’t great for them or they find it unhygienic. While it is true that some bacteria can sit on soap bars especially if left in water for example (germs breed in moisture), it is worth remembering that not all bacteria is bad, most of it is the healthy stuff that lives in our skin (your skin microbiome is imperative to a healthy immune system) and will wash down the sink when you wash your hands anyway. A soap bar will in no way make you ill and there is no reason to avoid using them. This article does a good job or explaining the science.

However in this current climate, (cornavirus being top of the news at the moment) what is important is to remember is how we wash our hands. Washing thoroughly whatever soap you use is the key to good hygiene.

SAFETY RAZOR.

My only advice is to have a little look at how to use them. They work so well but are sharp, adjusting the way you shave ever so slightly will avoid any problems. Hold the blade at a 30-45 degree angle and go lightly. No need to apply pressure, let the blade do its job.

They are super economical. The initial outlay is similar to a standard razor but the blades are where you save your money. They come in packs on 100 so by my calculations the pack I brought will lastly me roughly 40 years (clearly I don’t shave my legs enough.)

COTTON BUDS.

One I can’t live without and probably the only single use item in our house. Make sure you buy paper ones if not bamboo (which is a more sustainable plant to grow) so they don’t end up in to ocean forever.

A MENSTRUAL CUPS AND CLOTH PADS.

If you haven’t read why Having a Zero Waste Period is so much better then I recommend you start here.

Cutting plastic out of my menstrual cycle really changed my life in so many ways. It’s cleaner, cheaper and you don’t have to deal with the gross bathroom bin. I really can’t think of any down sides to it.

CLOTH WIPES.

I’ve created A Complete Guide on Cloth Wipes if you want to get started now. If buying single use wipes became eco-friendly tomorrow I still don’t think I could use them, simply because cloth wipes just work so well!!! Use them for baby, removing make up, or just a quick freshen up. Plus they have saved me huge amounts of money.

TOILET ROLLS.

We bulk buy plastic free toilet roll. Although per roll I think it’s good value I understand that buying 48 rolls at once might not be possible for all budgets and you may struggle storing them. However if you can do it I highly recommend. We had a gap recently where we didn’t buy it, which reminded me how often we used to run out of toilet roll and how annoying it is dashing out to buy it. Maybe your super organised and never forget, unfortunately this will never be us which is why bulk buying everything from rice to toilet roll has changed my life.

I now buy from Green Cane Paper, who I find great value for money but I have also used Who Gives A Crap in the past who are an ethical company doing great work.

What swaps have you made in your bathroom? I love hearing your success stories, or if your struggling with one please feel free to stop by my Instagram page, I’m always hanging out there and happy to give advice or just have a chat.

Much Love

Hannah xx