Jan 30, 2017

5 Advanced Bathroom Swaps



Are you killing it with the 5 Simple Swaps To Make In The Bathroom and looking to keep taking it to the next level? Well here are 5 more things you can do that will bring your bathroom waste down to almost nothing. Am I doing all of these? Nope! But my life, like yours, is a work in progress moving towards reducing waste. So let's check them out.


1. Refill soap containers

We have 4 sinks in our house and each one has a soap dispenser. The convenient thing to do is to buy new soap containers as they run out, but this isn't the best for the environment. Refilling the soap containers is an easy way to use lessen the environmental impact. Check out this post for more less waste hand soap options.

2. Oil cleansing method

I don't use soap to wash my face, but rather I use the oil cleansing method and I use oil alone, or mixed with salt for exfoliation. You can often purchase oil in more sustainable containers such as glass rather than plastic.

3. Menstrual cup and reusable pads

It said that the average woman discards 250 to 300 pounds of waste due to her menstrual cycle. Two ways to minimize the effect are using a menstrual cup and reusable pads. A menstrual cup is a cup that is inserted into the vagina to collect fluid. There are a number of menstrual cup manufacturers (Diva Cup*, Moon Cup*, Lunette*) and all have their devotees. Most people say there is a one cycle learning curve, but after that they are easy to use and will replace tampons.

Reusable pads come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. Some are heavy for overnight flow and others are thinner and smaller. You can even make them on your own if you have the sewing skills to do so. 

4. Homemade Toothpaste

Hopefully you've already switched out your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush. Now to take dental care to the next level you can start making your own toothpaste. Many people have made their own toothpaste recipes. A great deal of them involve baking soda which will scrub your teeth and help whiten. I attempted to make my own toothpaste, but I wouldn't say I recommend the recipe I used. Most recipes have a sweetener or something to mask the salty taste of the baking soda and I now realize that is an important step! Kathryn from Going Zero Waste  has a recipe she worked on with a dentist which I may try next. Or purchase a tooth powder*

5. Q-Tips

Plastic Q-tips are the definition of single use. There are a number of alternatives that can be used in their place depending on what you are using them for. If you are using them for makeup removal or placement you can use cotton rounds or the edge of a towel. If you are using them for your ears you should rethink that decision according to the American Academy of Otolayringology. If you are still bound and determined to use a product like that at least purchase ones with cotton ends and a paper handle. It is still disposable, but at least it is plastic free. However if you are looking for a reusable replacement try a ear wax pick*.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter for more tips and ideas.

*This is an affiliate link, not a sponsored post. See Privacy and Disclosures. 

8 comments:

  1. Great tips! I love that menstrual cups and reusable pads are becoming so popular now. I can speak from experience that they really aren't as bad as they may sound and they're actually a LOT more comfortable!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am just really starting to focus more on the environmental negatives lurking in my bathroom. I am working on some "no-poo" methods for washing my hair, using soap made from goat's milk that comes wrapped in paper and tooth cleaning is next on my list. I need to find a natural brush that is hard enough as I find soft ones really do not clean my teeth well enough. I don't wear make-up or use hundreds of other toiletries anyway so that helps! #WasteLessWednesday

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are doing great with all those changes.

      Delete
  3. HI Katy,
    I like all your ideas for plastic free swaps. I have to admit I still use Q-tips for some things but I use them sparingly. I do make my own toothpaste at times and I have has pretty good luck with it, but if I find a sale on a brand I know is safe I do sometimes buy it and it lasts me a long time since my husband has false teeth. Thanks for sharing your tips. Visiting from #WasteLessWednesdays Have a healthy, happy & blessed day! Pinned & tweeted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still have a box of Q-tips but I probably use 2 a month or maybe even every 2 months. I keep it in my hall closet so I know where it is if I need one, but I'm not tempted to use it all the time.

      I'd love to hear your toothpaste recipe. I'm still on the hunt for one. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  4. Great tips!! I am going to try making my own toothpaste. I will let you know how I go. And I am still procrastinating about the menstrual cup. :D Visiting from #wastelesswednesay!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome job really it's great article.

    ReplyDelete