Part 1 of 2, How to Make Your Bathroom More Eco-Friendly
Today we will be thinking of ways to make the cleanest (and kinda the dirtiest at the same time) room of the home more environmentally friendly. But how could we possibly do that with limited money to invest in such a lavish lifestyle? Not to worry, #frugal #because #im #poor and #thislifeisntachoice #’merica🇺🇸. Let’s get to it, we don’t have the time either 😅:
It’s guaranteed that you are already doing some of these things not because it’s “trendy” but because you have to be savvy with your money. That’s no coincidence, reduced consumption and waste-consciousness (even if it’s money waste) are aligned with the behavior that benefits our planet.
The instant changes we can incorporate for the bathroom routine require us to first evaluate our common bathroom go-to’s.
Common Bathroom Staples
Part 1 The Sink and Cabinet Items:
Brush
Q-Tips
Lotion
Toothbrush/Mouthwash/Floss/Toothpaste
Hand Soap
Deodorant
Part 2 Tub and Toilet
Toilet Paper
Razors
Shampoo/Conditioner/Soap/Other Hair Products
Loofah/ Pumice Stone
Soap
Part 1: The Sink and Cabinet
Hairbrush
Hairbrushes don’t need to be replaced until they fall apart or most of the bristles are gone. I have had mine since 2010? It’s been so long that I can’t remember. It is important to invest in one that will withstand time. Some things to look for: the best hairbrush for your hair type and strong construction (obviously price, but these two are the most important because they will prove to be worth it if chosen specifically to meet your hair needs).
Q-Tips / Cotton Swabs
Q-Tips are so incredibly handy and for those of us that are a little too obsessed with feeling and looking clean, they are lifesavers. So doing away with them completely can be daunting! It’s worth looking at why we think we need them though:
Myth: They clean our ears.
Actually, they don’t. You can clean the outer ear with them, but this can also be done while bathing (just use a little bit of soap and water). For the inner part of the ears, the wax will naturally build up and either fall out while sleeping or showering, or can be taken out by a doctor. It is not advised to use Q-Tips/cotton swabs to clean ear wax, as it can easily puncture the eardrum and cause more problems/infections.
Myth: They’re better than cotton balls and easily biodegrade.
This is true. Q-Tips/cotton swabs do easily biodegrade, so if you continue using them to clean your ears, then be sure to compost them! You can also technically recycle the box once the window is removed, according to Q-Tips. Cotton swabs can’t be composted if they have makeup residue on them, however. This is due to unnatural ingredients being introduced to the cotton swab from makeup that will not biodegrade as expected. Use a washcloth instead for removing makeup.
Additionally, cotton swabs are better than most cotton balls/pads — not all of these are organic (100% cotton and not treated with chemicals). These will not easily biodegrade, and even if they do, they will introduce unnatural chemicals into a natural compost heap, making that compost ineffective.
Other Alternatives?
Reusable cotton pads. These can last years too, as long as you wash them as directed (and depending on what they are put through). They save you money in the long run even if the cost outright seems outrageous compared to a $1 that you could be spending instead. That dollar is misleading though, as you will end up with more waste and cheap cotton balls/pads typically contain chemical residue from their production process (AND they don’t really stop at just one being used).
LastSwab’s version of the Q-Tip is another great alternative and will last a lifetime. It’s $16 and would be paid off after 16 months, if compared to paying $1 for a small box of Q-Tips per month. If compared to spending $4 for a medium box, then this would be paid off in four months!
Of course, you could always skip the swabs/pads and just use your hands or a washcloth. Personally, I made this switch (but still use the reusable swab from LastSwab every now and then) and I have saved so much money and waste. If you think about it, our waste is really just wasted money too. A dollar or two seems like nothing, but when spent on a recurring basis it really adds up and takes away from diverting that money towards something more important.
Lotion
- DIY
- Tins
- Bottles
If DIY isn’t possible given the time and expense, then consider using 100% steel tins (that can be recycled) or plastic bottles with the recyclable symbol and plastic resin code number (discard tops and all remaining residue before recycling).
Toothbrush/mouthwash/floss/toothpaste
For the toothbrush, bamboo seems like a safe alternative to plastic, but this also is a finite resource. It takes water, time, and regeneration BUT these can be “restored” if properly disposed of through composting programs. Just make sure you purchase organic ones (follow the recommendation linked to “bamboo” above). Plastic takes 10–1,000 years to decompose (depending on type and size) and has its own unsustainable production process. Some types can be recycled with Terracycle, so keep this in mind when purchasing and disposing of every three months. For example, Colgate has a partnership with Terracycle for their toothbrushes and toothpaste.
An electric toothbrush is a great alternative as well but can be costly and difficult to recycle. If trying to recycle yours, see if your local e-waste facility/drop-off accepts these.
The switch from plastic to bamboo or electric can be costly for some though, so if it is out of your price range, consider this:
Depending on the oral care products you replace most often, switch out those or one of them to an eco-friendly alternative. Consider what requires the most materials to make for a single-use product and what requires fewer replacements but may come with a higher cost.
Mouthwash isn’t a necessity unless your dentist absolutely requires it for your oral health. Recycle the bottle if your curbside program accepts, and make sure all liquid is removed.
Floss is always sworn by, but as long as you’re brushing your teeth properly and it’s not required due to a condition, then this can be taken out of your routine. If keeping in your routine, here’s a recommendation for eco-friendly and ethical floss. I’m not a dentist though, so take this with a grain of salt.
Toothpaste Firstly, dentists don’t recommend making your own DIY toothpaste. Be very careful with this approach as it can do more harm than good. The DIY approach isn’t really necessary, as there are low-cost options in the market already. Tom’s of Maine is about $5, depending, just to give you an idea (and it’s available at most stores). They are partnered with Terracycle to offer a recycling solution for their toothpaste tubes. You can also consider purchasing bite-size toothpaste bits. The toothbrush I recommended above is sold by a company that also sells toothpaste bits and the floss I recommended above. However, any company will suffice as long as they are transparent about their eco-friendly packaging and approach (materials used/how long they last).
Hand soap
- Bar Soap
- Hand Soap Pump Bottles
- DIY Hand Soap
Bar Soap: Plastic packaging (and sometimes cardboard) ends up in the landfill, but the bar soap would be completely used. And it’s just as sanitary as pump bottle ones. Do try to purchase one that has recyclable packaging.
Hand Soap Pump Bottle: The bottle can be reused, just be sure to clean it. Soap can be replaced with your own DIY — try using shampoo and diluting it. I would include other DIYs here, but this one linked here is the cheapest and doesn’t introduce more waste (from purchasing new products for the recipes).
Deodorant
I would recommend DIY deodorant if you have the ingredients already. Otherwise, Tom’s of Maine is a safe bet for lessening environmental impact and ethical responsibility. They’re also widely available and can be recycled through Terracycle’s program. They are on the costlier side of $5–7, but they last longer than using a cheaper and shorter deodorant stick.
If you use spray-on deodorant, ensure that there is absolutely no product left in the aerosol can and that the top is removed/recycled separately. If there is liquid left in the can, it will not be recycled. Some curbside programs don’t accept these regardless and may consider them “household hazardous waste.” There is a shift towards making these “universal wastes,” (i.e. recyclable), so if you’re uncertain whether your curbside accepts them, you can always check their website.
Now time for some math. I know I have already thrown some math problems at you when figuring out your returns on investment, but this one will be a quick and easy one to finish off the article.
Part 1 covered 10 common bathroom staples.
Part 2 covers 7–8.
If you want to make your bathroom 70% eco-friendly, then you need to only transition 12–13 of your items. This accounts for each bolded item in both articles. This number will be lower depending on how many items you actually use. Here is the equation I used:
[Number of bathroom items you use from Part 1 + Part 2] x [.70 or 70%, a reasonable start, but can be lowered or raised, too] = your unique eco-friendly transition number
I encourage you to start with 70% and exceed that challenge. :) Since these items aren’t always purchased all at once, monitoring them on your paper receipts (if applicable) or on a digital notepad can help show the progress you’re making or where the transition is made most difficult for you. Producer’s responsibility comes into play, as you will realize, and a lot of times they are not making the eco-friendly choices accessible for you. And that’s when we demand more through our purchasing power and voice.
Until next time!
I’m always available for a chat at rerecyclechi@gmail.com. If you liked this article or thought it could be improved, feel free to comment below! Would love to hear from you, since this is for you.
For more information:
https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-bathroom-products/
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
All links above are not sponsored. I am not compensated for any purchase mentioned.
Friendly reminder: Finish your eco-evil (kidding, partly) products first before making these transitions to eco-friendly products. It’s very tempting to want to completely transition right away, BUT this is a mindset influenced by our consumer society and it isn’t sustainable. Anyway, if it’s not finished, it’s going to end up in the landfill when you could’ve waited to replace it and recycled it. Delayed gratification is a bummer, but following your goal of being more eco-friendly starts right away when you meet yourself where you are at. ❤ 🌎🌍🌏❤
