Suss out everything you’ve got in the bathroom: in the cupboards, shower cubicle and bin. From three different shampoos to disposable wipes: bathroom (plastic) waste quickly mounts up. Luckily though, you can transform your bathroom routine into a low waste one, in no time at all. We have highlighted a few tips for you.

1. Wash your hair with shampoo bars

Remember the old-fashioned bars of soap? Nowadays, you can find the equivalent but in shampoo form, which makes for far less plastic! You see, a shampoo bottle is pretty much guaranteed to be made of plastic, so each year we’re all generating significant plastic waste. . A shampoo bar lasts a long time (so is budget-friendly), and is often packed with premium ingredients (do check the list of ingredients first though).

2. Use microplastic-free products

Whilst we’re on the subject of ingredients: it’s not just shampoo, soap and shower gel packaging that is plastic-rich. Many of the products themselves contain microplastics. These miniscule particles of plastic all drain down the shower’s plug hole, to ultimately end up in the sea and groundwater. So make sure you always use microplastic-free products, like the Alaise self-care products for instance!

3. Brush your teeth with a bamboo toothbrush

Anyone who listens attentively to their dentist will know to replace their toothbrush every three months. If you use a plastic toothbrush, that amounts to four pieces of plastic per year. Fortunately nowadays though, you can brush your teeth just as well with (biodegradable) bamboo toothbrushes. Plus, they look much nicer than plastic ones.

4. Use a loofah sponge

Every now and again we all like to really pamper our skin with a good scrub. This instantly makes you feel fresh and clean! However, with exfoliants all the scrub particles drain away with the water, which means more waste. Avoid exfoliants therefore and use a natural loofah sponge.

5. Ditch disposable wipes, cotton pads and cotton buds

Your bathroom is brimming with disposable items, from cotton buds to wipes. Creating waste every time you remove your make-up is such a shame. Nowadays, there are lots of good, reusable alternatives you can buy instead of all the disposable ones. For instance, wooden or reusable cotton buds, washable cotton pads and disposable wipes can be easily replaced with a soft, cotton cloth. That all amounts to far less waste each year! If you’re looking to take small steps to start with: use plastic-free disposable wipes, such as 100% viscose ones.

6. Swap your disposable razor for a safety razor

Disposable razors: they’re vital, especially in the summer, but how many do we truly use each year? Disposable razors are often made with many materials, making them tricky to recycle. Luckily though, they can be easily swapped for a safety razor! The holder will last you many years, and the replaceable blades stay sharper for longer too. Plus, these types of razors look so much better on your bathroom shelf than all kinds of plastic ones.

7. Use a wooden or bamboo hairbrush

Be eco-friendly and swap your plastic hairbrush for a wooden or bamboo one! Many wooden hairbrushes have natural bristles, but for the vegans among us, there are also hairbrushes available that are made 100% of bamboo. All in all, considerably more sustainable and far nicer to look at than a boring plastic one.

8. Use a roll-on deodorant

Deodorant is an integral element of our daily routine. Leaving the house without having applied deodorant is unthinkable! Because we use so much of it, the landfill waste it generates is huge. And that’s before we’ve even thought about the propellant gases that aerosol deodorants use. There are plenty of roll-on deodorants available to buy nowadays; there are even recipes to make your own deodorant. That amounts to a lot less waste!

9. Use menstrual cups and reusable sanitary pads

Having your period is enough of a drag as it is, but all the disposable sanitary products and tampons we use means a lot of (plastic) waste too. And unnecessary waste besides, as there are ample sustainable alternatives to be found. You now have the choice between reusable sanitary pads or period knickers, and you can swap tampons for menstrual cups. It takes a little getting used to, but you’ll soon see how much emptier your bathroom bin is.

10. Use fewer, higher grade, products (and use them all up)

Six bottles of shower gel, three bottles of shampoo and countless body lotions all in different fragrances: the number of plastic bottles in your bathroom soon add up. One easy way to reduce your bathroom waste is to simply use fewer products! For instance, use products up even if their fragrance no longer appeals to you. Finish everything, and next time only buy products you and your skin feel truly happy with.