Plastic Free July - Bathroom basics

It's so amazing that Plastic Free July is a global movement, highlighting the issues we face from the overuse of disposable plastics.

Admittedly I'm definitely not completely plastic free. I try my hardest to eliminate the use where possible but the easiest way is to stop an item at a time. It can also depend on each individual situation or circumstances. For example having access to these plastic free alternative products. I am living with my parents, and whilst cutting out plastic completely would be ideal, it's not always possible.

Why not pick up a pen and paper, or use the handy notes section on your phone and room by room write down items you think could be swapped. Today let's focus on the bathroom - I'll share with you the plastic free swaps that I have made, and you could make too. It's fair to say that I've no doubt mentioned a lot of these already, but why not refresh your memory for some Plastic Free July inspiration!

Toothpaste:

Toothpaste can be a tricky one, getting used to dent tabs or an alternative toothpaste might be weird to start with but after a couple of days you'll forget all about the existence of tubed toothpaste! My absolute favourite go to paste is Georganics charcoal. This comes in a glass jar (that's great to reuse) with a mini wooden scoop.

Mouthwash:

If your mouthwash is in a plastic bottle, when it starts to run low why not look if there is an alternative brand that uses glass bottles. Switch to something like the Georganics mouthwash in a glass bottle or some mouthwash tablets.

Toothbrushes:

Don't give in to the hype of a bamboo toothbrush unless your current toothbrush needs replacing. The last thing we want is for plastic toothbrushes to be thrown away all of a sudden unnecessarily. If you do / when you do make the swap to a bamboo toothbrush, ensure that you keep your plastic one for things like cleaning and scrubbing - even getting into the groves of your car hub caps to make them sparkling clean when you wash your car, anything like that, which saves it from being thrown into landfill.

Face cloths:

I love my various face cloths so much I hate to think back to when I used face wipes from a packet! Warm water and a face cloth = biggest game changer.

Shampoo & Conditioner bars or liquid refills:

Shampoo and conditioner bars are a great alternative now there's so many options, or why not find the nearest zero waste shop and top up with a refill! Tip: Bars are handy if you're a frequent traveller.

Razor:

Ahh my beautiful razor - a favourite swap for sure. Take a bit of extra care when using a safety razor, they do have more weight to them than a disposable, but once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why we ever used disposables.

Pads:
How many plastic lined pads have we used... it's best not to think about. It's always great to try something new and reusable pads are definitely something to give a go, or a mooncup. Using the pads you just wash and use again and again - no waste!! There's lots of helpful information online or from where you purchase them on the care of the reusable pads etc. Just start with one and give it a go. 

Cotton buds:
Bamboo cotton buds are a very popular replacement to the typical plastic ones you get, but did you know that there's a completely zero waste alternative called an Oriculi? An oriculi is made from bamboo, that can be used time and time again with no need to throw away. Just clean your ear and wipe the oriculi clean (maybe look up a quick tutorial if you're not sure how to use one). Super simple swap!

That's it for now, things like toilet paper, bars of soap instead of liquid and many more products could be swapped too. I hope you choose one of the items to make a swap for not just Plastic Free July but for the long run. One item can make all the difference.

"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Anne-Marie Bonneau

♥