Less waste in the bathroom
Today we continue our home tour, tackling the waste in the bathroom!
A few warnings before starting:
- Start by sorting the products you have at hand.
- Get rid of what you are not using by giving them, if possible.
- Finish your current products before moving to more eco-friendly products.
Throwing away products that are still usable would be counterproductive!
- Be careful, “handmade” or “natural” waste limited products are not always “healthy” (especially in the bathroom).
- Always check the composition of the products (applications like Yuka or INCI Beauty can help you), the seriousness of the manufacturers and avoid buying a product coming from the other side of the world…
Tooth Brushing
You can replace the plastic toothbrush with a compostable bamboo brush ( but be careful sometimes the bristles are not) or with a removable tip (so you don't have to change the whole toothbrush).
There are solid or powdered toothpastes available as replacements for conventional toothpastes.
Be careful, though, these toothpastes may not be suitable for everyone (tooth sensitivity, scale).Homemade toothpaste recipes should also be used with caution as some components can be too abrasive (sodium bicarbonate in particular).
Soap and shampoo
Shower gels and liquid shampoo bottles can be replaced by solid soaps and shampoos. They are also a substitute for liquid hand soap.
You can find it for all types of skins and hair in organic shops or from local artisans (it's even better!).To further limit my environmental impact (water pollution), I use hygiene products sparingly.
Ban all products containing micro particles (body scrubs, glitter,...) as those are almost impossible to remove from the water.
Recipes for body care products (zerowasteswitzerland.ch) German / French
Cotton swabs
For those who cannot do without them, there are cotton swabs with paper rods instead of the usual plastic ones.
Other alternatives are possible, such as rinsing with water during the shower or using an oriculi, a bamboo stick used in Japan.
Make-up and make-up removal
In accordance with the 5R method, buy only products you really use regularly, and prefer brands that offer ecological or refillable packaging.
For make-up removal, cotton wool, wipes and disposable make-up removal pads will be replaced by washable and reusable wipes.
They can be bought or homemade, but pieces of old T-shirts or orphaned socks can also do the trick!
Hair removal and shaving
The idea is to avoid disposable razors and shaving foam bottles. We prefer reusable razors, made of metal (safety razor) or electric (which will last a long time).
It is possible to replace the foam or gel with shaving soap that is lathered with a badger.
You can also choose other hair removal techniques, such as natural waxes, or even question your hair removal needs.
Feminine hygiene
Numerous options are available to replace disposable pads. Everyone can find a solution best suiting their flow and lifestyle: menstrual cups, menstrual panties, washable towels.
It is also possible to learn about instinctive flow (free flow instinct).
Avoiding the chemicals present in disposable protection will also have a positive impact on your health.
Finally, in case of colds, cloth tissues should be used rather than disposable tissues.
To go further:
- Always check products’ origin and favour local craftsmen.
- Avoid low-cost products often unhealthy or coming from far away.
- Question your hygiene needs:
Do you really need to daily soap yourself from head to toe?
Do your physical activity justify this habit?