Transitioning to a lower waste household is an ongoing process. I’ve been making steady efforts for many years, and I still have so far to go. Something that works well for me is to focus on one room or category at a time (Konmari style) and make just a few changes at a time. It feels much less overwhelming to aim for better, not perfect.  

The bathroom is a really satisfying place to start. There are a few simple changes you can make right away, and a lot of inspiration out there. Take inventory of the products you use regularly. Could they be swapped out for something with plastic free packaging, refillable or package free, or homemade? Here are a few places to begin.

Switch out your products

An easy swap to make is trade your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one. Every single toothbrush ever made still exists on earth. Let that sink in.

Floss is next. It may seem benign, but it is often made with petroleum products – nylon coated with wax – packaged in a plastic case, and when flushed, poses threats to wildlife & pollutes waterways. Try silk floss in cardboard or glass and metal packaging for a plastic free option.

An electric toothbrush with removable head and a water pik would also be much less wasteful choices. Invest in quality products that are built to last. One of my favourite purchases this year was a stainless steel tongue scraper (pictured above). A dental hygienist I know was very impressed by this product.

Repurpose & upcycle things you already own

When I need or want something new, I always shop my home first. Do you ever do this? It is so satisfying when you find a creative new use for something you already own. The bathroom can be a nice place to display useful treasures, since you’ll notice and enjoy them daily.

Here are a few ideas for the bathroom:

• Cut up old towels, flannel sheets & pjs to use as tissues or makeup removal pads
• Use pretty cups or mugs to hold toothbrushes, combs, hair ties, etc
• Hang your jewelry on antique jars, sea shells, or whatever strikes your fancy
• Repurpose baskets, tins, & shoeboxes to neatly organize your drawers or corral items
• Repurpose used toothbrushes to add to your cleaning kit
• Upcycle old towels into a new bath mat (here are a few tutorials)

DIY zero waste body care

Reducing plastic is just as important to me as living as toxin free as possible. I find the best way to control what ends up in the landfill and on my skin, is to make my own body care products or purchase them from local makers.

My favourite thing to make is oil for my skin – I simply combine a carrier oil, like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil, with essential oils. I use geranium and rose, which help with eczema and skin redness. You can make deodorant, whipped body butter, lotions – pretty much anything.

Your kitchen cupboards likely already hold the ingredients you need to make a wonderful face mask or scrub – things like avocado, honey, oatmeal, coffee, and sugar.

Shift to a zero waste mindset

Once you start making a few changes, you’ll likely notice a shift in your mindset. If you appreciate aesthetics, you’ll probably also enjoy seeing glass jars, stainless steel, wood, and cloth instead plastic bottles all lined up on your shelves or cluttering your drawers. of Minimalism and zero waste play very nicely together.

For more tips, ideas, and resources on zero waste for the bathroom, refer back to my Zero Waste 101 post and Decluttering the Zero Waste Way.

Have you made any swaps in your bathroom or another room of your house that you are really enjoyable? We would love to hear about it.

Margaret Hoegg is a Simple Local Life Contributor. She is also a writer, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Margaret writes about local food, gardening, sustainability, and wellness at Living Locavore and can be found on Instagram @living.locavore.