Room by Room Eco Swaps - Bathroom Edition

Welcome to my journey to a more eco-friendly, less plasticy life! It’s fairly new, it’s not perfect, and it’s got super feel-good powers! A little about me before I dive in: I’ve been vegan for 10 years, and have always loved animals and nature in general. While I've been aware of the dangers facing our planet, and the damage we’ve been inflicting on it, I've always been kind of lazy & stuck in my ways regarding the things I use everyday. They were just so convenient! But I still made positive changes over the years, little by little. Among those, the most common and easy: using reusable travel mugs and water bottles, bringing my own totes to the store instead of getting a plastic bag each time, and when that was unavoidable, reusing that stuff until it couldn’t be used any more. Plastic bags became trash can liners, or receptacles for used kitty litter. To-go cups and containers would get used once or twice more at home, so I wouldn’t feel so bad tossing them out. I’ve reused plastic zip-lock bags, recycled every item I could through the local program, and bought eco-friendly detergents and cleaning supplies. I've made my own “new” clothes and totes out of old shirts past their prime. I was doing pretty well before starting this life change. But I knew I could do better. Watching the world become suffocated by plastic, having islands of trash in the oceans, animals being injured or killed by our waste...I knew I must do better. So, at the beginning of 2020, I set out to reduce the amount of plastic in my life. I knew it would be challenging at times, but I was unaware of just how fun it would turn out to be, how much it has snowballed and keeps inspiring me to do more, and the overall feeling of helping out the planet that I love so much.

A few, quick bullet points to keep in mind if you want to begin such a journey for yourself:

• You do NOT need to be perfect. (This is also the mantra I give people when they want to go vegan!) Do what you can, because every little bit does make a difference. Don’t ever let someone shame you into feeling like the changes you’re making are dumb or will never make a difference. (Kick those people to the curb with the minimal trash you’ll have!)
• Start with one thing you're interested in! (Mine was shampoo bars!) Making changes a little at a time, and especially room by room as I’ve done, is way easier than trying to tackle everything at once, throughout your whole house. Not to mention it’s a bit easier on your wallet! Those big lists of “all the ways you can be more eco-friendly” are daunting and overwhelming. Slow and steady wins the race! (And helps good habits stick easier!)
• Go easy on yourself. If ordering things from Amazon is easier for you right now, instead of shopping from local or indie craftspeople, go for it. (I definitely did during this pandemic!) Again, this is not about perfection. You may find though, that it’s more enjoyable getting your stuff locally or from web-based shops where your money actually brightens the owner’s day! (And in a lot of cases, the quality is way better.) Give it a try when you can!
• Don’t throw out your current stuff just because you want all new, eco-friendly stuff! Use up the stuff you have, as much as you can, before moving on to an improved version. There are things I stocked up on before my journey that I don’t need more of right now. I’ll keep using the stuff I have until I can’t any longer, then I’ll move on to purchasing more eco-friendly alternatives. (Which is why some things are missing from this list, like dental floss, razors, face care/lotion, deodorant, and makeup.) Tossing stuff before it’s lived a full life is even MORE wasteful. Don’t do it!!

Ok! On to the new, plastic-free products I’ve introduced into my daily bathroom life! They are all vegan & cruelty-free as well. All of these have become truly enjoyable changes that make me feel good every time I use them. They are all dependent on personal preference though, so if you find a brand you don't care for, try another! There's so many out there, you're bound to find a new favorite! (And I'm not an affiliate for any brands mentioned here, this is not a paid review!)

Body Wash Bar Soap- Probably the easiest swap you can make. I have used so many brands and types, it's hard to narrow down a favorite. I love trying new ones! I love finding them on Etsy, and buying sample packs of various scents from grateful shop owners. No ugly plastic, and each full size bar usually replaces at least 2-3 bottles, depending on size! (Plus, my skin is way less dry than it was when I was using bottled body wash that is mostly water!) Travel-friendly too, no leaks!

Shampoo/Conditioner Bar- I have tried brands like Lush in the past, and while they make great products, they weren't cost effective for me to keep up with. My current favorite is one I found at my local Target: Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water Shampoo + Conditioner Bar. It smells amazing, is 2-in-1 to save time, has a cute heart shape, has great suds, and comes packaged in 100% recycled cardboard! (Click that link and check out all the great stuff listed on the back of the box too!) And it's only $5! It leaves my thick hair soft and tangle-free, and one bar lasts me about 2 months or more! (When using 2-3 times per week.) Travel-friendly too, no leaks! It replaces a LOT of bottles!

Face Care- The most mind-blowing find I've come across are microfiber face towels that replace makeup remover wipes! I used a lot of face wipes in the past. And I was always afraid of running out, especially while on vacation. But, these towels by AuroTrends on Amazon, are one of the best purchases I've made! They remove all my makeup, including waterproof mascara, with only water. What?! It's magic. They are so soft, dry quick, and you just throw them in the washer to clean. Plus, they don't leave a film on my skin, and my super sensitive face won't have issues with any chemicals, because there are none! Game changer. (The pink one obviously gets stained with black mascara though, but it doesn't affect its power!) They do come in a thick plastic, square tube, but I just kept it to store the clean ones in. Beats buying tons of plastic-packaged wipes that are full of chemicals and get tossed in the trash after one use! I also picked up these reusable face rounds on Amazon at the same time, for applying toner or witch hazel after I cleanse! They come packaged in a reusable, decorative tin. They are super soft, machine washable (and come with a handy washing bag to keep them all together), and are equally awesome! Eye makeup does stain them though, so set aside a couple just for eyes if you're removing makeup with them! *Important note: do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets with either of these! It does change their texture and leaves a film on them! They still work, but not as well. You've been warned.* In the realm of face wash, I also use so many various brands/types, that it's hard to pick a favorite. Like body wash bars, I enjoy samples! But I do love charcoal-based face soaps, because they don't dry my skin and leave it feeling super clean. Plus, gothic black suds! But the best exfoliating face scrub bar I've used is Ethique's Gingersnap Face Bar. I love this! It's great at smoothing my face, and doesn't irritate it! Plus, it smells yummy! It comes packaged in thin cardboard. Again, all travel-friendly as well!

Mouth/Tooth Care- I've replaced my big, ugly mouthwash bottle with these Mouthwash Tablets by the company by HumanKind. I love these so much! You get a small, glass cup with a silicone top that also serves as storage for your tablets! Just fill the cup with a tiny bit of water, drop a tablet in, and let it dissolve. It takes about 30 seconds to dissolve, and the less water you use, the stronger the flavor. Swish as normal, and enjoy your fresh mouth! When you're out of tablets, you can order refills that come in compostable pouches. This company is really on top of things, and I'm looking forward to trying more of their products. So travel-friendly too! When it was time to replace my plastic toothbrush, which I kept to use as a cleaning tool for household projects, I chose these Bamboo with wide Charcoal head brushes from Amazon. They are super soft, and I love that the heads are wide versus long! They feel like they're hugging each tooth, and make them feel really clean. Also, there is no weird taste that some wooden toothbrushes have! My toothpaste of choice has been Hello brand, which you can find at Target and Amazon. The first non-tube choice I made was their Charcoal nakedpaste. It comes in a glass jar with a small (plastic-yuck) spatula to scoop it on to your brush. It's got a slight salty taste, and really makes your mouth feel extra clean, but it is messy! I always had to wipe out my sink after using, and I always had little black flecks of it on my mirror, hand, and arm after using, from the brush sending it flying! (Don't wear a white shirt if you use this!) It's also very temperature-sensitive, so when it's cold out, it's hard as a rock and you need to heat it before using. But in the summer, it's between regular paste consistency or way too runny. Too many negatives caused me to try their tablets instead, and I am so glad I did! Their Activated Charcoal Toothpaste Tablets are a total game changer! They come in a small, easily recyclable tin, and you just chew a tablet up, and brush! These are charcoal, which I love, so the paste that forms is black. But it is not messy! It rinses cleanly down the drain, and doesn't leave black flecks on my skin or mirror like the paste did. These leave my teeth feeling super clean, and I want to try their Regular Peppermint ones too. Love the portability, and the fact I'll never have an ugly tube leak in my travel bag ever again!

Wastebasket Liners & TP- Now, let me preface the toilet paper discussion by saying I could never use reusable TP. I just can't. Not sorry. I've noticed it's super difficult finding TP that doesn't have a cardboard roll (totally unnecessary), or isn't wrapped in plastic. I admit I'm still searching for the holy grail. But in the meantime, I've made the switch to Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue, which besides being made of recycled fiber so it doesn't require virgin material (saves more trees!), it's also not bleached with chlorine chemicals and doesn't have inks or fragrance. The outer plastic can also be recycled in any plastic bag recycle bin located at many stores! Awesome! Since single-use plastic bags were banned in my state not long ago, their second life as my bathroom wastebasket liner was going to be a memory. I found these Biodegradable Trash Bags by Okkeai that I absolutely love! They are made of plant starch materials, and are non-toxic. They are strong, and don't have any scent. I use them for wastebasket liners, as well as used kitty litter when I need to scoop the poop! I did a test of one of these bags filled with used litter, and left it tied up in my garage for 3 weeks, just to see what plant starch material would do. It did not let the odor through, but the bag did start to "sweat" and break down, which was promising enough for me to keep using them. I'm glad to have found an alternative to yucky plastic bags that stick around for decades!

Oh! You've reached the end finally! (For now, anyway.) I hope that you've found some of this info useful, and inspiring! It's important, and the planet needs us!

(I'm always doing more research on the swaps I choose, so if there's something concerning about any of the companies/products I've mentioned, please let me know. Questions are also welcome! You got this!)