Bathroom plastics challenge

[Sarahlou63]

I've been trying to cut down on the amount of plastic I use and I'm doing fairly well in the kitchen. But the bathroom is a different matter, despite only using bar soap. I took 2 photos this morning - one of my normal bathroom cabinet and one with all the plastic removed.

How would yours look?

Most people just accumulate clutter in that cabinet. My mother had a 25 year old tub of Vaseline. The real difference comes when you consider how much of the stuff you actually need/use and how much is unused or redundant, half used medicine, six different bath foams etc. That will make a difference before even getting to the plastic.

We need to do this so we're slowly using what we have, and then people give us 'stuff' for Christmas. Plastic-free replacements are going to be a challenge though, we have a plastic-free shop nearby but they don't open anytime I'm free.

I've gone down to bar soap, bar shampoo (but only for curly hair days, struggling to find one if I want to straighten my hair), bamboo toothbrush.... But still have a shelf of plastic toothpaste, mouthwash, gifted bubble bath etc. I'm also struggling with the amount of plastic in my daily contact lenses.

I still need my Electric toothbrush (as I can't make the correct wrist movements with a manual). I can't see them making a plastic free version any time soon though.

@Kpo58

Not bamboo but you can return them and they are recyclable

www.amazon.co.uk/Oral-B-Toothbrush-Heads-Recyclable-Whitening/dp/B01MY0N2HJ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Fantastic @BlueSkiesLies, I will give those a go.

I'm loving my Bain and Savon square goats milk solid shampoo. I was happy with my Friendly Soap Company one but this is great.

It's so difficult. Bar soap easy, and I've pretty much just given up using bubble bath and shower gel (although I really miss the former), but I'm struggling with everything else. I tried bamboo toothbrushes but found them too harsh.

Some opticians take contact lenses and packaging back for recycling now, mine are monthly so not too much waste but well worth it for daily.

www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/acuvue

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I have had lots of beautiful and different bubble baths in glass bottles from TKMaxx so that might be an alternative

Thanks, Wonky. I treat myself to a Neals Yard one every now and then too!

I’m trying this at present. Possibly unsuccessfully.

Off the top of my head in our bathroom we have:

• two plastic loofah shower puffy things
• shampoo x4
• conditioner x1
• face cleanser x2
• Shower gels x 3
• Toothpastes x3
• electric toothbrushes x2
• ds toothbrush
• bubble bath
• cotton buds
• variety of medicines etc.
• mouthwashes x 3.

Once all my shower gel is gone I’m switching back to bar soap.

Once the shower puffs have gone I’m not replacing.

I have litre bottles of shampoo and conditioner for my hair (I wash it maybe twice/three times a week so will reduce shampoo usage and plastic purchasing).

Mouthwash - once we’ve finished what we have I’m just buying one bottle for us.

I have reusable plastic bottles for travelling.

Dh is reluctant to go totally plastic free. But will compromise on reducing single use plastic where possible. He’s also big on recycling.

Our bathroom is gradually improving.

Rather than bar soap, which we couldn't get on with, we use the Splosh shower gel, so the bottle is reused and the pouches refills come in are returned to be recycled. Same for toilet and bathroom cleaner. Trialing shampoo bars and looking for one we all like. Bamboo cotton buds... other than that ours is similar to yours I'm afraid.

Me and the kids are solid soap users for hair, hands and body so that's a shed load of high frequency purchase plastic out of the way. I've even found a decent conditioner!

In the bathroom cabinet most things seem to be glass or mostly glass already - perfume, nail varnish, deodorant. The plastic that is there is infrequently purchased. The lids are a pain though.

It would be great for all toilet roll to come in paper or cardboard boxes and not just the green, generally expensive, alternative.

I was also going to mention splosh for shower gel and cleaning products, yes they come in plastic but refillable and the refills are sent back for reuse. I’ve been impressed by the products I’ve used so far.

@DinosApple which bar conditioner do you use?
I have watermelon solid shampoo from Soul and Soap and have just ordered solid facial wash from Friendly Soap. Have been using bar soap for a while. Usually my Tesco delivery has a few plastic bathroom items in it but none this week. I'm hoping these products last longer too.

@DinosApple
Tescos sell this loo roll , it's recycled and wrapped in paper and decent qualty , I can not remember how much it cost but it was less than the leading brands.

Does anybody know if mouthwash in glass bottles is available I've never seen any.

I wanted to shift to powder for teeth cleaning but the only really eco-friendly ones that don't have palm oil are shipped from Australia so the air miles really are damaging

@DinosApple can I ask where you get all your bar soap from please.

Complete the Cycle @GSK are recycling respiratory inhalers /uk.gsk.com/en-gb/responsibility/our-planet/complete-the-cycle/about-the-scheme/ Find your participating pharmacies pharmacyfinder.completethecycle.eu/index.html

Recycle oral care waste and packaging www.terracycle.com/en-GB/zero_waste_boxes/oral-care-waste-and-packaging

recycle contact lenses www.acuvue.co.uk/recycle
www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/acuvue

Interdental Brushes
www.dentalreview.news/people/60-dental-company-profiles/4500-tepe-s-teri-recycling-scheme

Bar soap instead of shower gel.

Splosh sell a refillable shower gel which I'm using for shampoo (i don't like bars) and bubble bath.

Splosh bathroom cleaner and toilet cleaner.

Diluted vinegar and lemon to clean glass.

Given up scrubs, face masks and conditioner - replacing with nothing.

Things I won't budge on - anything dental, deodorant.

Things I'm gong to change but have t got round to yet- sanitary products.

Coconut oil sold on Holland and Barrett in a big glass jar has replaced lots of things e.g. lip balm, night cream.

It's not perfect or plastic-free by any stretch of the imagination but a real improvement imo.

@KMoKMo
@gotmychocolateimgood

The shampoo and conditioner bars come from the Solid Bar Company.
It is pretty pricey but the shampoo lasted 3 me months and the conditioner will probably last 6 plus months. I've shoulder length, normal thickness, uncoloured hair.

It's a work out to lather up your hair though . The conditioner you slide the bar directly on your hair a few times.

Thanks @SamBeckett I'll check it out!

mooncups worked well for me once I got the hang of the insertion & removal techniques. Sometimes compromise is needed, anything other than mitchum's deodorant makes the sweaty me unpleasant to be around.

I have been shopping since my last post ,