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Simple tips and tricks for reducing waste, saving water, and saving money — no renovations needed.
Most advice about making the bathroom more sustainable starts with what is inside the bottles. We’re starting one step earlier. In part one of this two-part series, we’ll focus on the room itself — the fixtures and supplies that shape how you use your bathroom every day. We’ll look at ways to reduce water use, make recycling easier, replace disposables with reusables, and choose durable bathroom basics built to last. (Renters, don’t worry: None of this advice necessitates a remodel!) In part two, we’ll turn to the soaps, shampoo, skincare, toothpaste, and other personal-care products that fill the shelves. Stay tuned.
Set Up for Success
Before worrying about the ingredients in your shampoo, look at the room itself. A few small changes can make low-waste habits much easier to maintain.
Put a Recycling Bin Next to the Trash
Most of us would never automatically toss a recyclable bottle into the kitchen trash. In the bathroom, that same bottle may meet a different fate simply because the recycling bin is in another room.
A national 2013 survey found that although seven in 10 Americans said they always or almost always recycled, only 20% consistently recycled bathroom items. Forty percent said they recycled no bathroom items at all. Among those who did not, 22% said they had simply never thought about recycling in the bathroom.
The obvious solution is also one of our favorite bathroom tips: Put a small recycling bin next to the trash can.
Use it for whatever your local curbside program accepts, which may include cardboard toothpaste and soap boxes, toilet paper tubes, and some plastic bottles. Check your local rules rather than relying solely on the recycling symbol.
Replace Disposables With Washables
Disposable cotton rounds and makeup wipes are easy to use, but they also create a steady stream of bathroom trash. Washable cloth rounds and small washcloths can handle many of the same jobs, from removing makeup to applying toner.
The trick is making reusables as convenient as the disposable versions. Keep a stack of clean rounds and cloths within easy reach, along with a small mesh laundry bag under the sink for used ones. Toss them into the bag as you go, then put the whole thing in the wash when it fills up. The bag also helps keep tiny rounds from disappearing among towels and clothing.
Rethink the Roll
“If there is one exceedingly simple but impactful change people can make in their day-to-day purchasing, toilet paper is it,” writes Bluedot’s advice columnist, Dear Dot. That’s because toilet paper from top brands such as Charmin, Cottonelle, Angel Soft, and Quilted Northern comes entirely from virgin-forest paper fiber — much of it from the Canadian boreal forest.
Search out t.p. made from recycled paper or FSC-certified bamboo. We’re partial to Who Gives a Crap, which makes both types, and donates 50% of profits to clean water and sanitation projects around the world.
Want to really cut back on waste? Consider washable cotton Toilet UNpaper, which you can use to tidy up after going number one or for drying off after a bidet. Store the used cloths in a washable wet bag or basket. This swap will substantially reduce paper use. (You can also continue to use conventional t.p. for number two.)
And, while we’re talking toilets, you don’t necessarily need to flush after every pee. In a private household bathroom, flushing only every second or third time can easily save hundreds of gallons each year.
Spend Less Money on Bathroom Cleaners
Walk down the cleaning aisle of the grocery store and you’ll spot separate products for the toilet, sink, shower, tub, tile, grout, mirror, and floor. Most bathrooms do not require that much stuff. We like the cleaning duo from Meliora. Their Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub is perfect for sinks, drains, toilets, grout, and more, while their All-Purpose Home Cleaner Spray tackles glass, metal, and other hard surfaces.
If you enjoy a do-it-yourself approach, you’ll find that you can handle most bathroom cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish soap, white vinegar, and elbow grease.
Of course, you’ll always need brushes, sponges, and cloths, including a toilet brush. But, you may not need to buy as much as you think. The bathroom is a great place to make use of downcycled items from around the house. Save old toothbrushes for grout and small spaces. Turn old tees, sheets, and sweats into rags. Even a scrub brush that no longer looks appealing enough for kitchen duty may offer months of service in the bathroom.
Deal With Clogs Before Reaching for Drano
A slow bathroom drain does not necessarily require a bottle of caustic drain cleaner. A good old-fashioned plunger or drain snake can often pull out the hair, soap residue, and assorted gunk responsible for bathroom clogs. Dish soap and hot water may also help.
These approaches cost little, avoid unnecessary chemicals, and are safe for your plumbing. Dear Dot has a complete rundown of the options in How Can I Unclog a Drain Without Drano?
Know Where Bathroom Waste Really Goes
Unfortunately, not every item belongs in the trash can or the recycling bin. Pumps, tubes, caps, tiny jars, and mixed-material cosmetic packaging are frequent offenders. Keep a small bag under the sink for those items. Every few months, you can take the contents to a Pact collection bin at participating Sephora, Credo, or Ulta Beauty locations. Pact specifically collects many of these hard-to-recycle beauty packages through its specialty recycling program.
Items such as disposable razors and blades, contact lenses, nail polish, and other odds and ends may not be safe to simply toss. Fortunately, a number of programs exist to help you clean house. Even better, we’ve put together a near-exhaustive list. Bluedot's Guide to Getting Rid of (Almost) Everything includes disposal and donation information for all the items above, in addition to dozens of others.
Once the bathroom itself is set up to waste less, it’s time to look at everything we bring into it. In part two of this series, we’ll dig into soap, shampoo and conditioner, skincare, toothpaste, deodorant, and other everyday bathroom products — including when bars, refills, concentrates, upcycled ingredients, and plastic-free alternatives really make sense.
A Few Picks for a Low-Waste Bathroom
Excellent Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
A clean bathroom does not require a cabinet full of specialty sprays. Meliora keeps things refreshingly simple. The Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub tackles sinks, tubs, grout, toilets, and other grimy spots, while the All-Purpose Home Cleaner Spray handles everyday surfaces such as glass and metal. Together, this plastic-free duo makes it easy to clean without clutter. ($10.99+)
Better Bathroom Basics
Bathroom accessories do not need to be disposable or flimsy. Ekobo’s toothbrush holders, soap dishes, organizers, and waste bins are designed to bring a little order to the bathroom while replacing lightweight plastic basics with more durable alternatives. We love the cheerful color choices. ($29+)
A Toilet Brush Built to Last
A toilet brush is hardly glamorous, but it is one of those bathroom tools worth buying once and keeping around. This plastic-free brush is a sturdy alternative to conventional plastic brushes, helping cut down on another piece of bathroom plastic that eventually ends up in the trash. ($35.99)
Washable Facial Rounds
Soft, washable rounds are a simple upgrade for everyday skincare. Use them with toner, micellar water, or makeup remover, then wash and reuse them instead of reaching for single-use cotton pads. They’re small, practical, and easy to work into an existing routine. ($6+)
