Low-Waste Bathroom Routine — Daily Habits I Use to Cut Plastic & Waste
If I look back, my bathroom used to be one of the most wasteful corners of my home — plastic bottles everywhere, disposable razors, face wipes, mini hotel bottles I never used, and products I had forgotten I even owned.
When I started my sustainable living journey, I realised that if I could fix just one room, the bathroom would make a huge difference. So I slowly changed my routine — not overnight, not perfectly, but step by step.
This is my honest low-waste bathroom routine — simple habits and products I genuinely use every day in my own home.
Why the bathroom creates so much waste
Most bathrooms are full of:
- Plastic shampoo and body wash bottles
- Disposable razors
- Face wipes and cotton pads
- Mini sample products we never finish
- Packaged sanitary products
The problem isn’t just plastic — it’s also the constant buying and throwing. Once I saw this clearly, I decided to simplify everything.
Step 1: Using up what I already had
Before changing anything, I made a simple rule for myself:
“No new bathroom products until I finish the old ones.”
So for a few months, my bathroom shelf looked like a “project area”. I finished half-used shampoos, random face washes and body lotions. This felt good for two reasons:
- I reduced clutter
- I stopped wasting money on “new” when “old” was still there
This is the same mindset I used for my wardrobe, which I wrote about in:
👉 How I Built a Sustainable Wardrobe
Step 2: My favourite low-waste bathroom swaps
Once I used up old stuff, I slowly started switching to better options. Here are a few swaps that really worked for me.
1. Solid soap bars instead of body wash
I personally like using a good quality soap bar instead of plastic body wash bottles. It lasts longer, takes less space and usually comes with minimal packaging.
2. Shampoo bars or refillable bottles
Shampoo bars took me some time to get used to, but they’re great for travel and reduce a lot of plastic. If shampoo bars don’t work for you, another option is:
- Buying shampoo in bigger bottles
- Using a refillable pump bottle
More details about the kind of products I actually like using at home are in:
👉 Eco-Friendly Home Products I Personally Love
3. Reusable razor instead of fully plastic ones
I slowly shifted to a metal razor with replaceable blades. It feels nicer to hold and creates much less plastic waste in the long run.
4. Cloth instead of disposable wipes
Packed wet wipes used to be my guilty pleasure. Now I keep a few soft cotton cloths at hand and simply wash and reuse them. My skin is happier and the dustbin is lighter.
Step 3: Organising my bathroom shelf the low-waste way
One thing I realised: the more crowded my bathroom shelf looks, the more likely I am to forget products and waste them.
So now I keep:
- Only the essentials in daily reach
- Backups or occasional products in a separate box
- Everything grouped into simple categories – hair, face, body, dental
This approach is similar to how I declutter other areas of my home under my main lifestyle approach:
👉 Zero-Waste Living Made Simple
Step 4: Reducing plastic packaging overall
Bathrooms are full of plastic. I can’t remove it 100%, but I try to:
- Choose bigger packs instead of multiple small ones
- Buy products in recyclable packaging when possible
- Avoid “extra” items I don’t really need
I follow the same logic in my kitchen, which I’ve written about here:
👉 How I Reduced Plastic in My Daily Life
Step 5: Cleaning the bathroom with natural products
For cleaning, I honestly prefer natural DIY cleaners now. I use vinegar, baking soda and a little natural soap to clean:
- Bathroom tiles
- Sink and taps
- Mirror and glass
These work well, smell fresh and reduce the number of chemical bottles in my bathroom cabinet.
I’ve shared the exact recipes I use in another guide:
👉 DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes I Use at Home
Step 6: Simple low-waste bathroom habits I follow daily
Some tiny habits that made a big difference:
- Turning off the tap while brushing
- Not over-pumping liquid products
- Finishing one product before opening the next
- Keeping only what I truly use in the shower
These don’t cost anything — but over time, they reduce waste and clutter more than I expected.
How this bathroom routine fits into my bigger eco-lifestyle
My low-waste bathroom is just one room in a bigger picture:
- In the kitchen, I focus on sustainable eating and less food waste.
- In the rest of the home, I prefer reusable products and natural cleaners.
- In my wardrobe, I choose slower, more mindful fashion.
All of this is part of the same story I’ve shared in detail here:
👉 Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Living
Where to go next if you want to continue this journey
If you liked this bathroom routine, you might also enjoy:
- Eco-Friendly Home Products I Personally Love Using – the items that stayed in my home.
- Zero-Waste Living Made Simple – a beginner-friendly overview of all the changes I made.
- DIY Natural Cleaning Recipes – how I clean my bathroom and home using natural products.
- How I Reduced Plastic in My Daily Life – especially useful if your bathroom still feels too “plastic heavy”.
You don’t have to fix everything this week. Even one low-waste swap in your bathroom is a strong start. The rest will come slowly, I promise.
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