The zero waste bathroom is a fine balance! Maintaining cleanliness and good hygiene while doing good for the environment is not always straightforward. 

But going eco doesn’t mean ditching the toilet for a well-dug hole and a few leaves either! 

Eco bathroom products that reduce landfill waste are thankfully popping up all over the place. This is excellent as up to 40% of landfill waste is from bathrooms, with nappies and feminine hygiene products being the worst offenders – they take 500 years to decompose.

Here are 5 simple swaps to instantly brighten the future and reduce waste.

The Plastic Free Toilet Brush

Cleaning away evidence left behind is not just good manners,  it’s also essential for toilet cleanliness

But does it have to be plastic? Nope. There are many toilet brush alternatives. Eco toilet brushes use sustainable materials, pollutant-free production methods and won’t end up in landfill. They’re also naturally a bit brown, which hides the stains.

Our favourite wooden toilet brush is the FineFun natural coconut fibre toilet brush, made from compostable, organic material. The design is great too, it reaches more places than the conventional brush.

Recycled Toilet Paper Rolls

Plastic-free toilet paper is easy (who wipes with plastic?) but sustainable or recycled toilet paper? That’s not so easy, especially on a budget.

Luckily we are becoming quite the experts in toilet paper and have a few tips to share.

First, bamboo. It’s sustainably harvested without killing the plant and grows at a phenomenal rate. As for splinters, don’t worry. Bamboo toilet paper, like The Cheeky Panda, is soft, anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic.

There are also great recycled options, including eco leaf toilet tissue made from UK recycled paper waste.

Check out our best eco friendly toilet paper guide for more eco options! 

Money-Saving Reusable Nappies

Start early with the eco training with reusable nappies! They reduce the hundreds of disposable nappies sent to landfill with simple compostable liners. A 20 pack of the best reusable nappies will last from birth to big school.

Tots Bots is one of the best as their nappies grow with your baby! They’re also chemical free and easy to wash. In case you need extra help learning how to use reusable nappies (and how to wash reusable nappies conservatively), check out the full guide to washable nappies.

There are plenty of options to keep your baby dry and carbon footprint small!

Eco Toilet Cleaner

One of the most popular eco friendly toilet cleaners in the UK is Ecover(you’ve probably seen it in the supermarket and advertised on TV) and we love how short the ingredients list is. You can also buy 5 litre refills of eco toilet bowl cleaner to save waste further.

Another way to join the zero-waste toilet cleaner brigade is to create your own! Most eco friendly toilet cleaner recipes use a strong acidic element (vinegar, lemon juice etc.) and essential oils to clean and chase away odours. You can also sprinkle baking powder and scrub to lift stubborn stains.

Alternatives to Pads and Tampons

Disposable tampons, pads and applicators create 200,000 tonnes of waste per year… for just 85g of menstrual blood per cycle. That’s less than a teacups worth of natural human waste and a shockingly high amount of single-use plastic waste!

Menstrual cups are just one natural alternative to tampons, along with period pants, reusable pads and sponges. The cups can take a few tries but once you’re accustomed to it you’re saving a lifetime of waste!

Check out the OrganiCup to start with – it has 3 sizes and holds 3x what a single tampon can.

Your eco bathroom is within reach! Don’t forget to recycle packaging your eco bathroom products arrive in and lock the door when you’re spending quality time with your new purchases…

The post Toilet talk: 5 eco-friendly swaps to clean up your waste appeared first on eco-.