A plastic-free bathroom, one bottle at a time
Bathroom swaps are mostly about packaging — easy, cheap wins you can make as each bottle runs out.
By PlasticFreeHome Research Team · Reviewed by Khalid · Updated 26 September 2026 · 1 min read
Most bathroom swaps are about packaging rather than exposure, so do them as things run out. They're some of the easiest and cheapest changes in the home.
Easy wins
- Shower gel → bar soap — cheaper, and a bar lasts weeks.
- Shampoo bottles → shampoo bar — allow a week or two to adjust.
- Disposable razors → safety razor — pays for itself within months.
Swaps with honest trade-offs
- Toothbrushes: wooden handles remove most of the plastic, but almost all bristles are nylon. See plastic toothbrush → wood handle.
- Period products: disposable pads are mostly plastic. Organic cotton, reusable pads and period pants all cut it, and menstrual cups are silicone. See disposable pads → reusable options.
Microbeads
Plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics have been banned in the UK since 2018, but other polymers remain common in cosmetics. Ingredient lists are the only way to check.
Get new findings by email
One email a fortnight. No ads, ever.
Top swaps in bathroom & personal care
Shower gel bottles → bar soap
The easiest bathroom swap: same job, far less packaging, and usually cheaper.
High priority · about 700 g of plastic a year
Plastic toothbrush → wood handle, natural or replaceable bristles
A wooden handle cuts most of the plastic — but nearly all bristles are still nylon.
Worth doing · about 80 g of plastic a year
Disposable pads → organic cotton or reusable options
Most disposable pads are largely plastic. Cotton and reusable options cut that, with honest trade-offs.
Worth doing · about 600 g of plastic a year