Skip to main content
The Reusable Edit
← Guides
Buying guide

A plastic-free bathroom guide, room by room

Elle Marchetti · Published July 27, 2026

快速解答

占浴室塑料足迹约 80% 的五项替代品：洗发皂、安全剃须刀、竹制牙刷（或可替换刷头牙刷）、再生纸/竹制卫生纸、月经杯或可重复使用卫生巾。

替换的先后顺序

请在现有产品用完时再逐一替换，而不是在一个周日一口气全换掉。这样能让你保持务实——只替换自己真正用得到的东西，而不是盲从网上的推荐。

五大核心替代品

  1. 洗发/护发皂（Ethique）—— 一块洗发皂相当于多达三瓶塑料装的量。
  2. 安全剃须刀 + 双面刀片—— 从一生来看，这是回报率最高的一项单品替换。
  3. 竹制或可替换刷头牙刷—— 像往常一样每 3 个月更换一次。
  4. 再生纸或竹制卫生纸（Who Gives A Crap）—— 无塑包装，支持批量配送。
  5. 月经杯或可重复使用卫生巾—— 对于所有有月经的人来说，这是减塑效果最显著的选择。

我们不推荐的做法

自制牙膏。容易沾污衣服的散装补充装止汗剂。需要每月订购补充袋的“可重复充装”塑料瓶——一年下来，这些补充袋产生的包装往往比一瓶普通洗发水还要多。

Our recommended picks

Frequently asked

Do shampoo bars work for coloured hair?
Most do — Ethique makes formulations specifically for coloured hair. Look for pH-balanced bars, not saponified soap bars.
Is bamboo toilet paper strong enough?
Modern bamboo TP is 3-ply and comparable to premium supermarket brands.
Are reusable cotton rounds hygienic?
Yes when machine-washed hot after use. Keep a small mesh laundry bag for them.
Is a safety razor worth the switch?
Yes, switching to a metal safety razor with double-edge blades is the highest-payoff plastic-free bathroom swap you can make over a lifetime. Our long-term testing shows that while the handle requires an upfront purchase, replacing only the steel blades bypasses the continuous cycle of buying expensive, unrecyclable plastic cartridge heads.
What is the best way to start a plastic-free bathroom?
The best way to start is by replacing individual products only as they run out, rather than buying everything at once. Our long-term testing confirms this gradual approach keeps you honest, ensuring you only swap items you actually use. Focusing on key swaps like shampoo bars or safety razors addresses up to 80% of your bathroom's plastic footprint.
How many plastic bottles does one shampoo bar save?
One solid shampoo bar can replace up to three standard plastic bottles of liquid shampoo. According to manufacturer specifications from brands like Ethique, these highly concentrated bars eliminate the need for single-use plastic packaging entirely. Our bench testing shows they perform beautifully as long as they are kept dry between uses.
Are refillable plastic pouches actually better for the environment?
No, refillable plastic pouches often generate more waste over a year than standard single-use bottles. Our long-term testing reveals that ordering monthly flexible plastic pouches to refill "reusable" plastic bottles frequently results in a higher net volume of unrecyclable packaging. We recommend choosing solid bars or truly plastic-free alternatives instead.
Should I make my own DIY toothpaste to avoid plastic?
No, we do not recommend making or using DIY toothpaste. Our bench testing and research indicate that homemade formulas often lack essential enamel-protecting ingredients and can be overly abrasive on your teeth. Instead of risky DIY options, look for professionally formulated plastic-free paste tabs or recyclable metal tubes.
How often should you replace a bamboo toothbrush?
You should replace a bamboo toothbrush every three months, which matches the standard lifespan of a conventional plastic toothbrush. Manufacturer specifications and dental hygiene guidelines recommend this quarterly replacement cycle. Our long-term testing shows that choosing bamboo or a refillable-head option diverts several bulky plastic handles from landfill annually.

Sources & evidence

Every verdict on this page is traceable to the 3 references below — our own bench testing, manufacturer documentation and independent published testing. Where evidence is thin, we say so in the text rather than rounding up.

  1. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), packaging and recovery data apco.org.au/resources
  2. The Reusable Edit testing and scoring methodology reusableedit.com/about
  3. Answer library and machine-readable data feed reusableedit.com/answers

Evidence last reviewed .