Eco Bathroom Essentials Under $20 Simple Swaps for Beginners
Creating an eco-friendly bathroom doesn’t need to be complicated. These beginner-friendly swaps under $20 help you reduce waste, save money, and build small sustainable habits that fit easily into your daily routine.
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Eco-Friendly Choices • Bathroom
Why These Simple Bathroom Swaps Make a Difference
Many everyday bathroom items are made from plastic, wrapped in extra packaging, and replaced quickly. When you choose lower-waste options, you cut down on plastic use, save resources, and support brands that care about the planet. These swaps are small on their own, but together they help reduce what ends up in landfills and in our water.
By slowly switching just a few essentials, you start a new pattern: buying less plastic, choosing longer-lasting products, and voting with your money for more eco-friendly options. You don’t need a “perfect” routine to make an impact—consistent, simple choices in your bathroom can quietly add up over months and years.
Beginner Options Under $20
1. Bamboo toothbrush – Replaces plastic handles with a renewable material. When it’s time to toss it, you can remove the bristles and compost the handle (if local rules allow).
2. Bar soap instead of bottled body wash – Uses less packaging, often comes in paper or cardboard, and lasts longer when stored dry, which means fewer plastic bottles overall.
3. Reusable cotton rounds – Swap single-use cotton pads for washable ones. You use the same set again and again, reducing waste and the resources needed to grow and process cotton.
4. Natural loofah or plant-based scrubber – Replaces plastic shower puffs with materials that can break down more easily at the end of their life when disposed of properly.
5. Refill-ready hand soap bottle – Instead of buying a new pump bottle every time, you keep one sturdy bottle and refill it from larger, more efficient containers or low-waste refills.
6. Recycled or bamboo toilet paper – Supports brands that use recycled fibers or fast-growing bamboo instead of cutting down more trees for single-use paper.
Option 1 • Bamboo Toothbrush
Bamboo Toothbrush: A Simple First Swap
A bamboo toothbrush is one of the easiest ways to start an eco bathroom routine. Instead of a fully plastic handle, bamboo comes from a fast-growing plant that can be renewed more quickly than many other materials.
When it’s time to replace your toothbrush, you can remove the bristles and check your local rules for composting or proper disposal of the handle. Over time, shifting even a few toothbrushes away from plastic reduces how much ends up in landfills and recycling systems.
Good for: small spaces, simple routines, anyone who wants a low-effort, low-waste first step.
Bamboo Toothbrush Options Under $15
Simple Bamboo Toothbrush
VIVAGO Bamboo Toothbrush
soft bristles • beginner-friendly • under $15
Buy here
Charcoal-Infused Bamboo Brush
NUDUKO Charcoal Bamboo Brush
charcoal bristles • low waste • budget friendly
Buy here
Family Pack Bamboo Set
Greenzla Bamboo Toothbrush Set
multiple brushes • cost-saving • shared swap
Buy hereOption 2 • Bar Soap
Bar Soap: Less Plastic, More Simplicity
Swapping bottled body wash for a bar of soap is a classic low-waste move. Most bar soaps use little to no plastic packaging, which means fewer bottles being made, shipped, and thrown away.
When you choose a bar with simple ingredients and a cardboard or paper wrap, you’re cutting down on both plastic and extra fillers. Bars can also last longer when they’re stored on a dish that drains well, so you get more use from a single purchase.
Good for: small showers, tiny shelves, and anyone who wants a tidy, low-clutter feel in their bathroom.
Option 3 • Reusable Cotton Rounds
Reusable Cotton Rounds: Gentle on Skin, Kinder to the Planet
Reusable cotton rounds replace stacks of disposable pads used for toner, makeup removal, or cleansing. Instead of throwing them away after one use, you simply rinse, wash, and use them again.
Over time, this helps reduce how much cotton needs to be grown, processed, and shipped for single-use products. It also cuts back on the trash bag filling up with small items that are used for just a few seconds.
Good for: daily skincare lovers, makeup wearers, and anyone who does a morning or night routine with liquids and cleansers.
Reusable Cotton Round Options Under $20
Option 4 • Natural Loofah / Plant-Based Scrubber
Natural Loofahs: A Better Swap for Your Shower Routine
Natural loofahs and plant-based scrubbers replace plastic shower puffs that shed microplastics over time. These microplastics can travel into drains, wastewater, and eventually the ocean where they break down further but never truly disappear.
A natural loofah is made from plant fibers, which means it has the ability to break down more gently at the end of its life when disposed of properly. This prevents long-term plastic buildup and supports a bathroom routine with fewer synthetic materials.
Good for: exfoliating routines, body wash lovers, and anyone who wants a plastic-free shower setup.
Natural Loofah Options Under $20
Option 5 • Refill-Ready Hand Soap Bottle
Refill-Ready Hand Soap: One Bottle, Many Refills
A refill-ready hand soap bottle lets you keep one sturdy container while you refill it again and again. Instead of buying a brand-new plastic pump every time, you simply top it up from a larger refill, a concentrated tablet, or a low-waste soap mix.
This cuts down on how many small bottles are produced, shipped, and thrown away. Over time, choosing refills over new bottles lowers plastic use, packaging, and the energy needed to make single-use containers.
Good for: kitchen and bathroom sinks, households that wash hands often, and anyone who likes a consistent look on the counter.
Option 6 • Recycled or Bamboo Toilet Paper
Recycled & Bamboo Toilet Paper: Softer on Forests
Traditional toilet paper often comes from freshly cut trees, which uses a lot of water, energy, and land for something that’s used once. Recycled and bamboo options are designed to be gentler on forests and the resources that support them.
Recycled toilet paper gives new life to existing paper, while bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested more often. Choosing these options helps shift demand away from cutting down more trees just for single-use paper products.
Good for: everyday bathrooms, shared households, and anyone who wants a simple swap that adds up over time.
Quick Comparison
Before & After: How These Simple Swaps Change Your Bathroom
Quick Answers
Mini FAQ: Your Eco Bathroom Questions
Do small bathroom swaps really make a difference?
Yes—when you replace even a few high-use items like soap bottles or cotton pads, you reduce plastic, packaging, and waste that builds up over time. Small choices consistently repeated create meaningful impact.
Are these eco swaps more expensive?
Many of the best low-waste swaps cost under $15, and reusable versions save money because they last months or years. Sustainable doesn’t have to mean expensive—a lot of eco choices are budget-friendly.
How do I start if I feel overwhelmed?
Begin with one simple swap—like bar soap or a bamboo toothbrush. After that feels normal, pick another. Eco habits grow naturally when you start small and don’t pressure yourself.
How do I know if a brand is truly eco-friendly?
Look for recyclable or compostable packaging, clear ingredient lists, sustainable sourcing, and brands that explain their environmental practices. Avoid vague claims and overly plastic packaging.
What if my bathroom is really small?
Start with swaps that don’t need storage space—like bar soap, reusable rounds, or a refill-ready soap bottle. Eco choices don’t require a bigger bathroom, just thoughtful habits.
Small Choices Create a More Sustainable Home
Creating an eco-friendly bathroom isn’t about perfection—it's about choosing what feels doable and letting those habits grow naturally. One swap leads to another, and over time, your daily routine becomes lighter on the planet without adding pressure to your life.
Whether you started with bar soap, reusable cotton rounds, or a refill-ready bottle, you’ve already made a meaningful change. Every step you take reduces waste, saves resources, and supports a healthier environment.
EcoChyce is here to make sustainability simple, calming, and accessible—one small swap at a time.
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