In my home, we always prioritize reducing, reusing, and recycling, with a focus on being sustainable wherever possible. That's why I throw away as little as possible and find ways to repurpose items instead.
One of the main areas, besides the kitchen, for waste is the bathroom, so that's where I pay special attention to be more sustainable at home.
3 bathroom items I never throw away
1. Old candle jars
I'm always changing up my best candles, and love having one burning at all times when I'm in my bathroom. For this reason, I often have empty glass candle jars around, making them one of the things I never throw away.
I usually get the candle wax out of the jars as more often than not, they're too beautiful to let go of.
As Nancy Dow, interior designer at Sierra Living Concepts, says, 'Once recovered from the “dismantling of the wax”, these light jars can be repurposed to store make-up, brushes and everything you need in a bathroom – avoiding any waste.
'A lot of candle jars are crafted with fine glass or ceramic fittings and beautiful patterns, perfect for use as a vanity or bathroom decor. Rather than throwing them out, reuse these containers to help you keep clutter at bay and to give a personal, more eco-friendly touch to your area.'
I wholeheartedly agree with Nancy – that's exactly how I reuse candle jars around my home; for organizing my makeup and brushes, or repurposed as penholders for my home office storage ideas.
'As an interior designer myself, I’m always encouraging clients to live more sustainable lifestyles in their homes,' adds Nancy. 'Recycling candle jars not only helps avoid added buildup in landfills, but it also saves from having to buy new storage containers and encourages sustainable living.
'It’s also an excellent way of offsetting everyday aesthetic behaviors from values without compromising on style and usability.'
2. Toilet rolls
As Graham Matthews, waste management expert at Business Waste, advises, 'Toilet roll tubes should never be thrown away in general waste, as they can easily be recycled, or even better composted.'
This is exactly what I do at home.
After cleaning my bathroom, I remove any empty rolls before reusing cardboard in the garden by adding it to my compost bin.
'To ensure that cardboard used for compost breaks down correctly, it’s important to cut it up or shred it to speed up the process,' adds Graham. 'The material will break down into organic matter and add valuable nutrients back into your soil.
'As cardboard is what's known as a ‘brown’ in composting, it’s rich in carbon, which helps to balance out against ‘greens’ – think food scraps or garden waste, which are high in nitrogen.
'This mix will create a better compost blend for your garden. Reusing your toilet roll holders in this way is much better for the environment, as it avoids sending them to landfill.'
3. Toothbrushes
Finally, I always keep my old toothbrushes for cleaning grout, and, more specifically, for cleaning grout in floor tiles. And, as Graham points out, not only is this an effective way to clean – it's also a great way to make sure these items get a second life.
'We often simply throw away toothbrushes once they become soft or ineffective, usually into general waste, which may be disposed of in landfill or incinerated,' he explains. 'It’s estimated that we throw away 2,266 tonnes of toothbrushes every year.'
As they tend to be made from plastic, although I have used a Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrush available at Amazon in the past in a bid to make more sustainable household swaps, they don't break down easily.
'This plastic waste contributes to the microplastics crisis we are facing, and can harm ourselves and wildlife,' adds Graham. 'Reusing your toothbrush for cleaning is effective and replaces the need for buying designated cleaning brushes, further reducing your impact on the environment.'
That's why I always keep one or two in my cleaning tools arsenal.
Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, says, 'I use mine for cleaning jewelry, especially my morganite engagement ring. It looks cloudy the moment any kind of hand lotion or even soap residue hits it. Simply pour some dish soap on a used, clean soft toothbrush, and gently clean your gemstone. Rinse and shake to air dry. It'll look like new.'
What to shop
All prices were correct at the time of writing.
When I'm buying a candle, I am happy to pay a little extra for something a little more luxurious, as you get what you pay for with candle quality. Plus, I'll be happy to reuse the candle jar after. This Ambre one from Diptyque is one of my all-time favorites.
If you don't have the space for a large compost bin outdoors, but still want to reduce your waste at home, this countertop bin, which has been featured in Forbes, is a great, compact option.
If you don't have any old toothbrushes at home, or use an electric one, these durable scrubbing brushes easily remove build-up dirt from tricky crevices, with a soft and comfortable non-slip grip.
Meet our experts
It's not just my bathroom where I reuse items rather than trashing them. I also make sure to think about the kitchen items you should never throw out, too.
