How to Reduce Microplastics in the Bathroom

Swapping out toothbrushes, soaps, and shampoos for more natural alternatives will reduce microplastic shedding.

Everyday bathroom products, including toothpaste, shampoos, and soaps, can contain microplastics. Kattecat/Shutterstock

Most microplastics are the result of plastic breaking down into pieces, usually smaller than 5 millimeters. Sometimes, they’re intentionally manufactured for products such as cosmetics and cleaning products.

There’s an ongoing debate between scientists and physicians about whether microplastics are harmful to you or the environment.

Dr. Paul Savage, toxin expert and chief medical officer at MDLifespan, told The Epoch Times: “They are found in the air, water, and food. We can find them in human tissues like blood, lungs, and placentas.” He said these small toxins persist for decades, harming marine life and entering the food chain.

However, Chris DeArmitt, founder of the Plastics Research Council, reviewed more than 5,000 peer-reviewed studies on plastics and the environment, including 500 on microplastics. He told The Epoch Times that the results show that only 24 percent of the studies present microplastics as harmful, while 67 percent frame microplastic risks as hypothetical or uncertain.

Either way, microplastics are far-reaching. And even though they’re small, they’re everywhere—even the remote Tibetan plateau, according to ScienceDirect. But more importantly, they are abundant in your bathroom. If you are concerned, there are ways to eliminate them.

Where Are Microplastics in the Bathroom?

According to Savage, “common sources in the bathroom include any personal care products, toothpastes, and even your shower curtains.”

There are synthetic polymers in shampoos and conditioners. Textured or abrasive toothpaste has microplastics. And due to hot water, vinyl shower curtains release microplastics and phthalates over time.

If you want to know whether your product has plastic in it, check the information panel on the side or back of the product’s container. Plastic labeling for personal care products in the United States must comply with the Food and Drug Administration in addition to any relevant state laws and voluntary recycling standards. Plastic labeling requires a clear identification of the product, its ingredients, and the resin type of plastic packaging. Ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance.

Look for the abbreviations PE, PET, HDPE, PVC, BPA, or LDPE on the information panel to identify some common plastics. Some information panels will note several types of plastic. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer’s website. The business name, address, and any warning statements are also on the information panel.

Microfiber and Plastic Brushes

Start with your cleaning supplies. Microfiber cloths may be effective when cleaning, but they shed plastic particles with every use. Synthetic sponges are also a microplastic culprit. Instead of these, use cotton, hemp, or bamboo cleaning cloths. They have the added bonus of being biodegradable at the end of their lives, unlike synthetic options that live on in the environment.

Similarly, plastic cleaning brushes shed microplastics from their bristles and can release even more as the handle degrades over time. The act of scrubbing causes the plastic bristles, which are usually made of nylon or other synthetic polymers, to wear down. They break off into tiny, often invisible fragments.

Instead of plastic, use high-quality, long-lasting natural plant sponges. You can also replace your plastic brushes with bamboo brushes.

Plastic Shower Curtains

Vinyl shower curtains release microplastics and harmful chemicals in the bathroom’s warm, humid environment. Instead, use natural shower curtain liners such as cotton, hemp, or linen. They can be easily washed in your washing machine.

The bonus is that many natural fiber shower curtains have been treated to resist mildew naturally, without added chemicals.

Plastic Toothbrushes

Microplastics are released from toothbrushes when the plastic bristles wear down or break during use. According to a ScienceDirect study conducted on various brands of toothbrushes, they found that all brands released microplastics every day, with the most expensive brand releasing 39 particles every day.

You can minimize microplastics by replacing your toothbrush regularly before the bristles become worn. Some brands have developed toothbrushes from materials that are resistant to microplastic shedding. Others are made from nonplastic materials, such as bamboo and other plant-based toothbrushes.

Soaps and Scrubs

At one point, plastic microbeads were added to facial scrubs. And while some countries have banned them due to their environmental impact, a recent study from the National Library of Medicine found that microbeads are still being used in facial scrubs even in the banned regions. It’s essential to check the label and the company’s website if you’re concerned.

Plastic ingredients can be found in some mass-marketed soaps. To avoid microplastics in soap, use natural bar soap. Many bar soaps are made from plant oils and don’t contain plastic. Also, try artisan soaps, which are high-quality and environmentally focused.

When it comes to avoiding microplastics, using natural products will go a long way.