Talking about soap is the next natural step for me, because it is literally on the other side of my sink. To the right is my zero waste teeth brushing station and on the left is a simple ceramic dish with a bar of soap. Can't get simpler than that, unless you want to skip hand washing all together. I choose bar soap instead of liquid soap, because I can find bar soap wrapped in paper or package free pretty much anywhere. Traditional grocery stores, health food stores, mom & pop soap shops, or farmer's markets. For a while my mom was even making soap at home and I was getting it straight from the source. I have never had the urge to make my own, but maybe that'll change this year. Who knows? Anything can happen. I just made my own mouthwash, from an aloe plant!
Switching to bar soap is a simple switch that does not require much effort or sacrifice. If you live near a store that has liquid soap in bulk, that would be a great option, too. There are plenty of soap pumps out there that are glass or ceramic. I do not have that bulk option locally.
Another reason it's a good switch is because I believe we've gone a little overboard with the antibacterial liquid soaps. Overuse of antibacterial soaps can kill the good bacteria naturally found on our skin. This can then make antibiotics less effective against newer, stronger bacteria.
When choosing a bar soap, the one ingredient I now avoid is palm oil. Take an extra minute to read the ingredients list. If the soap is not packaged, ask the shop owner or soap maker.
When my bar soap is getting down to its last bits I simply smush them into my new bar of soap so those don't get tossed or slip down the drain.
Switching to bar soap is a simple switch that does not require much effort or sacrifice. If you live near a store that has liquid soap in bulk, that would be a great option, too. There are plenty of soap pumps out there that are glass or ceramic. I do not have that bulk option locally.
Another reason it's a good switch is because I believe we've gone a little overboard with the antibacterial liquid soaps. Overuse of antibacterial soaps can kill the good bacteria naturally found on our skin. This can then make antibiotics less effective against newer, stronger bacteria.
When choosing a bar soap, the one ingredient I now avoid is palm oil. Take an extra minute to read the ingredients list. If the soap is not packaged, ask the shop owner or soap maker.
When my bar soap is getting down to its last bits I simply smush them into my new bar of soap so those don't get tossed or slip down the drain.