First things first… let’s make sure we are all on the same page… what exactly if a bath “pouf”? When I refer to a bath pouf, my minds eye typically conjures up an image of those plastic mesh shower accessories that you would traditionally use to lather up shower gels. Do we all have that image? No? Does this help?
Excellent! I always worry that I am using the wrong terminology and don’t want to lead anyone astray due to my poor choice of language!
After the varying products that come in plastic bottles and dental floss, I found bath / shower poufs to be another huge offender in the area of plastic waste, and I couldn’t stand having to throw them away once their lifespan was up and they’d served their purpose.
When I embarked on researching suitable alternatives, I truly didn’t know where to begin. Was I looking for a like-for-like replacement , just made from a more sustainable material? Was I looking for something completely different to somewhat “revolutionize” my soap lathering experience? Was I even researching using the right product terms? Let’s just say it was the most interesting of my product research to date.
It was actually Tabitha Eve where I found an interesting solution in their biodegradable bath pouf. For those of you familiar with my earlier posts, you’ll remember that I have also tried Tabitha Eve’s soap saver product. If not, you can check that post out here.
Tabitha Eve’s biodegradable bath pouf is made of organic cotton and has been created in a way that is both vegan and cruelty free. Plus it is made right here in the U.K., which is a win for us U.K. based peeps trying to reduce our environmental impact.
First impressions…
I didn’t really know what to expect from an organic cotton bath pouf. Would it be soft or rough? Would it really lather products as well as their plastic mesh counterparts? Would it dry out well after use? How would it wash up between uses? How would it hold up in the extremely hard water area I live in? There was only one way to find out…
One thing I really appreciate about Tabitha Eve, is that they are very committed to reducing single use plastic waste. The bath pouf arrived packaged in a brown paper envelope which went straight into the recycling. Good start!
The bath pouf itself was a beige coloured, undyed organic cotton, with a braided cotton loop for hanging when out of use. Depending on your personal aesthetic, you’ll either like the way it looks, or won’t. For me, as a brand new product it looked fine. Minimalist even. Time would only tell how it would look after a good amount of use.
The material wasn’t the softest or smoothest cotton I have ever felt, but it wasn’t particularly rough on my skin. It felt like it provided a good clean with a light physical exfoliation and I noticed no skin irritation, which was great (unfortunately I have developed some skin sensitivities over the past 2 years, so this is an additional factor I now take very seriously).
To test the bath poufs “latherability” I trialed using the bath pouf with both liquid soap and with one of my favourite soap / shower gel bars.
While the bath pouf does create a lather with both of these soap formats, it didn’t produce quite as much lather as it’s plastic mesh counterparts, which I found a little disappointing. It wasn’t a deal breaker by any means, but the one thing I have struggled to replicate with an eco alternative to poufs and sponges is a rich, generous soapy lather. The trials and tribulations of trying to live a more eco friendly life…
One thing that I was really pleased with was the ability to wash the bath pouf after several uses to keep it clean and fresh. It actually washed up very well and it was super convenient to just throw it in the washing machine. Love that!
Final thoughts…
Tabitha Eve’s bath pouf was a purchase that I had very little in way of expectations of, and after using the bath pouf for several months, I found my thoughts to be a bit of a mixed bag.
Starting with what I liked… I liked that the bath pouf was made with eco-conscious materials and that the product was made in the UK, reducing the environmental impact of having the product delivered to my door. I also liked how the product looked, with it’s minimalistic design.
I really loved the fact that I could throw the bath pouf into the washing machine with a load of washing to keep it clean and fresh. This was actually a huge win for me, and something that cannot be said for plastic mesh versions.
Now onto the aspects that I wasn’t super fond of… I was a little disappointed, although not completely surprised, that the bath pouf produced a somewhat “so so” soapy lather. I wasn’t expecting miracles, but then again, I was hoping for a slightly better experience than what the bath pouf provided.
I also wasn’t super happy with how the bath pouf began to look in aesthetics after several uses. The cotton material began to pick up fibres from worn clothing, leading to small black “bobbles” on the surface of the material. I was hoping that a spin in the washing machine might address this, but to no avail.
In summary, while I wasn’t 100% happy with the Tabitha Eve biodegradable bath pouf, I feel it is an acceptable compromise, and I will continue to use and re-purchase as needed until I come across a solution that I feel better serves the requirements I am looking for. Not to mention that I am absolutely determined not to revert back to plastic equivalents. With this in mind, I have decided to continue using Tabitha Eve’s bath pouf, even recently purchasing a new one, which Tabitha Eve advertises as having been created with softer cotton… Here’s hoping… Keep your eyes peeled for a future update!