Having a “green” bathroom is an easy way to do your part to protect the planet. Josh Dorfman, author of
The Lazy Environmentalist notes, “it’s great to know that products we use
daily can be designed flawlessly while respecting the planet.” The following ten suggestions will help save you time and money while making your bathroom
eco-friendly. A win, win situation all around!
1. Bamboo and Organic Cotton TowelsReady to replace your old, worn-out towels, and wondering how to make your next purchase eco-friendly? Give towels made from
bamboo and/or organic
cotton a try. Both are better for you and the environment because they aren’t made from plants sprayed with insecticides and pesticides and often use low-impact dyes. Bamboo towels have the added benefit of drying quickly, and are as scrumptiously soft as micro-fiber baby blankets.
Don’t throw out your old towels! You can use them as rags or run them through the wash and give them to a local animal shelter or veterinary clinic; they would be very happy to receive your donation.
2. Recyclable Razors and ToothbrushesWant to stop sending your old toothbrushes and razors to the local landfill? Simply switch to Preserve razors and
toothbrushes. They are a great alternative to their non-recyclable, disposable cousins. Preserve handles are made from 100% recycled plastic, and both the razor handles and toothbrushes are recyclable. (A side note: turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. You’ll save up to 5 gallons of
water a day!
3. Eco-Friendly Personal Care ProductsPurchasing eco-friendly personal care products is a fabulous way to protect your health and the health of the planet. A treasure-trove of safe, eco-friendly personal care
products are now on the market. These products frequently use organic and natural ingredients, biodegrade quickly and completely, use eco-friendly packaging, don’t test on or use animal products, and are often
safer and gentler for us to use. In addition, environmentally friendly companies pay close attention to their impact on the planet through the lifecycle of their products including manufacturing, use, and even disposal.
4. Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaning ProductsCleaning products are the leading cause of toxic air pollution in our homes and can also leave unhealthy residues on bathroom surfaces. Luckily, it’s easy to be clean and
green. Simply say “bye-bye” to your conventional cleaning supplies and replace them with eco-friendly
alternatives.
Mrs. MeyersClean Day Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaners bring lovely scents to household cleaning tasks and Clorox has even jumped into the eco-friendly cleaning market with their
Green Works line. Cleaning up safely and ecologically is now as easy as going to the store and choosing green products.
5. Recycled Toilet Paper and TissueIt just doesn’t make sense to use virgin forests to wipe our noses and bums. Luckily a number of companies have figured this out and sell tissues and
toilet paper made from 100% recycled paper. When buying eco-friendly tissue and
toilet paper, look for the highest post-consumer content available and for products that have been whitened without chlorine.
If you’ve tried recycled
toilet paper in the past and found it too scratchy, try it again. It’s softer then it used to be and just as soft as many conventional brands. Think of recycled toilet paper as a way to put all those traffic tickets, Dear John letters, and IRS notices to good reuse.
6. Water-Saving Toilet TipsThere’s no nice way to say it -- you’re toilet is a water hog! Most conventional toilets use seven gallons of water per flush, while
low-flow models only use 1.6 gallons! You don’t need to invest in a new commode to lessen your
ecological footprint. Simply place a two-liter plastic soda bottle, filled with water and weighted with pebbles, into your
toilet tank. You’ll save hundreds of gallons of
water every year and lower your water bill!
A more extreme “draught-time” method of saving water is to follow the old adage “if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down.” Be sure to check with those you share the bathroom before instituting this rule, or you may leave some unwelcome surprises for your friends and loved ones.
7. Natural Fabric Shower CurtainsShower curtains are a fun, colorful way to personalize a bathroom. Whether you’re shower curtain has flowers,
dinosaurs, or is simply an accent color, it sets the decorative tone for the entire room. But does your shower curtain or shower curtain liner have a distinctly plastic smell? If it does, then it’s time to say goodbye, because it’s made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
PVC is nasty stuff that likes to “off-gas” (travel out of its original product and into you). Both the manufacture and disposal of PVC leads to the formation of dioxins when the vinyl is burned. Dioxins are a highly toxic group of chemicals known to cause cancer, and harm immune and reproductive functions. It’s best to steer clear of
shower curtains made from PVC.
Cotton, hemp, canvas and nylon are healthy, eco-friendly alternatives.
Shower curtains made from natural materials have the added benefit that you can throw them in the washing machine for easy cleaning.
8. Smart ShoweringThere’s nothing more relaxing after a long day then a hot shower. The shower is a wonderful place to unwind, get clean and revive the
spirit. It's also a key place where you can make some serious eco-friendly
changes. Did you know that water heaters are huge energy hogs? Lower your water heater’s temperature to 120° Fahrenheit and you’ll save both money and energy without affecting your shower experience.
You can also shower smarter by taking shorter showers and installing a water efficient
showerhead. Get in the habit of turning off the water when you're lathering your luscious locks, shaving your legs, and
exfoliating. You’ll find that these little changes help you lower you’re water use, while also allowing the shower to remain a relaxing refuge.
9. Fresh Air and Naturally Pleasing ScentsProper ventilation is the key to keeping mold and mildew at bay. So open the window and let Mother Nature in! Fresh air will also help keep your bathroom smelling sweet. Skip commercial air fresheners as they often contain flammable gas, pesticides, and other toxic ingredients. Instead, try fresh flowers,
aromatherapy reed diffusers, or vegetable or soy-based
candles to give your bathroom a pleasant, refreshing scent. Love the smell of
eucalyptus? Tie a sprig of dried eucalyptus around your shower head and enjoy its invigorating scent every time you shower!
10. Bathroom PlantsPlants are a natural and ingenious way to “grow” fresh
air in your bathroom. Besides cleaning the air,
plants add a touch of beauty and bring nature indoors. Ferns, shade-loving plants that flourish in moist environments, are a perfect match for the bathroom. For information on other plants that do well indoors, check out Dr. B.C. Wolverton’s book
How to Grow Fresh Air. Plants are: a perfect decorating accent, a
spiritual pick me up, and make excellent eco-friendly additions to any bathroom.
Take your time and enjoy the process of transforming your bathroom into an eco-friendly haven. With a few small changes, you can create a healthy, eco-friendly bathroom retreat. Go forth, buy “
green” and feel good knowing your new purchases are helping protect the
planet.
~ Amanda Miller
Additional ResourcesIf you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to see, touch, and feel products before you buy them, visit any of the following green retailers:
Earthsake,
Green Fusion Design Center,
Reclaim Healthy Green Home, and
Spring.
Online RetailersBranch HomeViva TerraWest Elm Books on Creating an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Josh Dorfman,
The Lazy Environmentalist Michael Grosvenor,
Sustainable Living for DummiesNell Newman with Joseph D’Agnese,
The Newman’s Own® Organics Guide to the Good Life: Simple Pleasures that Benefit You and the Place You Live Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry,
Squeaky Green: the method guide to detoxing your home
