Eco friendly and sustainable bathroom

Bathrooms are essential to all households and often stacked with single use, disposables and toxic products. In this article we will explore simple yet impactful changes to declutter, streamline and revolutionise your bathroom routines while being environmentally responsible and along the way make a positive impact to your savings.

We will explore easy swaps you can make and help you discover alternatives and the joy of using natural alternatives to toxic skin care products,

Getting started

1. Bar soap instead of liquid one: bar soaps are just as sanitary and effective as liquid soap. In comparison to liquid soap, the right bar soap uses less artificial preservatives and other chemicals to keep them fresh. Bar soaps are waterless and more concentrated as opposed to 80 to 90% water content in liquid soap , making them last longer and be more cost effective. Importantly, liquid soaps nearly always come in plastic packaging, switching to bar soap would help lots of plastic bottles from ending up in landfill.

2. Non-plastic soap holder: look for alternatives to plastic soap holders such as ones made from bamboo, aluminium or ceramic.

3. Rechargeable batteries: try to use rechargeable batteries for any electronic gadgets that require the use of batteries.

4. Add a recycling bin: sorting recycling from trash at the site helps to reduce the amount going to landfill. It can also spark behaviour change

5. Faucet Aerator or Tap Aerator: Give your bathroom a modern look and reduce water consumption by switching to Aerators. Holes in the aerator add air to the water as it streams out of the faucet thereby reducing the space for water to flow through, the water flow is thereby reduced without impacting the water pressure. Aerators also prevent water from splashing on your hand, sink or other surfaces. Due to the small holes, Aerators also provide slight filtration of debris and lead particles that may have gotten into the water. Therefore, remember to clean the aerators at regular intervals. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends switching to aerators as one of the best ways to conserve water without impacting performance.

6. Use faucet only when needed: When brushing your teeth consciously turn off the running tap and turn it on back only when needed

7. Bulk items: Plan ahead and if possible buy items in bulk. Check out stores that allow refilling of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, toothpaste, deodorant etc. Take some containers with you and reduce unnecessary packaging. Shops may also offer incentives for buying in bulk Often, buying in bulk or using refilling stores may also help save cash.

Toilet

1. Bidet: A bidet (pronounced “bih-DAY”) is a plumbing fixture that is designed to wash your lower regions after you urinate or have a bowel movement thereby eliminating the need for toilet paper. Bidets can be affixed to the side of your toilet bowl or a handheld detachable hose or as a standalone fixture that resembles a low sink and placed in close proximity to your toilet.
   1. No need to panic about running out of toilet paper
   2. Toilet paper may cause chafing and tiny cuts for some. Washing with water avoids such issues and can offer more comfortable experience for people with haemorrhoids and fissure
   3. Manufacturing Toilet paper requires trees, chemicals, water and energy plus the logistics of getting the product from factory to shops to your home. Families spend a considerable amount of money on toilet paper each year. Switching to a bidet will not only help save the environment but also help save more.
   4. With bidet you don’t have to worry about the toilet paper clogging your toilet
   5. Pat yourself dry before you get up or as you get up from the seat to avoid water running down your legs
   6. An alternative to bidet is using a mug and bucket
   7. When travelling, you can use a bottle of water or a mug to hold the water.
2. Recycled toilet paper : If bidets aren’t a possible alternative for you, do look out for recycled toilet paper.Rolls and packaging are made mostly from recycled waste paper
3. Bamboo toilet paper: 100% bamboo toilet papers biodegradable. Companies like Tushy even claim that one roll of their toilet paper uses 0.59 gallons of water compared to 37 gallons for a conventional roll. Buy bamboo toilet rolls from Tushy.
4. Reusable cloth: Not for everyone but reusable squares of cloth dubbed “Family cloths” can be used instead of toilet paper. After use these can be stored in a wet bag or another receptacle to be washed and reused.
5. Dual flush toilets: Most modern toilets now incorporate a dual flush system to help minimise water usage by offering two different flushing options: a full flush for solid waste and reduced waste for liquid waste.
6. Toilet & Sink Combos: Save on space and water by investing on a Toilet & Sink Combos wher the sink sits as the cover for the cistern. Check out sample product designs
7. Educate Yourself and Others: Encourage your friends and family to adopt eco-friendly practices in their own homes.

Shower

1. Aerated shower head: reduce water consumption and save up on your water bills.
2. Shorter showers: On average, a shower uses 10 litres of water a minute or 100 litres of water every 10 minutes. Average person in the UK spends 7 minutes in the shower. Challenge yourself to keep it under 4 minutes. Cutting shower time also reduces water costs and energy bills if using hot water. Checkout water saving tips from Thames Water.
3. Reuse warming shower water : Collect the water from your shower in a bucket while it’s warming up and reuse the collected water for other things such as watering your plants, to fill a bird bath, washing disher/car.
4. Eco friendly shower curtains: Plastic shower curtains made from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are toxic to your health and the environment. Suitable alternatives include shower curtains made out of hemp, PVC-free plastic, cloth, bamboo, jute or cotton.
5. Eco bath bombs and salts: Bath bombs and salts are a great way to wind down after a stressful day. Look for eco friendly options or even make it yourself using natural ingredients.
6. Shower melts: similar to bath bombs but aimed to be used in showers and squeezed into your daily routine.
7. Eco friendly shampoo/conditioners
   1. Brand -FizzyFuzzy
   2. Brand - hiBar

Personal care

1. Use less tissues: Do you really need to use the whole piece or can you make do with half a piece?

2. Reuse towels: Cut old white t-shirts and keep them near the sink and use these instead of a paper towel and make up removers

3. Face toner: switch to eco-friendly and reusable face toners and cleansing pads. Try your hand at making your own in 5 minutes using cotton pads, alcohol free toner and essential oils.

4. Learn to make DIY face toner pads with essential oils.

5. Bamboo or wooden hairbrush/comb

6. Stainless steel ear pick or ones with paper, wood or bamboo

7. Metal scissors: swap plastic handle scissors for metal ones

8. Razor: often dubbed ‘Safety Razor’ are designed to last a lifetime unlike the disposal ones. Razor blade refills are much cheaper to buy. Pair it with shaving soap and an Alum block

9. Alum block (also known as Alum stone or Alum Crystal) are mineral block made of potassium alum. Post shaving moisten the block with water and gently rub over shaved areas and then leave it to dry. The block helps with minor nicks and cuts, skin irritation and it’s antiseptic properties kills surface bacteria while offering a cooling sensation. Read more on how to use an Alum block.

10. Konjac sponge: Ideal for daily exfoliation, konjac sponges can be used to buff away dead skin cells, dislodge dirt and even remove your make-up, leaving your face feeling soft and, of course, super clean

11. Sea sponge or vegetal one: sea sponges are very soft to the skin and are ideal for skin exfoliation and deep pore cleansing. You could also look out for vegetal one

12. Eco friendly Lip balm

13. Cotton pouch : invest in eco friendly natural cotton pouches for bar soap such as the Zero Waste Soap Saver Pouch from The English Soap Company.

14. Eco friendly Moisturizer

15. Essential oil perfume: Learn how to blend your own essential oil perfume for personal use or to gift it to someone.

16. Eco antiperspirant, deodorants

17. Go make up free: Try going makeup free for 1 week, a month or maybe 2 days a week?

Feminine hygiene

1. Sustainable tampons: Tampon applicator such as the Reusable Tampon Applicator from DAME can be used upto 3000 times saving that many single use tampons from potentially ending up in landfill. Also,research on organic cotton tampons as potential alternative.
2. Reusable Pads: Crafted to be washed and reused, these pads are both eco-friendly and economical in the long run.
3. Menstrual Cups: Made from medical-grade silicone or rubber, these cups can last for several years, making them a sustainable choice.
4. Period Panties: Innovatively designed underwear with absorbent layers, they offer protection without the need for additional products. Check out the period care collection from Rael.
5. Flo bamboo liners and pads

Dental hygiene

1. Tongue scraper: Ditch your plastic tongue scraper for one made out of stainless steel or bamboo.
2. Dental floss: switch to eco friendly flossing products or even have a go at making them yourself. Look at water flossers, these are oral irrigators that you can use to focus a stream of water to wash away food debris and plaque. Learn more about water flossers.
3. Bamboo toothbrush: switch your plastic brush to a bamboo toothbrush as they are more eco friendly and sustainable material. Be careful in humid environments these can grow mildews into them so store them appropriately
4. Toothy tabs: Billions of toothpaste tubes which are made from multiple plastics and various metals end up in a landfill every year.
   1. Being dry these have long shelf life and can be taken on travels without worrying about spillage
   2. If you are living in a shared household, it is likely many people in your house have wiped their toothbrush against the tube which has the potential of spreading bacteria.
5. Tooth powder: You can buy tooth powder or make your own using baking soda, coarse salt, activated charcoal powder, essential oils.
6. Miswak sticks: Miswak is a traditional chewing stick prepared from the roots, twigs, and stem of Salvadora persica and one of the oldest recorded methods of oral care across the globe. WHO has recommended Miswak as an effective oral hygiene tool.
7. Mouthwash: Create your own natural alcohol free mouthwash at home using simple ingredients such as baking soda, water and an essential oil such as peppermint, Tea tree. Alternatively, some companies now offer natural made mouthwash and mouthwash tablets.
8. Breath mints: Learn to make your own breath mints tailor it to your taste buds while making a saving.