It’s the New Year, and we’re thinking about how the products we use in our bathrooms impact our health and the planet. We’re all spending more time at home these days, right? And if you’re like us, you may have noticed all the plastic waste and crazy high water bills. Who knew just how much toilet paper the average household uses? (Well, we did.) And don’t you feel a little guilty every time you toss another plastic tube of toothpaste in the garbage?
We do, so we thought we’d do something about it. In the spirit of the New Year and our mission statement, here’s a roundup of eco-friendly bathroom products and water-saving tips to get us all headed in the right direction.
Image via Blueland
First things first. Give your entire bathroom a scrub from top to bottom with Blueland’s natural bathroom, shower, and toilet cleaner. You simply drop the cleaning tablet in the reusable shatter-proof bottle, add 20 ounces of water, and let it dissolve. When it’s ready you’ve got a powerful eco-friendly cleaner for every surface in your bathroom.
If you haven’t already, grab a subscription box of bamboo toilet paper to save trees and water. Confused about which eco-friendly toilet paper is best? Check out our post where we break it down for you. Tree-free wins, hands down.
Image via Thinx
We’re excited to see the explosion of sustainable period products these days. The plastic waste generated by the period industry is staggering — 5.8 billion tampons were purchased in the United States in 2018, and most of those ended up in landfills. Fortunately, companies are offering a variety of eco-friendly tampon alternatives that are safe and hygienic. These period underwear from Thinx are absorbent, moisture-wicking, and odor-neutralizing. They're available in eight (8!) sizes and nine styles.
Every time you flush your toilet another 7 gallons of potable water is gone. Newer toilet models are designed to use only about 1.5 gallons per flush, which saves 20,000 gallons of water a year for a household of four. That’s some serious eco-friendly flushing. If you’re not in the market for a new toilet, check out this guide to converting any toilet into a low-flow toilet.
Shower curtains made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) aren’t recyclable and they off-gas potentially harmful chemicals. Mildew-resistant hemp is an excellent alternative that’s fully compostable. If you still need a liner to contain spills, choose PVC-options, such as PEVA and EVA. They aren’t recyclable or biodegradable, but they won’t contribute to indoor air pollution.
We know we're not the only ones that take guilty pleasure from a long shower. Reduce your water bill by installing a low-flow shower head and aiming to finish in five minutes or less. You can download a shower timer app like this one and start saving gallons.
Image via byHumankind
If you’re not yet using bar shampoo and conditioner, consider this your invitation. Make the easy switch to ditch those plastic bottles without sacrificing luscious locks. Try By Humankind’s shampoo and conditioner bars, available in a variety of scents. The cold-processed bars keep your hair’s natural oils intact and come with an absorbent, mold-resistant dish made of diatomite that extends the life of your bar.
Image via EcoRoots
Break the cycle of disposable razors today by investing in a safety razor. Plastic razors are difficult to recycle and 2 billion of them end up in the landfill every year. A safety razor is a long-lasting eco-friendly alternative to combat plastic waste. We love this gorgeous rose gold version from Eco Roots. The recyclable blades are more gentle on sensitive skin and provide a smooth shave every time. Grab some organic shaving soap while you’re at it and make shaving day the best day of the week.
Towels made from bamboo are four times more absorbent than cotton, naturally antimicrobial, and odor-resistant. Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource that uses one-third the amount of water to grow than conventional cotton. Look for towels with the GOTS or OEKO-TEX certification, which means they’re produced with nontoxic chemicals in factories with strict social and environmental standards. Many companies offer a bamboo and organic cotton blend which combines the best of both materials, like this one from Towl.
Image via Bite
Tired of plastic toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes? So are we. Bite has us covered with 100% plastic-free, cruelty-free dental care products. Made with clean ingredients, their chewable toothpaste and dental floss both come with refillable glass containers. They also offer a 100% vegan, compostable toothbrush made of Moso bamboo.
Turn off the tap while you’re scrubbing those pearly whites. You’ll save up to eight gallons of water a day with one simple change!
Image via Cleancult
Keep your hands clean yet moisturized with Cleancult's line of bar soaps. Gently scented and wrapped in recyclable packaging, the soap cleanses without drying out your skin. Looking for liquid soap? Cleancult also offers liquid soap in refillable glass bottles and recyclable packaging.
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