Even though they usually take up very little of your home’s square footage, bathrooms are one of the biggest energy and water drains in the household. Also, they are often full of all sorts of chemicals that can potentially have a negative effect on both yours and your family’s health.
So, how can you create a healthy bathroom that is also sustainable and eco-friendly?
Here’s how!
Work On Saving Water
One of the easiest things you can do to save more water in the bathroom is to just tweak your habits. For instance, remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and take shorter showers. A lot of the time, we just stand under the shower and waste a lot of water, so be more conscious while washing and you’ll be finished in no time!
Fix The Leaks
Another fast and easy way to reduce how much water you waste is to fix your leaky taps and flushing toilets. Even though all you see is a drop here and there, it can soon add up to a huge volume of water waste over the course of a year!
Invest In Low Flow Fixtures
If you’re ready to spend some money (but save it in the long run), you can invest in new, water-efficient fixtures. Elements like low-flow taps and showerheads and dual flush toilets use only half the amount of water when compared to your old fixtures! Not ready to invest in a new toilet? You can convert your old toilet into a dual flush one with a practical kit!
Get An Energy Star Water Heater
Water isn’t the only resource you can save in the bathroom! In fact, if you replace your old water heater with a new, energy efficient one, you’ll manage to save on your electricity bill too (water heating is responsible for about 20% of all energy consumption in an average household). A tankless water heater is your best bet, since it consumes between 24 to 34% less electricity.
Save Your Grey Water
No matter what kind of water heater you have, it usually takes a bit of time for the hot water to start flowing which means we let a lot of the water just go down the drain. So next time you’re waiting for the water to heat up before a shower, collect the cold water in a bucket so that you can use it later for flushing or watering the plants. Did you know that cozy baths can also be eco-friendly? Next time you opt for a pampering spa treatment in your bath, make sure you don’t let all of the water go after you’re finished. You can use the bathwater to fill your toilet tank, do irrigation (if you use natural bath products), presoak your heavily soiled clothes or even give your pets a bath!
Opt For Recycled Toilet Paper
When you think about the types of toilet paper, it’s mindboggling that we destroy perfectly healthy trees just so that we can have softer paper to wipe with! Recycled toilet paper will serve the same purpose and no new trees will be harmed in the process. Also, you could think about using less toilet paper in general.
Replace That Ugly Shower Curtain
If you want to improve air quality and general comfort in the bathroom, you better start from your plastic shower curtain! These are usually made of PVC that is full of toxins and chemicals that produce gas and pollute your indoor air. Replace your shower curtains with glass enclosures that don’t do either of these things and look so much more elegant and luxurious! However, if your budget doesn’t allow such an expense, switch to 100% cotton, linen or hemp shower curtains.
Treat Yourself With Organic Towels
If your towels are old and worn out, replace them with something organic! Opt for organic cotton that uses much less water and leaves less pollution behind than conventional cotton. However, make sure to wait until you really need new towels, because the best thing you can do for the planet and your own health and wellbeing is to buy less!
Opt For Natural Cosmetics
Did you know that there are amazing organic soaps, creams and shampoos that not only clean your body very efficiently without added chemicals, but also make your space smell fresh and seductive? Store these products in attractive jars and leave the lid open to let the fragrance out!
Ditch Those Chemical Cleaners
Replace your traditional chemical cleaners with homemade products (especially if you or your family members suffer from allergies and asthma) and clean your bathroom in a completely natural way! Good old vinegar, lemon, water and essential oils will do wonders for your space without causing any water and air pollution.
Decorate With Nature
If you feel like your bathroom needs some colour or interest, first reach for plants! Humidity-loving plants will not only give your bathroom the pop of colour it needs, but will also regulate your air quality and have a positive impact on your general wellbeing.
As you can see, you don’t need to remodel your whole bathroom to be more energy and water savvy or help boost wellbeing in your space! All you need is a few changes to your habits and some cheap updates to create a healthy and eco-friendly bathroom.
*collaborative post
Author Bio
Cooper Klein is a cool dad in touch with his feminine side. He’s currently working from home as a blogger for SmoothDecorator and several other sites. You can find him on Twitter.
