Part 2 of 2, How to Make Your Bathroom More Eco-Friendly
Today we will be thinking of ways to make the cleanest (and kinda the dirtiest at the same time) room of the home more environmentally friendly. But how could we possibly do that with limited money to invest in such a lavish lifestyle? Not to worry, #frugal #because #im #poor and #thislifeisntachoice #’merica🇺🇸. Let’s get to it, we don’t have the time either 😅:
It’s guaranteed that you are already doing some of these things not because it’s “trendy” but because you have to be savvy with your money. That’s no coincidence, reduced consumption and waste-consciousness (even if it’s money waste) are aligned with the behavior that benefits our planet.
The instant changes we can incorporate for the bathroom routine require us to first evaluate our common bathroom go-to’s.
Common Bathroom Staples
Part 1 The Sink and Cabinet Items:
Brush
Q-Tips
Lotion
Toothbrush/Mouthwash/Floss/Toothpaste
Hand Soap
Deodorant
Part 2 Tub and Toilet:
Toilet Paper
Razors
Shampoo/Conditioner/Soap/Other Hair Products
Loofah/ Pumice Stone
Soap
Part 2 Tub and Toilet
Toilet paper can be replaced with a bidet if you have proper plumbing. If you don’t enjoy feeling a little wet after using, then have a designated towel for yourself. For many though, toilet paper is difficult to let go of, which I totally understand. Just keep in mind that the only material that can be recycled is the cardboard roll, and buying toilet paper really adds up in the long run especially if you rely upon single ply for the lower cost. I currently use this bidet and love it. I used this one before, but my current toilet seat isn’t easily removable, otherwise, I would still be using it. These do pay off, and you can find lower-cost ones but some don’t come with all the parts or Teflon tape. I recommend these two because they do, outside of any tool you might need.
A few things to also consider:
- You should not flush tissues, these don’t dissolve easily through the sewer journey
- You need not flush pee every time. You can choose to not flush your toilet for up to six hours
- Consider adjusting water tank level so the toilet bowl isn’t too low and/or isn’t too high
Shower Products
Replace your loofah every 2 months! ‘Nuff said. Natural ones should be replaced every 3–4 weeks.
A pumice stone can be boiled for 5–10 minutes to sterilize. Be sure to clean this after every use or at least three times a week to prevent fungus and bacteria build-up.
Shampoo
This is entirely dependent on your hair type, so be sure to purchase one great for your hair type, in a recyclable container (or can be recycled through Terracycle), and that you use only as directed (err on the side of minimal).
Some things are just not as easy to eliminate from our care routine, but always consider the materials used for packaging and the product itself as well as the care for your body that will prevent more visits to the salon, dentist, and/or doctor (these not only have their own costs, but fuel costs too!)
Conditioner Same dealio as shampoo
A recommendation for both: https://hellohibar.com/products/maintain-shampoo (this is one of three types of their product — each is carefully crafted for hair type).
Dry shampoo is an option, but not always the best depending on hair type. An alternative to not shampooing and conditioning as much is only showering every other day or soaping your body and rinsing hair with water (every other day or every other two days, again depends on hair type). Again, depends on your hair type. The aerosol can may or may not be recyclable either. Ensure that all residue is removed from inside (by shaking it to see if any is left) and remove the plastic top. Recycle both separately if your curbside allows. If all residue inside the can isn’t removed, it will not be recycled. To skip this game of “Is it really recyclable?” choose to opt-out of this packaging for dry shampoo.
Bar soap with no plastic packaging and ingredients safe for the face and body. I use African Black Soap which works wonders for my acne and ensuring my body is soft and clean (it also lasts like forever!! More specifically, three months on average). Not all bar soaps offered are wrapped in recyclable/compostable packaging, however. If this is the case with your decision, consider the buy-in and trade-offs. How long will it last based on reviews and your experience? Can one of your other products be switched to minimal or zero waste instead?
Now time for some math. I know I have already thrown some math problems at you when figuring out your returns on investment, but this one will be a quick and easy one to finish off the article.
Part 1 covered 10 common bathroom staples.
Part 2 covered 7–8.
If you want to make your bathroom 70% eco-friendly, then you need to only transition 12–13 of your items. This accounts for each bolded item in both articles. This number will be lower depending on how many items you actually use. Here is the equation I used:
[Number of bathroom items you use from Part 1 + Part 2] x [.70 or 70%, a reasonable start, but can be lowered or raised, too] = your unique eco-friendly transition number
I encourage you to start with 70% and exceed that challenge. :) Since these items aren’t always purchased all at once, monitoring them on your paper receipts (if applicable) or on a digital notepad can help show the progress you’re making or where the transition is made most difficult for you. Producer’s responsibility comes into play, as you will realize, and a lot of times they are not making the eco-friendly choices accessible for you. And that’s when we demand more through our purchasing power and voice.
Until next time!
I’m always available for a chat at rerecyclechi@gmail.com. If you liked this article or thought it could be improved, feel free to comment below! Would love to hear from you, since this is for you.
For more information:
https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-bathroom-products/
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
All links above are not sponsored. I am not compensated for any purchase mentioned.
Friendly reminder: Finish your eco-evil (kidding, partly) products first before making these transitions to more eco-friendly products. It’s very tempting to want to completely transition right away, BUT this is a mindset influenced by our consumer society and it isn’t sustainable. Anyway, if it’s not finished, it’s going to end up in the landfill when you could’ve waited to replace it and recycled it. Delayed gratification is a bummer, but following your goal of being more eco-friendly starts right away when you meet yourself where you are at. ❤🌎🌍🌏❤
