1. Towels and Washcloths
For high quality, eco-friendly towels, hand towels, and washcloths this Organic Turkish Cotton Towel Set has proven itself in our home. This towel set is two-ply and made with 100% certified, combed, organic cotton meaning there was no use of chemicals or pesticides when growing the cotton. All the dyes used are 100% ecologically certified. We have this set in chocolate, pacific blue, and sandstone. They have all lasted years without fading or falling apart and remain soft and absorbable too! Reusing your bath towel more than once also conserves water and energy.
2. Bathroom Fixtures
If you are in the middle of a renovation or just about to take the plunge then investing in water-efficient, dual-flush toilets is the way to go. Toilets are the main source of water use in the home according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Toilets made before 1992 use up to 3.5 gallons per flush whereas dual-flush toilets use 1 gallon. If you do not want to or can not replace your old toilet then you can fill a 1/2 gallon milk jug with water and place in your toilet tank (after you flush) to displace water. This will give you less water in the towel bowl thus wasting less for each flush. Only flushing when needed also helps conserve water. If you already have a water-efficient toilet but would like to add dual-flush then you can get a converter. It is easy to install with no tools necessary. A composting toilet is another eco-friendly alternative if you want to be super green.Water efficient bathroom fixtures can be an easy do-it-yourself project. Having WaterSense labeled faucets will reduce water flow by 30% without sacrificing performance according to the EPA. If you do not want to replace your faucets then you can replace the aerator in your faucet with a more efficient one, but be sure to get the right size. By replacing your shower head with an water-efficient alternative you will save 25-60% of water. The EPA states, a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute is maximum water efficiency. You can also install a shower filter helping to reduce scale, sulfur odor, and chlorine taste and odor. It also prevents dry skin and hair.
3. Toilet Paper
100% recycled toilet paper from Green Forest is unscented and whitened without chlorine. This is the brand we have been using for years and really love it. It may seem like it would be rough on the bottom because it comes from 90% post-consumer recycled materials but it is actually very soft. It is also hypo-allergenic with no added dyes or fragrances. You can save the empty cardboard roll when you are finished to make fire starters.Another option for an eco-friendly alternative to toilet paper is family cloth. Family cloth is a phrase used for washable, cloth toilet paper. If you are interested checkout this post on How To Get Started over at Red and Honey. Because I have two young kids I have no problem taking about how I have used this technique several times, I actually prefer it over paper because you can wet the cloth. These reusable organic baby wipes would be perfect for family cloth.
I have also visited homes where wet wipes were an option. You can get unbleached organic cotton, 100% biodegradable and compostable cotton wipes from Organyc. These wipes leave you fresh and clean without the use of harsh chemicals like chlorine, alcohol, and parabens. You simply use and flush!
4. Shower Curtain
New shower curtain liners emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air and are harmful to your health. There are companies making PEVA curtain liners (a combination of 50% PE and 50% EVA) but I am not entirely comfortable with plastic. Polyester shower curtains have little to no odor plus you can toss them in the washer and let them dry in the sun (to disinfect). I have 3 and have used them over and over for the past 5 years. They are waterproof so no need for a liner. The process to make them is probably not-so environmentally friendly but I have not been able to find a better solution.
5. Cleaning Supplies
Personally, I use only baking soda and white distilled vinegar on a regular basis but there are a few natural cleaners I have used with great success. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds is a multi-purpose soap that can be used for toilets, sinks, showers, and floors. If you are into buying a spray bottle filled with a solution that is ready to go then try Eco-Me’s All Purpose Cleaner, it is awesome!White vinegar in a spray bottle works great for mirrors and windows plus it can also be used for toilets and sinks. Baking soda works to disinfect and to whiten which is good for toilet bowls, sinks, and bathtubs especially if you have white grout. I usually use white vinegar and baking soda together for the double-action. For less waste, I use rags for cleaning and then toss them in the laundry instead of using paper towels or other one-time use items.
6. Body Wash and Soap + Loofah
There may be hundreds of options for natural body wash and soap. We have been using a biodegradable soap made with organic and certified fair trade ingredients, it is called Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap. It comes in 100% post-consumer recycled packaging with a shelf life of 999 days. Dr. Bronner's makes pure castile liquid and bar soaps that can be used for every part of the body. Our favorite scents are eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint.EcoTools makes a 100% recycled plastic bath and shower sponge. This recycled loofah may seem rough but it is gentle and produces a rich lather. I purchased the 6-pack in 2012 and we still have 3 new ones, so they last a long time. When you wear them out, you can recycle them. A percentage of their sales are donated to environmental organizations.
7. Shampoo and Conditioner
You might have heard of the “no poo” movement where people never use shampoo or conditioner. Then there are some people who only use baking soda. There are also some people who make their own hair products. Our family uses the same Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap mentioned above. Just a few drops in your palm will work up a nice lather. The boys usually just get a water wash unless there is sticky food involved. I usually only use soap on my hair once a month around my roots, my hair has never been so healthy. No split-ends and my hair has gotten thicker. For conditioner, apple cider vinegar leaves your hair silky smooth better than any commerical conditioner I have ever used.Morocco Method has a line of natural, raw, vegan, and gluten-free products. I have not tried them personally but have seen good reviews and a lot of paleo folk rave about them. I went to their website to check the ingredient list and their products use the most natural ingredients with zero harmful chemicals.
8. Body Care Products
Reusable products will save money and also reduce environmental impacts related to producing, transporting, and disposing of single-use products. It may take a few months to make the switch completely but it is well worth the investment and time.Here are just a few of my favorite eco-friendly products in our bathroom:
- organic cotton rounds replace cotton balls
- BPA-free, 100% recycled toothbrushes with Earthpaste or coconut oil for brushing
- natural, chemical-free deodorant from Primal Pit Paste
- reusable organic cotton menstrual pads and diva cup
- Clear Conscious multi-purpose contact lens solution
9. Laundry
Since our laundry facility is incorporate into our bathroom, here are some tips on how to keep it eco-friendly. Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder takes care of everything from grease to grass to red clay and pine sap. This soap is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for septic systems. It does not irritate skin and rinses residue-free which is great for people who have allergies. The container is made with 100% post consumer recycled materials. Charlie’s Soap also carries oxygen bleach. For really tough stains I rub the area with Sal Suds first and let set for 24 hours. I have also tried Eco Nuts which are reusable soap berries. Since I have two kids under the age of 3, these really did not work for me. They did wash the clothes but did not take out stains. Their packaging is 100% compostable or recyclable. The berries are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and fragrance-free.On to the dryer, I have not used dryer sheets in at least 7 years. The secret is to not combine fabrics. Dry cotton alone and hang dry man-made fabrics like polyester, acrylic, and rayon. We never have static cling issues unless polyester is mistakenly put into the dryer. You could also use wool dryer balls if you do not want to separate fabrics. We reuse our dryer lint to make fire starter logs. They are great for starting an indoor fire and will also get a camp fire started quickly. You could also compost your dryer lint to keep it from going into the landfill. If you really want to be green then try not using the dryer at all. You can easily string a line outside for drying clothes or find a large drying rack for indoors.
10. Trash Can
Umbra has a line of biodegradable polypropylene trash cans and also a bamboo can. We have a black one in our bathroom but I never use a bag of any sorts and always separate recyclable materials from trash. Because we never buy single-use items, we rarely have any trash in the bathroom.
11. Bath Toys
We only have one set of bath toys for both kids, less is more for us. Indio and Tynan love these eco-friendly rubber bath toys (pictured above). The playset is made from plant-based natural rubber with no BPAs, phthalates, or lead. If you are looking for something more traditional, this rubber duck is cute and nontoxic unlike the counterpart. You can never go wrong with Green Toys, we have several in our home. They are made from 100% recycled milk jugs and are BPA free and phthalate free. Green Toys has a submarine and boat, perfect for bath time.Picture Sources:
Amazon.com
www.deltafaucet.com