The Eco-Friendly Bathroom: Simple Steps You Can Take Now

I’m sure I’m not the only one interested in saving the environment, but it can be overwhelming to think of all the changes that could be made, especially if you live on a budget. I’ve made it my mission to take up more ecologically friendly habits in my home, going room by room, step by step. I’d like to share some ideas about going green in the bathroom. Here are some simple steps you can take now that will help save you money while you save the environment.

Use Natural Personal Care Products.

You can purchase some excellent natural products but they can be expensive. If you want to save money, though, there are some great green options. Use baking soda and water to brush your teeth. Use a mixture of baking soda and corn starch in place of deodorant. Instead of buying shampoo, scrub your scalp with baking soda and rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar.

Switch to Cotton Handkerchiefs.

Use cotton hankies instead of tissues that you’ll just throw away. In addition to using them to blow your nose, you can use handkerchiefs to remove makeup.

Switch to Cloth Menstrual Pads, Natural Sea Sponges or the DivaCup.

You can purchase cloth menstrual pads, sometimes referred to as “mama cloth,” or you can make your own; I found a number of shops selling them on Etsy. I find them much more comfortable than disposable pads. I rinse them after use and just toss them in the wash with some towels or other items. You can also use natural sea sponges in place of tampons, which I also think are very comfortable. You remove the sponge, rinse it and reinsert it. The Diva Cup is another option. It’s a silicone cup which is used instead of a tampon; you remove it and empty it a couple times a day, then reinsert it. It costs more than a couple of natural sea sponges, though.

Switch to Family Cloth.

This will seem extreme to some people, but I think it makes sense if you think about it. Family cloth is a nice-sounding name for cloth wipes that are used in place of disposable toilet paper. Some people only use them for “number one” and still use toilet paper for “number two” or anything they expect to be very messy. Simply toss used family cloth in a small covered wastebasket, then wash in hot water and dry in your clothes dryer or hang on a clothesline to bleach in the sun. There’s no need to buy cloth wipes; make them from old tee shirts, flannel baby blankets or sheets, or old towels. Just cut them into squares; you can hem the edges if you like.

Sources:

Modern Alternative Mama. http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2010/1/11/mama-cloth.html. Mama Cloth.

Nature Moms Blog. http://naturemoms.com/blog/2009/04/07/family-cloth-beyond-toilet-paper/. Family Cloth – Beyond Toilet Paper.

Diva Cup. http://www.divacup.com/.


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