No, not green as in the colour but rather an environmentally friendly bathroom, of course! People use more water in the bathroom than any other room in their house.  That plus harmful soaps, shampoos, the energy used to heat water and so on… your bathroom could be hurting the environment more than you realize. Here are some ways to fix that! 

Deco:
Get rid of vinyl shower curtains/liners. They are usually made from PVC which is difficult to recycle and has been shown to be harmful to your hormones. Mildew also likes to build up on this material.  Try an organic shower curtain or nylon liner instead! They can be thrown into the washing machine when dirty and using safe materials like hemp will look much nicer. 

You want bright lighting in your bathroom especially above any mirrors. However, incandescent bulbs lose more of their energy as heat so not only are they costing you more but they’re also a fire hazard. Buy energy-effecient light bulbs which are 90% more effective. They last much longer!  If they’re too bright, try putting them behind frosted glass.

Water:
Besides simply taking shorter showers another way to cut back on the amount of water used in your bathroom is to install a low-flow shower head. You can cut back on water consumption by 25-65%!  They may be bought for around $40 and can save you over $100 on your utility bill. Also, turn off your faucets while brushing your teeth or washing your face. Every minute that your tap is running, you are wasting 3-5 gallons of water!


Shampoo and Soap:

Be skeptical of products labeled “natural;” under current marketing legislation in the U.K., only 1% of a product needs to be naturally derived in order to use the label. Look for soaps and shampoos that don’t use artificial fragrances—essential oils are fine, however. Avoid mineral oil, which is just another name for petroleum oil. In addition, choose soaps and shampoos that use minimal, biodegradable packaging.

buzzle.com

Here are some eco-friendly shampoo and soap options I found:

from left to right: Say Yes To Carrots shampoo, Burt’s Bees shampoo, Sea Chi Organic shampoo, Kiss My Face shampoo, Pure & Natural liquid soap, Modern Mermaids, Office Max hand soap.


Remember to use eco-friendly cleaning products! You can find more on that here.


credit
Go Green Street