Hi lovelies,
As homeowners in 2022, we should all be conscious of creating a more eco-friendly environment in our properties. There are various things you can do to achieve this, but one of the best approaches is by going from room to room and seeing how things can be improved.
Today, we’re focusing on the bathroom. Believe it or not, this can often be the worst room in your home in terms of eco-friendliness. You’ll see why this is the case as we work our way through some of the tips to make this room far better for the environment.
Use eco-friendly toilet paper
Americans use way too much toilet paper every single day. We go through sheets and sheets of the stuff each month and year, amounting to a lot of wasted paper. The big issue is that most of the mainstream toilet paper brands are bad for the environment. Loads of trees are being chopped down, leading to sustainability concerns.
A quick switch is to use eco-friendly toilet paper instead. There are brands out there that provide good toilet paper that’s more sustainable and better for the environment. It’s a quick and easy way of lowering your carbon footprint.
Use less toilet paper
At the same time, you should still try to use less toilet paper. The fewer sheets you use, the better it will be for the planet. Of course, you are probably wondering how the hell you can do this. After all, you don’t want to sacrifice your own personal hygiene!
Well, as you can see on PlumbersStock, there are things called electronic bidet toilet seats. While relatively unknown in the US, these seats are hugely common and popular across Europe. Effectively, a bidet allows you to clean yourself using a jet of water. Sure, this can sound a bit weird at first, but it’s extremely hygienic. After trying it a few times, you will quickly realize it’s the way forward.
Without going into too much detail, it basically allows you to use less toilet paper. You can clean yourself - and even dry yourself using the electronic toilet seat - meaning only a couple of sheets of paper are required.
Save water
Obviously, one of the biggest ways your bathroom contributes to the environment is through water usage. We all waste water - that’s a fact. Whether we’re running the tap while brushing our teeth or taking long showers, we are wasting water and having a negative impact on the environment.
So, start saving water! It’s so simple, and here are some initial thoughts to help you out:
Time your showers so you’re not in there for more than ten minutes at a time
Turn the taps off unless you’re actively using them - no more running them for two minutes while you brush your teeth
Install a dual flushing mechanism on your toilet like in Europe - the small flush saves water and is ideal in most cases
Already, you will dramatically reduce your water usage in the bathroom, making it a more eco-friendly place.
Lower your water temperature
Following on from above, cold water isn’t the only problem in the bathroom. Hot water usage is a big issue because it directly affects your carbon footprint. If you use too much hot water, it means your home is using a lot of energy to heat it up. The funny thing is, we rarely need to use as much hot water as we do.
All you have to do is turn down the temperature a tiny bit. You might feel a difference at first, but your body gets used to the cooler temperature right away. This doesn’t mean you have freezing cold showers - though they do provide a range of health benefits. It just means you’re not showering in boiling hot water, reducing energy consumption and decreasing your carbon footprint.
Opt for plastic-free bathroom products
Look at how much plastic is in your bathroom. This isn’t good for the environment, and the great news is that there are so many plastic alternatives out there. Instead of a plastic toothbrush, get one that’s made from bamboo. Use a bar of soap instead of a liquid one in plastic packaging - and so on.
You’ll quickly see how many of your products you can swap for eco-friendly alternatives. If you can’t find substitutes, think of ways to reuse the plastic containers instead.
Armed with these tips, you can easily create a bathroom that’s way more eco-friendly than before. Now, move to another room in your house and make that greener too!