Updated 17 August 2021
The bathroom is a place where you use lots of chemicals – not just how you clean the bathroom, but all the chemicals you put on your body, everyday.
However, there are a lots of things that you can do to reduce your chemical load. Here’s some ideas for the bathroom.
Go anti-antibacterials
Washing your hands? Choose a soap without the antibacterials. Triclosan is just not necessary – it’s bad for you, bad for the environment and it’s thought is one of the reasons for the rise of superbugs. Check out our blog post on Triclosan for more information. Go with a natural hand wash like the cult favourite Dr Bronner’s.
Check the rest of your products for triclosan, too. You’ll find it in products like toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant and even in your socks. Microban is another name that you’ll find on things like chopping boards and food containers. Be aware, and read the ingredients before you buy!
Get fresh
Ventilate! Nowhere is it more important to get lots of fresh air than the bathroom (and toilet). Open the window in the toilet, and you won’t need to use toxic air fresheners. Of course, you can always choose a natural one, or go with some essential oils if you prefer.
The bathroom is one room in the house which is the perfect environment for mould and mildew, which can cause all sorts of health issues, aggravating allergies, asthma. Give the shower a quick once over with a dry cloth, or even a window wiper, and wipe any excess water off the counter and around the taps. Open those windows to let the fresh air in and get everything dried out.
Green cleaning
Giving things a quick once over every day will also reduce your need for toxic cleaning chemicals in the bathroom, too.
Ever used a shower cleaning product where you’ve had to hold your breath while using it? Hmmm. Not so good for you. Keep a squeegee in the shower and give it a wipe down before you get out. It literally takes seconds, but will cut back on limescale and will keep the mould down, too.
Try spraying diluted vinegar or lemon juice on your porcelain, leave it for half an hour and then give it a scrub. You can also make a paste of baking soda, Dr Bronner’s and essential oil for a good cream cleanser. Spray vinegar and baking soda on your glass to remove limescale, let it sit a while, then clean off. Dilute some clove oil tea tree oil and vinegar to spray it on anywhere there’s mould and damp – it’s a non toxic mould buster.
If you don’t want to go with the DIY solutions, try one of the eco friendly and natural bathroom cleaning products at Hello Charlie.
Towels
Change your hand towels regularly, and your towels. Wash them in an eco friendly laundry powder. Dry them on the line, and if you want to soften them up, run them through the tumble dryer for a few minutes, rather than completely drying in the dryer.
Freshen up
Skip the toxic air fresheners. Get in some detoxifying plants, open those windows and go for essential oils if you want masking smells.
Ditch the disposables
Try switching to reusables, like face washers instead of cotton pads to remove makeup. If you do choose disposables, try organic cotton or bamboo brands from the likes of Simply Gentle and Go Bamboo.
We’re not hardcore enough to recommend reusable toilet paper – euww! However, it’s easy to switch to recycled and unbleached brands which are easier on the environment.
Switch to natural personal care products
This is a project in itself, but you can check out some of our really useful blogs:
- Ingredients to avoid in our Dirty Thirty Personal Care Ingredients
- Rethink the Plastic in Your Bathroom
And some other handy articles on detoxing your bathroom:
- How to Get Rid of Mould the Natural Way
- Why You Shouldn’t Clean with Bleach
- Why You Shouldn’t Use Borax in DIY Cleaning Products
Next up, let’s look at how you can detox your kitchen …
Images: Canva