Eco-Friendly Products

Do you have a "green" bathroom? No, I'm not asking if you have green painted walls in your bathroom – I'm asking about how envirnomentally friendly the rest room in your home is.

Every day, more and more products are released that are more eco-friendly than their predecessors. This is certainly good news, and the success and growing popularity of reusable bags shows that people will adopt changes in their habits if they see a benefit. However, there is always more that we can all do. The focus of this post is to talk about some things you can do in your bathroom to make it greener.

First, consider your water use. Low flow toilets and shower heads can help conserve a lot of water on an annual basis. The added benefit to you is that it can help reduce your water bill. Beyond low flow heads, make sure you do what you can to ensure you're not wasting water in the bathroom – such as turning off the water when you wash your face, brush your teeth, shave your legs in the shower, and so on. Also, if you take baths on a regular basis, try not to fill the tub all the way up. In fact, if you take baths on a regular basis, you may want to consider reducing the frequency.

Second, make sure that all of the lights in your bathroom are compact flourescent lights (CFLs). Also, if you have children that require night lights, purchase some that have light sensors on them so that they don't stay on and burn energy during the day.

You should also consider looking in to the growing number of eco-friendly personal care products that are on the market. Everything from lotions to shampoo to cosmetics can now be found with a green twist. The natural ingredients used in these products are also better for your body and skin and are better for our environment in both their production and afterlife (once they go down the drain). However, double check to make sure they aren't tested on animals before making a purchase. Bonus points if you can find containers made from recycled materials.

Finally, the next time you buy new towels for the bathroom, opt for some that are made from organic materials, like organic cotton or hemp. Further, when you get rid of your old towels, don't just throw them away – donate them or give them to a local animal shelter. At home, make sure you hang towels up to dry after their use so that you can use them multiple times before having to wash them. When you do wash your towels, save some energy and cost by washing them all together and having a full load.

These are just a few examples of things you can do in one small room of your house to make it more eco-friendly. Simple steps like this, and doing things like using reusable shopping bags, are the sort of things that add up to make a big difference.