Updated: Jan. 11, 2024
Your bathroom might be small, but chances are it’s an environmental calamity. Here are some practical ways to green it up.
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to avoid food waste in the kitchen and harmful chemicals in the laundry room. But I only recently realized my bathroom’s sustainability score was stuck in the Dark Ages.
Actually, a lot of us overlook our bathrooms. And that’s a problem. What happens there can significantly impact the environment, says Amy Zimmer-Faust, the wastewater pollution program director at The Nature Conservancy.
“In the United States, despite advanced wastewater treatment, some pollutants, including certain chemicals, can escape treatment processes and enter natural waterways, affecting aquatic ecosystems,” she says.
The bathroom is also where we tend to waste precious water and pile up plastics. But luckily, it’s pretty easy to fix all that with a few changes of habit. Here are some ideas for making your bathroom more sustainable.
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Ditch all of those single-use plastic bottles by switching to bars of shampoo, conditioner and soap, like these from J.R. Liggett’s.
“Most shampoo bars are the equivalent of what’s in two shampoo bottles, so it really does cut down on waste,” says Tonya Harris, an environmental toxicity specialist and author of The Slightly Greener Method. “They also typically last longer, because it’s hard to accidentally use too much, which means they’re better for the environment and your wallet.”
If you share a bathroom and don’t like the idea of multiple people using the same bar of hand soap, try buying bulk refills rather than replacing the container every time.
Also opt for products that don’t come in plastic packaging, like these shampoos from Alpine Provisions. Also choose refillable razors, deodorant that comes as a bar or a cardboard tube, and bamboo products like hairbrushes and toothbrushes.
“It can take up to 500 years for a plastic toothbrush to degrade, so try making the switch to a toothbrush that’s biodegradable,” says Harris.
Many common chemicals found in cleaners and personal care products are toxic to us and the environment. So opt for biodegradable soaps, like Castile soaps, and those without chemical fragrances.
Using biodegradable cleaning supplies and detergents is also important, says Zimmer-Faust. “These are less likely to contribute chemicals that can persist and accumulate in wildlife and the environment, like 1,4-dioxane, which can be found in many household detergents,” she says.
Harris agrees this is a biggie, and the switch doesn’t have be complicated. “We don’t need a different cleaner for each surface, like we’ve been led to believe,” says Harris. For most bathroom surfaces, she suggests a natural, non-toxic, all-purpose spray like Vermont Soap’s Liquid Sunshine Spray ‘n Wipe. Or you can make your own.
You can even make your own toilet bowl cleaner from white vinegar and baking soda, which also helps keep your pup safe if he or she enjoys sneaking a drink from the loo.
Harris’s recipe: Pour two cups of white distilled vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it set for about 30 minutes. Then pour in one cup of baking soda.
“This will create a fizz that will help lift any stains and grimy areas,” she says. “Be aware that vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other, taking away any cleaning properties, so be sure to let the vinegar sit for 30 minutes before adding baking soda. Then scrub and flush as usual.”
What goes down the toilet can end up miles downstream, polluting waterways and harming aquatic life.
“It’s especially important to properly dispose of expired pharmaceuticals and personal care products,” says Zimmer-Faust. “A simple and eco-friendly alternative is to take pharmaceuticals to your local pharmacy.” For a list of locations near you, try this site from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For personal care products, if your local recycling center doesn’t accept them as part of its hazardous materials program, then empty the contents into one container (like a glass jar or a non-recyclable bag) and throw that away. Rinse and recycle the other containers if they’re recyclable. While the landfill isn’t an ideal place for personal care products, it’s preferable to putting them in the water supply.
If you’re on a septic system, proper maintenance and regular inspections are also important, especially in rural areas near sensitive aquatic environments. Also, avoid flushing non-biodegradable materials. That will reduce the strain on the system, whether it’s septic or a community wastewater treatment plant.
Toilet paper causes 15% of deforestation worldwide, with 27,000 trees lost each day. Manufacturing it also takes a lot of water and harsh chemicals. And a 2023 study found it to be a large contributor to PFAS (aka forever chemicals) in the environment and potentially in our bodies.
Luckily, it’s not too hard to find sustainable options. The National Resources Defense Council keeps tabs on brands’ environmental sustainability, and the Environmental Working Group helps consumers find brands that are safer for humans.
Either way, you can go a step farther by installing a bidet, which reduces the number of sheets you use. Plus, it’s more sanitary. While they’re just starting to become trendy in the U.S., bidets are widely popular in Europe and Asia, and even required in homes in some countries.
If you have an old toilet, you’re flushing away money and precious resources. Toilets made before 1980 may use seven or more gallons per flush compared with toilets today, which are required to use 1.6 gallons or less.
If changing to a low-flow modern model possible right away, fill a one-liter plastic bottle with gravel, screw on the cap and put it in your tank, making sure it doesn’t touch any moving parts. That will save you water with each flush. (Don’t put bricks in your toilet tank to displace water. They’ll break down over time and can damage flush mechanisms.)
As for the shower, many low-flow heads let you drastically cut back on water without cutting down on the experience. Also, try shortening your shower, especially if you live in a drought-prone region. That will help out creatures who depend on wetlands for their homes.
Many single-use plastics in your bathroom are great candidates for recycling, especially shampoo bottles. Just make sure to rinse them out before putting them in the bin. And that toilet paper tube is also recyclable.
Just as we rethought the need for formal work wear after the pandemic, we can reduce our use of makeup, hairspray and other superfluous personal care products.
Chemicals and contaminants in many brands are harmful to us and the environment. They’re also bad for the communities and waterways near manufacturing plants.
Check EWG’s resources for healthier choices and look for Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification. And don’t forget to replace those makeup wipes with a reusable towel, which will save a mountain of plastic-infused waste.
By Caroline Mullen Caroline Mullen Caroline Mullen is a home and lifestyle writer and editor with over five years of experience, most recently at Food52 and Home52 as the associate editor. Her work has been featured in a number of publications, including Apartment Therapy, Domino, INSIDER, and Food52. REAL SIMPLE'S EDITORIAL GUIDELINES Updated on July...
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