These simple swaps will make the bathroom products you use kinder to the environment and your health.
When it comes to keeping your bathroom clean and fresh, it is important to use products that not only get your bathroom sparkling, but also have a low impact on the environment.
Many cleaning and personal care products commonly found in the home can have a long-term negative impact on the environment. Chemicals found in bathroom sprays and bleach contribute to water pollution and cause harm to sea life. Cleaning product packaging is often made from single-use plastics. Most plastic spray bottles and aerosol cans cannot be recycled, neither can plastic-based sponges and cloths. Once used, they will unfortunately end up in landfill causing further damage to our planet.
Through making a few simple swaps, it is possible to reduce the impact that your cleaning routine has on the environment, with no compromise on the results of your bathroom clean. Here are some of our helpful tips to make your bathroom cleaning routine even cleaner.
Reusable cleaning tools
Single use sponges, wipes and brushes are often made of non-recyclable plastic, which will end up in landfill, our seas and rivers, or can even block sewers to create harmful fat-bergs. If you want to minimise the environmental impact of the cleaning tools you use, here are some alternatives you can try:
- Switch plastic sponges for compostable, plant based ones.
- Ditch antibacterial wipes in favour of bamboo fibre reusable cloths and a refillable, or even home-made, cleaning spray (see recipe below!)
- Look for recyclable alternatives to plastic toilet brushes, such as ones made from wood.
- Use up what you already have – don’t throw away your current plastic cleaning tools yet, wait until they are completely used up before disposing of them and replacing them with more nature-kind alternatives.
There are many easy swaps that can be made when you are shopping for new cleaning products and the benefits will pay off long-term!
Cleaning sprays
Choosing which products to buy when shopping for bathroom cleaner can feel overwhelming at times. Cleaning product companies market their products for many different functions, so it is easy to buy more than you need for cleaning jobs that really only need a few simple ingredients that can usually be found around the home.
For effective cleaning of bathroom surfaces, a solution made of water and white vinegar can be used. Follow the quick and easy steps below to create your own eco-safe antibacterial cleaning spray:
Ingredients
- 1 spray bottle (tip: reuse an old one you have or buy a sustainable glass one you can reuse forever)
- 3 cups cold water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 10-15 drops of essential oil of your choice, for fragrance (optional)
Method
- Fill your spray bottle with the cold water and white vinegar
- Add the essential oil to the bottle (we recommend eucalyptus or lavender, as they both have antibacterial properties, but you can use your favourite fragrance!)
- Replace the top of the bottle and shake well to mix
- To use, simply spray onto your surface, leave for a few moments then wipe with a dry cloth or sponge
If you prefer to buy your cleaning products, look for multi-purpose sprays that can be refilled and bottles that can be reused or recycled. Lots of companies now offer eco-friendly cleaning products due to increased demand, so there are plenty of options if you are looking to shop more sustainably.
Air fresheners
An effective way to keep your bathroom feeling fresh in between cleans is to purchase an air freshener. There are many on the market, from gel-based slow release air fresheners, to odour-eliminating room sprays. However, as with other mass-market cleaning products, these options tend to be filled with chemicals that are harmful to the environment and use a lot of plastic packaging.
A natural option would be to tie a bunch of eucalyptus to your shower head. Each time you take a shower, not only will you be transported to a spa-like steam room, but your bathroom will be filled with its natural, fresh scent.
Personal care
It is not only bathroom cleaning products that we should consider when making greener choices, but the personal care products we use in the bathroom too. It is now easier than ever to find packaging-free body care, making now the perfect time to ditch the packaging and go plastic free with solid soaps, shampoo, body moisturiser and face cleanser. Here are some of our recommendations to make your shower routine more eco-friendly:
- Lush exfoliator and body butter
- Wild solid shampoo bar
- Faith in Nature multi-purpose soap bar
- Ethique solid facial cleanser
We hope that you feel inspired to keep your bathroom clean in a green way! Here at Soaked, we are passionate about creating dream bathrooms for you and your family, while always taking care that the products and services we use contribute to making your home more environmentally friendly.
Speak to one of our team today to discuss other ways we can work with you to create an eco-friendly bathroom suite, or check out our services page to find out more.
References:
https://earthfirst.org.uk/environmental-impact-of-home-cleaning/
