Unlike a few decades ago when most people had a ‘flannel wash’ and weekly bath, today most people opt for a daily shower to keep clean. Modern power showers and baths use more water and energy, so let’s look at ways to make our showers a little more sustainable, using simple swaps that are easy-to-find and affordable.
The Powder Body Wash is made with biodegradable ingredients in metal tins, with refills. In Awakening (turmeric/ginger) or Relaxing (lavender/chamomile).
Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions, and keep items away from young children and pets. Never pour neat essential oils down sinks, showers or drains as it can harm aquatic life.
You don’t need stupid gadgets like ‘timers’. If you like a long shower, so be it. Some people like a few minutes, others spend 10 minutes or more. Although most people shower in the morning, some people prefer to wind down in the evening with a warm shower (ideal say if you practice yoga) or have insomnia.
A good bar of shower soap (vegan and with no palm oil) is good, but choose ones on ropes that let gravity dry them out, to stop soaps going mushy in wet environments. Also in pink clay lemongrass, Italian floral and activated charcoal.
Konjac bath/shower sponges are made from a Japanese potato and don’t leach microplastics like synthetic sponges (natural sea sponges are from living creatures, cut away from seabeds by divers). These sponges are eco-friendly and cruelty-free and be cut up and composted, at end of use.
use biodegradable shower-cleaning products
Same rules apply. Go for biodegradable shower-cleaning products in zero waste packaging, use with plastic-free cleaning tools. Again avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions. And again keep items away from young children and pets (citrus oils are toxic to animal friends).
use a water-saving showerhead
Modern showers save water anyway. But for older showers, water-saving showerheads are easy to fit (use a qualified electrician), and could save you on bills. Which? magazine suggests this test to see if it’s worth the investment.
Place a 2-litre container on the shower floor. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill when the shower is running on full, you could benefit from a low-flow shower, which is easily replaced. This aerates the water so it’s a bit like a rain shower, which still gives you a nice shower, but with far less water.
If your showerhead is clogged with limescale, Mira has a good post on how to fix (and prevent) this using white cleaning vinegar (instructions are different for fixed showerheads). It also has a post on how to fix a dripping showerhead.
use eco-friendly shower curtains & mats
If you have a plastic shower curtain, when time comes to replace consider Duwax (made from cotton). Made in Germany, this is not just good for the planet, but won’t stick to your body, when you step out the shower!
Natural Step Bath Mats make wet bathroom floors (and soggy unhygenic mats) a thing of the past. Made with sustainable anti-microbial (stone/rock) materials, these mats feel warm like wood, and never need laundering. They dry in seconds and grip the floor nicely, to avoid moving on slippery surfaces. Designed to last for life, they are sent with free next-day delivery and a complete refund, if you don’t love your new mat.
Slips Away Non-Slip Shower Mat is ideal for elderly or disabled users. Made from rubber, it’s resistant to mould and bacteria (after use, just rinse and hang up using provided suction cups for quick-drying. Ensure proper suction cup placement before use, not for textured surfaces, use caution in wet shower environments.
still prefer a bath?
If you can’t go without your soak in the bath, then indulge. You can buy bath diverters, which hang out of upper windows to reuse the water for plants (again only use biodegradable unscented versions or you’ll kill plants, and could harm pets and wildlife who drank the water).
The best way to save water is likely just to choose a smaller bathtub when time comes to replace. Your standard ‘avocado bath tub’ likely saves a lot more water than the huge claw bath tubs that take ages to fill, if you want to cover more than your shins!
Other ways to save water in your bathroom are using tap aerators (these give the same flow but mix air with water, and are easy-to-fit) and to check for toilet leaks. If you don’t use a lot of water, ask your council to install a meter, so you don’t pay for others wasteful usage.