Most people these days enjoy showers to save water. You don’t need silly gadgets to time your shower. But there quite a few things you can do, to make your shower more sustainable.
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.
Natural Shower Soaps and Gels
Kleensoaps makes natural vegan soaps (no palm oil). What makes these great is that they have an attached rope, so gravity drains the water after use, just hang them up in the shower, to avoid having to buy a slatted soap dish, to stop them going mushy. The range includes Blue Velvet (bergamot, cedarwood and ajowan, with activated charcoal, ideal for oily skin).
The Powder Shampoo is sold as a water-saving powder in an aluminium bottle, to create both shampoo and foam waste. Choose from Energising Day Wash (lemongrass, turmeric and ginger) or relaxing evening wash (lavender, chamomile and butterfly pea powder).
Biodegradable Shower Accessories
These hand-knitted facecloths are made from a blend of recycled cotton & flax. Cotton is one of the most farmed crops on earth, but uses around 25% of the world’s chemicals. So if not choosing organic cotton, recycled cotton is the next best thing to help farmers, wildlife & the planet.
This facecloth also safely launders, without releasing microplastics (as in polyester fibres) in washing machines, which go out to sea and get accidentally ingested by marine wildlife. Flax is also a biodegradable crop used to make make linen clothing & home furnishings (and unlike cotton, can be locally-grown).
How to Save Water in the Shower
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 a Silicone Drain Stopper
ShowerRing is placed over the shower drain (again a great multi-purchase for hotels, gyms, care homes & hospitals). Made from from stainless steel and silicone, this fits a wide range of drain sizes for walk-in showers and shower stalls. The precision-engineered gaps allow water to flow freely, while trapping unwanted materials (like hair).
Use Eco-friendly Shower Curtains and 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.
