A warm bath can be the simple answer to a lot of life’s problems, if you feel stressed or tired or have aching joints. Think of it as a small home ritual. Yes showers save more water. But sometimes it’s nice to indulge in a weekly or even monthly bath, to ‘pause life’ for 30 minutes, to receive physical relief and mental calm.
Many people have plants in their bathroom (they won’t ‘clean the air’, that’s a myth). But if you do, read our post on indoor plant safety (if you live with pets). Never face indoor plants towards gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
Bath Time Safety Tips
Most healthy adults can enjoy warm baths, but do speak to a GP if pregnant/nursing or you have blood pressure or heart conditions, or skin conditions that flare up with heat. Avoid very hot baths, and always stand up slowly after your bath.
Avoid slippery bath oils and use non-slip mats inside and outside the tub. Also consider a bath seat or bench (and grab rails) if needed.
Also read how to give your dog a bath, naturally.
Safety for Baby Baths
- NHS has a 2-minute video by a midwife (never leave any child alone in a bath, and avoid baby seats, as these can quickly detach and drown, even in a few centimetres of water).
- Run cold water first (add hot water, testing with wrist or elbow). Keep your baby’s head clear of water.
- Don’t bathe straight after feeds, or if hungry or tired. Avoid baby oils in baths, due to risk of slipping.
- Avoid talcum powder, it’s linked to ovarian cancer and banned in many countries. Don’t use cotton buds to clean baby’s ears (the cause of nearly all infections).
A Simple Tip to Save Bath Water
Baths do use a lot more water than showers (around 150 litres, compared to 50 litres for a shower with efficient head). So just have less baths! A family of two adults and two children that switches from one full bath each week to a shower, saves 400 litres of water each week – 20,000 litres a year!
If you use ‘bath water diverters’ that recycle bath water into the garden, choose unscented biodegradable bath products (even sea salt could harm plants).
Soothe Sore Muscles and Joint Pain
Warm water eases muscle tension and aches from the day. If you have been at a desk, your neck and back will feel it. If you have trained hard, your calves and quads may still be tight. The gentle heat relaxes the muscle fibres and eases stiffness.
Aim for water around 38 to 40°C. This range feels warm, not hot, and suits most healthy adults. Sit back, let your shoulders sink, and breathe slowly for two to three minutes. Use light stretches if that feels good, small neck turns or ankle rolls.
Some people find Epsom salts (with magnesium) soothing, especially after workouts. A cup in the tub is enough (test first, for sensitive skin). Even a short soak can refresh tired legs, especially after a run.
Do not use Epsom salts on broken skin. Ask your doctor before use, if you have including diabetes, kidney disease, eating disorders or low-magnesium diets. Stop if you notice skin irritation, itching, or dizziness.
Avoid dead sea salts, as they are from a sea that is dying. Despite the name, the area supports 500 million birds (300 species) who rest during migration and many plants, fish and mammals (including leopards and ibex).
Natural Loofahs to Exfoliate Skin
If you use a soak in the bath to remove dull flaky skin, choose a natural loofah (ENGLANDNAT10 for 10% discount) made from dried fibres of the luffa gourd – related to cucumbers!) They even help with gentle circulation (always brush towards the heart, and avoid for medical conditions).
Unlike real sponges (real creatures cut away by divers with knives), these are natural exfoliators, when wet. Keep them air-dried, to avoid mould. Then after a few months, just cut up and compost. With regular use, loofahs can result in fewer blackheads, and less ingrown hairs on legs and underarms.
Melt Away Stress, Sleep Better
Tension often feels like a knot across the chest and shoulders. Warm immersion helps loosen that knot. Heat can support the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good messengers, and may help reduce cortisol after a tough day.
Evening baths warm the body, then allowing a slight cool-down after you get out. Many people fall asleep faster after a bath taken one to two hours before bed. If you like scent, add a few drops of sustainable aromatherapy oils (not for pregnancy/nursing) to a warm bath and swish the water.
recycled plastic bathroom accessories
Reborn is a Wiltshire company, which makes quality bathroom accessories from reclaimed plastic waste, which helps reduce companies importing virgin plastic from Asia, like most brands.
Designed to last years, the items are in mostly stone or grey or black, to blend in with any bathroom design. The range includes:
- A soap dish to help palm-oil-free vegan soaps drain quickly. It’s easy to clean, thanks to the smooth surface. Plus a liquid soap dispenser (with a wide stable base and seal, to stop leaks).
- A bathroom caddy (the raised surfaces allow air-flow and prevent mould).
- Holders for dental items (never use xylitol brands near pets).
We don’t recommend the toilet brush, as even recycled plastic could leach into the sea. Instead, read how to clean your toilet, naturally.
To get virgin plastic bathroom waste items out of your town forever, have your community order a TerraCycle Bathroom Waste Box (everyone can pool a few pounds to pay for the box). Then when full, it’s sent off using the prepaid label, and everything is made into other goods like piping or garden benches.
Stone Bath Mats (guaranteed for life)
Natural Step Bath Mats are a step up from soggy fabric bath mats, which soon become mouldy from constant use. And as around half of all people in England don’t put the loo seat down after flushing, all that airborne bacteria ends up on bath mats! These bath mats are bit more pricey, but designed to last for life.
These mats absorb 5 times their weight in water, yet still feel dry to the touch, as water quickly evaporates. The mats dry in seconds, and also grip the floor, to avoid moving on slippery surfaces.
To clean stone bath mats, just wash with mild soap water weekly, rinse and air-dry. You can brush off dust or hair with a soft broom.
I am a complete convert, who will never go back to fabric mats. Less water everywhere after my shower, and stay in position much better than my old mat, which I sometimes slipped on.
Dip & Doze (organic cotton towel bales)
So it’s the end of your bath! So rather than wrapping your body up in a scratchy polyester towel, indulge in some Dip & Doze organic cotton towels sold in sets of four, in neutral colours to blend with any bathroom design.
Unlike synthetic materials, these can safely be laundered, without leaching microplastics from washing machines into the sea. Just be sure to avoid fabric conditioners, as these reduce absorbency.
Organic cotton is not just good for the planet, wildlife and farmers, but as the fibres are not treated with chemicals, they tend to last longer too. To reduce bacteria build-up, hang up after use, and wash hand after every couple of uses.
If using old towels to transport creatures to wildlife rescue shelters, remove the tassels (they could tangle in paws and claws).
