The Many Benefits of a Warm, Relaxing Bath
If you are feeling run down or stressed out, a warm relaxing bath ticks all the boxes. Yes they do use more water than a shower. So just have less of them!
Bath Time Safety Tips
Always stand up slowly after baths, and avoid very hot baths if pregnant/nursing or for heart or blood pressure conditions. Avoid slippery bath oils, use non-slip bath mats, and if needed, use a bath seat/bench and grab rails.
Never face indoor plants to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows. Read of plants to avoid near pets (including lilies and sago palm). Also read about giving dogs baths.
Safety for Baby Baths
- NHS has a 2-minute video by a midwife (never leave a child alone and avoid baby seats that 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, 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
A bath uses around 150 litres of water, compared to 50 litres for an energy-efficient shower. So just indulge, but have fewer 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).
Epsom Salts for Achy Joints
Some people find Epsom salts (named after the Surrey town) contain magnesium, which helps to soothe tired joints sand muscles, 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. Avoid for diabetes, kidney disease, eating disorders or low-magnesium diets. Stop if you notice skin irritation, itching, or dizziness.
Epsom salts are better than dead sea salt, from a sea that is literally 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).
You don’t need scent in baths. But if you do, add a few drops of sustainable aromatherapy oils (not for pregnancy/nursing) to a warm bath and swish the water.
Natural Loofahs to Exfoliate The 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). 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. After a few months, cut up and compost. Loofahs can result in fewer blackheads, and less ingrown hairs on legs and underarms.
Reborn: 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.
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).
- 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). Then when full, it’s sent off using the prepaid label, and everything is made into 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. Avoid fabric conditioners, as they 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).
