The Sustainable Sanctuary: A Zero-Waste Relaxing Bath

Miniml Bodywash & Bubblebaths (avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing).

Although baths use more water than showers (though usually not more than power showers), many people like a weekly bath to while away half an hour with a relaxing soak. It’s good for relaxing both joints and mind. So here are some tips to still enjoy a relaxing bath time, but without less footprint for the planet.

Read also about zero waste baby bathtime (including safety tips).

Bath safety tips 

• Test the water before you get in the bath, and stand up slowly when you get out. Avoid slippery bath oils.
• Choose unscented bath products if pregnant/nursing. Avoid hot baths as high temperatures restrict blood flow to babies, increasing risk of complications. If you take baths, keep them warm (not hot) and no more than 15 minutes.
• If you use bath water diverters (that hang out the window to reuse water for the garden), use unscented biodegradable products – even sea salt could harm plants and pets/birds/wildlife drinking the water below.

Keeping pets safe near bathrooms 

• Avoid pet-toxic plants in any room (some indoor plants like lilies or sago palm can harm, by a tail brushing past). Keep scented oils (esp. citrus) away from pets (never use xylitol toothpastes or gums/baked goods containing it in homes with pets).
• Avoid facing indoor plants to outdoor gardens (use curtains/blinds/screens over windows), to help stop birds flying into windows.

Epsom Salts (healing tired legs and aching joints)

Epsom salts (named after the Surrey town) contain magnesium. Preferable to dead sea salts that are from a dying sea (home to 500 million birds sand many fish and wildlife).

Add a couple of handfuls to bath water, to soak away aches and pains. When dissolved in water, Epsom salts split into magnesium (helps you sleep!) ions and sulfate ions. Stir the water with your hands to dissolve crystals and soak for 12 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with clean water, and drink a glass of water. You can also add them to a foot bath .

Avoid Epsom salt baths for open wounds/burns, diabetes, kidney disease, low-magnesium diets, skin infections or heart disease (hot baths can lower blood pressure and increase heart rate). 

Never ingest Epsom salts or use for cooking. Salt is toxic to pets, so keep them away too (close the bathroom if using, to avoid them licking warm water if it splashes). If using as a fabric softener, give an extra rinse cycle for laundered pet blankets.

Miniml refillable bubble bath (and body wash)

Miniml Bodywash & Bubblebaths are to use in the bath or shower. Made with biodegradable ingredients (and Yorkshire water), the scents are all naturally-derived. At end of use, just take bottles to participating zero waste shops to be refilled, or use the QR code to send them back for washing, refilling and sending back to you.

Choose from:

• English lavender and chamomile
• Nourishing coconut
• Tea tree and mint
• Pink grapfruit and aloe ver

There are discounts for regular subscriptions, and students.

Bio-D offers a fragrance-free biodegradable bubble bath, if you prefer or need not to use scent. Approved by Allergy UK, there are 5L refills available.

For toxic bathroom products, recycle empty bottles with kerbside collections. For bottles with product, dispose of them at your council’s hazardous waste department.

Dip & Doze organic towel bales

Dip & Doze organic cotton towels are far nicer than scratchy polyester towels (which should be laundered in a microfiber filter, to avoid ocean plastic pollution).

In natural colours to blend with any bathroom design, organic cotton is good for the planet too (and lasts longer, as fabric have not been treated with chemicals). Hang up after use, wash hand towels every couple of uses, and avoid fabric conditioner, as this reduces absorbency.

Old towels used to transport creatures to wildlife rescue shelters should not have tassels (they can tangle in paws and claws).

Avoid talcum powder

In 2027 there is due to be a ban on selling talcum powder, after years of campaigning and lawsuits, from women who have got ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer symptoms include pelvic pain, bloating, feeling full after meals and changes in urination).

Talc is an inorganic mined substance that may contain asbestos, and babies are also at risk from a pulmonary condition from inhaling talc.

Talcum powder is also frequently found in cosmetics (eyeshadows etc). Natural cosmetics may contain zinc oxide, so wash off of your skin, before letting pets kiss you!

Talc is only used to absorb moisture, so there are better ways to do this:

• Good towels (above) is one of the best ways to absorb moisture.
• Wear loose breathable clothing (cotton, hemp, linen) let sweat evaporate.
• Oatmeal baths: Good to heal chafed skin, blend oats into a fine powder, add to a warm bath, and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Losing weight can help bring lasting relief.
• Corinne Taylor Body Powder is made with Bentonite clay, jojoba seed oil, chamomile flower extract and essential oils (avoid for pregnancy/nursing).

Natural stone bath mats (lifetime guarantees)

Natural Step Bath Mats absorb five times more weight in water, yet feel dye to the touch, as water quickly evaporates. So although more expensive, they never go mouldy or soggy like fabric mats (nor collect airborne bacteria from men who don’t put the loo seat down, after flushing!) And sold with lifetime guarantees.

These mats dry in seconds, gripping the flor to avoid slippery surfaces. To clean, wash with mild soap and water weekly, then rinse and air-dry. You can brush off dust or hair with a soft broom.

Reborn (recycled plastic bathroom accessories)

Reborn (Wiltshire) makes quality bathroom accessories from reclaimed plastic waste, in neutral tones of stone, grey or black colours.

We don’t recommend the toilet brush, as recycled plastic could leach into the sea. Use plastic-free cleaning tools instead.

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 (raised surfaces allow air-flow and prevent mould).
• Holders for dental items (never use xylitol brands near pets).

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.

V.GAN warm vegan slippers for after your bath!

V.GAN warm vegan slippers are ideal to keep your feet warm on hard floors in bathrooms (or kitchens). Made with recycled polyester, they are sold in pretty colours, featuring recycled cotton insoles and comfortable natural rubber soles.

Use this discount code for automatic £10 off orders.

Choosing recycled polyester clothing is usually not a good idea, as unless you use a microfiber filter, microplastics can leach from washing machines and into the sea. But for non-washable items (like bedroom slippers), the material is good to use up waste, and avoid it going to landfill.

Diabetics should always wear footwear, to help prevent minor injuries that could get infected). For everyone else,  slippers protect from slipping and stubbing toes.

Although the image of a dog carrying about his human friend’s slippers is cute, like socks there are issues with choking or swallowing fabric, foam or rubber. Slippers also  create breeding grounds for bacteria that could infect a pet’s mouth.

Donate unwanted slippers to small charity shops (that don’t test on animals). Or frayed/scuffed slippers in textile banks (tie laces together, ideally in a cotton bag). Materials are shredded to make industrial goods.