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Reduce Your Footprint in the Bathroom
October 19, 2020
Here are some suggestions for reducing your footprint in the bathroom. Try as many as you can!
- Use a reusable cup instead of disposable cups (disposable cups make sense when someone in the household is sick)
- Do not run the water while brushing teeth or while shaving
- Take shorter showers
- Reduce singe use plastics - Explore these options available for purchase:
- Consider toothpaste and mouthwash tabs
- Use a refillable soap dispenser, bar soap or hand soap slips
- Consider a natural dental floss (bonus - may be compostable!)
- Use 100% cotton balls and cardboard/cotton Q-tips (compostable!)
- Consider shampoo and conditioner bars or water soluble pods
- Use a bamboo toothbrush
- Use a reusable razor
- Use reusable facial pads (washable cotton, bamboo, etc.)
- Use cloth handkerchiefs (tissues make sense when someone in the household is sick)
- Reduce reliance on or seek out substitutes for cosmetics in plastic packaging and containers - package free, refillable, biodegradable, glass packaging
- Recycle plastics when they cannot be avoided (#1 and #2). Most prescription bottles (not the lids) are #5 plastic which can be dropped off at a bin at Whole Foods. Remove the labels as much as possible.
- Properly dispose of unneeded and expired medicines: Project Medicine Drop
- Compost where possible - cardboard toilet paper rolls, Q-tips, hair, nails, tissues, 100% cotton balls (All should be compostable if NOT used with chemicals/toxins)
- Use natural or non-toxic bathroom cleansers when possible. Skip single use or disposables.
- Consider a bidet to reduce use of toilet paper
- Donate unopened toiletries to a local shelter or food bank. Consider donating opened toiletries and cosmetics to https://projectbeautyshare.org/ (must be mailed. Check website for details).
- Switch to LED light bulbs
- Install a low-flow aerator on the sink faucet and shower head
- Install a dual-flush or low flow toilet to reduce water use
- Fix leaks
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