By Ann Costa LaRose
make your bathroom a safe and healthy haven for rejuvenation
Chances are you know the feeling – that bone-deep longing for a time-out after a stressful day working, running errands, and negotiating traffic. The tub calls, and a long, hot soak promises to make the world a friendly place again.
But before you light your favorite candle and slip beneath those soothing bubbles, consider this: your bathroom may be the unhealthiest room in your home. Bathrooms offer special challenges because of the dampness that comes with the territory; dampness which can contribute to the proliferation of mold and mildew. Add to that the air fresheners and the harsh chemical cleaners many use to eradicate floor and toilet germs, and you’ve got the potential for a truly toxic environment.
Luckily, it’s not that difficult to transform your bathroom into a true sanctuary. Start by making the right choices when it comes to furnishings and products, replacing less-healthy items as you can. Then light a soy candle, snuggle into a cozy, organic cotton robe, and fill the tub with bubbles and your favorite essential oils. You’ve earned it.
Shower curtains & bath mats
There’s a reason those new vinyl shower curtains cast a headache-inducing odor for ages after they’re hung – the material is off-gassing its chemical components, and you’re breathing them in. Replace it with one made from organic cotton or hemp in soft, natural colors. While these materials will get wet, they also dry quickly and don’t invite mold and mildew like their plastic counterparts. Because it resists mold, hemp is an especially ideal material for bath mats.
Candles & soaps
The soft glow of a burning candle, along with its subtle scent, is a wonderful touch. But choose wisely – many conventionally produced candles have lead wicks that release toxic fumes. Look for soy candles with lead-free wicks, which are also made without petroleum by-products. Natural soaps made from herbs, natural dyes, hemp, essential oils, and soy-based glycerins have come a long way as well. Look for soaps that have no animal by-products, are made with organic essential oils, and are chemical-free.
Towels, washcloths, robes & pillows
Why put something next to your fresh, soft skin that’s likely carrying pesticide residue? Choose towels, washcloths, and robes made from organically grown and processed cotton or hemp. Most companies now offer an array of earth-toned colors that complement any color scheme. An organic cotton bath pillow to place as a headrest in your bathtub adds a special touch and makes bathing time an even more pleasant ritual.
Paint, tile & flooring
Is your bathroom floor covered in ancient, chipped linoleum tile? Do yourself – and your family – a favor by replacing it with natural stone, tile, or sustainably harvested wood. If you opt for wood, check to see that it’s labeled as having come from “Certified Well-Managed” forests. Another fast way to give your bathroom a facelift is to splash a new coat of paint on the walls and ceiling. These days, choices and palettes abound from the ever-widening selection of water- and plant-based paints, glazes, and tints.
Hardware
One of the most important environmental changes you can make in your bathroom is to replace existing fixtures with low-flow faucets and showerheads. New technology has resulted in low-flow water fixtures that can decrease water consumption by as much as 60% without sacrificing water pressure, as well as filters that effectively remove chlorine. Installing a simple toilet dam can conserve as much as 12,000 gallons of water per year. While you’re at it, switch your incandescent light bulbs to energy-saving compact fluorescent light fixtures, which not only use about 25% of the energy of incandescent versions, but also last up to thirteen times as long.
Cleaning & paper supplies
One of the simplest and most effective changes you can make in favor of the environment is to switch to petroleum and chlorine-free recycled paper products and non-polluting cleaning products. Today, solvent-free glass cleaners, biodegradable mildew stain removers, and nontoxic odor removers and sanitizers are just as effective as their traditional counterparts. This new generation of cleaners uses natural pine and citrus oils to clean, kill germs, and remove odors. Air fresheners made from volcanic minerals that remove odors with a natural ionic charge are also available. These air fresheners can be recharged over and over simply by placing them in sunlight.
Personal care
Gone are the days of bland, unscented organic shampoos and personal care products. These days, there’s a staggering selection of high quality body washes, shampoos, rinses, shaving creams, and toothpastes available. Many of those currently available have the added bonus of also containing healing herbs. Choose your favorite flavors and scents while ridding your cabinets of those chemically-laden mass-market versions (but recycle the bottles!). You can even choose sustainably harvested sponges and natural bristle back brushes made from sustainably-harvested woods. d
Resources
Paints, stains, tints, glazes, tiles and flooring
Sundara Painting, (917) 440-2723, www.sundarapainting.com;
Marmoleum (all-natural flooring), 866-MARMOLEUM, www.themarmoleumstore.com
Bath mats, bath pillows, shower curtains and fixtures
Gaiam, (877) 989-6321, www.gaiam.com;
Green Home, Inc., (877) 282-6400, www.greenhome.com;
Spiegel, (800) 527-1577, www.spiegel.com (check out Spiegel’s fun, houndstooth patterned rug);
Tribal Fiber, (888) 712-8585, www.tribalfiber.com
Soaps and candles
Gaiam (877) 989-6321, www.gaiam.com;
Pure Elements Soy Candle & Soap Company, www.pureelementssoy.com;
Wabash Valley Candle Company, (800) 270-2705, www.wabashvalleycandle.com
Towels, washcloths, and robes
Gaiam, (877) 989-6321, www.gaiam.com;
Green Home, Inc., (877) 282-6400, www.greenhome.com;
Pure-Rest, (800) 596-7450, www.purerest.com;
Rawganique, (866) 729-4367, www.rawganique.com;
Under The Canopy, (888) 226-6799, www.underthecanopy.com
Bathroom fixtures, paper products, and cleaning products
Ecover, (800) 449-4925, www.ecover.com;
Gaiam, (877) 989-6321, www.gaiam.com;
Green Home, Inc., (877) 282-6400, www.greenhome.com;
Seventh Generation, (800) 456-1191, www.seventhgen.com;
Simple Green, (800) 228-0709, www.simplegreen.com
Skincare products and essential oils
Aubrey Organics, (800) 282-7394, www.aubrey-organics.com;
Aromafloria, (631) 424-4023, www.aromafloria.com;
Avalon Natural Products, (800) 227-5120, www.avalonnaturalproducts.com;
Jason, (877) JASON-01, www.jason-natural.com;
Kiss My Face, (800) 262-KISS, www.kissmyface.com;
Nature’s Gate Soy Organics, (800) 327-2012, www.levlad.com;
Terressentials, (301) 371-7333, www.terressentials.com
March/April 2004
- Innersense - April 17, 2024
- Mountain Rose Herbs - April 17, 2024
- Neuma - April 17, 2024