Joining an ecological approach can take different forms on a daily basis. There is no one-size-fits-all formula and it’s pretty neat because it means you can make the transition smoothly to make your new habits more sustainable. In this article, we are going to talk about the bathroom: from small daily gestures to renovation, including more radical alternatives. You’ll see, there is something for everyone and even if you haven’t planned on doing any major bathroom work, that’s okay. Here you will find ideas for making a smooth transition in your daily life and in your home.
1. COMMON SENSE IDEAS FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE BATHROOM
Before embarking on a process that takes time and requires money, if you are really looking to have a greener daily life, there are actions that are – in our eyes – common sense.
• 1 • VENTILATE THE BATHROOM
First daily and very simple step: ventilate the bathroom. Even though fungus and mold are natural, they don’t belong in your water feature. Good ventilation every day allows for healthier air and less humidity. In winter, it’s less pleasant when it’s freezing temperatures, but it’s also necessary.
• 2 • SPREAD THE TOWELS
It’s not really about hanging out the bath towels, it’s more about having a place and enough space to dry them. But why is it green to spread towels? Simply because you won’t need to change your towels every 2 days because it smells of humidity. Suddenly, fewer machines to run. Less water and electricity consumption.
• 3 • PURIFY THE AIR IN THE BATHROOM WITH PLANTS
We mentioned the quality of the air in your bathroom in the 1st point of this part. In every room of the house, it is possible to have healthier air thanks to green plants. And in addition to having more ecological properties, they will decorate your room. There is something for all bathroom sizes. Depolluting plants are a small gesture that will make your room a healthier environment.
• 4 • BE INSPIRED BY THE ZERO WASTE MOVEMENT FOR THE BATHROOM
In the bathroom, what is interesting about zero waste is everything that revolves around cosmetics in a broad sense. These are products and soaps that generally exclude chemical compounds. It’s good for you and it’s better for the planet too. So it goes through the change of soap, we stop the 50 bottles of shower gel in the shower. We can also think of alternatives for deodorant. Instead of having a bottle full of gas and perfume, we will focus more on natural solutions.
SHOWER OR BATH, WHICH SOLUTION IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?
On average, a bath is 100 to 200 liters of water, a shower between 40 and 60 liters. This is obviously an average, if you spend 1h30 in the shower without turning off the water, it is much less environmentally friendly. Again, it’s a matter of habit and will. How much do you want your daily life to be environmentally friendly? We arrive at the issue of values / comfort which will not be the same for everyone. For some, it is okay to take a shower a week. For others, it is not possible.
2. RECYCLING FOR THE BATHROOM
We come to the part that speaks to us the most in this article: recycling. What we like about recycling is plural. In addition to being in a more sustainable approach by not buying new, recycling will personalize your decoration.
• 1 • THE WASHBASIN CABINET
An old workbench, a sewing machine cabinet, a chest of drawers… There are many alternatives to the classic and new washbasin cabinet. There are however 2 or 3 small things to know before you start:
1. A piece of furniture in reclaimed wood ‘for better longevity must be treated against humidity and mold.
2. Do not forget that under the basin there is the water outlet and the siphon. If you have a chest of drawers with a drawer, you will have to cut out the drawers or condemn them.
• 2 • A VINTAGE MIRROR
Another possibility of recovery in the bathroom is the mirror or even the bathroom cabinet. If you like to hunt around, great. You will be able to find a model that has a personality.
