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Step 1
Start in the shower. While showering uses much less water than taking baths, it still uses too much. Simple ways to conserve water are to get undressed and hop in the tub before running the water and limit shower time to five minutes per person. It also helps to shower with someone else if possible. To make the green shower experience complete, make sure not to use disposable razors, and be careful not to shave with the water running.
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Step 2
Be wary of shampoo and makeup. Hair care products are also brimming with toxins. Chemicals in them have caused everything from disease to blindness! Baking soda cleans hair better than most shampoos without leaving any residue. Once out of the shower, another way to green up in the morning is to go natural. Cosmetics are full of unhealthy chemicals like formaldehyde and asbestos, and most labels don’t come with warnings.
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Step 3
If any products run out, don’t forget to recycle their containers. Plastic is not biodegradable! Vinyl (formally called polyvinyl chloride) shower curtains should also be disposed of. They release a carcinogen called dioxin, which is a serious health hazard. Cotton shower curtains are better for the environment and human health. They even last longer.
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Step 4
Brush green like a pro. When it’s time to scrub those pearly whites, a low-flow aerator will come in handy. This nifty tool will force less water out of the faucet it’s attached to. If your sink isn’t threaded to accept an aerator, simply avoid turning the water on at full pressure, and don’t leave the water running while you brush. That last one is a no-brainer! Brush with baking soda to avoid the carcinogens commonly found in toothpaste.
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Step 5
Finally, when going to the bathroom in the morning, if the toilet doesn’t need to be flushed, close the lid and save that water. This one is important; billions of gallons are wasted every single day on flushing! Even if it seems strange at first, morning routine habits like this are vital because they do more than help lower bills; they save the planet as well.
Comments
Felicity said
on 10/20/2008 I love these tips! It is so neat how you have related this to a specific and doable everyday event. If we start out this way at the beginning of the day, how green is our day going to be?! Wonderful, thanks!