(BPT) - Are you interested in finding more sustainable options when it comes to the products and processes you use in your home every day? Using more environmentally friendly and sustainable products is top of mind for many households, and the bathroom is one place where even a few small choices can make a big impact.
To transform your bathroom into an oasis of sustainability, here are some simple swaps and practices you can try.
1. Start with your seat
Did you know there's a toilet seat made from 100% recycled material? The Mayfair Greenleaf toilet seat by Bemis is the only seat and lid on the market created entirely from post-industrial recycled plastic, while also offering durability and style. On top of its modern design, its patented Stay•Tite installation system ensures a secure, shift-free fit, along with slow close hinges that eliminate the jarring sound of slamming. All of these elements make it a great choice you can feel good about incorporating into your home.
Mayfair by Bemis Greenleaf toilet seat is available in a classic white finish and elongated design, making green living accessible to every bathroom. You can find it on HomeDepot.com, Amazon.com and ToiletSeats.com.
2. Find better paper
One of the ways you can make your bathroom much more sustainable is through your choice of toilet paper. Instead of selecting paper made from virgin wood pulp, you can save more trees by looking for paper products that are made from recycled paper or bamboo fibers. Today's marketplace offers more options than ever before, so it's worth shopping around and trying different products to find one you like best.
3. Use water smartly
If water conservation is a top concern for you, several approaches can help reduce how much water is being used - and your monthly water bills, too. Here are some easy ways to reduce water use in your bathroom:
- Choose showers over baths. Showers use less water, especially when you keep them shorter. You can also opt for a lower-flow shower head to further reduce water waste.
- Need to run water to heat it up? Consider putting a bucket in the bathtub to collect some of this water for later use in cleaning or for watering plants.
- Catch leaks early. Having a plumber stop by to check for leaks before anything catastrophic happens will not only prevent expensive water damage down the road, but can also reduce water waste. Or start by simply updating small things like your toilet flapper if it hasn't been replaced for a while, as leaks in the toilet tank begin gradually.
- Aerate your water. Most bathroom faucets come with an aerator today, but if yours doesn't have one, or if it's not working well, they are easy to install or replace yourself.
4. Launder towels in cold water
Laundry detergents have come a long way, and most of them will work just as effectively in cold water today. According to the American Cleaning Institute, 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward just heating up the water, so you can wash your washrags, bath and hand towels in cold water to help save a lot of energy. If you're concerned about sanitizing your towels sufficiently, consider adding laundry sanitizer to your loads.
5. Warm up your floor
An increasingly popular way to reduce energy consumption is by installing in-floor radiant heating, which is very energy efficient as well as long-lasting. While it feels super luxurious to step out of the shower onto a heated floor, it's actually much more thrifty, because in-floor heating is far more efficient than forced-air heating.
Prioritizing the environment begins with simple changes throughout your home. Using these tips, you can start making a positive impact with small, everyday choices you can feel good about.
