Going Green In the Bath

Ok if you've been reading you probably realize where the crazy part comes from. I am a bit flighty and jump around with what every pops into my head I'll be doing something and think OOHHHH I should share that. My last post about the bird food came from my last shopping trip. I saw this giant bottle of humming bird food and it was this really gross red color. Ive been making my own humming bird food for years and they love it why would you add food coloring....

Anyway I started discussing ways to go green all around the house and only got the kitchen done. Well now I'm getting back to this topic and I hope you find it helpful.

Lets start with cleaning. Baking soda is a great environmentally friendly, family friendly, and pocket book friendly.

The toilet:
A 1/2 cup of baking soda in the toilet bowl will work for light duty cleaning. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then brush it away. For heavy duty cleaning dip steel wool in the baking soda and give it a good scrub

Tubs and showers:
Clean fiberglass tubs and showers, (be careful since fiberglass scratches easily). Make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid, and wipe it on with a sponge.
Adding baking soda to the bathwater will reduce ring- around-the-tub and soften your skin.
Use 2 tablespoons for a tubful of water.

Get rid of stains on nonskid strips or appliqués in the tub by dampening the area, then sprinkling it with baking soda. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then scrub and rinse it off.
Use a baking-soda paste to remove mildew stains on grout. Apply the paste, scrub it with an old toothbrush, then rinse.
Clean mildew stains and do light cleaning of a shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda the curtain and then rub it together. Rinse well.
Floors: Clean a tile or no-wax bathroom floor with 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse well.

Drains: For the routine cleaning of sink and tub drains, pour in 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then flush with very hot water.

Odor control: Musty-smelling bath towels and bath mats can be deodorized by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to the rinse cycle.
Add a perpetual air freshener to the toilet area by keeping baking soda in a pretty dish on the back of the tank. Add your favorite scented bath salts to the mix, as well. Change every 3 months. Got little ones try one of the new boxes with the peel off sides to keep it from being spilled.
Reuse old pantyhose or nylon knee-highs by putting baking soda in the tip, tie, and cut off the excess stocking then hang the stocking around the pipes under the sink for ongoing odor control.

Sprinkle baking soda in the bathroom trash can after each emptying.

Counters and vanities: Clean the marble surfaces with a baking-soda-and-white-vinegar paste. Wipe the marble clean, and buff.
A simple baking-soda paste will attack hard water or rust stains on ceramic tile. Use a nylon scrubber, then rinse the area thoroughly

Other things around the Bathroom:


Swap out bathroom lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. Ok this one is obvious and should be done throughout your house. So I won't be adding it to the other rooms when I do them LOL. The come in many different sizes so you should be able to find one that fits every fixture in your home.

Try a mildew resistant cloth liner instead of plastic. It will last longer and keeps PVC's, that the plastic shower curtain gives off, out of your air.

Get a squeegie for the shower and bath. Use it after you wash to help keep your stall and tub cleaner longer. By keeping the water from drying on the wall you help keep soap scum and minerals from drying on!

Use less water Lets save some for the fishes: If you are replacing your toilet try a duel flush toilet. No it doesn't flush twice it has two buttons. One for #1 and one for #2 if ya know what I mean. If your not replacing your throne anytime soon try placing a 2 liter bottle of water in the tank. The tank will fill faster and use less water when you flush.

Don't forget to turn off the water when your brushing your teeth and shaving. You'll save water and send less money to the water company.

Try a low flow shower head. I personally don't like them because it takes so long to get wet. Instead I shut off the water while a shampoo and wash up then turn it back on to rinse.

Last but not least try some green products. Now there are plenty of organic body washes, shampoos and soaps out there you will have to find one you like which will cost you some money but gets the excess of chemicals out of your bathroom. Also look around for Toilet Paper made with recycled paper. I like Marcal which is made from 100% paper, they also make paper towels if you want them.