Detox your bathroom: with just a few easy and often inexpensive, targeted tweaksÂsuch as changing your towels or showerheadÂyou can transform your personal sanctuary into a model of eco-friendly living
Natural Health, Feb, 2008 by Elizabeth Barker
Faucets & Showerheads
* INSTALL A LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEAD (available at hardware stores, gaiam.com, or bricor.com), which uses 70 percent less water, and a screw-on faucet aerator, which lessens flow by adding air to the water and can help an average family of four save about 1,700 gallons of water each year.
* TURN OFF THE WATER WHILE YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH, suggests Carol Venolia, an architect based in Santa Rosa, Calif., and author of Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House (Lark Books, 2006). It will save 240 gallons of water each month, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
* SOAP UP WITHOUT RUNNING THE WATER–another move that saves gallons of water each month.
Ventilation
* INSTALL AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT FAN to pull moist air from the room and replace it with dry air, suggests Venolia. This combats mold, a common allergen that can affect air quality, she explains.
* REPAIR ANY WATER LEAKS OR SPILLS within 24 hours after they occur to help control mold.
* DRY OFF YOUR SHOWER OR TUB AND SHOWER CURTAIN AFTER BATHING to fight mildew, suggests Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home (Tarcher, 2005).
* BLAST MOLD with a centrally located window since “mold doesn’t like sunlight,” explains Venolia.
Flooring
* REPLACE VINYL FLOORING to remove toxins like lead and cadmium, says Willem F. Maas, founder of GreenHomeGuide.com, an online eco-living site. He recommends durable, biodegradable linoleum instead–it’s made from natural pine-tree resins and cork.
* TRY RECYCLED-GLASS TILES for something more elegant and equally eco-friendly. They can be expensive, but Maas says they’re worth it for their ability to beautify a bathroom. Besides, adds Dadd, “a bathroom floor isn’t that big, so tiles aren’t that much of an extra cost.”
* CONSIDER CERAMIC TILES Even non-recycled ceramic tiles are a smart option, says Dadd. “They’re nontoxic, so they’re one of the best choices from a health standpoint,” she says.
Toilets
* SWITCH TO A LOW-FLOW TOILET (like showers and faucets, toilets waste a lot of water) to save money and protect natural resources. Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush instead of the standard five gallons. You’ll slash your water bill by lo percent, according to the EPA.
* LOOK FOR THE WATERSENSE LABEL Toilets that carry the EPA’s new label use at least 2o percent less water than low-flow models. Eight different Kohler toilets recently earned the certification. Many communities even offer rebates (or credits on water bills) to homeowners who purchase water-saving toilets–a quick Google search will guide you to replacement programs in your area.
Lighting
* INSTALL WINDOWS OR A SKYLIGHT to add natural light. Not only do bathroom windows cut back on your need for artificial lighting, they may even help with hygiene. “l keep toothbrushes and razors on a plate on the windowsill so the light will disinfect them,” notes Venolia. Dadd installed a skylight directly over her shower to help dry out the stall naturally.
* CHOOSE COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS to brighten up the bathroom at night or on a dreary day. These energy-saving bulbs are available at hardware stores nationwide
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