5 easy ways to make your bathroom more eco-friendly

Make your bathroom green and save some money while you're at it!

The bathroom is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house – both a beauty hub for primping and preening as well as a functional space that allows us to unwind and relax. You're never too old for a bubble bath, right? But as hard as any bathroom works, there's room for it to work even harder as an eco-friendly and sustainable space.
Here, we look at 5 easy and inexpensive ways you can do your part and make your bathroom more ecologically sound.

1. Be more energy efficient

Air-dry your towels rather than putting them in the tumble dryer, and if you have one, open the window rather than turning on the exhaust fan.
Photo: Armelle Habib

2. Be water-wise

Sixty percent of home water usage occurs in the bathroom, so how can you cut down on using this precious resource? The biggest eco-friendly move you can do is to take a shower instead of a bath. To be even better, try taking shorter showers - no need to buy a timer, as most smartphones are equipped with stopwatch capabilities. Also remember to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth – a running tap uses more than six litres of water a minute - and make sure taps are properly turned off before you leave.
It's important to check and replace washers if they continue to drip. According to the Australian Government, Australians could save $2 billion by 2030, an average saving of $175 per household each year by using more water-efficient products. Consult The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme to compare the water efficiency of a range of appliances and fixtures.
Photo: Eve Wilson / Styling: Ruth Welsby

3. Use recycled paper

Do we really need to cut down more trees than we already do? No, we don't. Recycled toilet paper is easy to find at your local supermarket as well as online - Who Gives a Crap not only uses 100% recycled materials for its toilet paper, but also donates 50% of profits to help fund hygiene and sanitation projects across the world.

4. Install a low-flowing shower head

Installing a low-flowing shower head is incredibly easy, and will work wonders in helping to save waterwithout compromising on water pressure. What luck!

5. Make sure your toilet isn't leaking

Leaking toilets can be costly as well as a needless waste of water. CHOICE recommends checking for leaks in the toilet by pouring a few drops of food colouring into the cistern. If the colour then appears in the pan without flushing, you have a leak.