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Washington Post

Eco-Chic Your Shower

Sept 5, 2008

By now you probably know that a shower uses half the amount of water of a bath, but how can you take that one step further without rushing through your precious morning me-time in the shower? Luckily there are plenty of high quality eco-friendly towels, showerheads and beauty products that'll maintain your luxurious experience while giving the environment a break.

Water Conservation

Start saving even more water by installing a low-flow showerhead, which can cut water usage in half by allowing only 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) or less to stream out. Since 1992 all showerheads manufactured in the US must be low-flow. The previous standard was 4.5 gpm. So according to Alexandra Kennaugh, Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Green Living Initiatives, if a family of four trades in for a 2.5 gpm model, they can save about 2,000 gallons of water a year which is roughly the contents of a swimming pool and enough water to sustain themselves for 26 years.

If your home was constructed after '92 you probably have one already, but if you don't have one, get one. And even if you have a 2.5 gpm model, you can go lower and save even more water. They're easy to install yourself-usually you can just unscrew the old one and attach the new one-and with the latest models you probably won't notice a difference until you pay your water bill. If you're worried about strong water pressure, try one with multiple spray settings like Oxygenics TriSpa Series. It has three ranging from massage to soothing and only uses a maximum of 1.9 gpm. Or the Bricor Elite Showerhead uses vacuum technology to increase water pressure-you'd never guess only 1.5 gpm are entering your shower. If it's design you're after, consider Delta's Michael Graves Touch-Clean Showerhead with three spray modes and a 2.5 gpm rating.

So how else can you reduce water usage? Renée Loux, author of Easy Green Living, suggests cutting your shower time by a minute or even 30 seconds. A little really goes a long way because even though it won't feel like much of a sacrifice, you can save a few gallons of water every day. Or cut your household shower time by sharing one with your sweetie. You might also want to try turning off the faucet while you shave-a favorite eco practice of Cameron Diaz. And when you apply a ten-minute hair mask, no one says you have to stay in the shower watching the water run down the drain.

Don't forget that it takes energy to heat your shower's water too. Again, you can look to a showerhead to help. The Roadrunner Eco-Friendly Showerhead has a temperature gage built in so you can walk away while the shower warms up. Once it reaches 95 degrees it'll slow the water flow to a trickle until you're ready to hop in. It also has an impressive 1.59 gpm rating and is a favorite of Amy Brenneman and Kelly Rutherford. Hot water is actually bad for your skin anyway. It removes natural oils so take a warm, not hot shower. Loux suggests turning the water cold for the last 30 seconds of your shower. "It's good for your skin, closes pores, invigorates your body and revs up your metabolism while you save a little energy," she says.

Clear the Air

While you're in DIY mode install a water filter too-it's an inexpensive investment and taking chlorine out of the equation will not only improve your hair and skin, but it'll improve air quality too. Usually water is chlorinated to keep it safe, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. Chlorine is a gas by nature, but is forced into liquid form for water purification. When water is sprayed into a shower, the chemical returns to its gaseous form so you end up breathing it in, says Loux. While it's not a huge amount, studies have found we absorb more chlorine in a shower than by drinking it. Other studies have found that showering in water can increase the risk of bladder cancer.

Beyond the scary facts, chlorine is drying. Once you install a filter, you'll experience more supple skin and softer hair, Loux raves. Most are easy to add to any existing showerhead including low-flow varieties-you simply screw the filter onto your existing shower arm. Usually you only need to replace the filter every 6 months and that's just as simple. A basic model like the Rainshow'r Dechlorinating Shower Filter will do the trick. But for added beauty benefits, the Wellness Shower Filter replaces chlorine with good-for-you silican, potassium and magnesium. Or get your low-flow showerhead and water filter all in a one-two punch. The Oxygenics Body Spa Handheld Showerhead with April Shower Filtration does it all and feels luxe. You can even find spa-like rainfall-style filtrating models such as the Sunflower Showerhead.

The EPA estimates that indoor air quality is 2 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air quality. The biggest culprit contributing to that level in your bathroom is a PVC shower curtain. The strong odor you smell when you open a new PVC shower curtain can instantly make you nauseous or give you a headache and it often sticks around for days, weeks or even months. The stench comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being released into the air. According to Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator for The Center for Health, Environment & Justice, their study shows PVC plastics can cause developmental damage and damage the central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems as well as the liver. The same study found some chemicals stuck around for 28 days after a new curtain was hung. You're not just doing damage to the air in your bathroom either; it circulates throughout your entire home. So avoid plastic shower curtains labeled as "vinyl" or "PVC" and ones with the number "3" recycling symbol.

The greenest solution is to skip the curtain altogether and install a glass door. Sure it's an investment, but it'll improve the look and feel of your bathroom and stop you from constantly having to replace your liner. If you want a less labor-intensive solution, look for natural fabrics. Some work well without a liner, especially if you have a well-ventilated bathroom to help them dry. Canvas naturally wicks away moisture while hemp curtains are naturally mildew resistant. Or if you can't give up your liner, Loux suggests using an organic cotton curtain lined with a nylon one. While nylon is synthetic, it doesn't pollute your air like PVC. But if you think you've found a goldmine with a water-resistant fabric liner, it's probably too good to be true according to Loux. Most use the same type of chemicals found on non-stick pans-they're not healthy for you or the environment. Check out our favorite green options in Sprig's Top 10 Most Stylish Shower Curtains.

Of course, with fabric curtains mildew is more likely to grow. Avoid bright white styles because mildew will be more visible and can stain. Also, make a habit of throwing your curtain in the washing machine once a month. Even better, hang it in the sun to dry periodically-sunlight is one of the best ways to kill mildew according to Loux. She also suggests filling a spray bottle with water and a few drops of lavender, rosemary or tea tree oil. Spray it on your curtain post shower. It'll smell wonderful and help kill mildew all at the same time.

Another great bathroom addition is a plant that tolerates low light and thrives in humidty. "They're a brilliant way to filter your air," says Loux. They produce fresh oxygen, pull chemicals from the air and help regulate humidity to reduce mold and microbes.

Linen Closet

You can stock your linen closet with towels and bath mats in eco-fabrics too. Choosing organic cotton not only saves your skin from chemical residue left on regular cotton after production, but also it's a vote for cleaner drinking water. Traditional cotton is grown on 3% of farmland but uses 25% of all pesticides used in farming and those chemicals have been found in drinking water, says Loux.

Switching to green towels doesn't mean you have to compromise luxury or quality though. Loux says she's smitten with her super soft set from Coyuchi. If style is your deciding factor, look to West Elm's Organic Cotton Reversible Towels and Bath Rug. Bamboo is another smart option even though its production process is more chemically intensive than organic cotton-it's still a highly renewable material, super soft, extra absorbent and is naturally antibacterial and resistant to mold. Try Brookstone's Bamboo Yarn Towels. If you want the soft absorbency of bamboo, but support the less intensive production of organic cotton, choose a blend like Nandina.

Choosing eco fabrics often means you're also avoiding chemical dyes too-that's a good thing. Look for color grown fibers and veggie dyes or for whites, oxygen bleached. You can keep your whites white using oxygen bleach too. If you need a fabric softener (though bamboo actually gets softer over time!) opt for liquids or dryer sheets made with plant-based ingredients like Caldrea or Mrs. Meyers. Toss a tennis ball or silicone ball in your dryer for fluffing. And if you want the load to dry faster (and to save energy), put a dry towel in with the wet ones-it works.

You should use the same set of rules for robes. The Skin Organic Terry Robe is ultra plush and luxuriously green. While the Viva Terra Bamboo & Organic Cotton Spa Robe is reminiscent of the soft lightweight styles you wrap yourself in post-massage.

What you wash with matters too. Don't ignore the fact that poof sponges are plastic. Use the organic cotton or bamboo wash clothes that come with your towel set. If you must have a sponge, buy a natural one (sponges are sea creatures, remember?) but make sure it comes from a sponge farm like the Large Sea Sponge from 3R Living. If you can't let go of the poof, try a soft fabric version like EcoTools Bamboo Bath Sponge.

As you probably know, your skin absorbs everything it comes in contact with from shampoo to shaving cream. So the health benefits of restocking your shower with natural and organic products are clear. You'll avoid synthetic ingredients and chemicals like parabens, 1, 4 dioxane, petroleum derived ingredients and known skin irritants sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Lisa Levin, CEO and Creative Director of Pharmacopia, stresses that personal care products use a lot of chemicals that have little data backing up their safety or lack thereof. "All of these things are being absorbed through our skin," she says "there's so much stuff that we're being exposed to that we don't even know about." Many of these ingredients are still found in natural products too as the term "natural" isn't regulated and has become more of a marketing tool.

When you're buying personal care products know that whatever you use in the shower runs down the drain and can enter the water supply. So the life of chemical and synthetic ingredients doesn't end when you step out of the shower. According to the EPA, those suds do find their way into rivers, streams and other bodies of water. Estrogenic chemicals such as alkyphenols, parabens, and phthalates mimic hormones and are a cause of concern to fish and other aquatic life particularly in reproductive development. Biocides like triclosan and triclocarban found in traditional bar soaps, shaving cream and more are bacteriacides or fungicides that can kill or retard the growth of microorganisms. Fragrances, UV filters and preservatives like BHT are also on the bad-for-the-environment list. And many of these chemicals don't biodegrade quickly so they're going to be around for a while. Another hidden benefit of going green-your shower will stay cleaner longer because you won't see the same tough soap scum build-up that petroleum-based products cause.

When it comes to body wash you might want to gravitate toward Pangea Organics Pure Shower Gels or natural products that contain a few Certified Organic ingredients like Red Flower Purifying Body Wash and Carol's Daughter Body Cleansing Gel. These formulas don't contain bad-for-you fragrances either; instead they get their yummy scents from essential oils.

Bar soap is another way to ensure you're getting only the purest ingredients. Even though body washes have been the get clean fad for years, natural and organic soap ranks higher on the eco scale-but be warned that traditional bar soap often contains animal fat along with a laundry list of chemicals. The production process for bar soap is really simple, preservatives aren't necessary and natural ingredients like coconut oil can actually make a really creamy lather. Bar soaps don't need to be packaged in a manufactured plastic bottle either, a slip or recycled paper or cardboard will do. Pharmacopia's Certified Organic Soaps are made with certified organic palm, coconut and extra virgin olive oil. Aubrey Organics Vegetal Soaps are made of pure plant ingredients and Kiss My Face Soaps are made with pure palm oil and olive oils.