The Ultimate Guide to a Greener Bathroom

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST TOXIC ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE CLEANER, SAFER AND CHEMICAL-FREE

- Tara McKenna

Early in the 2010s, I began to realize that my bathroom was the most toxic place in my house. I read headline after headline warning consumers about the negative health effects of chemicals in beauty products. Documentaries such as Stink!, about the toxic chemicals found in everyday products, left me further alarmed. I had all kinds of unsafe chemicals in my cupboards. Maybe it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise, especially when it came to the cleaning products. Many of them do have warning labels.

Now it makes me cringe to think that I spent years cleaning with harsh chemicals without wearing rubber gloves. I wasn't protecting myself against the toxins that can penetrate the biggest organ we've got: our skin. Additionally, breathing in cleaning products' fumes can be bad for our lungs. Toxic substances may irritate air passages, be absorbed by the lungs into the bloodstream, or lead to a decline in lung function with longterm use. I resolved to change my cleaning habits-immediately.

What I didn't know back then was that my efforts were also laying the foundation for sustainable and low-waste living. It makes sense. Less stuff equals less waste. Fewer toxins equals healthier people and a healthier planet. And, the chemicals we use at home often find their way into the natural environment.