Clear for calm: Decluttering and Organising bathrooms for better eco credentials
7 minute read
Modern day bathrooms are often depicted as idyllic spaces, furnished with candles and neatly labelled toileteries with plants and folded towels. There's usually no sign of an overflowing bin, towels strewn everywhere and cupboards full of random bathroom items. Anyone who's ever set foot in a bathroom, whether it be their own or someone else's, will probably have seen something like this before.
With our homes now accommodating work, children, animals and other family members, it can be hard to keep on top of our spaces. Add to this, the expectation to be more eco-friendly and sustainable and suddenly the pressure is on!
In today's blog, APDO member Sian Pelleschi answers the question, how do we deal with our bathrooms and sort them so they are more environmentally friendly?
For most of my life, I have never really thought too much about saving the planet. Being an eco-warrior and looking for ways to do things differently that weren't damaging to our lovely green Earth wasn't high on my list.
That's not to say I didn't do my bit. I was brought up to believe you should recycle wherever possible, not drop litter and use as little energy as possible.
However, it wasn't until I hit my 30's that I really started to take note, to make small but achievable changes that whilst they definitely don't 'save the Earth', they do help to make it a more sustainable and eco-friendly world.
Some of the clients I work with really struggle with the concept of letting go, not because they don't want to, but because they hate the thought of items going unnecessarily to landfill or being wasted when they can still be used - just not by them. It causes great pain that these items build up in their homes and yet they struggle to move them out, usually because there are no obvious places to send them or they just don't have a way to get them out easily.
However, the ability to recycle things that would previously have gone straight to landfill is so much easier now.
With the start-up of new recycling programmes and charities, it is easier to let go of those items in our homes that we previously struggled to discard.
Here are some ideas and easy options for changes that you can make within your homes, in particular your bathrooms, to be more eco-friendly and turn that clutter into an eco-oasis without too much trouble.
Storage
Let's start with the biggest item, as this is quite often part of the problem. Lots of cupboards and shelves means places to throw things on/in. When organising these spaces use baskets or boxes, anything you can to contain the items so they don't become unruly.
The most eco-friendly way to do this is to utilise boxes you already have around the house - shoe boxes, Amazon boxes (let's face it, most houses have at least one or two of these). They can even be decorated using old wallpaper, leftover wrapping paper, or simple brown craft paper if you want to smarten them up. Or if you're after a more uniformed and perfected look, opt for the recycled plastic, wicker, wooden or bamboo baskets you can now easily get on the market. Remember to label and keep like for like items together so you don't overstock.
Makeup
More often than not, I come across bathrooms that seem to have become the breeding ground for makeup. If you wear it, go through it every few months and take out all items that you no longer use or are past their best. Sadly, items like mascara use lots of plastic and toxic ingredients, meaning they're not as eco-friendly as we'd probably like.
However, through the recycling magic that is Terracycle, there are more ways to recycle previously unrecyclable items. Maybelline have partnered with Terracycle and you can now find drop boxes in most main supermarkets to deposit your mascara, eye liner, palettes and foundation. Hurrah! Alternatively search eco friendly make up online and you'll find lots of products now available.
When it comes to cleaning your makeup off your face, traditionally people tend to use cotton wool pads. As they're single use, they're a huge drain on the environment due to the chemicals, water and deforestation that goes into making and getting rid of them. Instead, opt for reusable makeup pads. They can be washed and used time and time again. I use these pads from Cheekywipes that work a treat, but you can also make your own using old towels or muslins.
Containers
If you're using single use plastic soap containers, shampoo and conditioner bottles or bubble bath consider swapping to an eco-friendly glass bottle, that's refillable from a local refill shop. There are so many popping up that you're never far from one. If you don't feel you have the time to pop to a local shop, there are more and more companies offering refill items that can be sent in the post, cutting down on single-use bottles. You don't have to swap them all either, just opt for the ones that you use the most to start and see how you get on.
Toiletries
Toothbrushes - Instead of a traditional, good old plastic, limited-lifetime toothbrush, which doesn't decompose well and sticks around in the ground years, opt for a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo is a sustainable source of material as it grows at pretty much the same speed you can take it down. Usually, the bristles will still be nylon but they can be removed and the handle recycled. There are even options for electric toothbrushes too - so there's really no excuse for not having one!
Cotton Buds- These unfriendly single-use items have caused chaos in the past when it comes to eco-friendliness. Thankfully the government have stopped the sale of plastic-stemmed ones and you can now get bamboo-made buds. However, you could go one step further and get a reusable bud, like the ones sold here at Last Object. Much more eco-friendly, cuts down on storage space and easy to clean!
Deodorant - We all know that aerosols are not great for the environment. Not only that, but despite the fact that they have reduced the cans in size, they still take up lots of space and while they can be recycled, it's much harder to do so. Instead, opt for an eco-friendly deodorant. It lasts a long time, smells great and is good on the environment too - win, win in my eyes!
Cleaners
If you're after a bathroom cleaner that isn't full of nasty chemicals there are lots on the market (you can buy from the refill shops or online as mentioned before) and you can also make your own. Bicarbonate of soda, lemon and vinegar all have cleaning properties that work a treat and can leave a room or surface sparkling clean. Add a splash of essential oil and you'll be left with a lasting lovely smell. Simply look online for homemade cleaning products and you'll find an abundance of recipes.
Bins
Ok, I know you'll be thinking 'what on earth is she going to say about this?', but hear me out. If you want to go down the eco-friendly route then you need to look at where your items are disposed. Having one bin in a bathroom doesn't work as you'll inevitably throw everything into the one and not sift it out into the correct bins when the time comes. Make your life easy and organise it by type, in the first instance, by getting a multi-space bin. There are more on the market than you may think, but you can easily just get two smaller containers (from your house) or use wicker baskets (with a liner). Something like this Joseph Joseph bin doesn't break the bank and looks smart.
If you've worked through the list above and made all the changes, you'll find there won't be anywhere near as much waste in your home as before - so a single bin may suffice after all!
Whatever you do, don't put pressure on yourself to do it all in one go. If you want to be more eco-friendly and have an oasis of a bathroom, it can be done. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Small steps lead to great things!
Sian Pelleschi founded Sorted! in 2016. She covers the North West of England in person and the world virtually. She takes a firm but fair approach to help those who are struggling with their space – both physically and mentally – and believes that decluttering is not just about throwing ‘stuff’ away or creating beautiful surroundings, but about providing practical, long-lived processes that can support a person going forward. Sian is the current President of APDO and her goal is to inspire, motivate and declutter as many lives and businesses as possible.
If you would like a local professional organiser to help you explore becoming more eco friendly and tackle your bathroom clutter, visit our Find an Organiser page.