I was going to preface my own Top 5 list with all the usual motivational stuff. Change can be scary. Every journey starts with a single step. Small changes add up. Future You will thank Present You. Then I remembered this is a bathroom article. Let’s not overthink it.

So without further ado, I present my Top 5 ways to go green and save money in your bathroom.

1. Bidet Attachment: 1990 me: “This is the stupidest waterfountain I’ve ever seen.” Current me: “How did I ever live without this?” You know who has two thumbs and became a complete bidet convert? This girl. When I upgraded all the toilets in my house to low-flow models, I also tried a few different bidet attachments. I bought a moderately priced one (Hello Tushy), a more affordable big-box store version (Hello Lowe’s), and a super-cheap Amazon model for the bathroom my husband has claimed as his own. Honestly, I couldn’t tell much difference between them. Sure, you can spend a fortune on heated seats, warm water, remote controls and enough features to make your toilet smarter than your television, but the basic models get the job done just fine. You’ll use a lot less toilet paper, you’ll save money over time, and after a few weeks you’ll wonder why these aren’t standard in every bathroom. Want to know more? Check out my full bidet review right HERE.

2. Toilet Paper: Of course this landed at number two. Approximately 27,000 trees are cut down every single day just to make toilet paper. That’s a lot of trees for something we literally flush away. The first step is using less of it, which brings us right back to item number one. The second step is switching to recycled or bamboo toilet paper. Don’t panic. Recycled toilet paper isn’t recycled toilet paper. It’s made from recycled paper products that would otherwise end up in a landfill. More and more companies now make terrific eco-friendly options. Some use recycled paper, others use bamboo, which grows incredibly fast and is a renewable resource. I really like Reel because it’s made from 100% tree-free fibers, ships in plastic-free packaging and the boxes are recyclable. And yes…for my longtime readers…toilet paper still has two sides.

3. Bamboo or Recycled Toothbrush: According to the American Dental Association, Americans throw away roughly one billion plastic toothbrushes every year. That’s billion with a B. Now I’m definitely not suggesting anyone stop brushing their teeth. The people standing next to you in line would appreciate it if you kept doing that. Instead, switch to a more sustainable toothbrush. Companies like Preserve make toothbrushes from recycled #5 plastics like yogurt containers and bottle caps. When you’re finished with them, you can send them back to be recycled into something new. Another great option is bamboo. The handles are biodegradable, many brands use plastic-free packaging, and they’re available in both adult and kids’ sizes. These have become a huge hit in my house. I even bought toothbrushes for my dogs. Yes…my dogs.

4. Toothpaste Tabs: My grandma was incredibly proud of her teeth. When she was in her nineties she’d smile and tell me, “They’re all mine.” As a teenager I’d roll my eyes. Today I completely understand. She brushed after every meal and always used toothpaste powder. Back then I thought it was strange because everyone else squeezed toothpaste from a tube. Turns out Grandma was ahead of her time. Traditional toothpaste tubes are surprisingly difficult to recycle because they’re made from layers of different materials. Toothpaste tabs solve that problem. Most come in refillable glass jars, eliminate plastic waste, travel well and work exactly the way you’d expect. I’ve used Bite Toothpaste Bits for quite a while now. They’re plastic-free, come in several flavors, even make versions for kids, and they’ve earned a permanent spot in my bathroom. Sometimes Grandma really did know best.

5. Floss: When I say floss, my husband immediately starts doing the Fortnite dance. I immediately think of Pretty Woman. Remember the scene where Julia Roberts gets caught flossing her teeth and casually says, “You shouldn’t neglect your gums.” She had a point. Traditional floss usually comes wrapped in plastic and often isn’t biodegradable. When you run out, look for floss made from biodegradable materials that’s packaged in a reusable glass container. There are plenty of good options now that skip unnecessary plastics and still do exactly what they’re supposed to do. Your dentist will be happy. The planet will be happy. And your gums will be pretty happy too.

So there you have it. Five easy changes that don’t require remodeling your bathroom or emptying your wallet. Going green isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making a few better choices whenever you can. If you’ve found a great eco-friendly bathroom product that I should try, let me know. I’m always looking for my next favorite swap.

The post Top 5 Ways to Go Green and Save Money in Your Bathroom appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

One of my husband’s favorites is “Shaft” which by the name alone is funny enough and should be on one of those Facebook lists “movie names that sound like porn”. There’s a line in the movie where Jackson’s character John Shaft is putting the moves on a lady and delivers the line “You know me…it’s my duty to please that booty”. I know, not exactly Shakespeare in the Park but still pretty good.  Why am I talking about this movie? Obviously this falls under the Dirty category but what does this have to do with Living Clean? Well, “hold on to your butts”. (that’s a Jackson quote from Jurassic Park)

Let’s talk about butts. My husband’s famous line to our girls is “opinions are like butts, everyone has them and no one wants to hear yours”. We use expressions like “being the butt of a joke”, “butt naked”, “butt-ugly” “work your butt off” or my favorite “butt-munch”. There are a myriad of songs dedicated to our moneymakers.  We like dropping off our older daughter at her friend’s house with the windows and top down and “I Like Big Butts” cranked up on the stereo, she thinks it’s hilarious (no, she doesn’t…not even a little and I think she hates us). The point is…as a society, we seem to have a rump-obsession, but I think we are “behind” the times in truly taking care of them.

Me? I absolutely love my Tushy.

My husband has become a huge fan of my Tushy too. My younger daughter thinks my Tushy is pretty great. My teenager is…well…a teenager, so enthusiasm isn’t really her thing.

Before this gets any weirder, I’m not talking about my actual rear end.

I’m talking about my Tushy, a bidet attachment that mounts under your toilet seat and washes your backside after you do your business.

Everyone poops…it’s not just a child’s bedtime story, it’s a fact of life. As Americans we have become accustomed to a roll of toilet paper being our chief caboose cleaner, but if you travel anywhere outside of the US you’re likely to come across a bidet and you know why… because they’re not as gross as we are. “Are you ready for the truth?” (Jackson quote – Unbreakable)…

Picture if you will…you and I walking down the street probably to or from a bar and out of nowhere I flung shit at you (mine or someone else’s, let it be your choice) and it landed on your arm, would you calmly ask for a napkin and gently wipe it off? Hell no! “Who the fuck is this asshole?” (Jackson – Coming to America) You’d freak the fuck out that I soiled you and immediately start scrubbing your arm Silkwood-style. I’m picturing water, soap, bleach and probably a flame thrower. There would be crying, vomiting, a lot of explaining and quite possibly a Facebook post. I of course would find this hilarious.

Yet in the privacy of our own home or god forbid a poorly ventilated bathroom stall at work, we pinch a loaf and then ball up a wad of toilet paper like a catcher’s mitt, give our crack a couple of swipes and call it a day. Well…”God put you in my path and I aim to cure you of your wicked ways.” (Jackson – Black Snake Moan)

Toilet paper still has a place. Think of it as the finishing touch. But it’s no longer my primary weapon in the war against dingleberries and skid marks. “Come on! Toilets are always funny!” (Jackson – The Spirit)

When I first started researching bidets, I pictured one of those carnival games where you shoot a stream of water into the clown’s mouth. The thought of blasting my poor unsuspecting backside with a jet of water wasn’t exactly appealing. Fortunately, today’s bidet attachments are nothing like that.

The Tushy installs right between your toilet seat and the bowl. There are several companies that make bidet attachments, but this was the one that checked all my boxes. I splurged for the warm-water model because cold water aimed in that general direction sounded less like a spa treatment and more like an emergency evacuation.

Installation was surprisingly easy.  Well…it was surprisingly easy for my husband.  I supervised.

Once everything was hooked up, I politely kicked him out of the bathroom because I’m a lady, sat down and prepared for what can only be described as the strangest leap of faith of my adult life.

I started cautiously.

Tiny bit of water.

Tiny adjustment.

A little warmer.

A little stronger.

A few seconds later…

“Only God should have this power.” (Jackson – Jumper)

I had found the sweet spot.

I’m not saying a bidet changed my life.

I’m just saying I feel cleaner, I use a lot less toilet paper and I honestly don’t know why I waited so long to get one.

In fact, I liked it so much that I’m planning to put one in every bathroom in the house.

Once you bidet…you’ll never go away.

The post I’m Not Being Pushy, I Just Love my Tushy appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.