So before you start asking “Ellen, is this really an article about zombies, Brad Pitt or your fear of being bloated?” Well, for the record it’s not about any of these things, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t seen Thelma and Louise at least a dozen times.

So, my real problem with zombie movies is me. I know if I was the main character I’d just give up. It just looks too hard to keep fighting and for what…you know in the end you’re either going to end up being a zombie or end up being lunch. Why fight it? Well, shit…now I feel awful about myself. I’m a bad-ass mom, I eat healthy, I own a treadmill and a cute workout outfit. In the face of overwhelming odds, am I really quitter? Don’t I want to be the cute, plucky superhero who saves the world and doesn’t treat their family like a 3-pack of TV dinners? I feel like these are valuable, yet oddly specific questions I have to ask myself. In the face of what may feel like an overwhelming crisis are you going to be Brad Pitt or are you going to be lunch? (although if being Brad Pitt’s lunch was an option I might change my answer)

Ok, a bit dramatic and I fully acknowledge that I’m not a superhero (although I have been known to pull off a decent Wonder Woman and a kick-ass Batgirl during Halloween). So while zombies are not (yet) a thing, there is a very real crisis that is actually sweeping the planet. It’s our very own real life World War C (it’s for Climate and unfortunately not for Cookie, because I might fight all of you for the last cookie). We need to realize that it’s no longer Climate Change – it’s more like Climate Already Changed. It’s not coming…it’s here. In my head I’ve combined the onslaught of a wave of zombies and my anxiety about Climate Change into an eco-boogey-man-mega-monster I have dubbed Climombies. And just like that beautiful scarf-wearing man I’m going to fight like hell and I’m going to do my best to drag you all along with me. Right now California and Montana are on fire, icebergs are melting, Europe is hotter than hell, Kentucky has too much water and Mississippi doesn’t have any, it’s time to go to work!

“But Ellen, I’m only one person, how many lights would I need to turn off during the day to make a real difference?”  Well, I’m here to tell you that the answer is…just one and tell a friend to turn off one too. If they tell a friend and that friend tells a friend then that’s how we beat the Climombies. I don’t want to be lunch, I want to be one of the green heroes we need right now and you can be one too (mask and costume are optional…but they definitely make some activities more fun.).

I started writing this blog before they called it “eco-anxiety” back in 2014 when it didn’t have a name. Well, 7 years later it has a name and now instead of letting the Climombies win by just lying down and getting eaten (metaphorically of course), I wanted to fight back. The time for talking is over. We are way past turning off lights when we leave a room and recycling your tin cans. These things are still important, but I want to talk about the next level of being eco-friendly. I like to give you tips and examples to make you say “huh, I never even thought of that”. I’m not going to tell you to go buy a Tesla or remind you that toilet paper has 2 sides, but if this was a zombie movie then we are at the start of the third act where shit starts getting real.

Whether you want to believe it or not the planet is hurting and it seems to be fighting back. We’re the ones who need to change, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your way of life. With some simple “next-level” changes to our lives we can really make a big difference, and BONUS…save money at the same time.

Make no mistake, I’m not trying to sell you anything or make you feel bad that you use plastic straws or that you don’t always recycle. I’m here to tell you that climate change sucks and it’s ok to be pissed and afraid and you’re not alone. Unfortunately, Brad Pitt isn’t going to save the day, we are. Stay on the journey with me or join it for the first time now and if we all just put in a little bit of work then we can be the change we’ve been so desperately waiting for.

Think of it like using a bidet, sometimes all it takes is a slight adjustment to get the job done.

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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.