According to the internet, we all love Top 5 lists. You can find the Top 5 underrated movies to watch, the Top 5 vacation destinations, the Top 5 kitchen gadgets, the Top 5 dogs for apartment living…you name it and somebody has ranked it.
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.
