Going green in the bathroom doesn't require a huge effort. In fact, below are eight easy things you and your family can incorporate into the family to-do list today!

TIP 1 Mind the Tap

There are plenty of water-saving opportunities in the bathroom- By installing a low-flow showerhead or a low-flow faucet aerator; you'll save thousands of gallons of water each year! However, if you think installing a low-flow showerhead is too much of a hassle, then start by not leaving the water running. Many of us don't realise this — we often leave the tap running while we brush our teeth. Incidentally, don't have the habit of letting the shower run while you run out to grab things or answer a call. You'll be amazed how a small habit like that can have a huge impact through the years!

TIP 2 Flush with Care!

When it comes to using the toilets, be sure you're reaching for toilet paper created from recycled sources. Forests are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels and other disposable paper products. You can help stop this destruction by buying recycled toilet paper or those that contain recycled material. One thing to remember is to avoid using products made from virgin boreal forest trees. When it comes time to flush, remember to close the lid before hitting the button to prevent the spread of bacteria around your bathroom. It's also time to consider installing a dual-flush toilet or dual-flush retrofit on your current toilet.

TIP 3

Say No to Disposables

When it's time to clean up, avoid the temptation to reach for disposable products. That means paper towels and other disposable wipes should be replaced by reusable rags or microfiber towels for mirrors, sinks and the likes. When it comes to scrubbing the toilet, don't even think about using disposable toilet brushes! In the same vein, more and more cleaners are being sold in refillable containers, so you don't have to buy so much packaging and can reuse the perfectly-good spray bottle, instead of buying a new one each time you run dry on glass cleaner.

When it's time to clean up, avoid the temptation to reach for disposable products. That means paper towels and other disposable wipes should be replaced by reusable rags or microfiber towels for mirrors, sinks and the likes. When it comes to scrubbing the toilet, don't even think about using disposable toilet brushes! In the same vein, more and more cleaners are being sold in refillable containers, so you don't have to buy so much packaging and can reuse the perfectly-good spray bottle, instead of buying a new one each time you run dry on glass cleaner.

TIP 4 Make Your Own

You can go a step further and use natural ingredients to create your go-green cleaning agents! Spray the shower with a natural mold-fighting solution after each use. This preventative measure can eliminate the need for toxic chemical mold-killers in the future - a few spritzes now will save a whole lot of scrubbing later. Fill a spray bottle with one of these suggested solutions, and keep it in the shower:

• White vinegar

• 2 cups water with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil • Water and lavender essential oil

You can also use baking soda as a tub and sink scrubber. The abrasive qualities are similar to that of "bathroom scrubbers" but minus the unnecessary toxic chemical additions so often found in those products. Simply sprinkle it on straight and wipe with a sponge. or you can opt to combine with water to make a paste. Bathrooms are notoriously small and often poorly ventilated, so, of all the rooms in the house, this is the one that should be cleaned with green, non-toxic cleaners.

TIP 5 Check Beauty Products

Beware of products containing parabens - they mimic oestrogen in the body, and because they're a preservative, they linger in the marine environment - and petroleum, which is non-renewable and contains potentially dangerous chemicals." On another note, products such as "antibacterial" soaps often include endocrine disruptors, which, in addition to breeding "super germs" resistant to these cleaners, may be doing your body serious harm and are wreaking havoc on fish and other organisms after they get into the water stream after you flush!

TIP 6 Green Notes on Towels

After a nice shower, dry off with towels made from materials like organic cotton and bamboo. Contrary to popular belief, cotton is not environmentally friendly. Conventional cotton

is one of the most chemically-intensive, pesticide crops on the planet—to the tune of 2 billion pounds synthetic fertilisers and 84 million pounds of pesticides each year! Cotton costs environmental health problems for those who apply the pesticides and harvest the crop—not to mention the damage done to soil, irrigation and groundwater systems. Bamboo on the other hand is very eco-friendly because it’s one of the fastest-growing plants and is also reputed to have antibacterial qualities when spun into linens. But if you must use cotton, then remember to source for organic cotton!

TIP 7 Shower Safe Curtains

If you use shower curtains, be sure to avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic because they are not only bad for the environment, they are hazardous to health as well! The production of PVC often results in creating dioxins, a group of highly toxic compounds, and, once in your home, PVC releases chemical gases and odours. Once you're done with it, it can't be recycled and is known to leach chemicals that can eventually make their way back into our water system. So be on the lookout for PVC-free plastic or go for a more permanent solution, like hemp, which is naturally resistant to mould, as long as you keep your bathroom well-ventilated. Incidentally, you can also buy ones that are made from organic cotton and linen.

TIP 8 Keeping It Green

Once you go green, you never want to go back! It takes effort to keep it going so continuously read up on new ideas to keep you inspired. Finally, remember to do regular light maintenance, unclog drains, and fix leaky faucets and so on with green in mind.