Summer Showers Go Green

Take a shower sans guilt with these organic bath goodies & water-reducing products!

By Erin Donnelly
August 11, 2008

While hitting the showers takes less water than a bath, there’s more you can do to lessen your water usage. The Australia-based company Ripple specializes in shower timers that will help you keep your showers short. The basic hourglass-style timer costs just $4, or you can upgrade to a fun star- or animal-shaped digital timer; a suction cup easily holds the timer to bathroom tiles. The Lowest Flow Showerhead can also cut water usage by 50-70% percent.

Lathering up with organic soaps is another earth-friendly touch. The Cleansing Body Bar from Origins is made with 90% organic ingredients, including coconut oil, palm oil, clove, and more. If you prefer a shower gel to a soap bar, wash with an invigorating lavender, orange, or ylang ylang gel from the E. Harcourts Organics line; snag a matching body lotion for moisturizing skin post-shower.  

Dry yourself off with an organic bath towel. Rawganique offers a wide range of eco-friendly towels made in undyed, untreated, and unbleached hemp, linen, and organic cotton. While the hemp and linen towels are inspired by the Swedish sauna experience, the ultra-plush organic cotton models are all about providing luxuriant comfort. What’s more, Rawganique also makes organic bathrobes, bathmats, toilet lid covers, and even shower curtains—in short, everything you need to create a bathroom seemingly furnished by Mother Nature.

Now that you’ve gotten squeaky clean à la green, keep in mind that smart water usage doesn’t stop at the shower drain. Visit Waterfootprint.org to calculate your personal water consumption, and turn off that tap next time you’re giving your chompers a nice healthy brushing.