Choosing green products for your bathroom is easy. There are a few simple changes you can make that will help you do your bit for the environment and cut your family’s risk of exposure to toxic chemicals.

• One of the first things you can do to “green” your bathroom is to choose recycled toilet paper and facial tissue.
• Look for the highest percentage of “post consumer content” you can find and check labels for paper made without chlorine processing. It may say PCF (processed chlorine free) or TCF (totally chlorine free).
• When it comes to creams and beauty products, the average adult uses nine personal care products a day with roughly 120 chemicals spread among them, many of which are not fully tested for toxicity.
• When buying beauty products, read ingredient lists on labels, and watch out for chemicals you can’t identify.
• You can check out The Green Guide for a list of what it calls the dirty dozen substances in personal care products, which it recommends you avoid.
• A single use of any of these items isn’t likely to cause any harm, but exposure from daily use over a lifetime may add up to a problem.
• Be wary of misleading labels, or claims that can’t be proven, like “natural” or “botanical”—even products that use the word organic in their name may contain no organic ingredients at all.
• Using towels made with organic cotton or bamboo will also help “green” your bathroom. Bamboo is naturally resistant to pests.
• Something as simple as replacing a shower curtain liner can help “green” your bathroom. Most shower curtains are made of PVC, which contains phthalates that can disrupt hormones, and contribute to asthma. Look for a liner made of P-E-V-A, still vinyl but no phthalates. Or splurge and get a hemp shower curtain, which naturally resists mildew.
• Synthetic fragrances in candles and air fresheners often contain phthalates and alcohols, aldehydes and aromatic hydrocarbons, which are respiratory irritants. Many synthetic fragrances are also petroleum based.
• Look for candles made from beeswax, which actually cleans the air. Or look for ones made from soy, palm or other vegetable oils. And instead of room fresheners with fake fragrances, open a window, or use a fan.