bathroom Accessories

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Avocado' Green Mattress' natural wood bathmat is made in their Los Angeles factory from 100 percent solid American Beechwood, a sustainable hardwood. Greenguard Gold certified, it contains no VOCs or formaldehyde and is made with non-toxic glues and a waterproof varnish. All individually handmade.  

This handy wooden bath tray from Avocado Green Mattress is made of American beech wood and made in Avocado's Los Angeles woodshop.Finished with zero-VOC varnish. 

This free-standing towel rack from Avocado Green Mattress is made of American beech wood in Avocado's Los Angeles woodshop. Finished with a zero-VOC finish.

Like their towels, this bathmat from the Turkish Towel company is made of -GOTS-certified long fiber organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. Non-GMO and free of pesticides. 

Coyuchi's Turkish cotton shag bath rug is made from 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. GOTS-certified and Made Safe-certified. It has a flat weave bottom and it's machine-washable.

Coyuchi's medium-weight cotton twill bath mat is made in India from 100 percent organic cotton grown in India. GOTS-certified and Fair Trade-certified. It's highly-absorbent and machine-washable.

This bamboo soap dish from the Ecomaniac Company lifts soap bars up so they don't sit in a pool of water. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial but if cleaning if needed, the manufacturer suggests using vinegar. 

Coyuchi's Turkish cotton waffle shower curtain is made from 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. GOTS-certified and Made Safe-certifed.

This eco-friendly and non-toxic hemp shower curtain from Bean products is handmade in the US. Bean is a family-run business founded in 1987. It also makes linen and cotton shower curtains. The natural breathable materials prevent exposure to the toxic chemicals in plastic shower curtains, including phthalates.

This stoneware soap dish from Public Goods is great because it has a lower layer to catch excess water adn soapy runoff, preventing the soap bar from melting. Each dish is handmade. They're lead-free and non-toxic. 

This plastic-free eco-friendly toilet brush is made of solid German beechwood with hemp bristles. It comes with a ceramic drip dish. It's zero waste, vegan and biodegradable. 

Loofah is part of the cucumber family and grows on trees so these organic exfoliating sponges are entirely plant-based. Once the loofah vines are fully ripe they are left to dry on the vine. The fruit disappears leaving only the network of fibers. The sponges can also be used as scrubbers in the kitchen.

Avocado Green Mattress's organic ribbed cotton towels and washcloths are 100 percent GOTS-certified and even Made Safe-certified, which is a rigorous scientific screening process that only allows the use of ingredients that are not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, aquatic life or ecosystems. 

Organic bath towels from the Turkish Towel Company are 100 percent GOTS-certified organic long fiber Turkish cotton grown in the Aegean region. They are dyed with Earth-friendly dyes, are pesticide-free and non-GMO. 

Fabdreams' towels are made from 100 percent organic cotton from India. They are shipped in paper. Thick and plush, the towels are 700 gsm (grams per square meter, which refers to the weight and absorbency of fabric). Fabdreams is a family-run Toronto-based company that only makes organic products and has a commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Coyuchi plush organic towels are made from long-staple organic cotton grown and woven in India. and are non-toxic and free of chemicals, including harmful dyes and pesticides. Long a leader in organic cotton fabrics, Coyuchi boasts that it was the first to bring organic cotton to the marketplace when the business was started more than 32 years ago. They support not only organic farming practices but also regenerative farming.

These towels from Anact are a blend of hemp (55 percent) and organic cotton (45 percent). Anact was founded by an environmental activist and textile industry veteran who wanted to use hemp to create eco-friendly towels and other products. Hemp biostatic (naturally anti-microbial), fast-drying, ultra absorbent, sustainable.

This fast-drying hemp washcloth from Anact is a blend of hemp (55 percent) and organic cotton (45 percent). Anact is short for An Act or "the simple act of taking action and creating positive impact." It was founded by a young woman who helped legalize hemp in Florida and has traveled around the world working in the textile industry and advocating for the environment. 

These open knit gentle exfoliating washcloths are made from hemp and organic cotton. They are biodegradable and free of chlorine and other harmful chemicals. Made in Illinois by Bean Products. 

I love the Ayate Washcloth from Public Goods. It's a great exfoliant. It's made from the fibers of the agave plant and is biodegradable. There are no synthetic fibers, dyes or toxic chemicals. It comes in a cardboard box. The Ayate Bath Strip (photo above) is the same except it's long and narrow and has handles, so perfect for washing your back. 

Ethique's shampoo bars are cruelty-free, vegan and not tested not animals. Their natural ingredients are plant-based and fair trade and they are packaged in biodegradable and compostable cardboard. Ethique also has great conditioner bars. Among Ethique's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint is its partnership with Ecologi, which plants one tree for every purchase from Ethique. 

One of my favorite natural products is Dr. Bronner's castile soap -- I like the peppermint best. I use them for cleaning the house, washing my face, shampooing my hair, washing my clothes and more. It's made with organic oils, is vegan and cruelty-free. I do not love that a lot of it comes in plastic bottles so I increasingly use the paper-wrapped bar soap for everything. Don't let its multi talents fool you into thinking it's not a pro at each. It's an excellent shampoo. 

The Earthling Co.’s natural shampoo bars are vegan and plant-based, free of sodium lauryl sulfate, silicone, parabens, artificial fragrance, preservatives and other harmful chemicals. Ingredients include coconut oil for moisture, apricot seed oil, hemp seed oil, panthenol (Vitamin B5) and glycerin. They are cruelty-free, made in the U.S. and come in cardboard boxes. No plastic! 

Eartheasy's biodegradable shampoo bars are made from plant oils like olive, castor, coconut and hemp, shea butter and a variety of essential oils for fragrance. They are non-toxic and free of petrochemicals, preservative and other synthetic chemicals. They are made in the U.S. and are packaged in paper. No plastic in sight! 

I don't know if J.R. LIggett's shampoo bars were the first but I know they were making them long before it became popular and recognized as an eco-responsible way to wash your hair. Their vegan bars are made in New Hampshire from plant oils like coconut and almond, mango butter and aloe vera. They are free of synthetic chemicals, sulfates, fragrances and detergents. Packaged, as always, in paper.  It's the best deal in town.

Shampoo bars from the Zero Waste Store are made from plant oils like coconut, hemp and jojoba, cocoa butter, lemon juice and sodium coco sulfate (different from sodium lauryl sulfate). They contain no preservatives or silicones and no synthetic coloring or fragrances. They are vegan, cruelty-free and handmade in the U.S. Packaged in a cardboard box with water-based ink. No plastic at all. 

 Eartheasy's conditioner bars are vegan, cruelty-free and plant-based.  They are made in the U.S. and have no plastic packaging of any kind. Just a paper wrapper. The dense concentrated bars use natural ingredients such as cedarwood, hemp, argan, jojoba and rose hip oils and have no water filler. 

Natural conditioner bars from Zero Waste Store are all handmade in the U.S. and are free of silicones, parabens, and palm oil. Their packaging is plastic-free, just a good old cardboard box, with water-based ink. These bars are vegan and cruelty-free. Their all-natural ingredients include plant oils like argan, rapeseed, olive, jojoba, kukui nut and hemp. Zero Waste Store also  has equally eco-friendly and natural shampoo bars. This great business is women-owned and a member of 1% for the Planet, which means it donates at least one percent of profits to environmental causes. 

Like their shampoo bars, the Earthling Co.'s conditioner bars are non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals, including those that can strip hair of its natural oils. They are also cruelty-free and come in cardboard packaging. 

David's toothpaste is great among other reasons because it comes in a metal tube. No need to put something so temporary as toothpaste in plastic. (I only wish they'd use caps made of metal or wood, not plastic.) The toothpaste includes the mineral nano-hydroxyapatite which has been shown to help strengthen and remineralize teeth. It cannot restore lost enamel but can help protect existing enamel. David’s toothpaste is fluoride-free and flavored with natural peppermint oil. The tubes are made of aluminum but there is a non-BPA liner in-between the aluminum and toothpaste so the toothpaste never touches the metal. One note, Like some other toothpastes, David's uses xylitol, which though safe for people is toxic to dogs. 

Made in California, Bite toothpaste is little mini tablets that come in a glass jar like mints. You pop one in your mouth, gently break it up and voila, you’re ready to brush. They’re a great alternative to toothpaste that comes in a plastic tube. Not only is the jar glass, the top is metal. The tablets contain no sulfates, parabens and can be ordered with or without fluoride. They do contain a mineral called nano-hydroxyapatite that has been shown to help protect teeth and enamel. Bite also has tablets with activated charcoal. I do not recommend that as it can be too abrasive on enamel. Bite contains Xylitol which is safe for people but toxic to dogs so if you have dogs use caution.

These plant-based toothbrushes are entirely biodegradable. Even the bristles. The handle is bamboo and the bristles are  made from castor beans. The name -- Sea Turtle -- reflects the business’s mission to help protect and clean up the marine environment. Sea Turtle donates two percent of profits to organizations that help remove plastic waste from the ocean. They estimate that in the last three years alone, they’ve removed over 6,000 lbs. of plastic from the ocean through direct clean-up and the prevention of new plastic being thrown away. Their packaging is 100 percent biodegradable cardboard or kraft paper.

Save Trees Toilet Paper is FSC-certified bamboo, unbleached, free of plastic, dyes, chlorine and other harsh chemicals. It’s made in the U.S. and has the Climate Friendly Pledge. Rolls in packs of 24 and 80 count come individually wrapped in paper. The 12-pack rolls are sent together in paper wrapping overall but they're not individually wrapped. The bamboo is harested from responsibly-managed forests in regions where it grows natively. They also make eco-friendly paper-wrapped bamboo paper towels.

Who Gives a Crap is one of the best toilet papers out there from environmental and social responsibility standpoints. It's also great quality and at a competitive price. WGAC donates 50% of its profits to help provide toilets and clean water in locations around the world where they are lacking. To date they've raised $12 million for this cause. They offer TP made from recycled paper and from bamboo. All rolls come wrapped individually in colorful paper. No plastic. They also make great paper towels and tissues. 

Amazon's own eco-friendly toilet paper is 100 percent bamboo and each roll is wrapped in paper. Bamboo uses 90 percent less water to make than regular wood-based toilet paper and its carbon footprint is 70 percent smaller. It's made without elemental chlorine or dyes. It's unscented, FSC-Certified and USDA BioPreferred.

Bamboo tissues from Save Trees are made with 100 percent FSC-certified bamboo and bleached with an elemental bleach process, which is chlorine-free. As Save Trees points out, bamboo is a fast-growing grass, not a tree, and regrows from the same roots each time after it's cut, making it especially sustainable and renewable. It's hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and the boxes are recycled cardboard. 

These cotton swabs have cotton tips and bamboo stick. They contain no harmful chemicals, plastic or dyes and are biodegradable. They come in a cardboard box. Isshah also has similar cotton swabs for babies, the difference being that they have a large rim around the cotton tip.

This eco-friendly dental floss is made of bamboo fiber and treated with charcoal, peppermint oils and candelilla wax. It's vegan, cruelty-free and PFAS-free. It's non-toxic, zero waste and biodegradable. Comes in cardboard packaging. I'm happy to see there are a few plant-based options for floss, instead of just the ubiquitous plastic and the silk option, which harms animals. The other plant-based brand I've found is Dental Lace.

There’s a lot of natural lip balm available but most is still packed in plastic. And a lot is also made with beeswax, which can be harmful and exploitive to bees. Organic Fabula Nebulae lip balm, handmade in Maine, is plant-based, cruelty-free and packaged in a nifty tin with a sliding top. It's made with plant oils and contains no palm oil, dyes, phthalates or synthetic fillers.

This bar soap is handmade in traditional fashion by craftspeople in Nablus, Palestine in the West Bank, where the business was founded in 1880. It has just three ingredients: virgin olive oil, water and mineral salts. Some of the oldest olive trees in the world are in Palestine and making olive oil  soap there dates back to the 10th century. The soap is unscented. 

Terra Thread's handy canvas cosmetic bag is made from 100 percent organic cotton -- healthy for you, for its manufacturers and farmers and for the environment. Purchases support the Feeding America campaign to end hunger. So far, they've helped donate over 4.3 million meals. Comes in a variety of color schemes.

Farmstead Apothecary's face cream is made from organic jojoba oil, which balances the oils in your face and clears up blemishes. Jojoba oil is anti-aging, helps reduce acne, hydrates skin, and reduces oil production where needed. Other ingredients include natural vegetable oils, non-GMO wax, pentylene glycol from corn, stearic acid and organic fragrance. Great for all skin types.

This organic and natural lip balm from Farmstead Apothecary is made from organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic shea butter, organic natural fruit flavor, organic stevia and non-GMO vitamin E oil. It's housed in biodegradable cardboard so it's plastic-free. It's also plant-based, vegan and cruelty-free.

These  cotton-covered hair elastics from Zero Waste Store have no plastic or synthetic materials in them. Just natural rubber and organic cotton. They are biodegradable and won't harm the environment when eventually thrown out. They're even compostable. Zero Waste Store also has all cotton and rubber scrunchies. They are hand-dyed with organic dyes. The rubber is harvested from FSC-certified rubber trees and they are Fair Trade certified.

This eco-friendly bamboo brush from the Zero Waste Store is just bamboo and rubber. That's it. The handle and frame is 100 percent bamboo. So are the pins. And the base is natural rubber. No plastic at all. Nothing synthetic. It’s polished with a carnauba wax for a finished look. Packed in biodegradable and compostable paper packaging.This eco-friendly bamboo brush from the Zero Waste Store is just bamboo and rubber. That's it. The handle and frame is 100 percent bamboo. So are the pins. And the base is natural rubber. No plastic at all. Nothing synthetic. It’s finished with a carnauba wax.

These eco-friendly face masks are made of two layers of tightly-woven and breathable pre-shrunk organic cotton, plus an additional layer of mesh cotton fabric on the interior side. Designed to contour the face, the masks can expand to cover the mouth and chin and have adjustable ear loops to create a snug individualized fit. It even has a built-in slot for an optional filter. They are 100% free of plastic and elastics, bleaches & other harsh chemicals.