Waterless Shower

[I apologize for not updating very frequently lately. I've been taking a very challenging course on the "Foundations of American Constitutionalism." That has taken all my brain and time. :) Weekly postings will resume in August.]

There are many reasons people do not bike/run/walk to work. One of the most frequently cited reasons is the lack of showers at the workplace.

10nine8 has devised a solution for just such a situation. "Rocket Shower" lets you clean up in a bathroom stall (or anywhere else with privacy) without needing any additional supplies/water. Their products come in 2, 4, and 8.5 ounce bottles, easy to carry with you or leave at the office.

What's in it and how does it work? Here's some information from the "Rocket Shower" website:

1. Witch hazel...used as an astringent and skin cleaner...It's a strong and effective body cleaner...
2. SD Alcohol 40. Helps evaporate the sweat quickly, kills bacteria that can lead to body odor, and has a slight cooling effect.
3. Water
4. Grapefruit peel oil. Citrus helps clean the skin, and contributes a clean scent...Rocket Shower's scent completely evaporates soon after application.
5. Peppermint oil...helps cool you while you clean up.
6. Vitamin E...to ensure the alcohol and witch hazel don't dry out the skin.

Click here to read more about Rocket Shower's ingredients and how it works.

TreeHugger has an article about this product as well. Check out the article to read about one person's first experience with the "Rocket Shower." And tell me if you try it!

Plastics and Your Daily Toilette

Your daily hygiene routine is probably one of the major sources of plastic waste in your life. You use your shampoo and body wash. You slick back your hair with hair gel. Or perhaps you squeeze some concealer, foundation, and lotion into your hands. Plastic bottles all.

Eco-Chick's article Nix Plastic from your Beauty Routine to the rescue!
-Next time you run out of shower gel/body wash, consider replacing it with bar soap. Minimal packaging. Use a washcloth with it or get two bars if you can't stand to think about sharing one with your significant other.
-If you're feeling adventurous, experiment with solid shampoo bars. You can find them from Burt Bee's, Herbaria, Oyin, Lush, and more. Easy to use, and oh-so-much-easier to take on an airplane!
-Buy items like hand soap in bulk.
-Consider branching out to multi-use products. Again, this reduces packaging. Plus, it'll be great for your subconscious to have fewer "things" in your life. Many make-up products can be multi-use; many solid shampoo bars can also be used as your primary shower soap too; make sure your lotion has sunscreen in it; etc.

Greening your bathroom

A great article today on Planet Green today. "How to Go Green: in the Bathroom" features lots of important tips and topics that you wouldn't want to overlook.

The article talks about:
-Low flow shower heads and faucet aerators
-Dual flush toilets
-Toilet paper (even rolling "over" or rolling "under" matters!)
-Cleaning supplies
-Showering and brushing your teeth
-Using vinegar and lemon as natural cleaning agents
-Shower curtains
-Soaps
-Towels and linens

In the later pages of the article, Planet Green recommends lots of links for further investigation into whatever topic(s) you are interested in.

You've probably heard of most of the tips. But I can almost guarantee that there will be one or two points in this article that will be new and useful to you.

Also, remember that the goal is to phase out your not-so-green habits and products as they need replacing (with a few health exceptions, of course). The article says, for example, that bamboo or organic cotton towels are the way to go. True. But the towels you own right now are infinitely greener because new things take so much energy and so many resources to produce and ship.