While we don’t consider taking a shower an unhealthy activity, there are a few steps you can take to make your shower healthier and even more invigorating. When you take a shower, the steam and hot water open the pores of your skin(opens in a new tab), so anything you use on it is absorbed into your skin. Following are a few tips to reduce the toxin load of your shower. Filter your water. Municipal water systems add chlorine to the water during the treatment process, and a certain amount of chlorine remains in the water. Many places have hard water, meaning the water contains minerals. Adding a home water filter reduces chlorine and other chemicals at the point water enters your home. If you prefer not to buy a whole house water filter, you can buy a filter for your shower head to reduce the chlorine, chemicals, and minerals you inhale and absorb. Use organic or natural soap and shampoo(opens in a new tab). If you read the ingredients of your soap and shampoo, you’ll find ingredients you can’t pronounce, and some of these are bad for your skin, such as sodium laureth sulfate. Why not try some goat’s milk or natural bath products? A Google search will bring up many websites for organic soaps and shampoos, and once you try them, you won’t return to the chemical-laden cleansers. A side note: Several companies also sell natural toothpaste or tooth soap. You’ll be amazed at how clean your mouth feels without the chemicals(opens in a new tab) in your regular toothpaste. Leave the door open. The chemicals in your water or in your cleansers give off fumes that become concentrated if you leave the bathroom door closed. Opening the door allows the steam and fumes to disperse outside the bathroom, giving you cleaner air to breathe. Don’t flush the toilet right before you shower. Flushing spews bacteria into the air, and those bacteria can linger in the bathroom if you shower right after flushing—especially if you leave the door closed. You can flush with the lid down, or wait to flush after your shower. Change loofahs and washcloths regularly. Be sure to let bath poufs, washcloths, and loofahs dry completely between showers. Bacteria thrive in moist environments, so do what you can to ensure that the entire washcloth surface is exposed to air. Change your bath accessories regularly—at least every few weeks—to reduce bacterial contamination.
Do you have any tips for a healthier shower?
