20 Clever Ways to Save Money in Your Bathroom

A low-flow showerhead mixes air with the water it dispenses, so you feel as if you’re getting the same strong water pressure but you’re actually using much less water.

A dual-flush toilet is a great water saver because you can choose how big the flush needs to be. Some things need only a little bit of water to help flush them away.

When you adjust the water level in your toilet’s cistern, you’ll use less water. One way to do this is to adjust the floater by using the adjustment screw, which you’ll find on top of the fill valve.

Older toilets don’t always have an adjustment screw for adjusting the floater in the cistern. An easy fix to this problem is to fill a plastic bottle with water and to then place it in the cistern. The water level in the cistern will rise and you’ll use less water every time you flush.

Leaky faucets, showerheads and toilets can add significantly to your water bill. Regularly check for leaks and replace worn-out washers.

Keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water that would normally just run down the drain. You can then use this water for washing the floor, flushing the toilet or watering plants.

A typical bath uses about 150 litres of water, so make that soak a once-a-week treat and shower the rest of the time.

If you stand under the shower for as long as it takes to sing along to all the songs on your favourite album, you may end up using more water than if you’d taken a bath instead. Cut down your time in the shower to a maximum of 10 minutes.

There’s no reason the water in your bath or shower has to be boiling hot. For every 6 degrees you turn down the water heater, you can save as much as 5% on your energy usage. A good temperature range is between 55 and 60 degrees.

When you leave the water running while you wash your hands, brush your teeth or shave, you’re just wasting it. Turn off the tap while you’re washing, brushing or shaving and then turn it on again for rinsing.

Instead of buying expensive cleaners for your bathroom, you can use baking soda and vinegar. For example, sprinkle some baking soda into the toilet bowl, add some vinegar and let it bubble for a few minutes before scrubbing it clean.

Generic store brands are usually cheaper than name brands and do the job just as well. If you don’t want to give up your favourite shampoo, you can still use store brands for items like toilet paper, cotton balls, soap or over-the-counter drugs.

When you shop for bathroom supplies, work out the price per unit. It’s often cheaper to buy the larger size and it will save you a few trips to the store too.

Bathroom supplies seldom have expiry dates, so you can safely keep them for a long time. If something you regularly use is on sale, buy extra.

You don’t need to cover the entire length of your toothbrush with toothpaste. A pea-sized amount is usually sufficient and your tube of toothpaste will last much longer.

There are many recipes online for making your own cheap toothpaste or tooth powder. Most of these use baking soda, which will not only clean your teeth but will whiten them too.

Most people use more shampoo and conditioner than they actually need. Experiment with smaller amounts, starting with half the amount you normally use, until you find what’s right for you. Your shampoo and conditioner will last longer.

Unless your skin is extra sensitive, you don’t need expensive shaving cream. Work up a good lather from your soap or shampoo bar and use this for shaving. Your soap won’t last as long but is still cheaper to replace than shaving cream.

You’re wasting toilet paper when you use thick wads of the stuff. Even cutting down by two or three squares per use will make your toilet paper last longer. For a long-term hygiene investment, you may want to consider installing a bidet.

A menstrual cup requires a bigger initial investment but it lasts for years: years in which you won’t have to buy tampons or sanitary pads every month. It’s more environmentally friendly too, since you won’t be filling the landfill with feminine hygiene products that take a long time to decompose.