Need money saving tips for the bathroom? If you feel like you are flushing money down the toilet, then you might be! Did you know that the bathroom is one of the costliest rooms in your home? Between the water use and the price of toiletries, this can be a huge money-wasting zone.
But, you can the flow of cash down the drain with these money saving tips for the bathroom.
Saving Money on Toiletries
How much money do you throw in the trash? Seriously… when you think about the cost of the remnants of soap and shampoo or hair gel and toothpaste, how much money have you sent to the landfill because you did not want to get to the bottom of the bottle?
The biggest money saving tip for toiletries is… choose wisely and use it ALL.
Shampoo and conditioner
When using shampoo, only use about a quarter-size amount on VERY wet hair. If you feel like this is not enough, add water to your hair before adding more shampoo. You might be surprised.
Do the opposite with conditioner. Wring the water from your hair, work through a small amount of conditioner and then rinse.
If your children use too much shampoo or conditioner, use one of these two methods to teach them the correct amount:
- Place the correct amount in a sauce cup for the child to use.
- Use a permanent marker to place a line on the bottle so they know where to stop.
Buy whatever shampoo is on sale. Forget about product loyalty. Besides, using a different brand of shampoo each time you wash your hair keeps the PH balanced. Your hair will be healthier and super shiny!
Need a good detangler? Add a couple of drops of regular conditioner to a spray bottle. Add water and shake.
Store shampoo and conditioner bottles upside down so the remnant settles towards the spout.
Transfer shampoo and conditioner to pump bottles. One pump should be enough to lather and rinse yourself clean.
Makeup
Stop buying makeup you don’t need. Keep your makeup organized so you know what you have an use it. When you find a favorite color, write down the brand and name to keep in your wallet or take a picture of it with your phone.
Check the clearance. Many shades of makeup are seasonal so stores often dump the fall and winter cosmetics when the spring and summer colors arrive. While some of these colors might be frightfully bright compared to your usual style, many are still neutral enough to translate into beauty on any face.
Visit the Dollar Tree. I am not kidding! They actually carry cosmetics – the same brands you find in drugstores – for $1.
Take makeup you hate back for a refund. Most stores have an exchange or refund policy for cosmetics. Even Walmart will let you return makeup that you hate within a reasonable timeframe and with a receipt.
If you love salon or department store brands, shop during special bonuses so you receive additional cosmetics with your purchase.
Purchase everything from one place and use a rewards program to cash in on bonuses. For instance, your bonus points can be used on ANY product at Ulta Beauty. Plus, you receive 2x, 3x, and 5x rewards on select products and get a little happy on your birthday. (Check out more freebies on your birthday.)
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Never buy a new toothbrush. When you visit your dentist twice a year, ask for a toothbrush sample.
Never pay more than $0.99 for a tube of toothpaste. Drugstores always have deals on toothpaste. Matched with coupons, you could even get it for free!
Place a sealing clip across the toothpaste and move it towards the spout periodically.
No clip available? Put the toothpaste on the counter and run the handle of your hairbrush along the tube, pushing the toothpaste to the top. Just make sure it is sealed tightly before you begin.
For children, invest in the Touch N Brush. It really helps cut down on waste but can be difficult to clean if it gets clogged.
Soap
Instead of purchasing liquid soap in a new container each time, buy a soap dispenser and refill it as needed. Foaming soap dispensers will increase your savings as they use 1/8 the normal amount of liquid soap by mixing with water.
When you get down to a tiny sliver of soap, grab a new bar and work it into a lather. Press the sliver into the new bar. It might take two trips to the shower to get the sliver to stick to the new bar but it will!
Collect the little pieces and put them in a piece of old pantyhose. Tie it to the faucet of your utility sink or outdoor faucets for soap that is handy when you need it. Place it in the shower for soap-filled scrubber.
Make liquid hand soap out of the small slivers by breaking it up into smaller pieces. Add hot water and let the soap sit overnight until it gets really mushy. You can then use a blender or just shake the soap really well. Make a moisturizing soap by adding olive or baby oil.
Toilet paper
Before putting a roll of toilet paper out for use, squash it. The bumpy roll with discourage over-use.
If the toilet paper spins quickly, more toilet paper will fly off the roll and end up being used unnecessarily. Instead of allowing the toilet paper roll to spin, make the toilet roll stationary so you must remove sheets by twisting the paper around the roll. You will use much less because you have to work so hard to get it off the roll.
Purchase toilet paper with Amazon Subscribe and Save. By purchasing in bulk, you save more than buying individual packages. Plus, when you purchase five or more items in your monthly Subscribe and Save order, you save an additional 15% off the regular low price.
Save the cardboard tubes and divide two-ply toilet paper by splitting the sheets and gently rolling the separated paper onto different tubes. It will not be as soft but works well, although you might find you use more to avoid messy hands.
Teach children to use four squares. It helps them learn to count as well as teaches a lesson in stewardship.
Brand loyalty is accepted… when you know the lowest price offered on your favorite brand and watch for sales. Match those low prices with coupons to save even more and stock up. You will always need toilet paper.
Skip the toilet paper. That’s right. Many families are using a “family cloth” system by using reusable toilet wipes made from flannel and seeing significant savings.
Other toiletries
Use a pair of scissors or utility knife to slice open plastic containers of face wash and hair gel to scrape out the remainder.
Most lotions are water-based, meaning you can add a little water to thick lotions and make it go much farther.
If you barely sweat (lucky you!), try using baking soda as deodorant. Just use a large puff and apply lightly to avoid caking.
Applying powder is always easier and less messy with a powder puff. No powder puff? Put the powder in a single sock and twist a knot in the end. Dab away!
Skip expensive shaving cream and use a squirt of conditioner. Your legs will be softer than ever.
Avoid overpaying for razors. Register for Dollar Shave and pay as little as $1 per month for a razor and five refill cartridges a month.
Make your own bath salts using baking soda or inexpensive Epsom salt. Place the baking soda or salt in a air-tight container with an empty (but open) essential oil bottle to infuse with fragrance.
Simple bathroom repairs
Stop plumbing problems quick! Search YouTube or a store website like Lowes for quick and easy ways to fix leaky faucets or toilets without calling a professional before all that money goes down the drain.
If your toilet keeps running and jiggling the handle no longer helps, open the lid and make sure the chain is not trapped under the toilet flapper. If the chain is clear of the flapper, then the valve is not sealing completely between flushes and the flapper needs to be replaced.
If the flapper is fine but you think water is still leaking from the tank into the toilet bowl, add food coloring to the tank and wait. If the water in the toilet bowl changes color, you know that a tank repair is needed.
If your faucets has gone from a full flow to a trickle, remove the aerator (where the water comes out) and check for debris. If the aerator has collected calcium build-up, soak it in vinegar and then scrub. The aerator can be easily replaced if needed without professional help.
Keep a plunger in the house for clogged toilets. They are not pleasant to use but are very handy. (Pardon the pun.)
Clogged drains happen. If water starts to back up into your sink or tub, use a clog auger or pipe snake to remove the debris.
Avoiding water waste
Turn off the water when brushing your teeth! How many times have you heard that one?
Don’t shave while you shower. Run water in the sink or bathtub and then rinse your razors as needed.
Use less water every time you flush the toilet by placing a brick (sealed in a plastic bag to avoid flaking) or full water bottle in the tank reservoir. If that sounds scary, upgrade to a low-flow toilet.
Aim to take a shower in five minutes or less. Allowing the shower to run for 8 minutes or longer is the equivalent of filling an average bathtub with water.
Extend your savings in the bathroom shower by installing a water conserving shower head.
If you like stepping into a warm shower, catch the water that falls while the water temperature heats to use for watering plants or filling pet water bowls.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. I don’t mean “if it’s yellow, let it mellow.” That’s gross. If it works for you, fine. What I mean is that trash should go in the garbage and not the toilet. If you blow your nose, put those tissues in the trash can. Avoid the extra flush.
Instead of letting the water run down the drain, fill the tub from the start by cranking the knob all the way to hot and then adjust the temperature as the bathtub fills. One word of caution… never leave an unattended child in the bathroom with the tub faucet running at full temperature.
Other ways to save money in the bathroom
During the summer, use the bathroom fan while showering to allow the steam an escape. Your air conditioner unit will thank you.
Unplug those personal appliances. Even if your curling iron or blow dryer is “off,” is is using fantom power and making the power meter run.
Clean the bathroom with homemade cleaners and skip the expensive options at the store.
Saving money is something that we all want to do but sometimes it’s not very easy. Thank you for sharing this helpful info, Tabitha!
Tabitha, I really do like your blog! You share very helpful and non-obvious(!) things. By the way, you recommend using about a quarter-size amount of shampoo on VERY wet hair. I’m not going to argue with this, but it may encourage many people to spend more water than they did before. Actually, speaking of saving tips, I would like to mention such a thing as low-flow showerheads. Although it’s more expensive than a traditional showerhead, it will definitely pay off as you will get a lower water bill when you invest in such an item. You also get to help the planet because your home won’t consume as much water once you have it installed.
I like the idea of cleaning the bathroom with homemade cleaners. They are not only cheaper, but also more delicate. Some commercial cleaners are such harsh as they can even corrode the pipes. Even though they can be effective, plumbers don’t recommend using them very often.
Thanks for sharing such great ideas! I see you’re suggesting installing low-flow toilets. Low-flow faucets or low-flow shower heads are also worth the investment, even though they are more costly than traditional plumbing fixtures. By investing in such items, you can drastically reduce your water consumption, and, as a result, your water bills. They can reduce the amount of water you use by up to 30%.
Small things matter lot in saving money.