7 Tips for a Stylish and Non-Toxic Bathroom🫧🚿🧴

Y'all, the bathroom is one of those rooms that gets overlooked. So this week I wanted to talk through a few simple ways to make your bathroom feel a little more like a retreat, and less like a place where moisture, mildew, and harsh chemicals are living rent-free.

1. Keep the air moving

This one's non-negotiable for us: always run your bathroom fan during and after a shower. If you don't have one (or it's a weak one, we've all had that landlord special), bring in a small standing fan to help circulate air. Mold and mildew need moisture to grow, so the fastest way to keep your bathroom cleaner and healthier is to just get the air moving so that that humidity doesn’t stick around. Fifteen to twenty minutes post-shower does the trick.

Mini dehumidifier: EvaDry

2. Pick a bathmat that won't hold onto moisture

Your bathmat works hard and doesn't get nearly enough credit, or attention. A few options that actually help instead of harbor moisture:

• Bamboo mats: water rolls right off, they dry fast, and they add a nice natural texture underfoot.

• Diatomaceous earth mats: these absorb water almost instantly so you're not stepping onto a damp sponge every morning.

• Cotton mats: totally fine, just plan to hang them up to air dry after every use and wash them weekly so they don't turn into a mildew trap.

Whatever you choose, the goal is the same: don't let a wet mat sit on your floor for hours.

3. Filter your water!

Showerhead filters and sink filters are such an easy upgrade. They help reduce chlorine and other buildup from your water, which is proven to be better for skin, hair, and honestly your whole bathroom routine. It's a five-minute install and one of those "why didn't I do this sooner?" changes.

Our favorite showerhead filters: AquaBliss and Jolie

Our favorite faucet filters: Canopy

4. Clean with something you actually want to breathe in

Bleach is one of the harshest things you can spray around a small, poorly ventilated room every single day. There are many safe disinfecting products (like Force of Nature and Hypochlorous Acid) that will also do the job. A few non-toxic swaps that also work well:

• White vinegar + water (1:1) in a spray bottle for counters, mirrors, and glass shower doors.

• Baking soda as a gentle scrub for tubs, sinks, and grout. Just sprinkle, scrub, rinse.

• Castile soap + warm water for an all-purpose everyday clean.

None of these leave behind the sharp chemical smell or residue, and they're safe to use around kids and pets without a second thought.

5. Raise the rod, rethink the curtain

Take your shower curtain rod and raise it as high as it'll go. Even just a few inches higher makes the whole room feel taller and more open. 

And don't feel boxed into buying an actual "shower curtain." Regular window curtains and drapery panels come in way more colors, patterns, and fabrics, and they instantly make a shower feel more like a design choice and less like an afterthought. Just make sure to look for 100% cotton and pair it with a liner behind it to keep things where they belong.

6. Thrift before you buy new decor

This is your sign to swing by a thrift store or scroll Facebook Marketplace before you buy new decor. Bathrooms are such an easy place to bring in a little vintage character: an old silver tray for the counter, a crystal dish for cotton balls or jewelry, a chippy wood stool for towels. Don't skip the silver and crystal sections, that's where the good stuff hides. It is usually only a few dollars, and it adds a softness you just can't get from big-box store decor.

7. Layer in softer light

If the sun has gone to bed, so should your overhead, big lights. Add a small plug-in lamp or a circadian rhythm night light for evenings, something warm and dim you can leave on low instead of flipping the big switch every time you walk in. It's such a small change, but it makes those nighttime and morning routines feel a whole lot calmer.

Blue-light free night lights: Bon Charge & HealthyHome

Some of our favorite bathroom product links: Amazon and ShopMy

Small changes, big difference.

Stay Clean ~

Washed Up Goods Team