Few things are as relaxing as a massage or hot bubble bath, and you can enjoy these experiences right from the comfort of your own home. However, you might be wondering how to pamper yourself while still having a low environmental impact. How can you make your spa eco-friendly? Here are six ways to turn your bathroom or bedroom into an eco spa. 

1. Reuse Your Towels

One easy way you can make your spa eco-friendly is by using your towels more than once before washing them. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to launder your towels at least once a week to prevent mold, bacteria and viruses from hanging around. 

Unless you have a medical condition that necessitates using a fresh towel every day, doing less laundry won’t hurt you and is better for the environment. Just 0.5% of the world’s water is both fresh and unpolluted, so the more of it you save, the better. Plus, washing your towels less often will also lower your energy use and can extend your linens’ life span. 

2. Choose Green Ingredients for Your Eco Spa

Buy soap, shampoo, conditioner and other hygiene products without parabens or triclosan, which can harm marine life if they get into the ocean. For that much-needed massage session to unwind your sore muscles, use eco-friendly and sustainable body oils — such as coconut, olive, jojoba, almond or argan oil — alongside your favorite massager. 

Do you live in a country where plastic microbeads are still legal for use in facial scrubs? If so, look for alternative ways to exfoliate, as these tiny beads pollute the environment. Natural scrubs often use salt, sugar or ground walnut as exfoliants. 

Keep in mind that you don’t need to buy anything fancy to enjoy a luxurious spa day. You can make your own eco-friendly body scrub by mixing sugar, olive oil and honey. Boil lavender buds in water, then strain them out to make your own sweet-smelling face wash. Moisturize your skin and hair with coconut oil for a silky smooth finish.

3. Create Mood Lighting

Choosing the right kind of candles is an easy way to make your spa eco-friendly. Candles made from paraffin wax are unsustainable because paraffin is a crude oil product. Rather than quite literally burning fossil fuels, buy candles made from natural wax like soy, beeswax or coconut that have a cotton, wooden or paper wick. 

Another sustainable addition to your eco spa is LED lights, which use much less energy than incandescent bulbs. Buy dimmable LEDs or delicate string lights to create a cozy atmosphere in your home. 

4. Scrub With a Natural Loofah

If you normally use a plastic loofah to exfoliate those hard-to-reach places, you’re not alone. However, few recycling centers accept plastic loofahs because they’re made from soft, stretchy plastic that can easily become tangled in machinery. Most loofahs end up in the landfill after a few uses and never biodegrade. 

Luckily, the luffa plant — also called a loofah — is the original source for those oh-so-scratchy sponges. Its fully developed, dried fruit makes for the perfect exfoliant, a great addition to any eco spa. Just replace it every few weeks to ensure it doesn’t grow mold. 

5. Reduce Packaging Waste

Every American generates an average of 4.51 pounds of solid municipal waste daily. That’s the weight of a brick! 

One way to cut down on the amount of trash you throw out is to buy less of it in the first place. Many cosmetics and toiletries come in plastic bottles — which have a non-recyclable pump — or cling wrap, which most recycling centers cannot accept. 

To make your spa eco-friendly, choose products packaged in glass, cardboard, paper or, ideally, no packaging at all. Check out your local farmers market to see if they have unwrapped soap or shampoo bars. 

6. Only Fill the Tub Halfway

Soaking in a hot bath is a quintessential spa experience that helps soothe sore muscles. However, taking a bath does use a lot of water. You can save up to 12 gallons of water by filling the tub just halfway rather than all the way full. 

What do you do with the extra space? Fill it with foamy bubble soap, Epsom salts, oatmeal or rose petals — or all of them at once. A water-saving bath never felt so luxurious. 

How Can I Make My Spa Eco-Friendly?

An at-home eco spa is one of the best ways to help yourself relax, and it’s certainly easier on your wallet than shelling out for a seaweed wrap or an hour at the sauna. Make your spa eco-friendly by reducing packaging, using natural ingredients and using less water so you can unwind in the privacy of your own home without harming the environment. The planet — and your sore muscles — will thank you for it.