The Frugal Bathroom
photo by dogbomb
Let’s face it. There is guerilla frugality going on in the bathroom. Yes. I’m going THERE. Are there any sacred frugality topics? HA
I’m not going to talk about the toilet paper over or under the roll or the seat up or down. We all know which is the “correct” way. 
A simple peek into a frugal bathroom tells quite a story.
You know you’re frugal when….
*You aren’t sure how many times you’ve reused the bath towels and contemplate whether it’s time to wash them and you decide not yet.
*Your bathroom reading materials consist of free magazines.
*You know what mellow yellow means.
*You have a collection of saved soap.
*You use free perfume sample tear outs from magazines and tape them inside toilet paper rolls or use them in bathroom drawers.
*You reuse dryer sheets to clean glass shower doors or to clean the sink.
*You share bath water or share showers.
*You cut open toothpaste tubes to get every last bit.
*You dilute shampoos and have perfected a formula to the perfect blend of water and shampoo.
*You stop the water while brushing.
*You have enough bathroom products stockpiled for the next three years and people shop at your house, and if you do run out of something, you wonder how long you can make do.
*You have enough free samples to equal several full sized products and sometimes part with them to give as gifts.
*You save old shower curtains to use as drop cloths and the magnets for the fridge.
*You have laundry hanging to dry on the shower rod.
*Plunger sits in a leftover plastic food container.
*Plastic grocery bags line your waste basket.
*You have an old toilet or sink in your garden.
*You make your own bathroom cleaning products.
*You have a stash of old toothbrushes to use for cleaning.
*Your bathroom rugs are handmade.
*You have a funnel in your bathroom to refill containers.
*You time your showers.
*You save toilet paper rolls for crafts and christmas crackers.
*Your bathrobe has seen better days.
*Washcloths end up great rags.
*Looking around at your bathroom, you can spot at least 2 items that are being reused or were bought secondhand.
Lastly, you know you’re pretty radical when you consider charging a cover fee to enter the bathroom as a new fun way to save, and when you want to enforce toilet paper rationing. 
Tell me all about your frugal bathroom. 
Posted by Sara Noel
on March 9 2007. Filed under Frugal & simple living.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with United Media. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook.
I counted 11 on that list that I do. I don’t use dryer sheets. I clean the mirrors and chrome with a chamois that lives in a ceramic pot under the sink.
I used to use the tp roll as a dog toy, but no more dog. These days, it gets used to hide used nasty paper (lipstick smeared, etc.) in the trash, bundle up electrical cords, or just gets tossed.
I can’t do the perfume thing..allergies. And I give all the samples to a refugee group I know. Food stamps covers food here, but not soap, toothpaste, etc.
I DO clean the tub as I get out, doesn’t everyone?. Spritz the cleaner on, grab the chamois, hit the mirrors and chrome, turn on the vent and rinse off the soap in the tub/shower, (it gets squeegeed about once a month). Fast, easy, & quick!
We only have one bath, so everyone uses it. (DH turned the other into a darkroom.)
Grocery bags line the trash can about twice a month, so about 1/2 the time. [I'm in the midst of trying to not to get plastic bags from stores at all, so....]
Thanks for the giggle!
Judi
21Familiar with many of these, and learned a few things too!
My bathroom garbage bin is a damaged 1910 porcelain chamber pot. I turn the huge crack to the wall and line it with a supermarket bag. No one sees the damage. It has a matching soap dish (full of soap scraps) and toothbrush holder. The toothbrush holder has a chip on the rim, but again I turn this to wall and out of sight. Frugality can indeed be beautiful.
22Hello Sara,
23I didn’t realise how frugal I was until I read the bathroom article.
But as for Adam who washes his bath while showering, I wonder if he tried what I do. After I am done my shower, I pass a small squeegie over my tub surround to avoid water stains and mildew. Doing the same on my bathroom mirror also saves a lot of time and cleaning products. What can clean better than steam?
Thanks,
Lise
Hanmer, On CA
I’m afraid I may qualify myself as the most radical frugal person of all time with this post, but here goes–Dental floss can be washed and re-used. Just ball it up in the palm of your hand, put a smidgeon of soapy water on it, and scrub a little. Rinse, dry, and it’s ready to go again. I just wrap it around the floss container to dry it. Next day, it’s as good as new. I did not read this anywhere; it just popped into my frugal head the other day!
24This cracked me up! Have you been spying on me?
25I too am “guilty”
26Of many of the above but not the perfume”(allergy). I am not good St saving water -i admit I live in an apartment and don’t pay for
It directly.
But no-one suggested baking soda instead of many cleaners, and as toothpaste(unless you have sensitive
Teeth)
I also use plastic bags. I can’t justify bringing them home if I don’t. I have adozen bags3
Adam, I’m right there with you. Spray down the walls and tub with whatever cleaner you use, wait 5 minutes, scrub everything down with a damp rag, and rinse it all of with the water at the beginning of your shower. That way, you get to take a shower in a clean shower and don’t have to smell like ammonia when you get done cleaning.
There are only 7 things on that list that I haven’t ever done.
I normally cut an empty gallon milk jug in half and use that as a plunger holder. Oh, and in my house, the TP goes under because it’s harder for the cat to unroll and destroy.
Thanks for the great ideas, everybody,
27Hope
a few things to add to your list
Taking sailor showers-wet self down, turn off water, suds down, then rinse off.
save shower water and use it to flush toilet- we have to conserve water during the dry months
have 5 gallon bucket in shower to catch first cold water and then using it to water plants
use “butt rags” old washclothes for personal cleaning after toileting/diaper change instead of using disposable wipes
use baking soda/vinegar to wash hair.
baking soda to brush teeth and facial scrub
28HAha
Bath towels are shared, 2 kids 1 towel ( After bath is done we hear “Wheres the towel?? I still laugh when I hear it) My Husband and I 1 towel. When towels get too smelly they are used as bath mats.
I always clean the house and save the bath for last so I can strip down and clean the bath and my self at the same time.
Baking Soda has been a tooth cleaner for so long I can’t remember when it was started.
We just replaced some pillows and I took the plastic bags from them to line the waste paper baskets.
29Save water, save soap, and create less mess. Virtually everone makes an unnecessary mess when they wash their hands by wetting their hands before they apply soap. This results in dripping water on the countertop and wastes water by running the water before the soap is in hand. Furthermore, it unnessarily softens barsoap by dripping water on the soap when reaching for the bar. Instead, try applying the soap to your hand before turning on the water and see for yourself: Less mess, less water, and less wasting of soap.
Thank you
30Love it… I clean my tub when taking a shower. However, my toilet paper is never correct.
31[...] A funny post about frugal bathrooms [...]
32I hit every one of these with the exception of my toilet brush sits in a nice ceramic vase I got at a garage sale for a dime! It’s pretty and matches the decor of the room.
Oh and I don’t have an old sink or toilet in my garden but I do have an old clawfoot bathtub out there and a 1930′s model wringer washing machine! Close enough!
Great post!
33LuxLivingFrugalis´s last blog ..Took Long Enough