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Bathroom

That sharp smell from a new plastic shower curtain is the curtain off-gassing. Testing of PVC and vinyl curtains found phthalate plasticizers making up as much as a third or more of the curtain by weight, alongside organotins and VOCs, and because these additives are not chemically bound to the plastic, they release steadily into the air, a process the warm, humid bathroom only accelerates. That is why the picks below skip vinyl for natural fibers.

Source: Camann et al. (2008), Epidemiology.

Below are the vetted bathroom swaps.

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Shower Curtain

No natural fiber is truly waterproof. Pair a natural-fiber curtain with ventilation and an optional plant-based wax.

$$$ Bean Products Organic Cotton Designed and made in the USA 100% organic cotton, no PVC, PFAS, or plastic liner. Certs: GOTS $$$ Bean Products Hemp Designed and made in the USA 100% hemp canvas, no PVC, PFAS, or plastic liner. $$$ Rawganique Designed and made in the USA or Europe Organic hemp canvas, no PVC or PFAS, biodegradable. + pair with: make it water-repellent Otter Wax Fabric Wax Bar Designed and made in the USA Beeswax and plant oils, no petroleum, PFAS, paraffin, or silicone.

Bath Mat

$$$ Delara Designed in the USA and made in India 100% organic cotton, free of harmful chemicals and dyes. Certs: GOTS, OEKO-TEX $$$ Dorai Home Designed and made in the USA Diatomaceous earth and recycled paper, no dyes or synthetic backing. Certs: Prop 65 asbestos-free and lead-free, PFAS and phthalate tested $$$ The Citizenry Designed in the USA and made in Japan Native hinoki cypress, raw wood, no finish or sealant.

Non-Slip Tub Mat

Natural rubber contains latex proteins and is not for latex-allergic users.

$$$ OTHWAY Designed and made in China 100% natural rubber, no PVC, TPE, or silicone.

$$$ WRISIN Designed in the USA and made in China 100% natural rubber, no PVC, TPE, EVA, or BPA.

$$$ HEVEA Designed in Denmark and made in Malaysia 100% upcycled natural rubber, no microplastics, biodegradable. Certs: vegan certified

Towels

$$$ BIOWEAVES Designed and made in India 100% GOTS organic cotton, no antimicrobial finish or synthetic softener. Certs: GOTS $$$ Coyuchi Designed in the USA and made in India 100% GOTS organic cotton, undyed, no synthetic softeners or finishes. Certs: GOTS, MADE SAFE $$$ Aizome Designed and made in Japan 100% GOTS organic cotton, plant-dyed with medicinal plants. No synthetic dyes. Certs: GOTS, FDA Class I Use code ROOTSNFRUITS

Squeegee

Ettore Master Brass Squeegee Designed and made in the USA Solid brass, natural rubber blade, no plastic or silicone; contains latex.

Hygrometer

A hygrometer measures how much moisture is in the air, so you can tell when your bathroom is too damp. Mold thrives in humid air, so keeping an eye on the reading and airing the room out when it climbs helps stop mold before it starts.

$$$ TempPro Designed in the USA and made in China Digital humidity and temperature, accurate to 2 to 3% RH. $$$ Govee Designed and made in China WiFi humidity and temperature, Swiss sensor, phone alert at set threshold. $$$ SensorPush Designed in the USA and made in China Precision sensor, dewpoint, 45-day logging, subscription-free app, optional remote alerts.

Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier pulls moisture out of the air. Most bathrooms do not need one, since an exhaust fan, a squeegee, and an open door handle the damp. This tier is for problem bathrooms with no window, a weak fan, or recurring mold, where keeping humidity low starves mold of the moisture it needs to grow.

$$$ MideaCube 20-pint Designed and made in China 20-pint compressor, 1500 sq ft, continuous drain, washable filter. Certs: Energy Star

$$$ MideaCube 35-pint Designed and made in China 35-pint compressor with pump, continuous drain, washable filter. Certs: Energy Star

$$$ FrigidaireGallery 50-pint Designed in the USA and made in China 50-pint compressor, pump, continuous drain, run with the ionizer off. Certs: Energy Star

Shower Head Filter

$$$ CulliganHSH-C135 Designed and made in the USA KDF media reduces chlorine, sulfur odor, and scale. Certs: NSF/ANSI 177 certified (IAPMO R&T) $$$ WeddellDuo Designed in the USA and made in Korea Carbon-block filter reduces chlorine, PFAS, microplastics, and DBPs. Certs: NSF/ANSI 177 and 372 certified, IAPMO-verified to NSF 42 and 53 $$$ PureEffectPureShower Designed and made in the USA Multi-stage filter reduces chlorine, VOCs, radon; verified by independent testing.

Bathtub Filter

The only bath filter with published testing.

$ Santevia Designed and made in Canada Reduces 99% of chlorine, the only bath filter independently verified at normal flow. Chlorine only. Tested: Independently tested by ALS Environmental, an ISO 17025 accredited lab, to NSF 42.