'In general, you should avoid using bath water on vegetables or other crops you plan on eating,' says Josh Tesolin, gardening expert and co-founder of RusticWise. 'Watering landscape or ornamental plants is okay depending on the types of products you're bathing with.' Opt for mild, biodegradable bath products to minimize harm to plants and soil organisms.
It is best to avoid using bath water on edible plants or young seedlings in your vegetable garden. 'The runoff from shampoos, soaps, and other bath products may be absorbed by the leaves and roots,' says horticultural expert and garden planner Diana Cox. 'Instead, reserve the diluted bath water for watering well-established plants, lawns, and trees.'