Why You Can Trust CNET Should You Put Alexa in the Bathroom? Yes... Trust Us
It may sound crazy to put your Amazon Echo in the bathroom, but here are four reasons you should do it anyway.
You might be skeptical, but there's so many uses for your Echo in the bathroom.
Yes, you read that correctly. Your trusty Amazon Echo device can be so convenient in the most unexpected place: your bathroom. Think about all the times you've wanted to listen to music while getting ready or ran out of shampoo mid-shower and forgot to add it to your shopping list. Alexa can help with that.
The trick is to figure out the best spot to place your Amazon Echo device. If you keep it away from the toilet (there's germs and bacteria, duh) and running water, an Echo in the bathroom is a useful trick. So read on to find out where in your bathroom to put your smart speaker and incorporate all the benefits of having Alexa in the bathroom.
Mount your Echo on the wall or ceiling in your bathroom.
Where's the best place for your Amazon Echo?
The first step of putting Alexa in your bathroom is figuring out exactly where to place it. You definitely don't want it near your toilet due to all the germs that linger there, and you shouldn't place it on a sink or near the shower because you don't want to risk getting it wet.
So where can you put your Echo device? The best option is to mount it on a wall or ceiling with a sticky strip or a nail (if possible). You'll need to make sure that the cord is within reach of an outlet (or use an extension cord) before you mount it. Another option would be to set it on a wall shelf or a vanity without a sink.
Note: If you do mount it on the wall, it's best to use a smaller speaker such as the Echo Dot.
How can you use your Alexa device in the bathroom?
1. Order items when you run out
You probably only remember that you need shampoo when you're in the shower. But if you have an Echo in your bathroom, you can tell Alexa to order it. First, make sure you've got voice purchasing enabled in the Alexa app (Go to Settings > Account Settings > Voice Purchasing and toggle the Purchase by voice setting on).
When you notice you're low on something, just say, "Alexa, I'd like to purchase soap." You can also tell Alexa to add the items to your shopping list if you're planning on going to the store later.
2. Listen to music and podcasts
You may listen to music on your phone while you're in the shower, but what happens when a song comes on that you don't like? Chances are you use your wet hand to tap "skip" on the playlist, but things can go very wrong doing that.
With an Echo speaker in the bathroom, you don't have to worry about it. You can just say "Alexa, skip" and move on to the next song. You can also quickly request a specific song you want to listen to (as long as you have Prime or another premium music service).
3. Set timers or reminders
If you've got several people that share a bathroom in your house, you can set timers and reminders to prevent arguing over whose turn it is to use the shower. Give each person the agreed-upon amount of time in the bathroom -- say, 30 minutes -- and when the timer goes off, their bathroom time is up. If you're using a reminder, say something like "Alexa, remind Sarah in 30 minutes that her time is up in the bathroom."
Use your Echo in the bathroom to take notes, set reminders and more.
4. Never forget a shower thought again with (digital) note-taking
Some of the best ideas come to you when you're in the shower. But instead of forgetting them, tell Alexa to remember them. Just say "Alexa, make a note," and the voice assistant will ask what you'd like it to jot down. When you're ready to hear what you've asked Alexa to keep a note of, say "Alexa, read my notes."
Now that you've got your Echo speaker in your bathroom, check out these five creative uses for your Amazon Echo and these six Alexa settings you'll want to change ASAP.