Tips on saving water at home, reducing the use

Most of the people use up to 100 gallons of water per day at home. When you consider that you should be drinking only half a gallon, it is obvious that this is not the main problem and we should all continue to drink the recommended amount every day. Luckily, there are so many different ways in which you could save water which will also help you save money and protect the environment. 

Beginner Tips for Water-Saving 

The tips below could be done by anyone without any difficulty. 

The faucet should be turned off during tasks 

While you are in the process of washing your hands, the dishes, and food, and when you are shaving, it might look easier to let the water run without you actually using it. Turning the faucet off during those times will save you a lot of water. For a single washing of the hands for around 20 seconds you could reduce your consumption by a quarter of a gallon of water. And taking into account that during the current pandemic we are constantly washing our hands, it could easily add up.

Use Your Dishwasher in the Right Way

It is better to use the dishwasher in most cases, since they usually use a smaller amount of water than hand washing. Don’t turn the dishwasher on until you have a full load, program it on the shortest cycle, and in general get an energy-efficient one.

Shorter Washing Machine Cycles

Just like with the dishwasher, you should program your washing machine on the shortest cycle, don’t do any additional rinses, and when possible, use cold water. The permanent press cycle should also be avoided since it includes both cold and warm water and has one additional rinse. 

Change Up Your Shower Routine

If you are showering for too long, then you should make some changes. Try taking shorter ones, less frequently or don’t wash your hair that regularly. 

Put Water in the Fridge

By doing so you will always have the perfect cold water ready, and you won’t have to keep running the tap for a long time until achieving it.

Your Cooking Water Should Be Optimized

You can switch boiling some vegetables to steaming them which requires quite less water. You can also use the steam coming from the pasta or rice you are cooking and put a basket on top of the pot!

For pasta you should be using the smallest pot you have and in this way you will not be wasting too much water. You can also use the starchy water, formed by the pasta to bulk up soups and sauces.

Don’t Wash Your Clothes So Regularly

You should definitely wash your underwear, socks and gym clothes after each wear, but for others which are not sweaty or dirty – maybe wear them again before putting them in the washing machine. 

Intermediate Tips for Water-Saving

Below you will find some home improvement projects that will assist you in saving water.

Install a Low-Flow Shower Head 

It can really reduce the amount of water you are using. Some shower heads will help you cut down the consumption to 1.8 gallons of water per minute, compared to 2.1 gallons per minute.

Repurpose Greywater

This is the water that is slightly-used from your shower, sink or bath. You should just put a bucket in the sink and to collect the extra water, or the one from the tub before draining it. You can after that water the plants with it or wash your car. 

Repair Those Leaky Faucets

A faucet that leaks 60 drops each minute is estimated to waste 192 gallons of water every month, or 2,304 gallons per year. You can see why it is important to repair them.

Do An Upgrade Of Your Toilet

If your toilet is older it will use up to 7 gallons of water for every flush. The newer ones use only 1.28 gallons per flush, which makes them far more efficient. Next time you are looking to buy a new toilet, just keep in mind that.  

Compost

If you have a built-in garbage disposal that gets rid of food scraps, you should know that it consumes a lot of water. The better option is to compost — in this way you will reduce your water consumption and create great soil for the garden. 

Upgrade Your Appliances In The Right Way

When it is time to change your appliances, think about investing in more water- and energy-efficient ones. You should also always wait until you really need to replace it.