At home, it’s easy to lose track of how much water we consume. This is especially true since we don’t see the water depletion ourselves.
If you’re not conscious, you’ll be surprised at how much water you actually consume in a day. With so many water shortages around the world, it’s about time we all do our part to conserve water.
If you’re not sure where to start, read on to learn five eco-friendly ways you can save water at home.
Turn off the tap
Do you keep the water running while you brush your teeth or shave? You don’t have to keep the tap running every time you use it.
For example, while you’re brushing, you can keep it off until you’re ready to rinse. When washing vegetables, you can fill up a basin and wash from there to avoid wasting excess water.
When doing the dishes, food comes off easier after you leave them soaking in soapy water first. Aside from saving your hands from the pain of scraping off tough stains, you’re saving water, too.
By turning off the tap, you can unconsciously save a ton of water that you didn’t know you were wasting.
Fix leaks
Though leaks may seem like a tiny threat, you’ll be surprised at how much money you’ve lost to water you didn’t even get to use.
If you haven’t checked on your pipes in a while, take this as a sign to do so after reading the rest of this article.
Check your bathroom faucets, kitchen sinks, backyard hose, and so on for any leaks. Afterward, call your trusty ole plumber to come over and have a look-see.
Shower smart
Try to cut your shower time in half and only spend five minutes at most taking a shower. It may take some getting used to, but you’ll find that you don’t even need more than five minutes anyway.
You may also want to consider changing your showerhead to a water-efficient one such as an aerated one. It intensifies the pressure of the water by mixing in blasts of air all while using less water than a normal showerhead.
You can also take a bucket with you to collect used water that you can then use to flush your toilet or water your flower beds. Make sure that you’re collecting water that isn’t mixed with harsh chemicals that could harm your plants, though!
Collect rainwater
You can collect rainwater through the water that collects on your roof. As it travels down through your gutter, put a pail underneath to collect it.
If you want a more visually appealing rainwater collector, you can hide it in your shed away from view or invest in a water tank.
You’ll be surprised at how much water you’ll be able to reuse without having to spend! You can use it to rinse your solar panels, water your garden, clean the drain, and so on.
Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when it’s full
If possible, only use your dishwasher and washing machine when you’re able to get a full load. That’ll save a ton of electricity and water in the long run since you’ll be loading less frequently.
However, if you aren’t one that has a ton of dishes, maybe you can opt to wash them by hand. All you need are dishwashing soap and a sponge and dry them on a rack by your countertops.
But if you can’t live without a dishwasher, you may want to consider getting a smaller one that fits your usage.
There you have it, folks—our top five eco-friendly ways to save water at home.
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