Measure To Save More Water

As resources become more scarce, all of us have to play our part in preventing waste

This isn’t too hard – in many aspects of daily life there are lots of things we can do to reduce water use. You can start by paying attention to the amount of water you use in your household cleaning routine and find out ways to save it.

Don’t Leave The Tap Running

Leaving the water running while you wash dishes is a massive waste of water.

Instead use two basins or bowls. Include just a very little warm, soapy water in one, and fill the other with water for rinsing. You can also use sinks in this way, but basins or bowls are better. Then you can easily use the rinsing water that’s left afterwards to water your plants or an area outside.

Similarly, there’s no need to leave a tap running when cleaning sinks, counters, your bath tub or even your hands. Use water saved in a basin or bucket instead.

When you do use the tap, turn it on just briefly, for example to wet your hands or a dirty sink. Then turn off the tap while you scrub, and turn it on again to rinse off.

Soak Your Dirty Dishes

Don’t use the stream from the tap to blast food residue from pots, pans and crockery. Rather, place caked cookware and dishes in a basin of warm water and leave them to soak until the food residue lifts.

Use Buckets

Keep a bucket in your bathroom and use it to save water. For example, catch the water you run when you’re waiting for the bath or shower water to warm up. Then use this water – which is perfectly clean – for cleaning purposes.

Also keep a bucket or basin in your kitchen sink and use it to save the water you use to rinse fruit and vegetables, the odd dish and your hands. Generally this water is more than clean enough for certain cleaning jobs, especially where you’re going to rinse after an initial wash.

If the water has been too polluted for this purpose (for example by vegetable matter), use it as welcome relief for your pot plants or garden.

Buy Energy – Efficient Appliances

If you’re thinking of buying a dishwasher for the first time, or if you’re considering replacing your existing dishwasher or washing machine, make sure you buy an energy-efficient model.

Energy Star-rated washing machines use up to 45% less water than regular washers per load, and Energy Star-rated dishwashers use up to 30% less water per cycle than older dishwasher models.

Only Use Your Washing Machine For Full Loads

Running your washing machine or dishwasher for just a few items wastes a lot of water. Rather plan so that you only run a machine when you have a decent-sized load.

If you absolutely have to do a partial load of laundry, adjust the washing machine water level accordingly.

Choose Your Washing Machine Cycle Carefully

To prevent having to rewash or rinse items, make sure you use the correct cycle and the right amount of soap, and don’t overload the machine.

You can also save water by:

always using the “small load” option if you’re doing a small load
skipping the “pre-rinse” if your clothes aren’t very dirty
avoiding cycles that include extra rinses, each of which can use an additional 20 litres of water.

Wash Your Car Wisely

If you’re washing your car at home, use a sponge and a bucket of grey water from your washing machine, dishwasher or shower.

Also, there are many effective car-cleaning products on the market that allow you to wash and wax your car without using any water.

Use A Bucket To Rinse Your Cloth

Fill a bucket and use this water to rinse your cloth when cleaning. Rinse and refill the bucket when the water gets dirty. This will prevent water being wasted every time you open and close a tap to wet or rinse your cloth.

Keep Up With Regular Cleaning

Clean your mirrors, windows and shower frequently, and you’ll find that you use less water than you would if you had to scrub caked dirt off these surfaces every few months.

The same goes for your carpets and rugs – clean spills as soon as they occur and vacuum regularly, so that you don’t have to shampoo as often.