More Tips

In the Bathroom:

  • Flush less — remember the toilet is not an ashtray or wastebasket.
  • While brushing teeth, shaving, etc., turn off the water.
  • When cold water will do, avoid using hot water.
  • Take shorter showers — 5 minutes or less.
  • In the shower, wet yourself down, turn the water off, lather up, then turn the water on to rinse off soap.
  • Use less water for bathing — close the drain first and fill tub only one-third full. That initial burst of cold water will be warmed by the hot water as the tub fills.

In the Kitchen:

  • Operate the dishwasher only when you have a full load.
  • Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
  • When purchasing a dishwasher, consider a water-efficient model.
  • Use your garbage disposal sparingly and start composting your kitchen waste.
  • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
  • Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run while you wait for cool water to flow.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink to one-third or one-half full — avoid letting the water run continuously in the rinsing sink.

In the Laundry:

  • For washers with variable settings for water volume, select the minimum amount required per load.
  • If load size cannot be set, operate the washer with full loads only.
  • Use the shortest wash cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent press wash cycles use more water.
  • Check hoses regularly for leaks.
  • Pretreat stains to avoid rewashing.

Additional Tips:

  • Install instant water heaters in bathrooms and in the kitchen so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up.
  • Insulate your water pipes — you’ll get hot water faster, plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
  • Avoid installing a water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system — newer air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.
  • Install water-softening systems only when necessary; save water and salt by only running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness; turn softeners off while on vacation.
  • Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or cleaning.
  • Replace leaky drain plugs in sinks and bathtubs.