20 Ways to Conserve Water at Home (Why Wait for Earth Day?)

Everyone knows that life cannot sustain without water resources. However, not many think about the same when it comes to washing dishes one by one or when purchasing a showerhead that uses a huge amount of water every minute. In other words, human beings have tended to take water resources for granted, as they have done in the case of Earth.

As it was expected, the results are as worst as they can get: the entire world is facing a water crisis that keeps growing and growing. Every minute, humans and other living beings are becoming incapable of accessing water resources from potential sources. It may catch you by surprise that majority of states in the USA face some level of water-shortage or water-crisis.

Quite ironically, however, we observe the World Earth Day, every single year. On that single day, everyone seems so enthusiastic about saving water at their home. In case you did not recognize that yet, it is one of the most unethical things you can do. Just so you know, when you are wasting drinkable water, you actually are being responsible for the death of thousands of kids, across the globe.

If all these things haven’t yet convinced you why you should conserve water, we’ve something that will.

Why Conserve Water?

Some of these are obvious.

Water is the sole reason why there’s life on Earth

Wondering why humans haven’t managed to colonize the other planets in the solar system? Well, we could not find water resources elsewhere. Making things worse, no planet has had a usable form of water either.

The precise reason why you should conserve water is that life cannot move forward without the sufficient amount of water.

Humans Would Go Extinct Without Water

You may be able to live for a few days without eating anything. Well, don’t even think about surviving a few days without water-drops hitting your throat.

More importantly, a noticeable amount of the human body is of water-content, stored in many forms. The lack of water means the ultimate extinction of human species in the long run.

The Future is Bleak

Let’s admit that first: human beings have exploited natural resources as much as they can. Most of them are now in the depleted state. If you let that grow, the future is going to get bleaker.

Do you know how many millions of liters of water are being used across the world every single day? Without water resources, nothing would work, be it food production or industrial production.

But, do you know the most important reason of all?

People Are Dying! Water Scarcity Is Real! And, You Can Make a Difference!

You must not be a part of an International organization to conserve water. It actually starts from your home, where you are consuming (and wasting) most of the water.

There are a number of things you can do in order to conserve water at home. And, we have classified these actions based on the location. There are things you can do in the kitchen, but some things have to be done in the bathroom as well. If you have a compatible mind, we can start.

Ways to Conserve Water in the Kitchen

The kitchen is that place inside your home where you waste a noticeable amount of water — almost every day. So, the steps of water conservation should start from the same place. Let’s have a look at the potential ways to do that.

#1 Get Rid of Leaks

There may be leaks in the whole system that brings water to your kitchen faucet. Without even letting you know; these leaks would be wasting a huge amount of water every day. That would account for hundreds of gallons of water being wasted a year. The first step of water-wastage prevention would be making sure that there are no leaks in the system.

In order to do this, you may have to replace or repair certain components. Like, a faucet, which may have a bunch of leaks. At the end of the day, you can be sure that you’re saving a lot of water.

#2 Use Quality Components

By Quality, we mean a lot of things. For instance, you should get one of the best kitchen faucets with lower water usage and quality-rich construction. This ensures that water won’t be wasted in the process. You can also consider getting a motion-sensor faucet, which stops the water flow when the hand is taken off. In the long run, this is going to save a lot of water.

Of course, getting a superb kitchen faucet may require a higher budget. However, when you compare it with the amount of water you save, we think that’s negotiable.

#3 Use a Tub for Cleaning Vegetables and Fruits

Most people run the faucet for individually cleaning fruits and vegetables. By the time you shift from fruit to another, a lot of water would be wasted. To prevent this, you can get a tub and fill water in it. And, then, you can put all the fruits together and wash them. The best part is that you can use the remaining water for gardening purposes as well.

This might sound like a convenience, but you are actually saving up a few gallons of water. And, yes, you do not have to spend a fortune on a tub.

#4 Optimize the Use of Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher in your kitchen, look no further. It is one of the major sources of water wastage. Of course, you cannot get rid of the dishwasher but you can optimize the use. The first and foremost rule is to make sure that the equipment is in full capacity. This will make sure that you are losing a lower amount of water. Keep this up for a few months and you will be saving a lot of water.

Optimized use of dishwasher would save a lot of money that you can see the reflection in your water bill as well.

#5 Keep a Bottle of Water in the Refrigerator

There are a number of reasons you should do this. Normally, when you come home and take a glass of water from the faucet, you may not always finish it. What’s more, you will have to wash the glass once before using it again. You are actually losing water double-time, you know. The better option is to purchase one of the BPA-free bottles from Walmart and keep it in the refrigerator.

There’s a plus point too: you would know exactly how much water you are drinking every day. This is great if you are following a diet.

Along with these, you can also consider re-using water from the kitchen for gardening as well as watering other plants you may have.

Ways to Conserve Water in the Bathroom

Unless you are the person who showers five times a day, your bathroom would be second to the kitchen. Here too, you can follow a few tips to conserve the amount of water being spent. Most of them sound so silly but can be magic.

#6 Take Care of Leaks

Compared to the scenario in a typical kitchen, a bathroom tends to waste extra amounts of water. It is also due to the higher number of leaks you can find in the bathroom, toilet and other accessories. On average, several thousand gallons of water would be wasted from a bathroom every month. In order to prevent this, you should repair and replace whatever necessary.

While replacing, try to get faucets and cables that are durable. So, you won’t have to worry about potential leaks at least for a few years.

#7 Get a Water-Saving Shower Head

You spend the maximum amount of water when you are taking a shower. As it happens, the best method to conserve water in a bathroom to use a shower head that saves water. A number of products in the market have been designed to reduce overall water consumption. Some products even have an atomizer that gives you the same shower experience while reducing water intake.

Once again, you will have to spend a bit more for these shower-heads but they are a valuable investment for everyone.

#8 Get Dual Flush Toilets

The next area would be the toilet itself, where you literally waste a lot of water. In most cases, the water is not being dispersed according to the amount of waste. So, it’s recommended that you get a dual-flush toilet that has two flush intensities — one for a huge amount of waste and another one for minimal waste. This is going to have a notable impact on the whole water consumption levels.

And, yes, you can try one of the new low-flush toilets as well. These are optimized to clean up the waste by consuming less water.

#9 Use a Tub

Using a tab in the bathroom can be water-conserving in many senses. The best instances include when you are shaving, brushing or washing the head. Instead of keeping the faucet on, you can take some water in the faucet. You will have to get used to this, for sure. Once you know the drill, however, this can easily become a part of your routine.

By simply choosing a tub over running water, you will be saving several hundred gallons of water every week, which is a great start.

#10 Reduce the Length of Showers

At the end of the day, you should learn to take shorter showers. The more time you spend below the shower head, the more water you take up. This is where the role of the tub comes in. While you should reduce the time you spend below showers, you can store some water in the tub and use it for washing your hair and stuff.

Just the fact that you don’t keep the shower running all the time will make a difference in the long run. This is recommended as the best way to conserve water in every bathroom.

Ways to Conserve Water in Laundry

Laundry would have the next position when it comes to the sources of water wastage. And, you can follow a number of methods to conserve water while doing laundry — whether you have a washing machine or you go out doesn’t matter.

#11 A Full Load is the Best

Every washing machine comes with a maximum capacity, we understand. However, there is a recommended load as well. Make sure you do washes once you have enough clothes to reach that threshold. So, you will be able to get all the clothes washed up using a minimal amount of water. You may have to see a bigger pile of clothes for a few days.

And, yes, if you are going out for laundry, you can save some money there too. The other option is to get an effective washing machine from the market.

#12 Wash Them When Actually Needed

Don’t be that idiot who washes the jeans after every use. There are certain clothes that are supposed to be washed frequently. By following the simple rule, you can save a huge amount of water from being wasted as well. We are not telling you to keep wearing the same socks for a week, but you can do the same in case of a pair of jeans.

Another option is to purchase clothes that are resistant to dust and dirt. And, if your work doesn’t demand to get dirty, you can stay away from both.

#13 Purchase an Efficient Washing Machine

You can do this if you are getting a washing machine at home. You should not be using the twelve-year-old machine to wash your dress. You are likely to waste a lot of water as well as energy. In the last decade, the washing machine tech has improved a lot that you can see the difference. It all means that you should get a rather optimized washing machine.

If you get one of the best washing machines, it would also have an Economy Mode, which uses less amount of water, while keeping your dress cleaner.

#14 Re-Using Water from the Machine

Water that comes out of the washing machine can be used for a number of purposes. Of course, don’t try to water the vegetable plants you have, but other normal stuff should work fine. In most cases, the water will have some elements of detergent and the dirt from your clothes. This re-use of water would make sure that you’re compensating for the loss.

Of course, make sure that there are no leaks in the construction. Even a small leak in the whole system of laundry would mean big water loss.

#15 Pre-Treating Stains

Most people tend to do multiple washing cycles for treating stains. And, even after multiple washes, stains would remain. The better solution is to treat the stains before you put the dress into the machine. You can use a number of detergents or special chemicals for stain removal. Once the tougher stains are gone, free feel to put it in the machine.

One thing, though. When you are treating stains, don’t leave the faucet open. Instead, take water in a tumbler and do the cleaning there.

Ways to Conserve Water in Garden/Yard

Here comes another area where you potentially waste and can potentially conserve a lot of water. Obviously, this depends upon how big of a garden you have, but we can go ahead with it. Make sure you practice these steps and help the world, at least by a bit.

#16 Get A Water Meter

The last time we checked, not many people know how much water they are spending on the lawn or garden for that matter. To make things clear and under control, you can install a simple water meter. This would be measuring the amount of water that is distributed through the lines. This will help you get an idea about the average consumption every month.

And, if you think the limits are being crossed every time, trust us, you should do something. Some flowery plants in your garden aren’t as worthy as someone’s thirst.

#17 Get the Sprinklers Right, On Time

If you have a bigger yard, you may be using a sprinkler for irrigation purposes. In that case, make sure that the sprinkler is working perfectly. Of course, you should have brought a durable product in the first place. If that did not happen, try to change the sprinkler at least right now. It is also great if you can optimize the pattern of showering done by the sprinkler.

First things first, just because it can turn all the way around, it doesn’t need to. You can keep watering the areas where you have plants to take care of.

#18 Shift to Better Watering Tactics

Sprinkling isn’t the only watering tactic you now have. In fact, several other methods are more effective than traditional ones. So, we would recommend everyone to try out something like the water-drop system. Also, when it comes to irrigation, make sure that you do the irrigation in morning or evening. Unlike the time of the noon, these periods don’t have much evaporation.

It’s also proven that the smart watering techniques will help the plants grow better. It may take some time, but you can see the result.

#19 Your Swimming Pool Matters

If you are concerned about saving water, there are a few things to do about the swimming pool. During the summertime, make sure that the pool is covered. This will prevent evaporation from wasting a lot of water. And, if you are living in a place with low water resources, you can reduce the frequency of draining and re-filling the swimming pool.

One more thought: don’t even think about having a fun day in the pool while your neighborhood states may be worried about drinking water.

#20 Let the Water Stay

The key to preserving water in your yard/garden is to prevent evaporation. There are many methods to do this, but the most natural would be the accumulation of mulch. Mulch refers to the decaying leaf and other materials that may end up on the yard. Well, things may not look that nice, but the water would linger. It’s also likely that the plants would have a more compatible environment to grow.

Even experts have been recommending these methods, as the mulch would also be acting as a catalyst agent when it comes to plant growth.

The Bottom Line

These methods would surely help you conserve water at home. We’ve split the steps into four categories — based on the four places where most of the water resources are spent. Of course, there are some things that everyone can follow. For instance, if you want better performance and also conserve water, you should be ready to shift to a better kitchen faucet, with automated sensors and stuff.