Water Saving Tips

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RE: Water Saving Tips

Hotels are one of the greatest offenders of wasting water, they do not require from their plumber manufacturers to make water faucets capable of regulating the flow of water, forcing the guests to waste water by opening the foucet at full blast.

Let us contact congress to pass laws forcing faucet manufacturers to change the specs of their water faucet allowing users to minimise water usage. Do the same with the dish detergent manufacturers, they add too much foaming ingredients, forcing people to use more water to rinse their dishes and get all the extra foam out of the drain lines. Thank you.

Post By Elio M. Fernandez (Guest Post)

RE: Water Saving Tips

Sorry about this "when I was a Kid" story, but here goes. One of my fondest memories of my childhood was staying at my Grandmothers farm every summer. Monday-washday was the most fun. Gramma had a ringer washer and no hot water or bathoom in the house either. I got to help, first by chopping wood for the woodburning stove, Gramma pumped all the well water and poured it in her big boiler type pot. She only used HOT water in the ringer washer, the rinse water was cold, and it was in another tub like a ringer washer but without the wringer thingy attached. I won't go in to the rest of washing except to say that was all the water she used to wash a weeks worth of clothes. She always started with the whites and the worked her way down to the darkests and dirties, the blue jeans and work socks were last. After done washing she laided the washer hose out the porch door and the water ran in a groove alongside the house to the back yard where the garden was. It was our kids job to keep the water going down each row so that all the rows in the garden got water. We loved playing in the mud, digging trenches for the water to flow down the row and when it got to the end we had to dam it up and send it down the next row. Gramma never let the water out till all the clothes were hung on the line, as we helped with that, too. Everyone thought the food from her garden was the best, it didn't have bugs as the soap in the GRAY WATER discourage bugs. So Gramma saved water 2 ways, didn't use as much to wash the clothes and then water the garden with the very same water. Oh yes her clothes were very clean. It has been proven that the automic washer was the first thing to cause miss use and water waste. I am only 57, but did live in rural Montana. Now I have a water saving washer, but in dry hot times I will catch the water from it and use it to water our trees and flower plants out side.

Post by trashcrafter

RE: Water Saving Tips

If you have an older (not water-saving) toilet, put a brick or small paver in the tank. It saves water with each flush.

Post by Gail C

RE: Water Saving Tips

Ok I love to save $, the earth etc. only I learned a horrible lesson in San Francisco during a drought.
I was living there with my aunt we were asked by
water co. to volunteer cutback on water we did this for 4 months. It was tough I ended up cutting my long, thick hair as my aunt set timers for showers!
Long story short we did great and neighbor was a water pig, washing his car outside on driveway watering concrete. Well after our 4 months the water co. audited water useage and the water pigs who used more GOT MORE alloted water and if we went over our meager amount we were fined so much for
overage. It was one long, horrid dry summer .
I am careful but this is one area I do not
go nuts about and our water bill is usually $16.00 a month here in Missouri.

Post by meoowmom

RE: Water Saving Tips

What i do too save on water is when i take a shower i put the plug in the tub. Then when i am done i carry the water out in buckets too water my plants & garden. I do the same thing when i do the dishes. I know it might sound gross but the plants just thrive on it & save you a lot of money.

Post by Joyce wis

RE: Water Saving Tips

• Keep an empty gallon jug near the kitchen sink, and pour any leftover water from cooking or drinking into it. Once the jug is full, use the water on plants in the garden or home. House plants should be watered in the evening to reduce loss to evaporation.
  
  
• Install water saving shower heads, faucets, etc., and for long-term savings, a low-flush toilet.
  
  
• When you are waiting for hot water to warm up put a watering can under the faucet. Once full use it for gardening. Place a bucket in your shower to catch water that is wasted while you wait for it to warm up.
  
  
• Mulch around plants with grass clippings, compost, straw or ground bark. Mulch will hold moisture in the soil and reduce evaporation. Overtime, mulching will increase your soil's water holding capacity.
  
  
• Don't leave the water on while you are brushing your teeth. Turn it off after rinsing your toothbrush and wait to turn it on again when you need to rinse the sink and brush when you are done.
  
  
• Take dirty water from bird baths, flower vases, or pet dishes and reuse on potted plants.
  

Post by ThriftyFun

RE: Water Saving Tips

You can also get a small spray bottle and put liquid fabric softener in that. Rather than having to dash to the washing machine to put the fabric softener in at the correct time, use a wash cloth or rag, spray the fabric softener on the wash cloth -- about six squirts works well, and place the wash cloth with fabric softener on it in the dryer with the clothes. You use less fabric softener that way, still get the results, and save yourself considerable stress. Incidentally, most fabric softeners hamper the absorbency of towels. Do not use fabric softener on things like polar fleece or children's pajamas -- especially the sleep sacks for very young children. Fabric softener contains agents that remove the fire retardent in children's pajamas, and cause fabrics like polar fleece to become flammable.

Post by skbeal

RE: Water Saving Tips

Another hint is to invest in a Downy ball, they cost a couple of dollars and then you add it when loading the washer and don't have to worry about missing the rinse cycle!!!
`breeanasmommy

Post By breeanasmommy (Guest Post)

Adding Fabric Softener

While doing your laundry, try adding your liquid fabric softener at the correct time. By running the rinse cycle over, you'll be wasting 10 more gallons of water.

By Terri H.

Editor's Note: If you don't have a dispenser in your machine, set a timer so you don't miss the rinse cycle.

Post by ThriftyFun

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