Before the pandemic, the average American family was already using more than 300 gallons of water a week. Now, as many of us are spending more time at home, we’re using even more water resources to keep our households running.
While cooking at home is a great way to save money, it also means more dishes to clean. Household water use is up by 21% since the onset of the pandemic however there are small, water-conscious habits you can form at home to make a positive impact on the environment and on your wallet. Below are a few ways to save water in each room of your home.
In the Kitchen
It may seem counterintuitive, but washing dishes by hand uses a lot more water than running full loads in a dishwasher — even more so if you have a water-conserving model. Another hack for saving water in the kitchen is to designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
In the Bathroom
Turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save 25 gallons a month. Also be mindful of turning off the water when washing your face or shaving. You use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute by taking a shower, so try shaving just three minutes off your shower to help reduce your water footprint.
In the Laundry Room
Concentrated detergents save water, as manufacturers avoid the expense of adding water to the bottle. Non-concentrated liquid laundry detergents contain 60% to 90% water, so choosing a concentrated detergent can save you hundreds of gallons of water a year.
In the Backyard
Cleaning outside walkways with a broom saves around 30 gallons of water for every five minutes you don’t use the hose. The average homeowner can save more than 3,000 gallons a year by sweeping and not by washing.
For more ideas on how to save water at home, the folks at Zolo created this visual room-by-room guide. Finding ways to conserve water is easy and a great way to do your part for the environment while spending more time at home.
