10 Easy Ways to Conserve Water at Home

Published on 4/7/2021 at 2:15 PM

Conserving water might sound like a simple thing to do, but when you really stop and think about how much you actually use on a daily basis — from laundry to dishes to washing your hands — you realize that it's a huge part of almost every aspect of your routine. Turning off the faucet when you're brushing your teeth is a great start, but there are so many more things you can do to conserve water at home.

According to the United States Geological Survey, on an average day, each person uses about 80 to 100 gallons of water at home. And the biggest uses are from flushing the toilet and taking showers and baths. That is a lot of water, and while you may be saying to yourself, "I can't really avoid it," it turns out you actually can. Plus, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, all of this water is costing the average family more than $1,000 a year. So why not try and cut back to also save money?

To protect this valuable resource, follow these easy tips for conserving water at home that you can start practicing right now.

Turn Off the Faucet When Brushing Your Teeth

By turning the faucet off when brushing your teeth (and only turning it on to rinse your mouth and toothbrush), you'll save eight gallons of water per day!

Take Showers Instead of Baths

Seeing as it takes about 70 gallons of water to fill a bathtub, short showers are much more water efficient. As often as you can, take a shower instead of a bath to save water.

Only Run Your Dishwasher With a Full Load

If you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, you know how convenient they are, but they also use a ton of water. Since dishwashers use a lot of water for each load, you can preserve water by saving washer use for full loads only. Everything else can quickly be washed in the sink (just remember to turn off the water while you're scrubbing dishes!).

Don't Use Water During Peak Periods

According to the nonprofit organization American Rivers, 30 to 60 percent of drinking water in homes is used to water yards and gardens. You can cut down on wasting this water by shortening the time you water your lawn or plants each day, watering fewer days a week, avoiding watering during peak periods, and making sure that your sprinkler is only hitting the necessary spots (e.g. no sidewalks!).

Go to a Professional Car Wash

It sounds weird and almost counterproductive, but according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, going to a professional car wash instead of washing your car at home can actually save up to 100 gallons of water.

Check For Leaks in Your Home

Nobody enjoys getting a leak in their home, but it's better to be proactive about searching for them than to be surprised when they arrive. According to National Geographic, "10 gallons per day of your water footprint (or 14% of your indoor use) is lost to leaks," so be sure to regularly check your toilets, faucets, washing-machine hookups, and showers every month to get ahead of any issues.

Rinse Your Razor in the Sink

Instead of shaving during your shower, which can take up a decent chunk of time while the water is running, shave over the edge of the bathtub with the water shut off. Then, rinse your razor in the sink instead of the shower to save resources. This'll help you take shorter showers and use less water!

Wash Full Loads of Laundry

Washing full loads of laundry is best, but sometimes you just need to throw in a small load when you need something to be clean. Small loads are still OK — just be sure to set the machine to the right water-level setting. Also, if you switch to an Energy Star washing machine, it can clean clothes using 35 percent less water and 20 percent less energy than standard appliances use.

Cover Your Outdoor Pool

If you have an outdoor pool, then you know it takes thousands of gallons to fill it. If it's not covered, evaporation can cause hundreds of gallons of water per month to be lost!

Use a Rain Barrel

If you have a garden, set up a rain barrel outside to water the plants with. You can also set up a bucket in your shower to collect excess water, then take it outside for your daily watering, or use the leftover water in your pet bowls to water your plants before you refill them!