April in the desert means that our watering days are being dramatically reduced before summer. Thankfully, I don’t have a lawn, so my water conservation (and low bills) are more from practical practices. All it takes is a few weeks for them to become lifetime habits. Here are three tips I’ve been using in the past few years to save money and water:
Wash fruits and veggies in a pan of water instead of under the tap
We all know that leaving the tap running is not good, especially for folks living in water-conserving cities. Next time you wash your fruits and veggies, use a pan filled with water instead. Not only will this save a few gallons, you can use the leftover water on your houseplants or garden. I always keep my plants above the kitchen sink in the windowsill anyway, so I wash and water very easily!
Shorten your shower time
Even just shortening your shower by a minute or two can save 150 gallons a month. That’s a lot of water! I’ve shortened my showers by shampooing once or twice a week and only soap when I’m shaving my legs. This is especially helpful just on a time management level, too– I get more done when I’m not in the shower!
Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they’re full
There’s an upside to doing your laundry or dishes when you’re down to the bare essentials– you can save up to 1,000 gallons a month that way! I used to do laundry every week, but there was really no reason to do that. Once I started doing full loads, I noticed my water bill shrank by a couple of bucks. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but every little bit of savings count in this economy.
There are hundreds of ways you can conserve water, and they’re simple too!
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