5 Steps to Water Conservation in the Laundry Room
The ongoing water shortage in states like California highlights the need for responsible water use and conservation. However, there is so much information available when looking for ways to reduce water use, that if taken in total, it can be quite overwhelming.
Our advice is to take a step-by-step approach to reducing water use, looking at each area of the home one at a time. Focus on the water wastes in each area, dedicate yourself to changing habits over the course of a couple weeks, then move on to the next area of your home.
In our second post on How to Save Water in around the house, we take a look at one of the least favorite activities for many of us - washing clothes. For the average American household, doing our laundry accounts for 20% or more of the water we use inside the home. In fact, the typical washing machine uses between 27 and 54 gallons of water per load!
Making a few simple changes in your routine, or even considering a new washing machine, can make a huge difference in your overall water consumption.
5 Ways to Save Water in the Laundry Room
- If possible with your washing machine, match the water level to the size of the load. Many newer machines may do this automatically, but the feature may need to be turned on.
- If your washing machine doesn’t have size settings for loads, only wash full loads. Wash your dark clothes in cold water. Not only with this help save water, but it reduces your energy costs and helps your clothes retain their color.
- Have a plumber reroute the drainline from your washing machine to water your trees and plants.
- You may need to check with your city or county for local plumbing codes.
- Consider buying a new washing machine and comparing Energy Star models. Not only can you save energy, but some machines can save 10-20 gallons per load. Use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water and energy use between models.