[horselover]

I know that running appliances at off-peak periods saves on electricity, but what are the best ways to save on water consumption?

I just had the shower running long enough to use up the hot water, but since I don't have a tub, I have no other way to do the following:

1. wash clothes(we're not allowed to use the laundry facilities anymore and we don't have much time for the landrymat)

2. wash the hamster's maze and tunnel system. The kitchen sink isn't the biggest, and it's not really hygenic to wash her stuff where we wash our dishes.

The funny thing is that I had the shower on long enough that it caused the laundry soap suds to back up the drain in the ktchen.

I'm going to be up all night packing for the move and trying to do 3 million things at once, but I'm used to that and I don't mind. Night time seems to be the only time things can get done.

[Aalaia]

For both items, just wet the items and soaap them up. Let them sit for a while...soaking clothes really gets most of the dirt loose. then run the water to rinse them. You can shut the water off once in a while to squeeze the clothes.
The hamsters stuff just get them wet then use a brush to loosen everything then rinse off.
You don't have to immerse the stuff in a tub.

[Priscilla]

Save your dishwater in a bucket or pan and re-use it to clean the hamsters thing. We do this for cleaning out cat litter box, outside furniture, whatever. Dump it in the toilet and swirl the old toilet brush around for a quick clean.

[horselover]

Wow, forgot about this topic, it's been a year since I posted it, lol.

We're long gone from that place, but seem to have similar issues here.

Water is not cheap.


I think when I move out to the country I'll have to find some options.

[Roguegal]

I received a package from the utility company that helps me to save on the amount of water I use each day. It had in it this plastic bag filled with air. I simply put it in the tank of the toilet to conserve water. I thought that was the neatest idea and it was free. Considering that Phoenix, Arizona has been in a drought for the last 10 years, it was excellent idea.

[tater03]

How exactly does the plastic bag filled with air conserve the water? Does it stop the tank from filling up as much? I just have never heard of that and am curious? thanks.

[heykarinakarina]

I've heard of putting a brick in the water tank to fill space so the tank fills with less water. Problem is that bricks errode and would need to be put in something that will make it safe to be inside the tank.

Horselover, what you will need to do is change the showerhead to an water efficient one. Best thing about these is sometimes it makes the water pressure better in the shower, as the tube is smaller for the water to go through, making it shoot out harder.

And stop running the water. I turn the water off when I scrub my hair with shampoo. I also wash my body after scrubbing my hair. I rinse. I turn water back off, apply shaving cream.... shave legs... shaking off the cream after every stroke and only turning on the water for a split moment to rinse razor or I have filled a cup with water to dip the razor.

[RFL1986]

One of my friends showers like that too and swears by it as a great way to save water. Myself I just try to shower as quickly as possible, and maybe because I'm a guy with short hair I can do so in about two minutes. I haven't rigged our toilet tanks with bottles yet but since I'm moving to a new place in a few weeks I plan to do so there.

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by heykarinakarina

I've heard of putting a brick in the water tank to fill space so the tank fills with less water. Problem is that bricks errode and would need to be put in something that will make it safe to be inside the tank.

Try using an empty plastic milk bottle filled with water to make it heavy.

It displaces water from the tank so that your cistern will use less water to fill.

[stav]

In the UK all the water companies have been giving away a free 'hippo' to any customer that asks... this simple device saves 3 litres of water every flush..
Toilet Flushing
see here..