5 Simple Ways to Save Water at Home

Water Restrictions

Level 2 water restrictions are now in place in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and Illawarra. This recent upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2 means that residents:

• Can only use a watering can/bucket to water their garden before 10am and after 4pm
• Can only use drip irrigation systems for a maximum of 15 mins a day, before 10am and after 4pm
• Can only top up a pool/spa for 15 mins per day
• Can only wash vehicles with bucket and sponge, not a hose
• Need a permit to fill new/renovated pools/spas that hold more than 500L.

These water restrictions may not apply to you and where you live, but you can still follow these guidelines to save water in your community – after all, water is a precious resource.

1. Shorten Your Showers To 5 minutes Or Less

Many of us tend to waste water without even knowing it. The good news? It’s very simple to implement better habits to save water (and it won’t cost the earth!).

We’ve all been guilty of taking long, luxurious showers from time to time. Many of us think an extra minute or two won’t make much of a difference – but did you know that if everybody in Sydney showered for one minute less, it could save 45 million litres of water per day?

Also – do you shave your legs, brush your teeth, or put on a hair mask in the shower? Make sure you turn the shower off while you do these things to save water and energy. To cut the overall time you spend in the shower, consider installing a digital shower timer or simply set an alarm on your phone.

2. Change The Way You Wash Your Clothes

We don’t always need to wash our clothes after every single use. For many of us, it’s just a habit. Try to wash your clothes less often or run one full load instead of two half-loads. If you can, consider investing in a water-efficient front loader washing machine.

To double up your environmental impact, try using our Eco Laundry Products when doing a load of washing. They are formulated with natural ingredients and packaged with the environment in mind. 

3. Stop Pre-Rinsing Your Dishes!

A study from the University of Bonn found that hand-washing the equivalent items of a full dishwasher used – on average – 100 litres of water compared to 12 litres of water in a dishwasher. If you don’t have a dishwasher, utilise the double-dip method to properly wash dishes – fill your sink with hot, soapy water and another sink (or large bowl) with cool, clear water for rinsing.

We have some beautiful Compostable Dish Cloths that are 100% biodegradable, absorbent and long lasting. When you're finished with them just pop them in the composter and they'll break down. So save water whilst saving the planet with these sustainable dish cloths.

4. Turn OFF Your Taps

A running tap can use up to 10L of water per minute!

Try to limit the amount of time that you leave the tap running, especially when you’re brushing your teeth, washing your hands/face, cleaning the dishes or shaving.

Make sure to fix any leaky taps as well – a single leaky tap can waste up to 20,000L of precious water per year!

5. Repurpose ‘Wasted’ Water

Are you rinsing fruits, veggies or beans in the sink? Use a bucket or container underneath a colander to capture all the excess water.

Waiting for your shower to heat up? Place a bucket underneath the showerhead to capture the cold water. This excess water can be used to water your garden or anything else you can think of!

A great tip we implement, is using the excess water and freezing it to make ice! This is super good if you enjoy cold drinks or to help thicken up smoothies.