Save Water Save Money Reader’s Tips to Cut your Water Use.

 

Last month we asked our Newsletter readers for their ‘top water saving tips’ and offered 3 of our Hand Pump Pressure Washer’s as a prize for three lucky contributors.

Well, one things for sure, we’ve certainly got a very innovative readership! Tips about water wise gardening, re-using water, re-cycling water and not wasting water flooded in (sorry for the pun!). There’s still time to send us your top water saving tip but in the mean time why not dive into (I just can’t stop myself today!) some of the best we’ve received so far.

To enter the competition for yourself,  upload your tip to our website.

 

Readers 100 Water Saving Tips

Recycling water from the condenser tumble dryer

I use the tank of water produced by the condenser tumble dryer to wash my hands and to wash the sink from tea/coffee dregs poured down it.  saves a lot of water!

R. Wallis, Orpington

 

Don’t waste water

Save any old drinking water from bottles and glasses or the cold water while running from the hot tap before it gets hot.  Collect in a jug/container and use it for watering plants in containers or hanging baskets.

J. Pordham, Lincolnshire

 

Save !!

treat water like electricity or gas= carefully . recycle as much waste water as you can .I put guttering round my shed to collect rain water for my garden. And divert  the waste water from bathroom sink and bath to two water butts for use on garden also .

M. Downworth, Lancashire

 

Save both water and energy

If I don’t use all the water from the boiling kettle, I pour it into a thermos flask which I keep next to the kettle. I usually find that I need very hot water in the next couple of hours or so, and use the thermos instead of boiling the kettle again.

S. Healey, London

 

Re-use the water you boil potatoes in

Rather than just pouring the water you boil potatoes in down the sink – use it to kill weeds on your path or patio – works wonders!

H. Williams, Cardiff

 

Water Meter

Fit a water meter..i used to pay £53 per month now I have a water meter l only pay £16 per month a saving of £37 per month , even this is to much l have just had my latest water bill which shows that l am £19 in credit….fit a water meter…

J. Harbach, West Midlands

 

WATERING PLANTS

I place my plant pots underneath my hanging baskets so that any excess water from the hanging baskets drips into the pots beneath and the water is nt wasted. Plus I need less water to distribute to my plants.

M. Burgess, Cambridgeshire

 

Beautiful Gardens

Cover borders with garden fabric and cut out where you need plants to go then cover with decorative pebbles – this does two jobs – eliminates weeds and retains moisture in the ground so that plants need very little or no water even in the driest weather!!

Michell, South Yorkshire

 

Watering can storage

If you have a water butt(s) always refill your watering cans after you finish watering your plants as this leaves extra litres of capacity in your water butt for when it rains again. Also stops your watering cans from blowing around the garden during wind

L. Noel, West Yorkshire

 

Shower Saving

When showering I first rinse under the shower then turn off the water whilst I soap myself, then turn the water back on to rinse the suds off.

R. Trafford, Hampshire

 

Flushing drinking water is wasteful

Many litres of clean drinking water is lost every time the toilet is flushed. You can either get a Hippo Bag, which you fill with water and sit within the cistern or a bag of crystals, which soaks up water and so saves 1 to 3.5 litres of drinking water.

D. Newell, London

 

Save Water

Sink a flower pot (preferably pottery) into the ground alongside  your Tomato, Cucumber, corgettee or flower.  Water the plant by filling the pot. The ground is dry discouiraging Slugs & Weeds and the water goes down to the roots–without evaporation loss

A. Luto, Hertfordshire

 

Saving water and energy

Keep the hot water temperature lower than normal.  The family will limit the time they spend in the shower so you save both water and energy

AC. Abbott, West Berkshire

 

Toilet cistern packs

Readily available free from most water companies, we have found that if you do not have a modern dual flush toilet it is well worth seeking a toilet cistern pack to limit the water in the tank (normally well over what is actually needed).

M. Bamford, Leicestershire

 

Tap it

use a tap adaptor. I have one and its great

K. Desai, South Yorkshire

 

Shower saver

Use an eco shower head which mixes air with the water to cut consumption.

G. Sterry, Gloucestershire

 

Tooth cleaning

we all know that you shouldn’t leave the tap running whilst cleaning your teeth, but use a cup. Wet the brush before applying paste, then rinse using the cup water, Rinse brush in the remaining water in the cup – clean teeth and only a cup of water used!

F. McLauchlin, Northwich

 

Dishy Washy

Hot soapy water. Cleanest dishes first, greasy ones last. Saves water fast.

S. Gibson, Lancashire

 

Toilet Top- up

I use water from my conservatory roof on the garden during the growing season, which is collected in water butts. However, from autumn onwards, it is used in the downstairs toilet cistern, saving a huge amount of tap water.

AF, Griffiths, Redditch

Car wash

Don’t bother to wash the car – it’s a car and most of us keep them outside exposed to all weathers.

A.Sayers, Lancashire

 

Reduce hot water use and costs

Why heat your water too hot to just use loads of cold water to cool it down simply reduce your water heating level and time. This very relevant to one person homes why heat water for hours when 30 mins morning and next will do.

B. Halling, Yorkshire

 

Holiday watering for plants

Fill a small plastic bag with water & secure,small enough to fit into a plant pot or alongside your plants in the garden. Place 1 or 2 pin holes in the side, facing your plants.The water will trickle out on2 your plants or vegetables over a period of time

K. Birchall, Chester

Soup

Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup

A. Hoggett, County Durham

 

EGGcellent Tip

Every time you boil an egg save the cooled water for your house-plants. They’ll benefit from the nutrients released from the shell.

J. Thurrell, Oxfordshire

 

HAPPY KIDS

put all your children in the shower together mine are my grandchildren they have so much fun  and get clean in half the time so it saves water by not doing them one at a time

W. Bellis, Merseyside

 

Boiling the kettle

Only put sufficient in to boil what you need rather than filling the kettle to full. You not only save water but you also reduce the amount of scale in the kettle.

J. Phipps, Hertfordshire

 

Making our guesthouse water efficient

Making our guesthouse water efficient has been our criteria since we bought 7 years ago.  Amongst others, we provide smaller bedroom kettles with .75L capacity, “Eco Camel” shower heads, wash towels on 2nd days use only, and use “Hippos”in cisterns.

S. Broomfield, Cumbria

 

Car Washing

I always wash my car when its raining, saves water by not rinsing & doesn’t leave water smears.

M. Eccleston, Kent

 

Hey Baby!

Don’t run a separate bath for your baby or toddler. Pop them in with you and save water while having a splash-tastic time!

D. Clay, Yorkshire

 

Cleaning the aquarium

When cleaning the aquarium, use the water for watering plants. This water is enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus, which is very good for the plants.

Claudio, London

 

Crude but effective!

Take a pee in the shower and save up to 6.5L of toilet flush water – Nobody will ever know!

L. Higson, Lancashire

 

You scrub my back!

Share the shower and have some fun!

B. Burton, Yorkshire

 

Garden tips

Put water retaining gel in hanging baskets to retain the water and lessen the need for watering, sometimes twice a day, as soil does not dry out so much.  Also use water  from boiling eggs  (when cold) to water indoor plants thus giving them nutrients.

I. Clark, Hertfordshire

 

Saving tap water

When you run the hot tap waiting for the hot water to come through, save the water in a bowl and add it to your water butt, it’s amazing how quickly it fills the water butt, and then you have water ready to use in the garden.

E. Keaarins, Leicestershire

 

Reuse tumble drier water

We replaced our old tumble drier with a condensing one. Rather than have it plumbed into the drain, and waste the water, we empty the drawer that catches the water into a bucket, which we then use for either washing the car or a flush of the toilet.

J. Coyle, Yorkshire

 

Recycling water

I use the ‘old water’ from my hot water bottles to water my plants. I stay warm and my plants get watered regularly without wasting water. A little saving but well worth it all round!

J. Bee, Oxfordshire

 

STEAM ,NO NEED TO BOIL.

When cooking several vegetables for your meal use a 2 or 3 tier steamer instead of separate pans.Water only needs using in the main cooking pan and all vegetables can be cooked in separate trivets,you save water and energy as you are only need one hob .

A. Gray, Yorkshire

 

Chilled and ready to drink

When you fancy a glass of water, Instead of running the tap until drinking water is cold, keep a jug of water in the fridge, making sure you finish the water in the jug before re-filling to avoid it going stale.  Saves gallons over the year.

N. Draffan, Buckinghamshire

 

Cold water

I catch the cold water that first comes from the hot tap in the kitchen, then decant it to a water butt for the garden.

S. Harrison, Yorshire

 

Engaging Pets in Water Conservation

When it’s bath-time for pets, take them out into the garden or lawn so that they benefit from the water as much as your pets. You will also feel happy about your pets shaking off any excess water after the bath.

D. Chatterjee, Yorkshire

 

When It’s Yellow Let It Mellow, If It’s Brown Flush It Down!

This is an old tip passed down from my parents, I think initially so they got a good nights sleep because our cistern made so much noise refilling. So if its just a wee leave it to mellow anything Brown had to be flushed down, giving the well known saying

C. Crowhurst, Greater London

 

Clean and clear

Tip the used water, from the cleaning of sinks and showers, down the toilet. Saves a flush, helps keep the pipes clear and leaves a pleasant aroma of disinfectant.

G. Wood, Worcestershire

 

Flushing lots of drinking water is wasteful

Many litres of clean drinking water is lost every time the toilet is flushed. You can either get a Hippo Bag, which you fill with water and sit within the cistern or a bag of crystals, which soaks up water and so saves 1 to 3.5 litres of drinking water!

Dave, London

 

Don’t waste leftover washing up water

When you’ve finished washing the dishes, use the leftover water to wash plant pots / gardenware / or even use it for cleaning insides of bins etc. it’s just better than filling another bucket – much more economical.

S. Al-Janabi, Stockport

 

Use your water meter to determine whether you have a hidden water leak

Take a reading from your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

H. Akram, London

 

Don’t run off water down the sink

When running hot water into a bowl or bucket there is always at least 2 jugs of cold water coming out. Put these straight into jugs & use for watering plants inside or out or if you use a jug water filter make sure you fill the filter.

A. Collier, Dorest

 

SAVE THE DRIPS!!

If you have a shed or greenhouse or some sort of out building and it doesn’t have guttering-save the drips! I have an old rubber dustbin, but any sort of water-tight container will do. I put the bin at the back edge of my shed, and catch the drips!!

C, Bell, Derbyshire

 

Recycling and saving water

Save plastic milk bottles, make a few holes in the lid. When running the tap waiting for the hot water to warm up, fill up the plastic milk bottle and put them upside down in container plants or hanging baskets. I always keep one by the sink.

J. Feasey, Hertfordshire

 

Washing Up Tip

Wet a sponge, put a bit of washing up liquid on it, then wash up – that’s it!  There’s no need to fill the bowl, or even have it half full.  A wet sponge is all that’s needed.

R. Karn, West Sussex

 

Top Tip

Don’t wash your car until you have a won a Hand Pump Pressure Sprayer

D. Hill, Somerset

 

Soaking

After heavy gardening a long soak in a hot bath. Then use the water to water the garden.If bathroom upstairs a hose pipe siphons it out a treat.

C. Butcher, West Yorkshire

 

DEFROSTING

When defrosting my freezer I use the waste build up of ice to water hanging baskets and planters.  The ice melts slowly and seeps through to the soil unlike when watering which tends to flood the plants.

P. Morton, Lancashire

 

3 in the Tub and the little one said!

My wife or I bath with our 10 month old boy, then who ever is left jumps in afterwards…………… its great because sometimes he leaves his toys in and I get to play ducks!

R. Newell, Nottinghamshire

 

House plants

Water house plants, in the bath or outside, with tepid soapy bath water (or cleanish washing up water). Use a watering can with spray nozzle, drenching the leaves.  The plants love it and it controls aphids etc.

L. Ford, West Midlands

 

Water Meter

Since I have asked to install a water meter, it gives me the incentive to use less water each day. When I do the dishes, I fill a small bowl of water and clean all my dishes then open the cold water tap to rinse all of them in one go. I use less water now

A. Lauret, Somerset

 

Plants need newspapers too!

Saturate newspapers, tear them into large sections and put on top of compost in plant tubs.  water again and then mulch with something better looking.  It protects your plants’ roots from drying winds and sun and also drastically reduces evaporation!

K. Wynne, Cumbira

 

Use shorter wash cycle

Save water, electricity and wear on clothes – spot treat and use quick wash cycle. similarly you can use shorter cycle for dishwasher by  wiping off excess from cutlery and plates before putting in machine. Also saves time in cleaning filter.

D. Wilson, Bournemouth

 

Watering Seedlings

Get a cup and just flick water on your seedlings , you won’t swamp them and you will avoid waste, and when you need more just fill your cup again, I find this works a treat.

J. Jelley, Wiltshire

Kitchen Water

I send my daughter to school with 2 (reusable) bottles of water each day.  What she does not drink is then put into the kettle and used to steam her vege with dinner.  The water from the vege is then poured on the plant pots outside the kitchen door.

N. Brookes, Yorkshire

 

Curly Hair Conundrum

I use a garden spray bottle with water & conditioner in it to wet my curly hair to get the brush through it. This means I don’t have to stick my head under the shower when I’m only doing my hair. The bottle lasts for weeks so I’m saving plenty of water!

S. Hamilton, Manchester

 

Switch the shower off between lathering up and washing off

This tip was drummed into me when I was serving on-board Royal Navy warships where fresh water for showering was often a rationed commodity. We were told to: Get wet, turn the shower off, lather up, turn the shower on and quickly rinse.

M. Falconer, London

 

Shower Savings

Replace shower head on your system with the water saving types cost from £24.  Will save  much more in cost of heating water and water used in the first year.  Fantastic easily fitted equipment, fit and forget it.  Let it save ££ every time you shower.

W. Holloway, Reading

 

WAIT FOR THE RAIN

Every time it rains put your coat and hat on, then wash the car  it’s free, good to be out in the  rain and it’s exercise too.  People may think your strange but it may catch on.

G. Roberts, West Midlands

 

Washing up

Do you really need to wash up after every single drink and meal?  Swill the cup and plate and leave the washing up to stack up for the day or even longer if you can this saves water and can even save on electricity as well double bonus

A. Ball, West Midlands

 

Do it online

The best way to save money when on a meter is to create an online account with your water provider and supply them with regular readings.  Not only do they adjust your direct debit each time, but you’ll get a clearer picture of how much water you use.

L. McArthur, Lancashire

 

If it rains… save it up! Get your BUTT in gear.

Tried and tested I know… a water butt.  It rains in this country and water is so precious it is a ‘no brainer’ that we collect that water and use it when it is dry.

S. Wallace, Norfolk

 

Save Three Ways!

Steam vegetables in the microwave, with just a little water, rather than boiling them in pints of water on the hob: save water, save money, and save time, all at a stroke!

S. Green, Surrey

 

Mulch

Mulch your borders to keep them moist for longer requiring less water from your water butt

S. Pechell, Wokingham

 

Just rinse

If you have clothes that just need freshening, put them in the washing machine on the last rinse cycle with some softener. It saves on water and electricity.

L. Casey, Lancashire

 

Water, naturally

I do not have a water butt, but still find way to preserve rain water by keeping round deep containers in the garden I can water my small plant pots with these which saves on tap water —brilliant, natural and hassle free

C. Ebanks, Greater London

 

Recycling water

I use the ‘old water’ from my hot water bottles to water my plants. I stay warm and my plants get watered regularly without wasting water. A little saving but well worth it all round!

J. Bee, Oxfordshire

 

Tub tipplers

Cut the bottom off plastic bottles, turn upside down and push into soil of tubs. Fill the bottles with water as necessary. The water trickles into the soil slower than it would if the water was dispensed from a hose or watering can.

G. Gatehouse, Wokingham

 

Tasty gravy

Use veg water to make tasty nutritious gravy with gravy granules better than boiling the kettle.

S. Morrison, West Yorkshire

 

Clean teeth, clean conscience!

When you’re cleaning your teeth, just put a little cold water in the sink with the plug in so that water is not running down the sink all the time you are cleaning your teeth -clean teeth and brush with the same water without wasting any!

L. Smith, Lancashire

 

Water Butts Galore!

We have quite a large garden therefore water is always needed, to ensure we never have to use the hosepipe, we have installed 3 water butts, 2 from the roof of the house and one on our shed, they collect enough water to use in the garden for the Summer.

G. Cooke, South Yorkshire

 

Keep warm and save water

Use an old kettle and then you can use the same water to refill a hot water bottle time after time very good for pensioners

L. Spofforth, West Midlands

 

Grey water

Fit a diverter to your rainwater barrel so that you can use bathroom water. Worked for me for 30 odd years!

E. Jones, Lancashire

 

Rinsing the car

After washing the car fill your watering can from the water butt and rinse, don’t use the hose.

M. Morris, Devon

 

Micro fibre all the way

To clean windows, just dampen a micro fibre cloth and wipe windows with it. To dry just use a dry micro cloth and windows will sparkle. Hardly any water used, saving time and money

S. Grice, Lancashire

 

Water potted plants less

Put gravel/pebbles or bark chippings on the surface of plant pots to help retain moisture in the soil.

You won’t have to water your plants as often.

W. Hindle, South Yorkshire

 

Recycled Water !

If you have a dehumidifier ? – Try using it every time you dry your washing in doors – Then instead of emptying the water tank down the sink – place in to a bucket or similar container – So it can be used to water plants etc – Every little counts !

B. Jewkes, South Yorkshire

 

Pot Plant Potty

If you are potty about pot plants (as I am! ) don’t just water them with a watering can,save water…put the pots in a plastic tray ,fill it with water (from your water butt!) stand the pots in it, they will take as much as they need with no waste.

B. Gill, Cheshire

 

Waterless car wash!

A fantastic invention, with one average 1L spray bottle you can wash your car approximately 5 times without using a single drop of water. Just search waterless car wash to be amazed.

K. Young, Greater London

 

Healthy savings !!

Save water and be healthier together by not overfilling your pans when cooking. Enough water just covering the food prevents waste once the food is cooked,  and additionally minimal water usage has the added bonus of retaining nutrients !

K. Morgan, Greater London

 

Bathwater

Syphon bath water into a water butt outside & use it to water your plants (as long as there’s no bubble bath in it).

SJ. Norman, Cornwall

 

Water saving

Have an egg timer in your shower to time yourself and save water

P. Mellor, West Yorkshire

 

Free Shower by the Sea

We live near the sea and there are several showers along the sea front for use when you come out of the sea. Although I have not tried it in the colder months, it must be possible to have a free shower all of the year round.

C. Wiltshire, Poole

 

Running hot tap

When waiting for the hot water to come through whilst running the hot tap, place bowl underneath and keep this for filling kettle. If like me your be surprised how much you can save.

J. Price, Southampton

 

Cold tea

I like my tea made with tea leaves and not a tea bag, what tea left over in the tea pot I use to water my house plants.

S. Wright, Northamptonshire

 

Watering the lawn

If you aerate your lawn, the holes will hold the water, rather than it running on the top of the lawn.

P. Richards, South Yorkshire

 

Flush Away Water Waste

Mine is a traditional toilet. I could have bought a modern water efficient model, Instead, I got not one but two ‘save-a-flush’ bags free from my local water company. Now I’m saving 2.5 litres a flush & my water meter is much happier!

R. Hannam, Northumberland

 

Washing up water

Washing up water can be used, when cooled down, to moisten the contents of your compost bin.  Not too much water though!  Use the rest to wash down the outside of your compost bin and water butt.

M. Gillet, Somerset

 

Mowing tip

In a dry spell don’t cut your lawn to short. Not only will the grass look a lot greener then if you cut it short, it will also need a lot less watering.

G. Schrecker, Buckinghamshire

 

Kettle it up

If you drink glasses of water at home and don’t finish them tip them in the kettle and use for hot drinks.

P. Rigby, Greater London

 

Running the tap.

It takes ages for water to run hot when using the kitchen tap for washing up, so instead of just letting it run down the plug hole, save the water in a container and use it to water the garden.

K. Watson, Oxfordshire

 

Tumbler not Tap!

Never Brush your teeth with the tap running as it wastes such a lot of water, always rinse out from a tumbler!

L. Evans, South Yorkshire

 

Crystal clear ice cubes

Use excess boiled water in the kettle to make ice cubes, they will be crystal clear.

P. Lovell, West Berkshire

 

Automatic Watering

Connect a drip feed hose to the water butt with a timer.  No more carrying water to the plants.

H. Phillips, Kent

 

Close Shave!

While my husband is running off the water waiting for the warm water to come through for his shave, he collects it and we use it for watering the plants etc…better than it running straight down the drain.

A. Love, West Yorkshire

 

Sing in the Shower

Play your favourite 3 min song and sing along to it whilst it ends. Then exit your shower!! Quick shower, quick save!

S. McBurney, West Yorkshire

 

Bottle it!

Keep a few (washed) 2 pint milk bottles under the sink & washbasins. Use a bottle to collect the cool water that usually goes down the plug hole before the water in the tap runs hot. Use it in the kettle, to feed plants, to rinse soapy cars, showers etc.

J. Page, Oxfordshire

 

Dog water

When changing dog’s drinking water, put old water in bottle and water indoor plants. Saves using water from the tap.

S. Richards, Oxfordshire

 

Rain water station

Have a feature in the garden with different recycled pots filled with rainwater. The dog can drink from it. Birds bathe. Stand indoor plants in to water. Use the water to flush the toilet.

J. Davies, Hampshire

 

Dish Water / Wish Water

Wishing you ever had extra water for free. Wish water dish water, never just pour away, instead wash the cat litter tray, the food waste bucket or any other household non fresh food container. Its like an extra free bowl of water every day!

A. Bailey, Merseyside

 

Self-watering containers

Look at your local garden centre or on the internet for self-watering containers. These are a great idea for busy gardeners with containers. You never over-water the plants, so you never waste water. The plants get as much water as they want.

I. Sampson, Yorkshire

 

Daily routine

Habitually fill a watering can first thing every day to ensure kitchen water is fresh for drinking and plants have water on standby for instant use.

M. Smitt, Kingston upon Hull