Water conservation in the kitchen and laundry room

Kitchen

• When washing dishes by hand, remember to turn off the water between uses rather than letting the faucet run the whole time you are washing. Even if your sink is fitted with an aerator that restricts flow to 2.2 gallons per minute, washing dishes by hand with the water running easily can use 25 to 50 gallons -- maybe even more. If your faucet does not have a good aerator or flow restrictor, you may be using over 100 gallons of water when letting the water run to wash dishes.
• Instead of washing dishes with the water running, fill a basin with hot soapy water, wash the dishes, then rinse them.
• Automatic dishwashers use the same amount of water per run regardless of whether there’s a full load or just a couple of dishes. The trick is to make sure the washer is fully loaded before it is turned on.
• If you are shopping for an automatic dishwasher, look for one with an internal water heater. This will let you set your hot water tank to a lower temperature, and that can reduce the risk of scald injury and save you some money, too.
• If you are shopping for an automatic dishwasher, please consider purchasing one that is water efficient.
• When washing leafy vegetables like lettuce or spinach, wash them in a bowl or basin of water rather than under a running faucet. You may be surprised to find out that soaking can remove sand and grit better than a spray of water.
• In the summer, instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cold, just fill a pitcher of water and keep it in the refrigerator.
• Try composting instead of using a garbage disposal. Your garden will benefit, and you can reduce the use of costly soil amendments.

Laundry

• Typical washing machines can use over 50 gallons of water whether the machine is full or just has a couple items. You can save water by washing fewer loads -- just make sure to fill the machine before you turn it on. If your machine has an adjustable water level, set it to the lowest level that will get the load clean.
• If you have been thinking about a new washing machine, make sure to get one that is water efficient. Look for a machine with a "Water Factor" (the number of gallons required to wash one cubic foot of clothes) of 9.5 or less.
• Save hot water and the energy to heat by using detergents formulated for cold water washing. Cold water is gentler on many types of delicate fabrics.