Environmental Protection: 3 Simple Bathroom Hacks That Save A LOT of Water

So, you’ve decided you want to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. You’re going to start recycling, and you’re going to get rid of your chemical-heavy cleaners to use more natural solutions that will be good for you, and for the environment. You’ve even taken steps to reduce the amount you drive, cutting down on your fuel use. That’s a great start! If you want to expand your cleaner, greener lifestyle into your bathroom habits, here are some tips you may find helpful.

Tip #1: Turn Off The Water When You’re Soaping Up

We don’t typically think about how much water we use in an average shower, but it’s a lot. However, it’s a lot less if you only use the water for rinsing, and you shut it off while you’re soaping up or shampooing your hair. The stop-and-go flow might feel weird at first, but it really cuts down on wasted water.

Tip #2: Use Less Water When You Flush

If you have an older toilet, you’re flushing a lot of unnecessary water every time you use it. So, take a 20 ounce bottle, and fill it up. Place that bottle in your toilet’s tank. It displaces water, and saves that much on every flush. Newer models may not benefit as much, but anything that was installed in 1995 or before will definitely notice a difference with this trick.

Tip #3: Employ Your Flush Discretion

Despite what your parents taught you, you don’t have to flush every time you go to the bathroom. In fact, it’s more than a little wasteful to flush if all you left behind was some urine. Instead, close the lid, and wait until the bathroom has been used several times before you flush. If you’re worried about smells, once per week add some baking soda, and white vinegar, let it set for an hour, then flush. No stains, no cleaning chemicals, and no wasted water.