7 Ways to Inspire Your Family to Use Less Water

Mar 29 | Money Saving Tips

Are your monthly water bills sky high? Do you feel like your family isn’t vigilant when it comes to preserving this resource? It’s so easy for people, myself included, to get into wasteful habits. However it can also be easy to pull out of these habits. If your family is using more water than it needs each month, it’s time for an intervention. Look below at 7 ways to encourage your family to use less water, so you can be sure to not only save a few bucks but help save the planet’s resources as well. Here are 7 tips to get you started.

1. Keep a timer in the bathroom.

A timer in the bathroom can help cut down on lengthy showers which no doubt send tons of money and water down the drain. A simple minute timer near the shower is a great way to set the allotted time and hear a reminder when it’s time to get out.

2. Encourage turning off the tap while brushing teeth.

One of the easiest ways to waste water is to let it run while you brush your teeth. A family can send gallons down the drain this way. Make it a family rule that the tap should be turned off when teeth are being brushed. This way, water isn’t needlessly going down the drain.

3. Model water conservation when you cook and clean.

When you cook and clean, model water conservation to your kids. Fill the sink with a bit of water to wash produce instead of letting the water run freely. Don’t fill up pots with any more water than you need. Then be sure to save this  water so you could water house plants or your flower pots outside. When cleaning, don’t let water needlessly run unless it’s time to rinse the sink or your cleaning supplies. When you model this behavior, kids are more likely to try it.

4. Take short showers instead of baths.

Try to convince family members to take showers instead of baths. You will waste less water this way and even your water heater will get a break. If kids really love baths, see if you can convince them to take more showers and stick to one bath per week.

5. Get sufficient wear out of clothing before tossing it in the wash.

Don’t let kids toss clothing in the wash after it has been worn only once. (Unless it’s truly dirty!) Teach them to evaluate clothing and make sure it is in need of a wash. Jeans can be worn several times before they need to be cleaned, as can most sweaters. Don’t be so quick to toss clothing in the wash and instead get a few uses out of it.

6. Don’t run dishwashers/washing machines unless they are full.

Running a half full dishwasher or washing machine is quite wasteful. Instead, be sure no one runs it unless it is 100% full. Show family members what that looks like so they know how to make the best use of the space both appliances offer.

7. Avoid filling sinks, tubs, and cups all the way full.

When taking a bath, doing dishes, or even getting yourself a drink of water, avoid filling items all the way full. See if you can use less water and still get the job done. When drinking water, of course you can always pour more once the original amount is gone. This just prevents you from pouring more than you can drink in one sitting.

Are you ready to start using less water, start saving money, and start being kinder to our planet? Then try these 7 ways to inspire your family to use less water and see how easy it can be!

I’d love to hear what works for your family when it comes to saving water! Let us know in the comments below!