Kitchen

There are many ways for you to save water in the kitchen

There are many ways for you to save water in the kitchen. Here are our top tips:

  • Don’t use running water to defrost food. For water and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator or microwave.

  • One of the most effective ways to prepare vegetables using a small amount of water is in using the microwave or pressure cooker.

  • A cheap, but effective way to reduce your water use without even noticing a difference in the water flow is to install high-efficiency faucets.

  • Avoid leaky faucets by closing the faucets lightly and changing the washers the moment you notice leakage.

  • Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Choosing a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating could lower the water usage from 40 liters to 18 liters per load. The best part is, your dishes will be sparkling.

  • If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. New models clean more thoroughly than older ones.

  • It’s a good idea to wait until your dishwasher is full before running it. This will help reduce your usage of both water and electricity. And as a bonus it will reduce the amount of dish detergent that goes into the sewer system.

  • Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

  • Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.  

  • Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. This way you will use less water and all your fruits and veggies will be ready to eat or cook.

  • Try to use as many natural cleaning products and detergents as possible, these don’t contain any phosphates and don’t impact the environment negatively. There is a broad range of brands and products to choose from.

  • When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.

  • Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get 8 glasses of water a day.

  • After boiling pasta or potatoes, give the leftover water to the plants. The water contains vitamins and nutrients that your plants will love, just remember to let it cool down first.

  • If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Throw them in a houseplant instead.

  • Collect the water you use while rinsing fruits and vegetables. Use it to water houseplants.

  • When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.