Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks
Feature Poppy Benner Photos Getty Images
HOW TO... Save water around the home
Celebrate World Water Day on 22nd March by changing the way you use and consume water in your home. Here are our top tips…
• Update your shower head and cut your shower time down by 5 minutes. According to waterwise.org. uk, baths and showers account for the highest water consumption in the home, at around 34%. Generally speaking, a shower with an efficient shower head uses less water than a full bath, but be aware that long showers or power showers often use more!
• Check for a leaky loo, which can waste between 200 and 400 litres of water per day! Installing a dual-flush toilet will save water by using a less powerful flush, while a Cistern Displacement Device (CDD) placed in the cistern will displace around 1 litre of water with every flush. CDDs are easy to install, free from most water companies, and can save up to 5,000 litres of water per year.
• Turn off taps when not in use, for instance when brushing your teeth, as a running tap can waste around 6 litres of water per minute! Dripping taps are another culprit – usually they are easily fixed with a new washer, which could save around 5,500 litres of water a year.
• Save leftover cooking water and give it a second use in the kitchen or garden. If you used it to boil veggies, it’ll be rich in vitamins, so let it cool before turning it into soup, using it to thin sauces, or pouring it into a watering can to water indoor or outdoor plants – as long as it doesn’t contain salt!
• Read your washing machine and dishwasher manuals to see which cycles are the most water-efficient – look for ‘Eco’ or ‘Economy’ settings. Always make sure your appliance is full before turning it on, and avoid pre-rinsing your dishes or clothes, as this is usually unnecessary with p
