Water Saving Tips for Laundry

In a dry climate like New Mexico, water is constantly in short supply. With an average annual rainfall of 9.5 inches, it’s no wonder that all citizens are encouraged to limit water usage. Did you know that some water-saving tips apply to household laundry practices?

We all know the most common tips for water conservation. Examples one may have heard since childhood are turning off the faucet while brushing one’s teeth, taking quick showers, and “if it’s yellow, let it mellow.” There are more water-saving tips; let’s take a look.

In the Bathroom

• Before stepping into a shower, use a bucket to catch the water until it warms up (and use this water for other purposes like watering plants)
• Turn off the shower while scrubbing or shaving
• Wash your hair less frequently
• Install a low-flow toilet

In the Kitchen

• Instead of rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, use a paper towel to wipe food stuffs into the trash
• Steam vegetables instead of boiling as this uses less water and achieves similar results

Around the House

• Use low-flow spray nozzles on the garden hose
• Use the water from the shower to water plants
• Waiter longer between car washes
• Place a rain barrel to catch any rainfall
• Plant only drought-tolerant and native desert plants as they are already doing their part to save water

Did you know you can change some laundry practices at home to conserve water and do your part?

In the Laundry Room

• Wear clothes more often and wash them less often; certain items like denim jeans can be worn several times before being washed (some brands would even recommend only washing their denim every 6 months)
• Hang towels more spread out to dry more efficiently and reduce the need to wash them
• If applicable to your washing machine, use the cotton wash setting over the synthetic wash setting as synthetic settings use more water
• Apply spot treatments to curtail the need to rewash items

So, there you have it. These are just some of the things that you can do to save water at home. If however, you find yourself with so much laundry that you’re not sure how to do laundry without wasting water, consider using a laundry service such as Wonderwash Laundromat’s wash and fold or laundry pickup and delivery. We have efficient machines that use the right amount of water to ensure you get an effective clean without wasting water. Drop off your laundry with us or schedule a laundry pickup and delivery service.