How To Conserve Water In The Bathroom

Water conservation has become a hot topic in recent years due to the positive effects it can have.

Many of us have had to deal with water shortages during the hottest months and conserving water in the bathroom can help prevent these.

Water is a precious resource that we shouldn’t waste and it helps the environment to use it sparingly when we can.

Conserving water can also have a financial impact as it will reduce your water bills. If you have a water meter at home you can save a lot of money by conserving water but even if you don’t, reducing your hot water usage will reduce your energy bills.

In this article, we will look at our top five tips for ways you can still use the water that you need in the bathroom while conserving as much as possible.

1. Reduce Your Shower Time

On average, we take around 10 minutes in the shower and the average showerhead uses around 12 liters of water per minute. That means that the average 10-minute shower will use approximately 120 liters of water.

By reducing your shower time by only a minute, you will see a great reduction in the amount of water that you use as the weeks, months, and years go by. Those 12 liters will soon add up!

It’s easy to lose track of time in the show and spend more time there than you need. Why not set a timer on your phone so that you only spend the bare minimum time you need to instead of losing track of time by meditating under the showerhead?

Some smart shower heads can be programmed to turn off after specific amounts of time as well.

2. Check For Drips And Leaks

Lots of water is wasted each year through drips, leaks, and damaged pipes. Some leaks are easy to spot and you should always be on high alert for leaking faucets or patches of water in places they shouldn’t be.

However, finding leaks in the piping that supplies the water to your bathroom can be more difficult. These pipes are usually encased in the walls so you can’t easily check them for any leaks.

Make sure you keep a close eye on your water bill and water consumption. If you see a spike in your water usage or it doesn’t reduce in the way you expect, it may mean that you have a leak somewhere. 

Another sign of hidden leaks is a sudden drop in water pressure. If your shower spray isn’t as fierce as normal or your faucets can’t run as quickly as they used to, this can also be a sign that you have a leak somewhere.

3. Turn Off The Faucet While You Shave And Brush Your Teeth

Although it’s tempting and convenient to leave the faucet running while you shave or brush your teeth, this is a huge waste of water. You should turn it off when you’re not actively rinsing your razor or toothbrush underneath the stream of water.

Another option when it comes to shaving is to fill the basin with a little water and dip your razor into it whenever you need to clean the blade. This way you won’t need to remember to turn the faucet on and off.

You can also switch to an electric razor instead as these need next to no water at all. When shaving with an electric razor you don’t require any shaving cream so water is not as necessary.

4. Hang Bath Towels To Dry Instead Of Washing Them

You don’t need to wash your bath towels after every single use. Even if you’re especially dirty when you enter the shower, you will usually wash all of the dirt and grime from your body, and the last drops of water that will touch you will be clean.

This means that your towels will only absorb clean water.

Even clean water can breed germs into towels so you shouldn’t leave your towels for too long between washes.

We would recommend washing your towels after three normal showers. It’s best to allow your towels to dry in the fresh air instead of the stuffy and humid bathroom so hang them outdoors in-between washes to dry.

5. Install Water-Saving Showers

This is a much larger commitment than the other suggestions we’ve had so far but if you’re already planning on remodeling your bathroom, you should consider how you can install water-conserving appliances.

Water-saving shower heads can greatly reduce the amount of water used when you shower. Some studies show that you can conserve up to 50 percent of the water you would usually use during an average shower!

These showerheads can often be installed with your regular shower head but they aren’t compatible with every type of shower.

Many smart showers have several features that will help you conserve water as well.

They usually come with water-saving shower heads as standard and many have timers so you can ensure that your showers (and those of your family members!) don’t run too long.

If you’re doing a complete bathroom remodel and are looking for a new shower, you should consider installing one of these.

You can also opt for a steam shower. These showers boil water to produce water vapor and can be used for the same purposes as a regular shower.

However, they use a fraction of the water that a regular shower does and can greatly reduce the amount of water you consume. Despite the vapor being made from boiling water, they are completely safe to use and are very relaxing!

Final Thoughts

In this article, we looked at five different but effective ways to conserve water in the bathroom. Water conservation is important because it not only helps the environment but can also save your household money on your water bills.

We hope that you implement the strategies detailed in this article and see a reduction in your water consumption!