Here at Little Soap HQ we’re passionate about doing our bit for the planet, and regular readers of this blog will know that we often share tips and advice on the best ways to live an eco friendly life. We’re in the business of producing natural, kind to the skin soaps that help to make bath time that little more special… but that doesn’t mean we’re into the idea that the UK as a nation uses up to 150 litres of water every single day. And with water shortages forecast for the not too distant future, we know that NOW is the time to make some changes. Here are our top simple tips to reduce water waste- do let us know in the comments if you have any to add.
Don’t let the tap run too long
Long, hot baths are a luxury for us all- so make the the most of them once in a while. But there are times when the tap really doesn’t need to be running for long. Turn it off when you brush your teeth, fill a bowl when you wash up, take more showers. If you prefer ice cold water in the summer, store jugs of it in the fridge so that you don’t need to run the tap to get the temperature you like. Above all, be mindful of how much water is going down the drain that could have been put to much better use. You can help the nation to save up to 6 litres a minute by turning off taps- and if they’re leaking make sure you get them fixed!
Speak to your water board
It’s their business to educate and advise, so pick up the phone and speak to your water board about the different ways that you can save water around the home. There are devices they can send you to pop into the cistern of your toilet so that you use less water each time you flush (did you know that the average UK household flushes the loo on average 5,000 times per year?). There are also more efficient shower heads that you can buy to use less water each time too. Get in touch and take some action today.
Be mindful in the kitchen
In addition to turning off the taps, try using different methods of cooking to save water too. Steam instead of boil, and you do use water to cook then allow it to cool then use to water the plants afterwards. Reducing food waste is another great way to save water in the long run; every year we throw away seven million tonnes of food that could have been eaten. It takes up to 70% of all freshwater used in the UK to produce that food- that’s 58 bathtubs of water per person, per day!
Be mindful in the garden
This time of year especially, our plants and crops need a lot of water to grow and thrive, but that doesn’t mean we need to waste it needlessly. Time your watering so that you feed your garden in the early morning or late at night- this will stop the water evaporating in the sunlight, reducing the need for extra watering. Also, you can use left over water from the kitchen to water plants, and collect rain in a water butt for watering the garden too. Always water the soil rather than the leaves so that it goes straight to the roots.
What are your top tips for helping reduce water waste?
