More water savings

Another water saving tip.  I was thinking about this one day while washing dishes, just like you can save water and money by turning off the tap when shampooing and conditioning, you can save while washing dishes too.  I've always tried not to run the tap while washing dishes, just because when I'm not rinsing a dish it seemed wasteful, but now I really try to watch how much water I use.  So here is my washing dishes tip: 

I first plug the sink, and put in some soap, then I do let the water run for a little bit to fill up the sink about 1/4 of the way; however, while it's running I wash my silverware, so I'm at least using the running water as well as filling up my sink.  Plus I once read something from Martha Stewert, that you should always wash your silverware first.  Anyways, after my sink is 1/4 full I turn off the tap.  Then I add a few dishes at a time to the sink and wash them all in the sink.  Once I've washed them then I turn on the tap just a little and rinse the dishes off.  I wash a little and rinse together to make sure they're clean.  Then after the ones in the sink are done, I turn off the tap and put some more dishes in the sink and repeat.  

So instead of filling up the sink all the way, and having the water just run when I don't need it to, I only turn it on when needed and I turn it on low, but high enough to rinse.

Now I will say, I try to wash as I go during the day, rather than have a ton to do all at once.  Plus, I can't say I wash my dishes this way all the time.  I'm human and there are many times I end up just letting the water run becuase it's faster.  Or my 2 year old wants to help & well, we end up using more water, but that's quality time so it's worth it.    

One last thing, if I have any recycle items that need rinsed out, I save those for last and use the water that's left in the sink.  They're going to get cleaned and melted anyways so no use in using new water from the facuet for them. 

I also know of a couple who's sink is pretty large and so they just put a smaller plastic bucket inside the sink and use that to wash their dishes in.  That way they don't have to fill the sink with more water than needed. 


How do you save water by washing your dishes, please share I'd love to know.  Remember it may not seem like a lot, but every little bit of savings adds up.