Whether you want to save water in the bathroom for the Earth, to save money on utilities, or just because you don’t like wasting water, you’ve come to the right place to learn the best ways to save water in the bathroom!
All of these tips are easy to implement, and most of them are free or cheap to do, too!
Water is a vital resource that no one needs to waste. Here is the reality of our freshwater resource on Earth:
The truth is, 70% of the earth is covered in water, but only 3% is fresh and drinkable. 80% of the 3% is frozen on polar ice caps and glaciers, leaving us with access to only 1% of our planet’s fresh water.
Fresh Water Systems
Becoming aware of this information has really opened up my eyes and creativity to see ways that the human race can stop using so much water without depriving us of the lifestyle we are accustomed to living.
This is why I know you’ll find a lot of value in seeing how you can reduce your water usage in the bathroom.
The 7 Best Ways to Save Water In The Bathroom
Each of these ideas is meant to seem easy enough to implement today, and I promise the next water bill you receive will be lower than you’re used to seeing!
Let’s get into it!
1 // Low flow aerators
Installing these for your shower and sink(s) can dramatically reduce your water usage. The best part is that they aren’t expensive!
The flow rate should be 1.5 gallons per minute [gpm] or less to be considered low flow. [source]
For sink faucets, an aerator with a 0.5 gpm is sufficient. Here are a couple of Amazon.
For showers, I recommend something a little faster. With shower heads, it can get expensive, so here are a few options Amazon has, but feel free to shop at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot, as they have them as well.
Low flow aerator shower head option 1 | option 2 | option 3
Now I know you’re probably wondering the following:
Do low-flow aerators work as well as regular-flow aerators?
My personal opinion is that they work just as well! Most low-flow aerators are built to be high-pressure flow, so you don’t really notice a difference. Well, besides your lower water bill!
2 // Don’t turn the sink faucet on all the way
It doesn’t matter if you invest in low-flow aerators or not. Unless you are filling a cup of water, you don’t need to turn the faucet on all the way to wash your hands or face.
By only turning on the faucet halfway, you’re saving even more water!
I’ve experimented with this for a while, and honestly, I’m excited each time I’m able to accomplish something without turning the faucet on all the way.
3 // Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
According to the EPA:
Just by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and before bedtime, you can save up to 8 gallons of water! That adds up to more than 200 gallons a month.
epa.gov
Now take those savings and multiply it by everyone in your home. Imagine if you all developed the habit of turning off the water while brushing your teeth. That’s a lot, right?!
This one very simple thing does a lot to save water in the bathroom alone!
Another way you can do the same thing is by turning off the water while washing your face. You just need a little water to get started and to wash it off after you’ve finished rubbing your face with soap.
Can you see how fast the water savings multiply?
4 // Take shorter showers to save water
You can really save water in the bathroom by taking shorter showers.
Check the gallons per minute rating on your shower head and multiply that by how many minutes you reduce your shower time to see how much water you can save.
For example, an aerator rated at 1.5 gallons per minute times 5 minutes equals 7.5 gallons of water you can save by shortening your shower time.
Over the course of a month, that equals 225 gallons of water saved!
Combining that with turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, you’ve doubled your monthly savings!
Can you tell that I’m excited? 😉
5 // Use water from the shower to water plants
I got this idea from GoingZeroWaste.com. Kathryn uses a bucket to capture the cold water before entering the shower.
You can use that water to water your plants, hand wash your dishes, or even do laundry.
She’s got some other cool ideas that aren’t just bathroom-specific, so I’ve included that video below for you.
6 // Use a brick in the toilet
I’m sure you’ve heard this advice before, but I will warn you that using an actual brick in your toilet.
Instead, fill a water bottle with water or sand to put in your toilet.
You can even use a toilet “brick” that is designed to save about 2 gallons of water per day per person, which adds up to 60 gallons of water per month per person! [source]
7 // Swap toilet for a dual flush toilet
My husband and I have dual-flush toilets in our home and shop, and we both really love them! It has two flush volumes [obviously… dual flush].
The top mount buttons have an I and an II for obvious reasons. The I is for using #1 and allows for 1.1 gallons of water to flush away waste. The II is for using #2 and allows for 1.6 gallons of water to flush away waste.
There is a significant difference between the two flushes, and for less than $100, I’d say this is an investment worth making. Our toilet is going on 6 years old and still operates like new, which was a concern for us at the beginning with the top-mounted buttons.
Final thoughts about saving water in the bathroom
Now that you know how to save water in the bathroom, I’d love to know where you’re going to start and how much water you anticipate saving. Let me know below in the comments.
I didn’t mention this in the beginning, but it is April, which means it is Earth Month! If you haven’t already, be sure to see what you can do to care for the Earth this month by checking out my Sustainable Living blog posts!
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