How to Save Water at Home: 17 Expert-Backed Ways

Stay green and conserve water with these quick and easy tips

Co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg and Mason Martinez, BA

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 Fact Checked

If you can cut back on the amount of water you use every day, you’ll be doing the planet a big favor. Using water efficiently helps preserve the environment, minimize the impact of droughts, and take some pressure off the public water supply. You’re also keeping some money in your pocket by reducing utility costs. Saving water doesn’t require major lifestyle changes either—changing a few small habits can go a long way toward making the world a better place, so read on for our full guide to water conservation.

1

Turn the faucet off while you brush or shave.^{[1]
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Save roughly 200 gallons (760 L) of water a month by shutting off your faucet. There’s no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth or trimming your beard. Instead, quickly dampen your toothbrush, shut the water off, and go about your business. It’s one of the easiest ways to cut back on your water usage!
- For every 1 minute your tap is running, you’re pouring 1–2 US gal (3.8–7.6 L) of water down the drain, so this definitely adds up over time.^{[2]
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2

Take shorter showers.

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Get into the habit of taking showers that last 5 minutes or less.^{[3]
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Research source} Everyone loves a long, hot shower, but your showerhead uses roughly 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water a minute. You’ll save a lot of water over time if you stick with short rinses, and you’ll be just as squeaky clean as you normally would after a long shower.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.}
- If you’re thinking about switching to baths to conserve water, keep in mind that a bath typically requires 30 gallons (110 L) of water while a short shower will only use 10–25 gallons (38–95 L).^{[5]
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- An average water heater uses approximately 18% of your home’s energy.^{[6]
  X
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  U.S. Department of Energy
  Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
  
  Go to source} As daunting as it sounds, a cold shower consumes less energy, making it more environmentally conscious with a few added health benefits.^{[7]
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3

Flush the toilet only when necessary.^{[8]
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Flush only when you’ve finished using the bathroom. Don’t dump tissues or cigarette butts in your toilet to use it like a convenient waste basket. Skip that courtesy flush and only flush once when you’re done using the John.^{[9]
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Research source} If you have one of those dual-flush toilets, be sure to use the smaller button when getting rid of liquid waste to avoid wasting water.
- Depending on when your toilet was manufactured, a single flush requires 1–8 gallons (3.8–30.3 L) of water.^{[10]
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  Research source} That’s a lot of water over time!

4

Displace some of the water in your toilet.

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Fill a water bottle or airtight bag with pebbles and put it in your toilet’s tank. This will displace some of the water and minimize the amount of H2O needed to fill the tank. It may not seem like a lot, but a pebble-filled 12 fl oz (0.35 L) water bottle will save 12 fluid ounces (0.35 L) with each flush!^{[11]
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Research source} If you flush four times a day, that’ll save you almost 20 gallons (76 L) of water a year!
- You may stumble across a website or two that suggests using sand instead of pebbles. But if your bag or bottle isn’t airtight and the sand gets into the water, it may mess with your toilet’s flush valve, so we don't advise using sand.

5

Switch to water-saving fixtures.

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Swap out your showerhead and faucets for low-flow alternatives.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source

U.S. Department of Energy
Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency

Go to source} By upgrading your showerhead and sink fixtures, you’ll cut back dramatically on your water usage.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} This is an easy way to conserve water without changing how you wash, flush, or shower!^{[14]
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- If you don’t have the time or money to upgrade your fixtures, at least install a cheap aerator on each of your faucets to throttle the water flow. The odds are high you won’t even notice it’s there!

6

Use water-efficient appliances.^{[15]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

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Replace dishwashers, washing machines, or water heaters. Not only will this cut back on your water consumption, but you’ll save money over time when it comes to utility costs.^{[16]
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Research source} If you live in the United States or you purchase American appliances, look for the EPA’s WaterSense stamp of approval when you’re shopping for appliances. Any machine with this sticker on it uses at least 20% less water than the average appliance.^{[17]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

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- As a rule of thumb, front-loading washers use less water than top-loading machines.^{[18]
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- If you can, buy appliances that are also energy-efficient. In the United States, look for appliances with the Energy Star sticker.^{[19]
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  Energy Star
  Program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency
  
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7

Run your dishwasher only when it's full.^{[20]
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Use household appliances more effectively to save water. There’s nothing wrong with trying to keep your kitchen clean, but you’re going through a lot of water if you’re in the habit of running your dishwasher every day. By waiting until the dishwasher is full, you’re getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to the water you’re using.^{[21]
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- If you’re thinking about throwing that dishwasher out altogether to conserve water, keep in mind that running your dishwasher will almost always use less water than hand-washing your dishes.^{[22]
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- If you can’t access a dishwasher, use the two-basin method. Scrub dirty dishes in a basin or plastic tub with hot, soapy water and rinse them in another basin with cold clean water.^{[23]
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8

Do full loads of laundry with cold water.^{[24]
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U.S. Department of Energy
Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency

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The cold water setting uses less water and energy. Always make sure that you have enough dirty clothing for a full load to conserve water.^{[25]
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- While it may feel counterintuitive, washing or cleaning clothes with too much water will actually keep your clothes from getting completely clean, so you’ll get fresher whites and deeper colors by washing full loads too!^{[26]
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  Consumer Reports
  Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing
  
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- If you don't have a full load, adjust the water level dial for smaller laundry loads.^{[27]
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  U.S. Department of Energy
  Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
  
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9

Store a pitcher of water in your fridge.^{[28]
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Avoid wasting water when waiting for it to get cold from the tap. When you turn the sink on, you typically have to wait 30 seconds for the water to get really cold. Every time you want to drink an ice-cold glass of water, you’re pouring a lot of perfectly good water down the drain. By filling up a pitcher and placing it in your fridge, you’ll always have some cold water ready to go without waiting on your tap. This doesn’t seem like a lot now, but over time, you’ll save water.^{[29]
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- You can buy a pitcher with a filter on it if you want to improve the quality and the taste of the water you keep in your fridge!

10

Defrost your food in the fridge instead of in water.

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Thawing food in cold water wastes the water. Plan your meals ahead and leave enough time to defrost small amounts of food in the fridge. This will help keep any meats at a safe temperature while defrosting. If you’re stuck in a time crunch, use your microwave's “defrost” setting.^{[30]
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- Save more water when you cook by boiling just enough water to cover the food instead of filling the pot to the rim.^{[31]
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  Research source} All of these steps will save water over time!

11

Rinse vegetables in a bowl.

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Only wash your produce before use to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage.^{[32]
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Research source} Submerge your fruits and vegetables in a large bowl or tub. If your produce has a lot of dirt, use a vegetable brush to free any grim before enjoying it!

12

Switch to a plant-based diet.

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Cut down on meat consumption to save water. Not everyone can completely overhaul their diet due to dietary or health restrictions, but even swapping out one dairy or meat-based product from a single meal can go a long way toward helping our planet. A plant-forward diet can help cut our water footprint in half.^{[33]
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- It takes between 5,000–20,000 litres (1,300–5,300 US gal) of water to produce 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of meat!^{[34]
  X
  Research source} On the other hand, tofu only requires 25 gallons (93 L).

13

Use less water in the garden and lawn.^{[35]
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Stick with native or drought-resistant plants for your garden to avoid the need for frequent watering.^{[36]
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Research source} Collect rainwater to water your plants and use a watering can instead of a hose. Weed and prune your garden regularly to keep plants healthy and cut back on the water requirements for your plants.^{[37]
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- Set your lawnmower blades to be 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) high when mowing, since longer grass helps soil retain moisture, which can help fight droughts.
- Collecting rainwater is easier than you may think. Just divert your gutters to run off into a large bin.^{[38]
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14

Fix minor leaks around your home.^{[39]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

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Replace damaged pipes and leaky faucets to avoid wasting water.^{[40]
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Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} Inspect your water meter and utility bills every month to see how much water you’re using. If you notice a random spike, it may be a sign that you have a leaky pipe somewhere in your home.^{[41]
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Trustworthy Source

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

Go to source} A poorly-sealed pipe or leaky toilet can waste up to 90 gallons (340 L) of water a day, so resolving these problems can save a lot of water in the long run.^{[42]
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Trustworthy Source

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

Go to source}
- While it varies based on the size of your household and how long you spend in the shower, the average household uses roughly 80–100 gallons (300–380 L) of water a day. This comes out to 2,400–3,000 gallons (9,100–11,400 L) a month.^{[43]
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  U.S. Geological Survey
  U.S. government agency responsible for conducting scientific research on the nation's land, natural resources, and natural disasters
  
  Go to source} If that seems like a lot of water, it’s because it is! This is one of the main reasons why saving water is important.
- Check your toilet for internal leaks by pouring a drop of food coloring into your toilet’s tank and waiting 10 minutes. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl, you have a leaky toilet to fix or replace.^{[44]
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  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  
  Go to source}

15

Compost food scraps instead of disposing of them.

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Create a compost pile or start a compost bin.^{[45]
X
Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} When you’re cleaning up after eating, toss any food scraps in the compost so you can use it in your garden to fertilize the soil later on. This will cut back on how often you need to water your plants since compost will help plants retain moisture.^{[46]
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Trustworthy Source

University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities

Go to source} It will also keep you from turning that garbage disposal on, which often wastes a lot of water.^{[47]
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- Feel free to compost any veggies, fruits, bread, or grains. Coffee grounds and eggshells are great for composting as well.^{[48]
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- Avoid composting meat or dairy. These items tend to take too long to break down and they’ll attract rats, raccoons, and other pests.^{[49]
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16

Avoid washing your car or use a bucket.

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Put the hose down and let the rain clean your car. If you need to wash your vehicle, fill a few buckets instead of using your garden hose to clean your vehicle off and rinse it. If you use a hose to wash your vehicle, you’ll use roughly 50 gallons (190 L) of water. A few buckets will only require 5–10 gallons (19–38 L), though.^{[50]
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- There are waterless cleaning products that you can use to clean your vehicle to cut out the need for water entirely!

17

Sweep your driveway instead of washing it.

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Keep your sidewalk, driveway, and porch clean by picking a broom up and brushing any debris aside. If something is especially dirty, grab a damp cloth and clean it by hand instead of leaving the hose running. It may take a few extra minutes, but you’re saving a lot of water by sweeping or hand-wiping instead of washing things outside.^{[51]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I reduce my water use when showering?

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist
Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

Kathryn Kellogg

Sustainability Specialist

Expert Answer

One of my best tips is to simply change out your showerhead to a low-flow showerhead. It's very easy to do. If you rent, change out the showerhead when you move in and change it back before you move out.

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Why do people use things that have a very negative effect on the water level?

Community Answer

It is because human beings believe themselves to be primary managers of the planet and think they can solve everything with technology after making a mess. Sadly, this is somewhat of a superiority complex that has landed the human species in hot water but it doesn't stop people who just don't care, who are rather selfish and who think a techno-fix is always just around the corner from wasting precious planetary resources. Help those who don't get it to understand that every drop that is saved counts.

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Is water the most important thing in life?

Community Answer

Along with food and some other natural resources, yes. Water is one of the most important things in life. It's necessary for our survival.

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Dirty dish water, also called graywater, can be used to flush toilets. During drought crises, graywater can be used for plants, so long as it doesn’t touch its edible parts.
Water your plants and lawn in the early morning (between 5am and 9am) so water doesn't evaporate. Avoid watering in the evening as this can lead to the growth of fungus.

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