15 Proven Ways to Save Water at Home

Co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg and Eric McClure

Last Updated: December 11, 2022 References Approved

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 to preserve the environment, minimize the impact of droughts, and take some pressure off of the public water supply. You’re also keeping some money in your pocket by cutting down on your utility costs. Saving water doesn’t require major lifestyle changes either—changing a few small habits can go a long way towards making the world a better place!

1

Fix minor leaks around your home.^{[1]
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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}

Replace damaged pipes and leaky faucets to avoid wasting water.^{[2]
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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.^{[3]
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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.^{[4]
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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.^{[5]
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  Trustworthy Source
  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 saving water is important.
- Check your toilet for internal leaks by pouring a drop of food coloring in 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.^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  Go to source}

2

Turn the faucet off while you brush or shave.^{[7]
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This is one of the easiest ways to cut back on your water usage. There’s no need to keep the water running while you’re in the process of cleaning your teeth or trimming your beard. It may sound hard to believe, but you can save roughly 200 gallons (760 L) of water a month just by shutting the water off once you go about your business!^{[8]
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- For every 1 minute your tap is running, you’re pouring ¹⁄₄ US gal (0.95 L) of water down the drain, so this definitely adds up over time.^{[9]
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3

Take shorter showers.

Get into the habit of taking showers that last 5 minutes or less whenever you can.^{[10]
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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.^{[11]
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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).^{[12]
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4

Flush the toilet only when necessary.^{[13]
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The toilet only needs to be flushed 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.^{[14]
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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.^{[15]
  X
  Research source} That’s a lot of water over time!

5

Displace some of the water in your toilet.

To save the amount of water you use with each flush, fill a disposable water bottle or airtight bag with pebbles and drop 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!^{[16]
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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. Do this at your own discretion.

6

Switch to water-saving fixtures.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
National Conference of State Legislatures
Bipartisan, nongovernment organization serving the members of state legislatures and their constituents
Go to source}

Swap out your showerhead and faucets for low-flow alternatives.^{[18]
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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.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist
Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} This is an easy way to conserve water without even changing the way you wash, flush, or shower!^{[20]
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Research source}
- 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!

7

Run your dishwasher only when it's full.^{[21]
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Using household appliances more effectively is a great way 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.^{[22]
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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.^{[23]
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8

Do full loads of laundry with cold water.^{[24]
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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}

If you do have to wash a smaller load of laundry, make sure you adjust the dial that controls the water level to compensate.^{[25]
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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} Always make sure that you have enough dirty clothing for a full load. Try to stick with cold water washes as well, since the cold water setting on most machines uses less water and energy.^{[26]
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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!^{[27]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Consumer Reports
  Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing
  Go to source}

9

Store a pitcher of water in your fridge.^{[28]
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When you turn the sink on, you typically have to wait 30 seconds or so 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 some serious 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

Cut back on water when you cook.^{[30]
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Defrost your food in the fridge instead of submerging it in cold water. If you hand wash your pots and pans, use a large bowl filled with water instead of letting the faucet run. Whenever you boil something, use just enough water to cover the food instead of filling the pot to the rim.^{[31]
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Research source} None of these steps will save a lot of water on their own, but they’ll definitely add up over time!

11

Use water-efficient appliances.^{[32]
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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}

The next time you need to replace a dishwasher, washing machine, or water heater, purchase a water-efficient appliance. Not only will this cut back on your water consumption, but you’ll save money over time when it comes to utility costs.^{[33]
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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.^{[34]
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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}
- As a rule of thumb, front-loading washers use less water than top-loading machines.^{[35]
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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.^{[36]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Energy Star
  Program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency
  Go to source}

12

Change your gardening habits.^{[37]
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There are a variety of ways to save water when you’re landscaping or gardening. Stick with native or drought-resistant plants for your garden to avoid the need for frequent watering.^{[38]
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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.^{[39]
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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.^{[40]
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- Collecting rainwater is easier than you may think. Just divert your gutters to run off into a large bin.^{[41]
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13

Compost food scraps instead of disposing them.

Create a compost pile or start a compost bin.^{[42]
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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.^{[43]
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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.^{[44]
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- Feel free to compost any veggies, fruits, bread, or grains. Coffee grounds and eggshells are great for compost as well.^{[45]
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- Stay away from composting meat or dairy. These items tend to take too long to break down and they’ll attract rats, raccoons, and other pests.^{[46]
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14

Avoid washing your car or use a bucket.^{[47]
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Put the hose down and let the rain clean your car for you. If you do feel the need to wash your vehicle, fill a few buckets instead of using your garden hose to clean your vehicle off and rinse it.^{[48]
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Research source} 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.^{[49]
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- There are waterless cleaning products that you can use to clean your vehicle. This will cut out the need for water entirely!^{[50]
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15

Sweep your driveway instead of washing it.^{[51]
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You don’t need a hose or pressure washer to keep your sidewalk, driveway, and porch clean. Instead, pick a broom up and brush 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.^{[52]
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Expert Q&A

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. She's the author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic.

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.
Question

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.
Question

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.