Ways To Conserve Water In The Kitchen II

·      When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

·      Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings

·      Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.

·      Run your dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

·      For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.

·      Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.

·      Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.

·      Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash

·      Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.

·      Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

·      Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.

·      If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.

·      One more way to get eight glasses of water a day is to re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.

·      When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink basin or a large container and rinse when all of the dishes have been soaped and scrubbed.

·      If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.

·      Purchase a green efficient dishwasher machine.

·       Wipe dirty plates down immediately post-use, and if you have dishes that don't really have junk on them, just don't rinse them.

·      Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features of the dishwasher. Instead use the dishwasher’s air-dry option”. 

·      If you wash a head of lettuce all at once and then wrap it in a thin kitchen towel or paper towel, you will actually save water instead of washing the lettuce every time you make a salad or have a sandwich, literally at times piece by piece.

·       Most people use a new cup every time they get a drink of water, but what's the point? Why not just keep using the same cup all day. You know it’s yours so you won't contract any germs but your own, and if you switch up your beverage choice then you just give it a quick rinse and it is as good as clean. This conserves water because you only need to wash one cup per person per day.

·      The key to dish washing in an environmentally-conscious way is to plug up a sink and fill it with warm water and soap. The bubbles are what kill the germs and having a full sink prevents you from washing dish by dish with constant running water. Once your sink is filled, drop the extra sticky dishes to the bottom of the sink so they can soak while you are cleaning the rest to eliminate the hardship.