6 Water Saving Kitchen Tips
This season is beautiful... so warm & lush...
Things are growing all around us, and it’s a perfect time to enjoy all the beautiful bodies of water in our wonderful neck of the woods, be it lake, river, or our incredible ocean.
But it’s also the dry season, and a time to think about ways to reduce our water consumption wherever possible. Here are some super easy ways to do so in your kitchen!
Use a dishwasher & only when full. Typically, dishwashers are more efficient with water than we are when washing them by hand - unless you’ve spent some time on our gulf islands with their limited supply and have become a pro at it! Dishwashers are only great at consuming water when they're run at full capacity, so try to load 'em up before pressing that start button! And if you don't have a dishwasher, a good trick is to partially fill one sink with soapy water for washing, and have another sink partially filled with clean water for rinsing. A little water goes a long way!
Compost vs. garburator. Of course, it's tempting to just toss things down the sink & grind 'em up with some water while they get rinsed down, but composting creates a win-win situation. Not only will you save a ton of water, you'll help create new fertile soil that helps grow more food!
Use water from boiled veggies to feed plants. This is such a simple way to reuse your perfectly good water, instead of dumping it down the sink, and nourish your own plants at the same time. We should clarify... please let your boiled veggie water cool before watering your garden. 😂
Turn off water between scrubbing. Most of us know this, and try to do it, but it's always a good reminder. It's astonishing how much water is wasted as we're trying to get that spot off.
Designate one glass for the day vs. washing a new one each time. You'd be amazed how many glasses/mugs can accumulate over the course of the day, all of which will need a wash. Instead of reaching for a new cup every time you're thirsty, simply pick your favourite and see if you can make it through the day with just one!
Soak fruits & veggies in a pot to clean them, instead of using running water. This isn't just good for reducing water consumption, it's a great way to thoroughly clean your produce, especially if you're unable to buy organic. Simply add 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 cups water. Soak your fruit/veggies for 12-15 minutes, giving them a stir every so often to ensure even coverage, then give 'em a quick rinse and enjoy! (Some soft fruit will get mushy & only needs a 1-2 minute soak.)
Hope you found these helpful & enjoy the rest of your summer!