How can I save water in the kitchen?

Question

I've already cut down on my water use in the bathroom, but I'm trying to think of ways to cut down in the kitchen as well

Answer 1

Hand wash your dishes. The average dish washer goes through about 15 gallons of water for a single load. But it only takes an average of 6 gallons by washing them in the sink. Plus, you save money, because regular dish soap is usually cheaper than dish washer liquid.

You can also check your ice maker. Put it on a low setting. Like... if the bin is full, then turn it off until you need some more.

Doing this saves an average of 150+ gallons of water per year.

Answer 2

Handwash dishes -but don't leave water running while doing so.

Make sure faucets all work and don't drip

Instead of running water until its cold to drink, keep a jug in the fridge.

Wash veggies and fruit in sink of water not under running water.

Avoid using garberator with running water.

When you rinse out milk cartons, instead of just pouring it out, feed it to your plants (they love milk water).

Instead of boiling veggies, steam them use less water.

But if you do boil them, save the water and use for soup broth, or cool it and "water" your compost pile with it.

Avoid the use of harsh chemicals/cleaners that take many rinses before removed (save of health and rinse water)

Indirectly use less paper towels/products as it takes gallons and gallons of water to breakdown the tons of paper products we use---instead their is a great new product I found that are "antibacterial" clothes that are made of wood fibres. They work great and can be washed, but only need a rinse!

Thats all I can think of now!

Answer 3

It BAD to hand wash dishes if a dish washer is available, because the dish washer does a much better job of eliminating bacteria on the dishes.  Also, if the disease not prevented is food poisoning No water will be saved, because of the extra toilet use.

Answer 4

use a small amount of water for washing , put all the dishes in the other sink,if possible, ans then rinse them all at the same time in ur wash sink. then use that water to water ur plants and /or grass. the soap and stuff WILL NOT hurt ur plants.

Answer 5

By washing dishes by hand. Fill both sides of the sink with water one to rinse, one to wash. Also if you wash your counters, stove, and refrigorator with the same water as the dishes that could help too.

Answer 6

Hand washing dishes is best but if that's not an option, only run your dishwasher if it is full.

Replace the sink faucet with a low flow one.

Set your water heater thermostat to no higher the 120 degrees F.

Answer 7

stop using the dishwasher. handwash dishes instead and use a basin.

don't let the water run continuously.

check for leaks.

*if washing dishes, wash glasses first, then utensils, then plates, then the cookware. same with rinsing.

Answer 8

Do not use water. You can clean the vessels by using tissue paper.

Answer 9

when rinsing dishes, don't leave the water running to rinse, instead, put some water in the sink and then use that to rinse all your dishes

Answer 10

Only run your dishwasher when it is full.  Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator so you don't keep running water to get it cold.  When washing dishes by hand do not run the faucet for rinse water.  On the rinse side of your sink fill the sink with hot water and a half cap of bleach.  Swish the dishes in the rinse water and place on a drying rack.  Use left over wash and rinse water for house plants and garden.

Answer 11

well make sure that all faucets  & taps does not leak plus you may add like a sponge inside the holding tank of your toilet that way you would be able to save the amount of water that sponge will hold every time you flush the toilet.

Answer 12

Wash dishes by hand, don't let water run continuously, don't turn faucet on to full pressure.  You can also use the soapy water (if not greasy or full of harsh chemicals) to mop your floor and water plants.

Answer 13

Ok, it depends on your dishwashing habits and how many people in your household. If you have a lot of dishes and can run full loads then a dishwasher is a more efficient way to go. What you want to do is avoid the heated drying cycle. That's really what uses a lot of energy. If it has and air dry setting use that, if not then try to catch the dishwasher as it reaches teh drying cycle and pop the door open with an oven mitt or something of similar size. The heat from the wash cycle will evaporate the water leaving your dishes dry. Just remember to use the exhaust fan in the kitchen so you cut down on excess moisture in the air.

Aerators on the sink are also helpful, they force air through with the water so you use less water but still have good pressure.

On the other hand, if you are a household of one or two and don't dirty a lot of dishes at one time then washing by hand will conserve more water, unless you let it run while washing and rinsing...

Answer 14

Wash dishes when you have enough for a sink full, then rinse. Save the rinse water to water plants or do some light hand washing of clothing.

Answer 15

don`t wash the dishes in the sink while the water is running continuously. fill the sink with water and soap, wash the dishes in there, empty the sink, fill it with cold water and rinse them. this should get you to save some water.

Answer 16

Heres a few things that my family tries to do at home to save water in the kitchen.

1. Don't run the dishwasher until its COMPLETELY full. (a lot of people said to handwash dishes but sometimes that isn't practical at all for a lot of families no matter how much water it can save unfortunately)

2. Make sure your faucets arn't leaking.

3. Use "low flow" kitchen fixtures

4. They do make water efficient dishwashers if your looking for a new one

5. Instead of letting the water run and run while waiting for it to get cold just fill up a jug of water immediately and place it in the fridge to keep cool. (make sure to keep it filled hehe)

6. Have a hot water dispenser installed in your sink. Water comes out hot without waiting.

Hope this helps

Answer 17

hand-wash your dishes instead of using the dishwasher

Answer 18

a rule of thum is to use what you need but don't waste it.  If you get a glass of water, drink it.  That is the simple beginning.

Next, if you wash dishes by hand, run as much water as you need without filling your sink full.  wait until you have enough dishes to wash.  I only wash once a day.  wash a few, rinse them, turn off the water.  then repeat.  Never leave water running to rinse dishes. but let it run to rinse a few at at time.

If you use a dishwasher, make sure it is both energy and water efficient.  do not run until it is full to capacity.  If it takes two days to fill it, that's fine.  Do Not use the pre-rinse cycle or the dry cycle.  

Recycle water you rinse fruits and vegetables with.  Rinse into a bucket or pan and use that water to water outdoor plants, saving running outside water.  Mildly soapy water will not hurt outdoor plants either.  If you wash your hands in the kitchen sink, keep a bucket to rinse them in, too. use that on outdoor plants as well.

Answer 19

one thing could be to add heater next to faucet in the kitchen for instant hot water.