What is the best way to collect and treat "grey" water from the washing machine?

Question

I'm concerned at the amount of water our washing machine uses in a standard cycle and would like to set up a semi-permanent system to collect the waste water to use on the garden, rather than letting it all go down the drain. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/experience in dealing with this? I would prefer a system that will cost little or nothing, and I'm a bit over collecting the water from the outlet hose in a watering can!

Answer 1

If you have a second rinse cycle, that would be best because it would have less soap.  I use a siphon system to water my avocado tree that needs lots of water.  Use the modified siphon method.  Items needed:  One garden hose and two small buckets is all you need.  The buckets are located at each end of the hose and there to keep the water in the hose at all times after it's primed.   Place the first bucket in the bottom of the laundry sink.  The second bucket is located about one to three inches lower than the sink bucket.  When you plug the sink and water starts to flow in the sink bucket the system will work.  Try it with more hoses until you need not be there for it to work. To stop the siphon raise the outside bucket more than the height of the water in the sink.

Answer 2

Shaklee has biodegradable liquid laundry soap and fabric softener.  I only use 1/2oz of laundry soap for a super size load and you mix 1oz of fabric softener concentrate with 1 cup of warm water.  My clothes are cleaner.  There is also a stain booster!  And that works awesome.