Save water in the kitchen
From rinsing dishes to running the washing machine, the kitchen offers plenty of opportunities to cut back on water use.
Use a washing-up bowl
Washing up tips If you wash under a tap, you’ll use 9 litres of water a minute – but with a washing-up bowl you’ll only use about 8 litres, in total.
Using less water to wash up
- Do glasses first and leave the greasy stuff until last – the water will stay fresh for longer
- Scrape food waste into the bin instead of rinsing plates – your drains will thank you!
- Use one cup or glass all day – no need for a new one for every drink
- Recyclables don’t need to be spotless, just give them a quick rinse or wipe.
Caring for your kitchen plumbing
- Fix dripping taps, pipes and appliances as soon as you notice a leak – even a tiny drip wastes a lot of water over time
- Make sure you know how to find your stop tap – you need to be able to turn the water off fast if a pipe bursts
Only run your washing machine/dishwasher with a full load
- The half-load button on your machine still uses more than half the water and energy, so wait until you have a full wash.
- Washing clothes too often wears them out quicker. You can air out things like jumpers and jeans outdoors to freshen them up.
- A full dishwasher on eco mode uses less water than handwashing – maybe only around 15 litres (less than two washing-up bowls of water).
- If you’re buying a new washing machine, check it has a good water efficiency rating.
Wash fruit and veg in a bowl
- You’ll use much less water if you rinse fruit and veggies in a bowl, not under the tap.
- When you’re finished, the water can even be reused in your watering can.
Making drinks
- Even a few tiny changes in your drink-making routine can have a big impact:
- Only boil what you need – you’ll save water and energy
- Keep water in a jug in the fridge so you don’t need to run the tap until it’s cold.
Steam veg
Steamed vegetables are more nutritious – and they use less water. Steam in a tub in the microwave, or stack a steamer over another pan. No more soggy carrots and floppy broccoli.
Make one-pot meals
Who wants to wash up a pile of pans? There are loads of ideas for one-pot meals out there – from curries and stews to pasta and bakes. You’ll use less water, less energy and have less washing up to do afterwards.
Use a saucepan lid
Adding a lid prevents water from evaporating off, so you won’t get such a steamy kitchen. It’s also a good idea to only use enough water to just cover foods like pasta and vegetables – you don’t always need a full pan.
Re-use cooking water
Water from cooking can be used in sauces and gravy, or even cooled and used in the watering can. Cooking water can provide nutrients for plants, helping them grow. Just make sure it’s not too salty and don’t use starchy water from pasta, rice or potatoes too frequently in the same spot, as this could encourage mould growth.
FREE water-saving devices
Answer a few questions about how you use water in your home and we’ll send you free water-saving devices in the post
