Saving water in the laundry

Water savings are in the wash

Our washing uses a lot of water. We use 15-20% of our household water in the laundry room, but there are many ways to save.

Wait for a full load before running the washing machine.
Adjust the water level and temperature to suit the size and type of load. Use the economy setting when possible.
Pre-treat stains to avoid rewashing.
If you have several loads, use the sud-saver option to reduce the amount of detergent required. Fewer suds means less rinsing.
If you’re hand washing, use less detergent. Fewer suds mean less rinsing.
Hand wash multiple items in a tub or use a sink plug.
Replace your washing machine with a front loader and choose a 6-star WELS rated washing machine. Front loaders use half the water compared to a top loader.
Install flow-controlled aerators for taps. They’re inexpensive and can reduce water flow by 50%.
Set your hot water heater thermostat no higher than 60⁰ C. Adding cold water to cool very hot water is a waste of energy and water.
Check for leaks. If your tap is dripping it can waste as much as 200 litres a day.
Insulate hot water pipes to keep the water hot as it reaches the tap.

Which washing machine: Front loader or top loader?

Before buying a new washing machine, consider the benefits of a front loader.

A front loader:

uses about 60 litres of water compared to a top loader which uses about 110 litres of water
uses up to 70% less water than a top loader. That’s a huge 36,000 litres less water per year in a typical household
is gentler on clothes than a top loader. Higher spin speeds help reduce drying time.