2 minute read
Kitchen Water Saving Tips
by Margaret DeStefano
Water is a critical part of California’s way of life. Our economy, our environment, and our day-to-day lifestyle need water to flourish. But our water is limited, especially during this historic drought. The lack of rain and snow this year means we have to stretch the water that we do have. Here are some tips in the kitchen:
Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator. Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead. Install aerators on the kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon per minute. Run the dishwasher only when full to save water and energy. Install a water and energy-efficient dishwasher. Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
say NO to Fabric
Softeners
If you want a greener laundry room, ditch the fabric softener. Liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets may smell nice, but are some of the most toxic products in your laundry room. Quaternary ammonium compounds are used to produce fabric softeners. They can trigger asthma attacks. The phthalates included in certain fabric softener brands have been linked to health problems in the kidneys, liver, lungs, reproductive system and even the immune system. You can use some white vinegar mixed in with essential oils to make your own green softener.
DIY Fabric Softener Recipe: Combine 1 gallon white distilled vinegar with 25 to 30 drops of your favorite essential oil. Stir the essential oil directly into the container of white distilled vinegar for a minute or so to ensure that the two liquids combine well.
Quick Fact!
Washing in cold water reduces your personal carbon footprint by 10% and is just as effective. Most detergents today are formulated for cold washing.
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