How to Save: Water (and win $50)
by Allie Comeau on July 20, 2009 
12 comments
At Sierra Trading Post, we’re all about getting a great deal. We prefer our purchases to be 35-70% off.
But we don’t just save on outdoor gear, apparel and footwear. We also like to save in other areas. If you’re reading this, you probably do, too. That’s why we’re introducing a new series of savings tip posts called How to Save.
Because we’d all like to save money on our water bills, (and do the planet a favor) we’ve got two great tips this week on How To Save Water:
1. Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants and flowers in your garden and landscaping. Mulch retains moisture, saves water and keeps plants happy.
2. Collect water you use to wash fruits and vegetables and use it again – to water houseplants or your garden.
Know any other great ways to save water? Leave a comment below (click Read More and scroll down for comments section) with additional savings tips on How To Save Water. We’ll pick one save-savvy winner from the comments section on each savings post to win a $50 gift card. (Feel free to also send me an email with new topic suggestions.)
UPDATE: We’ve chosen a winner for the How to Save: Water comment contest. Congratulations, Ian Curtis! See Ian’s great tip from July 20th below…
Fineprint: Your savings tip must be less than 100 words to be eligible for the $50 gift card. We’ll pick a winner monthly based on creativity, originality, usefulness, and clarity. Sierra Trading Post is the sponsor of the How To Save contest and employees and families are not eligible to win the gift card, but are welcome to submit tips. Please include your email information with your comment so we may contact you. You may also send in suggestions or request a list of winners by mailing it to: Sierra Trading Post, 3050 Campstool Rd. Cheyenne, WY 83005 Attention: Josh Reese. (Of course, we’d rather you just left a comment.) Void where prohibited.
July 20th, 2009 @ 10:57 am
I think one of the simplest and most common areas we can all save water is doing laundry. I do a ’sniff’ and “stain” inspection of jeans, khakis, & shirts before tossing them into the bin in the corner. Not only can I get a few wears out of the clothes before they need laundering, the clothes last a LOT longer too. Hope this helps save water for you all.
P.S. By a filter and don’t by bottled water.
July 20th, 2009 @ 11:07 am
Rain barrels are not a relatively new idea, but using them will provide your garden with plenty of water. You can even make your own! Here’s a simple how-to for a weekend project: http://auburnsportsshots.smugmug.com/gallery/8939684_SzsXL . If you already have some camping gear that treats water, you can treat the rain water you collect to make it drinkable as well.
July 20th, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Run a dehumidifier in your basement? Empty the reservoir or drain pan into your watering cans for potted plants. It’s like “found” water — a gallon without turning on the tap.
July 20th, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
In older toilets a 1/2 gallon milk jug filled with water and placed in the tank will save 1/2 gallon of water every time you flush. For a family of 5 (like mine) that adds up to a lot of water saved!
July 20th, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
When you want hot water there is always an amount of cold water that often goes down the drain. Collect it and use it for anything, its perfectly clean.
In the shower, let the cold water run into a bucket and when you’re done tip it into the washing machine.
At the sink, fill up the kettle, the cold water bottle or just save it in a jug to use for rinsing, pot plants, whatever.
At the bathroom basin, leave a jug handy and add it to your shower/washing machine bucket.
July 20th, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
Drink beer instead!
(I also use a giant water pitcher in my refrigerator, so I always have cold water ready for drinking. This keeps me from having to run the faucet for an extra 15 seconds each time I want non-sedimenty tasting water from the pipes in our old apartment building.)
July 22nd, 2009 @ 8:45 am
Do not let the water run while washing dishes , brushing teeth.Try to use cold water when you can.Washing clothes use a smaller cycle and cold water with a washer that uses little water.Dont flush the toilet a lot if not necessary. Debbie
July 22nd, 2009 @ 10:12 am
I have a motto in my house about using the restroom… if it’s yellow, let it mellow– if it’s brown, flush it down! This saves a TON of water in your home, especially if you have little ones who go potty often.
We also use a rain gage in the garden to monitor how much rain we have gotten on a daily basis so we don’t water unnecessarily!
July 22nd, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
Along the lines of the rain gage, I installed a rain shutoff device. It was moderately cheap ($20), and automatically turns off our sprinklers if it’s raining. They are compatible with almost all sprinkler systems and can be told the amount of rainfall it needs to read before it turns off the sprinklers. I love it!
July 22nd, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Water-saving idea: When washing your car, drive it onto the lawn and let the water rolling off the vehicle hydrate the grass.
July 28th, 2009 @ 10:51 am
There seems to be a great deal of interest in using rainwater for showering applications. I noted in another post that you want to be careful in using rain from the rooftop to bathe or drink unless you have a filtering system in place.
Your rooftop has is not a clean surface as bird residue, and other bacteria can be washed away during a storm right into your water collection system. Primary usage of this water would be for your garden, car or powerwashing applications.
August 7th, 2009 @ 8:05 am
That’s a good point. Thanks!