Clean your floor for free

Catch a bucket of hot soapy water from the washer when it spins the first time and use it to mop your floor. It works well for cleaning woodwork, too. You can probably find other uses for it if you look around. Saves on water and cleaner.

Saving on hot water

When you wash your hands, chances are that the water doesn't have a chance to get really warm before you're through. Since you're essentially washing in cold water anyway, don't even turn on the hot water. Traditional water heaters come on every time the temperature drops, and if the water in the pipes is cool, hot water replaces that awhile before it reaches the faucet, lowering the temperature and kicking on the water heater.

More juice for the money

You can usually add a half can more of water (or even a whole one) when you make juice from frozen concentrate without losing flavor. Even whole juice can be stretched with a little water - about a cup or more to a quart for most.

Water savings

If you have access to the outdoors, you can cut your water bill by using rain water. In lieu of rain barrels, use any container you have and put it wherever the rain comes off the roof the heaviest, under a downspout or inside corner. Use it to water plants, inside and out, wash the car, etc.

Saving more water

When you shower, besides setting a bucket under the faucet to catch what runs out before it warms up, plug the drain and use the shower water to flush the toilet. Flushing takes a lot of water, even if you have one of those new low water toilets.

Save water

Keep a bowl or container in the kitchen sink to catch water that would otherwise go down the drain. This can be used to wash dishes, mop the floor, or for other cleaning. Besides all that, it will make you more aware of how much clean water goes down the drain - a good place to start saving.

Washing dishes

There was a study not long ago that claimed that it took less water to wash dishes in a dishwasher than by hand. I protest. Here's how to do it by hand and use much, much less than in the study (they estimated 12 gallons by hand!)

How to Save Water Washing Dishes By Hand

Watering houseplants

Put a bowl under the kitchen tap to catch water that's run to warm up or cool down and use that to water houseplants or container plants outside. You'll be surprised how much water goes down the drain unused.

Water, water, water.

You can water anything down, even lotions and cream. Basically, they're emulsified versions of oil and water. When your hand lotion bottle is "empty," add just a little water and shake vigorously. You'll have enough lotion for a few more application. You can mix water into creams, too, to get more from them.