You and your partner each produce roughly a small mountain of dirty socks and sweaty gym clothes per week. The average washing machine uses 20 gallons per load for a top-loader, and about 14 gallons for a front-loader. If you do four loads a week as a couple—and most do—that’s 80 gallons of water, gone. Every. Single. Week. That’s the same as leaving a garden hose running for over an hour. And you thought your partner’s laundry folding was the real crime. Switch to cold water. It saves energy, and your underwear won’t know the difference. Trust me—your socks have no thermal preferences.
Tap Water – WaterTalksCA.org
The Outdoor Factor (If You Have Grass)
Now, if you have a yard, brace yourself. A typical two-person household with a lawn and garden can add 1,000 to 2,000 gallons a month just from watering the stupid green rectangle you’re always complaining about mowing. “But my grass is thirsty!” you cry. Grass is a water-hogging diva. Let it go golden in August—we call that “dormancy,” not death. Your neighbors will judge you, but your water bill will become your best friend.
