| Automatic clothes washing machines account for | | | | enough to make cloth diaper laundering a non |
| about 20% of total water use in the home. When | | | | issue. But why stop there? Many other water |
| you use and launder cloth diapers in your home | | | | conservation tips can be used to lighten our |
| this figure may be a bit higher and in some areas | | | | environmental footprint even less.Consider these |
| where drought conditions exist, this may present | | | | tips:Use an ultra-low flush (ULF) toiletIf you have |
| a problem. It is also a source of ammunition for | | | | an older toilet install an in-tank toilet retrofit |
| disposable diaper advocates who are always | | | | deviceInstall faucet aerators on kitchen and |
| looking to find reasons why using cloth diapers is | | | | bathroom faucetsInstall a low-flow |
| comparably earth unfriendly. Of course cloth | | | | showerheadAvoid pre-wash and pot scrubbing |
| diaper users know that they are acting in the | | | | cycles on your dishwasher, saving 5-8 gallons per |
| best interests of mother earth but in order to | | | | washConsider installing an instant water heater on |
| balance things out we can always find ways to | | | | your kitchen faucet so you don't have to the let |
| cut back on our water usage so that cloth diapers | | | | water run in order to heat upConsider using a |
| are simply not an issue. The first step you can | | | | non-regenerating water filter as an alternative to |
| take to reduce water usage is do use a dry pail | | | | a water softenerTurn off the softener when you |
| method for laundering. Presoaking your diapers in | | | | are on vacationUse a pool cover and you can |
| a wet pail is not required to keep them clean and | | | | save 90 to 95% of the water that would |
| it would help to conserve water by skipping this | | | | otherwise be lost to evaporationUse "gray water" |
| procedure entirely.We can also help conserve | | | | collected from clothes washers, bathtubs, |
| water by buying an energy efficient washing | | | | showers, and laundry or bathroom sinks to water |
| machine. Traditional top-loading washers use | | | | ornamental plants and lawns, or to irrigate |
| between 32 and 50 gallons per load. Shop for a | | | | treesUse gutters and downspouts to catch |
| model that uses less water, and make sure that it | | | | run-off water from the rain and divert it to your |
| has settings for using less water when washing | | | | landscaping. Tanks, barrels, and cisterns can also |
| partial loads. If you can afford one of the newer | | | | be used for rainwater collection.You can track the |
| front-loading clothes washers, they are an | | | | progress of your household's conservation efforts |
| excellent investment. These machines tumble | | | | by checking your water meter. Consider setting a |
| your clothes through a smaller quantity of water, | | | | weekly target and monitoring your total water |
| rather than using an agitator. Most front-loaders | | | | use for that period. Investigate how changing |
| today use about 24 gallons per load, or about | | | | your habits or upgrading to water-conserving |
| 40% less water. They also use less energy and | | | | appliances and hardware affect actual water used. |
| detergent, and discharge less water into your | | | | * By using these and other water conservation |
| sewer pipe. Thus, you can save on your water, | | | | tips we can help to lighten the impact of cloth |
| sewer, energy, and detergent bills. There are | | | | diaper laundering on our available water resources |
| claims that front-loaders are gentler on fabrics, | | | | and say with certainty that our choice to diaper |
| prolonging the life of your clothes.*One of the | | | | our children with cloth, is the the most |
| most important aspects to consider when | | | | environmentally responsible one.Tiffany Washko is |
| washing is to remember to wash full loads as | | | | president of Jelly Bean Diapers - a cloth diaper |
| much as possible. If you must wash a partial load, | | | | manufacturing company, The Diaper Jungle, and |
| see if your machine allows the water level to be | | | | Nature Moms, working several years in corporate |
| adjusted to fit the size of the wash load. Simply | | | | healthcare marketing and public relations, she took |
| by adjusting the water level to correspond to the | | | | time away to be a mother. This new pursuit lead |
| load size may easily save as much as 12 gallons | | | | her to a new passion, helping new moms make |
| per week, especially if many smaller loads are | | | | the decision to return to the basics and use cloth |
| washed.By following these guidelines you can see | | | | diapers. |
| a significant difference in your water consumption, | | | | |