In the past 20 years, washing machines have reduced water consumption by 62 per cent for every five kilos of clothes. The average dishwasher, meanwhile, has reduced its water consumption by 10 per cent in the past two years alone.

How can you reduce water use even further? Here are some ideas you might want to consider:

• Many appliances have special energy and water saving cycles. Use them.
• Check the appliance manufacturer's instructions to see if they provide a water-use rating for each cycle. You may find a short cycle saves even more than an eco-setting. But it is important that you get the facts on water and energy use for the most-used cycles of your laundry or dishwasher machines.
• If you have an old machine, consider trading up to a newer model. Not only will it save water, but it will also cut your electricity bill and give you a better wash.
• Important quantities of water can be saved with the selection of the right detergent or cleaning product with the right wash or cleaning conditions, without compromising on cleaning performance or convenience.
• Use detergents that do not require a pre-wash or other water-draining cycles in order to get the best results.
• Double-check your washing load before hitting the start button. If you switch on the machine in a hurry you are more likely to overlook something that may result in you having to run items through the wash again, wasting water, energy and detergents.
• Ask whether you really need to wash each item then and there. Adding more laundry to each wash and washing more infrequently will save a lot of water. By moving from six to five washes a week, you could save 30 litres of water on 18 kilos of laundry.

Remember that many of these tips will help you save energy, too, lowering your electricity bill and helping reduce your contribution to climate change. And there are many other opportunities to save water in the home. Click here to find out.

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