How to Recycle: Rinse Water From Your Washing Machine

Divert recycled water into your garden.

Whether you live in an area affected by drought or you just want to reduce your environmental impact, recycling water from your washing machine is safe, is green and doesn't require investing in fancy products. Commonly called "gray water," this recycled water has a range of uses around the home. Unlike dishwasher water, which has a lot of grease, washing machine water is fairly safe for use in the garden.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket

Instructions

1. Set a 5-gallon bucket in your wash sink beside your washing machine.

2. Take your washing machine drain hose and lift it into the sink so it rests beside the bucket. Begin your wash and let the initial soapy water run into the sink. As your washer shifts to rinse cycle, lift the hose into the bucket to capture the rinse water, which has fewer soap suds.

3. Collect the water in the bucket. Move the bucket when it is full, since you don't need any more water. Collect only as much gray water as you can use at one time; don't collect everything you can and store it for later.

4. Reuse the water around your home. Use it as mop or rinse water for house cleaning, or to wash your car, or in the garden. Plants can handle 1/2 gallon of gray water per square foot per week. Use as much of your harvested gray water as you can the same day you collect it, and discard any left over.

Tips & Warnings

• Never reuse washing machine water that's been used to launder diapers.

• Do not use boron-based detergents or bleach in your wash if you want to recycle the water with plants.

References

• University of Massachusetts: Recycling Gray Water for Home Gardens
• Better Health Channel: Grey Water - Recycling at Home