How to minimize water use

[DanielP]

When I was in the scouts, we learned how to wash dishes with dirt first, then rinse with water to save on water when backpacking. 
Since I plan on being limited on water when boondocking, I wonder what tips/practices/habits people have to minimum water use.  We take water for granted when living with running water,  and Ive started thinking about how should I do things differently with only 6 gallon water containers on board.  I have not seen any tips on this on any RV sources aside from personal hygiene. 
Thank You,
Dan

 

[maki2]

Bob has a good video on youtube about how to wash dishes using minimal water.

 

[becida]

When your water is in gallon jugs you notice when you empty one and grab another.  That leads to watching it...
I was using 3 of them a day....

 

[becida]

When your water is in gallon jugs you notice when you empty one and grab another. I was using 3 of them a day....

 

[B and C]

All pots, dishes, etc get wiped with paper towels first before stuff gets dried on. I use 90%+ alcohol to finish cleaning. Others like to use vinegar.

 

[ckelly78z]

Just don't cut down on the amount of water that you drink everyday, dehydration is a killer.

Take a look at some of the flat/oddly shaped water containers/bags that might fit into spaces you wouldn't normally store anything. Learn how to conserve, but take more with you so there aren't any future issues.

 

[GypsyJan]

I use vinegar in a spray bottle and wipe everything with that and paper towels.

 

[AMGS3]

The 'Waterless hand cleaners' thread has good advice on diff ways to keep your hands clean while using less water.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=35100&share_fid=70271&share_type=t

Waterless hand cleaner

~angie

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

+1 on water in gallon jugs; easier to handle and more obvious on the amount of water used.  When in saving mode, I use ~ 1 gallon per day for me and the beagle.

For dishes: beagle prewash, spray with vinegar/water or bleach/water mix, wipe dry.  If you are so unlucky as to not have a beagle a paper towel wipe works almost as well.

Silverware goes into a Nalgene bottle with vinegar/water mix and taken out and wiped when needed.  I change about once a week; uses about a quart.

I can shower with 2 liters of water in a sunshower.  It is a learned skill.

A pressure cooker will allow you to cook with minimal water loss.

 

[RVTravel]

Minimize cooking and only eat out of 600 ml cup. Clean up is a few ml of water. That wont work for most but is my way.

 

[Dingfelder]

I agree on finding containers that fit odd spaces. You can store a lot more that way without tripping over it or kicking it accidentally, etc. I've got some oddly shaped igloo containers that fit into a small vertical space under the overhang of my bed. The space isn't all that fit for anything else.

I'm finding the travel size Berkey water filtering system so useful to make good water out of bad that I would recommend starting there. You store water above and below while using it. If it's at all possible to buy one right away or save up to buy one, I's strongly suggest it. It will be worth the sacrifice. It takes out so many foul and weird tastes that can't be signalling anything good. I've gotten water from taps that my dog won't even drink, but Berkey fixes up his water as well as mine. The replaceable filters aren't cheap either, but they last for thousands of gallons.

Finally, I wouldn't ration a pet's water, if it comes down to that. Dogs specifically cool off in large part by panting, which all by itself can make them very thirsty. I think even our 40 pound dogs can drink nearly a gallon even in winter on a very lazy day. Heck, one of ours frequently wakes up in the middle of the night panting for 20 minutes at a time.

 

[DanielP]

Thank you all for your valuable tips.
Dan

 

[becida]

A pressure cooker will allow you to cook with minimal water loss.

You ever cook pasta in a pressure cooker?  
I'm a big fan of spaghetti but that uses a lot of water so I cut way down when I have to carry the water. I never thought of a pressure cooker...

 

[AMGS3]

A couple of spray bottles can help save water. You can fill them with plain water for rinsing/spraying, or mix a little dishsoap into a spray bottle of water to use for washing up. Or vinegar water/ bleach water/etc. Whatever you choose for cleaning dishes. It helps to conserve water by not having to have a whole large container full of dish water.

Also, for people who wash their own clothes in their rig with either a machine or a plunger & bucket - if you are doing several loads consecutively, save the rinse water from your first load to use as wash water on your second load.

~angie

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

 

[MrNoodly]

Give up coffee and/or tea.

Don't make foods that require boiling.

Unless you're going to be around other people, put off bathing until you can't stand yourself.

 

[becida]

Man! That's a rough way to live!! I gotta have my coffee!! And Ramin soup! Can't forget the Ramin!!

 

[Kaylee]

I'm a big fan of spaghetti but that uses a lot of water so I cut way down when I have to carry the water. I never thought of a pressure cooker...

Rob, have you tried Thermos cooking?
Works great with pasta. Add just slightly more water than needed to cover the pasta. There's very little waste.

Ditto on hot drinks & ramen: you have to hydrate, so might as well do so in a manner that you enjoy.

Caffeinated drinks in moderation are not an issue (contrary to media FUD):
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-...xpert-answers/caffeinated-drinks/faq-20057965

 

[becida]

I never even thought of doing spaghetti in a thermos! Great idea, thanks!!  I'll look it up..
Coffee & ramin soup don't waste water so that water is just a cost of doing business (rice too), but boiling noodles & tossing the water always gave me second thoughts.

 

[Kaylee]

Rob, ditto on no waste with soup/drinks.

For anyone curious about Thermos cooking, but hesitant to spend much, keep your eyes peeled for kid oriented "food jar"s. They often go out of style and are deep discounted. A few years ago I saw one on Amazon for $6. The first one I bought was about 9 years ago, and was on sale at Target for $8.
Food jars are fine for pasta, steel cut oats, and minute/precooked rice.
They're not ok for uncooked rice.
They're typically 10 to 12 oz, and are excellent for anyone starting out.

I subsequently bought a much larger (19 oz) REI house brand during their annual sale for around $20 (before REI went over to the cyber anti-security Dark Side).

A thermos is like having a 2nd burner.
You can boil your water, set your pasta or rice to cooking itself, then use your burner to fry up something tasty to add to it. For an example, please see my SPAM & onions & deluxe mac&cheese pics in the Cheese thread.

If anyone's interested, I can post up pictures, once I get my laptop car charger (all pics are on my laptop, I'm currently using a loaner Chromebook with a superb battery life).

 

[maki2]

You ever cook pasta in a pressure cooker?  
I'm a big fan of spaghetti but that uses a lot of water so I cut way down when I have to carry the water. I never thought of a pressure cooker...

Most of the time I make the sauce and break the spaghetti into smaller pieces and cook it right in the sauce. It is OK to do things "bachelor" style with only one pot to wash up.
But here is a link to a youtube channel from a woman who is using a very small pressure cooker making meals including pasta for one person.