Water saving Christmas tips

Here are some simple tricks I tried out that helped me save water and reduce waste without taking away any of the Christmas cheer.

1. Shower to a Christmas song

In the winter, it’s so tempting to stay in a hot shower a bit longer, especially when it’s cold outside. But knowing how much water I was using, I decided to try cutting my shower time down by timing myself with a classic Christmas tune.

I’d pick a fun, upbeat song like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, which is about four minutes long. By the time the song was over, I’d wrap things up, keeping my shower short and festive. It was a fun way to make sure I didn’t stay under the water longer than I needed to.

2. Ice cubes for plants

If you’re like me, you might end up with leftover ice after a Christmas party or a festive dinner. Instead of just dumping it down the sink, I started using the ice to water my plants.

Once the party was over, I’d go around and place a couple of cubes in each plant pot. The slow melting was a gentle way to hydrate them without any waste – and it was a surprisingly easy way to repurpose what would have gone straight down the drain.

3. Lagging pipes for winter warmth

One of the best things I did last Christmas was to lag (insulate) my pipes.

It might not be the most glamorous task, but it was surprisingly quick and easy, and made a big difference.

Wrapping foam insulation around exposed pipes and covering my outdoor tap kept them from freezing and bursting in the cold, which saves water and avoids costly repairs. It’s a small investment that really pays off, plus it means you’re using your hot water more efficiently since the pipes lose less heat.

4. Reusing cooking water

During the holiday season, I usually cook a lot of veggies, and you can’t forget the sprouts on Christmas Day.

Instead of pouring the leftover cooking water down the drain, I let it cool and used it to water the plants or even the Christmas tree. (Just make sure you haven’t added any salt to the water.)

Veg like potatoes, carrots, and broccoli add nutrients to the water, which can be great for plants! This small step saved a surprising amount of water and gave my plants a little nutrient boost.

5. Making the dishwasher work smarter

With more family and friends visiting, the dishwasher fills up quickly. Rather than running it half-full, I made sure to wait until it was packed before turning it on.

This way, we got the most out of each load, saving both water and energy.

I even tried to make sure everyone used the same glass throughout the day to reduce the amount of dishes and make clean up quicker.

This is even easier if you have glass charms or lots of different style glasses, so everyone can quickly identify which glass is theirs.

6. Looking after the Christmas tree

If you have a real Christmas tree, you’ll want to keep it hydrated so it stays fresh longer.

Last year, I watered our tree sparingly with leftover vegetable water (once it was cooled down) and collected some rainwater in a bucket outside on rainy days.

The tree stayed green and lush without using any extra tap water.

7. Wash clothes on eco mode

With all the festive party outfits and Christmas jumpers being worn, it’s tempting to do more laundry than usual, but I tried to resist washing things after just one wear.

For those inevitable loads, I used the washing machine’s eco mode, which uses less water and energy. It was a simple change, but it really made a difference over the month.

8. Taking extra steps

Whether it’s filling up a water bottle to avoid buying single-use plastic or turning off the tap when brushing my teeth, I kept these small habits going even during the holidays. The little steps add up and as a bonus, help keep that holiday budget in check.

These small, water saving habits didn’t take away from the fun – and knowing I was doing my part to look after the environment and water resources, really added to the holiday spirit.

This Christmas, I’m looking forward to building on these habits and maybe finding a few new ones too!