Reducing Shower Time : From Slow To Eco

In the bathroom, decreasing our water consumption is quite simple once we decide to set up some reachable goals. And make things happen. Starting with elementary concepts like dry brushing our teeth, using the newest technologies to our advantage or cutting down on shower length. So in practical terms, how to efficiently reduce water usage in the bathroom ? It’s easy as 1-2-3 ! Let’s explore how to make the most of our ablutions by reducing shower time and go from slow to eco.

Time For Shower ?

The idea behind reducing water usage in the shower is to be able to achieve our goal in 5 minutes or less. If possible. Using a mechanical timer or setting a cell phone alarm (but beware of the steam and moisture issues !). Even programming the good old oven timer. Or singing along 3 of our favorite tunes on the radio. Whatever works really… We experiment. See what works for us. What best fits our needs to find a successful balance.

In a nutshell, trying to aim for no longer than those handful minutes under the running water in the shower is ideal. It is plenty of time for a good thorough wash. And if this seems like we feel too rushed, it usually means we have to be more efficient about our time allocated. And we ought to think outside the box to understand what’s behind our long bath time. We can, for example, get—or make—a nice bathing glove. One that will gently and diligently scrub and exfoliate the skin to leave us feel refreshed and empowered after that massage. It will greatly accelerate bath time and give us a better result overall.

Hot Topic.

Now if we are adepts of long showers, let’s take a moment to understand the reason behind it. Why we are so fond of those lengthy and costly luxuries. It may be because we lose track of time. Or maybe we enjoy the reassuring feel of the water running on your body, which is a great stress reliever especially after a long and laborious day. Maybe it is because we are experiencing muscle pain. Or maybe simply because of temperature issues in the room.

Let’s picture for a moment that the water coming down starts running cold, for whatever reason that might be. I can guarantee that the remainder of the shower is going to be super quick. Turning off the valve in a brisk swirl and jumping off to grab a towel ! So, to be realistic, most of the time we dread to turn off the water not to be confronted with the colder environment of our surroundings. We stretch the experience as long as we can to postpone the time we will be exiting the cozy enclosure. And this in itself is quite enlightening and so easy to alleviate. We just need to think ahead and boost slightly the heat inside the bathroom before going for a shower. Not only it will be nicer to get out of it, but it will slowly get us in the mindset that the exit will be more comfortable. So we do not have to stretch our bath time too much longer. And as a plus, it will help get rid of excessive moisture within the room and fight residual mold that may arise from lengthy water exposure.

Using Our Head Wisely.

Investing in a low flow shower head is a great way to work on reducing shower time and save on water consumption overall. There are plenty of models available on the market. Think about one that will offer the possibility of getting detached off the wall for an easier cleaning process of the facility, for regular maintenance and sanitation. This will make the whole experience even more agreeable and safer on the long term.

As for a rain shower head ? Ouh la la, this is quite the experience. Those go a long way to get the whole spa feel, so go for it if you have the opportunity. Although you do need the proper set up for this as they are usually set on the ceiling for the most part so, if not already in place, it will involve renovation. And renovations in the bathroom do mean quite an extensive amount of work, due to the peculiarity of the environment. So this is something to keep in mind.

The Mindful Shower

Now as for all aspects of our lifestyle, everything should be put into perspective. So, after a hard day doing physical work, when coming back from a long walk in the woods in the dead of winter or returning home after 5 weeks spent with no hot water available, it is understandable that you will want to take your time in the shower. All the necessary time. And happening to mention the 5 minutes rule at that very moment to try reducing shower time would certainly have you raised your eyebrows in disapproval ! Which is totally fine.

We need to keep in mind that the time we decide to allot ourselves under the shower might not work all the time, and for everyone in the family. This should not be cause for disagreement or discontent. While inspiring others is encouraged, it is important to remember that change starts with us and respecting others’ choice prevails. But sparking the conversation is always a good place to start so we can all understand the consequences of our habits on our surroundings.