5 Minute Showers

For this entire week, starting today and ending next Tuesday, I will only be taking 5 minute showers.  To some people, this might sound like a small feat, but to others this could be an impossibility.  On average, I take about a 10-12 minute shower, and even though my water pressure is a little lacking at the apartment, that shower would consume around 20 gallons of water.  Showers are great, especially on those cold mornings, but cutting out long showers for just 1 week can easily save 70 gallons of water, which is important during this drought we are experiencing in LA.

I know there are some people who like to spend 20 minutes or more in the shower, but what on earth do you really need to be doing in there:

0:00 – 0:30 – Getting acclimated/Prep
0:30 – 2:00 – Soaping up
2:00 – 3:00 – Shampoo
3:00 – 3:40 – Face Wash
3:40 – 4:30 – Rinse

I’ve even left myself a 30 second buffer.

Notes and Tips
- The clock starts when you turn on the water.
- Play a five minute song, or two songs that add up to five minutes on your stereo.  Or get a timer.
- If you REALLY want to save some water, turn the water off while you’re soaping up, shampooing and washing your face.
- I used to brush in the shower, but that wastes too much water.
- To see how much water you are using, plug the drain during your next shower to see how high the water goes in your tub.
- Replace your existing showerhead with either a low-flow or aerating showerhead.