At the end of September we brought an energy meter and a shower timer device to help us to try and cut down on our electricity, gas and water consumption around the house.
Well, this morning I was very proud to have achieved my first ever two minute shower! I wouldn’t have believed it possible, but thanks to the employment of Japanese bathing habits, and the assistance of our little friend Mr Duck the Shower Timer, it finally happened.
- Mr Duck the Shower Timer
I didn’t wash my hair, which would’ve undoubtedly doubled my time. My hair doesn’t get as much attention now as it once used to, mainly due to having a small child, although environmental concerns are right up there – honest!
Most importantly, I employed Japanese bathing techniques, minus the dip in a hot bath at the end, to cut my time right down.
Japanese bathing techniques? Well, the Japanese don’t shower, as we do, stood in the bathtub with the water running constantly while they wash themselves. The Japanese really prefer baths to showers. In Japan, a person would ordinarily wash themselves all over before getting into a steaming bath. To wash, a person sits on a little stool on the tiled floor outside of the bathtub. Water is used as conservatively as possible – a shower head is used to wet the body all over, the person then washes using soap, and afterwards rinses off again using the shower head. Then it is time to ‘soak’ in a relaxing bath.
I skipped the bath at the end, and simply switched our shower off part-way through so that I could wash myself all over without letting the hot water run down the plughole in the meantime. (I also paused the timer while the shower was not running.) So the hot water was only running for two minutes, and I managed to get myself lovely and clean without wasting all those extra litres of water.
When I think that, in the past, I have averaged 10 to 15 minutes per shower, assuming an average 3 minute shower each day from this point on, I will be reducing my water consumption (due to bathing) by a staggering 75 to 85 % – wow!
I challenge you to give this technique a go and let me know how you are getting on in the comments section.
Hi,
Congratulations on your new blog!
Some time ago, we had water restrictions, and we had a 4 minute timer given out to everyone by the government to put in the shower to help everyone have shorter showers.
It took a little getting used too, but you do get used to it.
Now there are no water restrictions, I do take longer showers, but not as long as I used to b4 the 4 mins shower experience!