How important is it to try and save water? We hear about it in the newspapers, on the internet, on television, and even from family and friends. Is there really a water crisis? Yes, there is. With hotter summers, increased droughts, and a changing climate, it is very important to try and conserve water. These are some handy tips you can start utilizing in your kitchen, even if you are very set in your ways of doing things.

First, make sure there are no leaks in your kitchen sink. Do a thorough inspection at least once every week to make sure your faucet is working at its optimal performance.

When washing fruits and vegetables, we usually run it under continuous running water, which is a very wasteful habit. Instead of running the tap, fill up a large bowl with water and do your major cleaning there. Scrub off all visible dirt and thoroughly clean all your produce. After this main wash, quickly rinse each produce under running water to rid it of any additional pesticide residue and any dirt it got from the bowl.

Planning your meals ahead of time is usually a good idea, especially if you have a busy school and work schedule. By doing so, you can know what frozen meats or other frozen foods you need to leave out on the counter or leave in the refrigerator so that it will be thawed by the time you get home. If you are not a planner or did not think what you wanted to make for dinner ahead of time, there is always the option of using the defroster option on the microwave, or you can defrost the food by putting it in a pot full of water and on low heat on the stove. You should avoid running very hot water on frozen foods in the sink. Placing the frozen food in a bowl of hot water is generally not a good idea also because you will need to change the water every few minutes.

Avoid using the ice maker on your fridge by putting all beverages in the fridge right away. That can of soda that has been sitting in the fridge will be just as cold as that glass of soda with ice.

If you are using a dishwasher, use it only when you can run a full load. A lot of water is wasted when the dishwasher is run without a full load. If you wash dishes by hand, then use less soap when scrubbing your dishes. More water is required to wash off the extra soap that you used to wash the dishes with. Also, do not let the water run continuously when you are scrubbing your dishes. Make sure the water is turned on only when it is time to rinse the dishes.