Recycling Water from your Washing Machine Made Easy

[@tonyhawk1948]

Excellent idea, here Honduras we are having a rough time with water supply and this should def help, thanks!

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Hi Mario, Thanks for the comment. Tom

[@aldenmann8399]

Thank you for this. Ive been mad about the amount of water we waste as a family. My solution is to put a bucket in the sink next to the washer hose, but capacity is limited. This seems like a great solution.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Glad it helped! Been using it for years. Personally, I really feel that it helps me utilize considerable amounts of water in a very analytical or important way, as I am an avid gardener, who lives in an area that does have drought problems. Thank you for your feed back.

[@shootingbricks8554]

I put a bucket under the shower. Save roughly a gallon or 2 per shower. Used that water to flush the toilet.

[@mariekevanderleij3674]

I do the same currently but can only use it to flush the toilet as the detergents contain chemicals.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Thanks John. As concerned gardeners, with water being one of our most important resources, managing it to the best of our ability is a very critical aspect of responsibilities we can tend to on our little plots of improved land.

[@mycrazyfamilyid]

Nice and simple! I did some math... Between having a large family and using reusable everything (cloth napkins and towels, no paper towels, cloth tissues, pads, and diapers) and living in an area with low rainfall (11 inches per year on average), we're using more water to wash laundry than our entire year's rainfall! Yikes! Better start collecting grey water again (did it in the city but we've moved). Now we have irrigation rights but the pump for it is on a neighbor's property and all locked up with a heavy, rusty chain... But that's what our laundry water and rooftop rain collection is for! :)

[@staceyallard2692]

I wish we could’ve had instructions on how to get it from the tank to outside. Maybe you could do a video on that. I’m not in a drought here in Michigan, but I still want to conserve water and I have a decent sized flower garden but my goal is to build a vegetable garden soon for growing food next year. Thank you for your videos! 😊♥️

[@annemiura7767]

This is a great video, just what I need, but this old lady doesn’t know how you attach the hose to the tank. Every thing else you explained so well. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you.

[@johnwitkowski6596]

Well done video Tom. With the current drought, this gray water conservation system is a great idea.

[@mommaof5771]

I am collecting my washing machine grey water in a garbage can with a hose attachment and it is working out beautifully. Do you have any suggections to keep the garbage can staying fresh and clean. I use an organic laundry soap and I make my own, but there is an odor in the garbage can.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I would use a garden jet sprayer from a hose. No water wasted in doing that. If you have a pressure washer, more power to you.

[@freedomfighter3481]

Hi Tom, what type of laundry soap do you use? Just found you and Love all your gardening.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Organic, biodegradable detergent.

[@tractionlabs5383]

Thanks for posting this video. I use Tide Pods for my laundry and prefer not to change it (as I am allergic to other laundry detergents). Any downside of using the water from tide pods laundry ?

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I have not tried Tide Pods.

[@martasarber7133]

Hi Tom, where did you purchase the chemical container?

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Here is the same tank and seller (link at bottom). I have been using it for a few years, by the way, and it has held up very well. Just an estimate, but I believe it has recycled well over 60,000 gallons in my garden. Tips: Do Not let your garden hose kink. The higher it is placed above the ground, the faster it will flow from the tank. Be mindful of the soaps used that will be flowing on to your plants. www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200337114_200337114

[@rowc2317]

Hi Tom. I love this video. I want to do this. Could you let me know where to buy this tank? thanks so much!

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I bought it through Amazon about three years back or so. It has held up very well; it has probably cycled at least 50,000 gallons of water. At the time it was $49.99. Its brand name was NorthStar Spot Sprayer Tank (26 Gallons); the seller's name is Northern Tool.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I searched for it on Amazon and could not find the exact size, so I looked up the company I bought it from. I have included the link. www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200337114_200337114

[@rowc2317]

@@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732 Thank you!

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

@@rowc2317 You will really enjoy the water savings. I now use only organic detergent. Though bleach works great for whitening clothes, it raises soil Ph; I do not use it. I really like the system and what it does for me in the Southern California region. I have not experienced any deleterious effects at all in three years or so. And given that Southern California is bracing for another drought, what is called La Nina, I am in a position to save water in Los Angeles County. Tips: Make sure that your garden hose does not kink; the higher your can raise the tank, the faster the water will flow.

[@kelvinchristian4445]

Great idea, but my concern is whether washing machine water good enough to use on lawn or plants? Isn't it harmful because it's having laundry detergent/liquid in it. I did bit research and found out that it's not even safe for the soil. Just want to know how has your experience been so far.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I use organic, biodegradable soap to wash all clothes. I am on my fourth year and have not had any negative effects. Recycled water is not uncommon. Where I live in the Los Angeles area, a new pipe is used that is color-coded purple for city water recycling. It is not potable but used in the city's landscape. I do not know what water type is being recycled, however. I have not done anything new about recycling water. But I can say from experience that my simple and inexpensive system works for both me and my plants and trees with no negative effect. It has been a winner for me in that I conserve a lot of water.

[@kelvinchristian4445]

@@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732 Thank you for the useful information. I'm up for my project. Good on you mate...

[@babyblue7798]

where did you buy this container? i need this so bad.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200337114_200337114

[@sheri023]

Thank you for the video. It looks like you have 2 hoses connected. How far do your hoses reach to water your plants? I estimate mine will be 150 feet and I wonder if the water will flow that far by gravity. Also, do you recall the hole saw size you used to cut the cap with? Thanks again. I was wondering if it would work by putting the spray tank on a sturdy rolling table. disconnect the drain hose, cap the end of the garden hose with a valve till I could get closer to the area I want to water, then turn the valve on.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I have a fairly large yard and connect just about 150 feet when going out to the farther perimeter where I water (it is fine to connect another hose; it's all about gravity). I do have a sloping yard where I send most of my recycled water. If you are on a flat surface, I would raise the tank another foot high, maybe two if possible, to receive a good flow of water. If I had concerns that it would not flow as fast I needed, I would look into purchasing a larger tank; let's say fifty gallons (my tank is half that capacity). It is all dependent on the flow of the washing machine, the water it produces with each load. I just want to say that I really depend on saving water and is important to me on many different levels. This system is very effective and inexpensive. Two important tips: Never let the garden hose kink, be very mindful of the soaps used that are going to water your plants or trees.

[@sheri023]

@@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732 thank you. What is the worst that can happen if the garden hose kinks?

[@JimenezMarianoV]

Hi , I really like this idea since I have my washer machine outside of my garage and I added it a couple a washer machine hose but they are not flexible and easy to break them. does this tank contains a hose when you bought it or did you purshased separately?? Thank you from a new subscriber.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I use a standard 100 foot garden hose. It was purchased at Costco for twenty dollars. It is anti-kinking. Nevertheless, each time I use it, I walk the entire line and make sure the hose has no kinks in it. Thanks for watching

[@JimenezMarianoV]

Thank you !!

[@mariekevanderleij3674]

I love this idea ❤️! But most detergents contain harsh chemicals such as bleach, salts or methylisothiazolinone (a preservative which will kill anything!). And don't forget fabric softeners which are often just s bad... I tried eco-friendly washing soap but it doesn't make my clothes smell as nice. Do you know of a water filter that will take out the chemicals?? Thanks for the video, well done 😊!

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

I use a biodegradable/organic laundry soap at only half the recommended amount. Been doing it for many years now and have seen no negative effects. (In a side note, when I spray my plants for insects, especially for whiteflies and other aphids, I use a mixture of water and Dawn dish soap in a pump sprayer, about two ounces of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. I will do it multiple times in a week to alleviate serious infestations from my hibiscuses to vegetables plants. I have not seen any negative effects in doing that either.) By the way, I don't use an antibacterial soap because there are many beneficial bacteria that reside in soils.

[@tagladyify]

@@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732 I use a combination of baking soda, washing soda and essential oils to wash my clothes. It cleans great. I do t think it would harm anything in my garden.

[@tagladyify]

Fabric softener has an intense smell that users of it become nose blind to and likely a lot of unhealthy chemicals. I stopped using it many years ago and now cannot stand the smell. I use a small amount of beneficial essential oil in our laundry soap and they smell lovely. Lemon grass is a wonderful choice. Try going without fabric softener for a while and smell it again you will likely never want to use it after that.

[@nofilter.906]

I wonder about smell?,,, I know it's not " Blackwater ", but still...is there a unpleasant smell that needs to be taken care of frequently?

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Using organic soaps to was clothes in my washing machine has never caused any odor. As suggested in the video, it is very important to cap the vent pipe that the water was originally drained into; failing to do so may cause your sewage pipes, those black and filthy ones to emit odors. Other than that, it is a system that produces gray water, which using organic detergent without out bleach could make it almost light-gray water. The easy set-up works extremely well, saves large amounts of water, and keeps plants green in an environment that is deprived of rain water. The only consideration is the the garden hose cannot kink.

[@mann953]

Are you sure that you can water your plants with eco friendly detergent? Although eco friendly they still contain some harmful ingredients

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Please list those harmful ingredients and explain what deleterious effect they are causing... Many regular detergents that are banned in such states as Florida, California, et cetera contained phosphate that is one of fertilizer's macronutrients. They were banned due to the fact they caused algae blooms in those states' waters; in other words, some detergents cause plants to grow, so what is it that you are warning about. The detergent we use is biodegradable and has produced zero negative effects for well over two years and our plants are thriving in a drought riddled environment. Be specific on what harmful ingredient you are referring to...

[@deninevh]

I know you did this 4 years ago but the closest I can find to that tank is over 300.00.

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

Here's the tank I bought. Today's price is $89.00

[@deninevh]

@@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732 Do you have a link?

[@doityourselferhomeandgarde9732]

www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200337114_200337114