Washing up water

[lafrancaise]

Can I use washing up water and water I wash my hands with to water my plants in the garden/tubs. I feel guilty everytime I throw water down the drain. Also can water I've cooked with be used (having heard potato water is a weedkiller...)

Thanks for any help on this

[meltoadhall]

we do, havent killed anything yet.

also your bath water can be siphoned off and if you can work it your washing machine water

[raysparx]

of couse you can,it helps to kill off greenfly etc as well,so result all round,Ray

[WendyS]

Yes, it will be fine, but try and avoid using soapy water or water with lots of grease in it and spread it around different plants. I pour all my "grey" water into a bucket outside my kitchen door, and this includes my veggie water and all the water wasted while waiting for the hot water to run through to my kitchen tap.

[lafrancaise]

Thankyou everybody for your answers. I wasn't sure the detergent wouldn't cause a build up of some poisonous residue in the soil or if the salt from veg. water mightn't be plant friendly so I'll take your words for it!!. Wendy, my plan is to have a couple of watering cans outside the back door so I can then use that in the evening for the patio plants. Mel, collecting washing machine water sounds a great idea but mustn't be easy.... Ray, it'll be interesting to see if the plants are greenfly free, though upto now I'm not bothered with them. Fingers crossed

[gardenknowin]

ANY "domestic" waste water can safely be used on plants, as long as it doesn't have bleach, or stuff like "Head and Shoulders" in it. Just make sure it is applied to the soil rather than the foliage; in fact many modern detergents make an effective bug-killer/slug repellent. Potato water is a very good soil/compost enricher.

[nickmo]

And grey water should not be used on vegetable plots, but fine on the rest of the garden.

Info here on the effect you'll have on your carbon footprint: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/grey_water.html and one of the options about that will empty your bath for recycling as well: http://www.banbeater.co.uk

If you want to hug the planet, install a grey water system in the house and you'll save about 30% on your water bills - it is designed to recycle waste water through filters and means you don't call on the mains supply as often.