Shower timer
The other day I was at The Body Shop to return my empty moisturiser containers (yay for businesses who recycle their containers!), and they were having a cross-promotion with the Australian Conservation Foundation about climate change and the drought. I bought a shower-timer for $1.95: it’s a little sand-timer on a suction cup, and it’s got 4 minutes worth of sand in it.
I’ve always taken long showers… really long showers! But I wasn’t worried about not being able to get showered in 4 minutes, since most of my time in there is spent pondering the state of the world, what I’m going to wear to work, and why shower curtains never stay put. And it has been nicer to get out of the shower while the water is still hot, instead of waiting until it’s gradually cooled down and left me shivering.
Peter Garrett recommends singing a 4-minute song as a way to take shorter showers, but I don’t think my husband really wants to hear my off-key warbling first thing in the morning. If you too are a terrible singer who takes long showers, consider getting a timer instead.
Cost: $1.95 and the willpower to actually get out when the timer is done.
Water savings: 20L per minute shower for 10 minutes = 200L of water; 20L per minute shower for 4 minutes = 80L of water; therefore I’m using 120L less water every day, which is quite a lot really.
Next step: getting a water-saver showerhead so I’m not using 20L per minute! I’ll report on this as soon as we get one installed.
June 17th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
What a FANTASTIC idea! and its so cheap! I must find one of those the next time I’m near a Body Shop!
June 18th, 2007 at 8:53 am
You might have to be quick - I don’t know how long the promotion will be on! But there’s other timers out there, it’s just that the one I got swivels nicely on it’s little suction cup
June 27th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Hey Julie,
Just stumbled on your blog and it’s looking great. Love the title too
And this timer is very funky yet such a remarkably simple idea.
Jac
June 28th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Thanks! I sneaked it up online while you guys were away
July 4th, 2007 at 7:07 am
I was hoping you would be able to tell me where to purchase those timers from??
July 4th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I got mine from the Body Shop, but I think the promotion may be over now. You could also try ripple.com.au, neco.com.au or todae.com.au for some other places. I’m seeing more pop up all the time, so you could also try a homewares shop.
July 4th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Jules, this one came up again
but as you know, I did buy the shower timer
July 31st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Our local Water supplier has been having an ongoing promotion where you bring in up to two standard shower heads per household, and they will give you (yes GIVE) a water saving showerhead in return. In the bag was also one of these little 4 minute egg timers - the exact same model as yours (except with blue sand and a logo!) So check with your water authority to see if they do something like this, if they don’t - ask why Yarra Valley Water in Victoria do when they don’t!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:40 pm
What a great promo idea. I’ll have to get onto the WA water authority (whatever they’re calling themselves lately) about it.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I think Bunnings sells shower timers too now - they seem to sell everything else!