We all know how important it is to be as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible in our day-to-day lives, but knowing that is one thing, and actually doing it can sometimes be the tricky part. The good news is, there are some things you can do that just happen naturally, and your role is really just to use those natural things in a more sustainable way. 

One such natural element is rainwater. It might be an annoyance and an inconvenience at times, or perhaps you don’t really think anything of it either way, but the fact is that rainwater can help massively when you’re trying to be more eco-friendly – read on to find out how and what you can do. 

Set Up A Rainwater Harvesting System

If you want to incorporate rainwater into your daily life in a sustainable way, setting up a rainwater harvesting system makes a lot of sense. You can make this as complex or as simple as you need to, depending on your skills and needs, but even the simplest setup can make a huge difference. 

For the most basic rainwater harvesting system, you’ll need rainwater tanks or barrels and you’ll need to place them under the downspout that comes from your roof – the rainwater will literally collect in the tanks and then you can use it for whatever you want. Of course, it’s wise to make sure you’ve got a lid on the tank or barrel, too, as that prevents bugs and debris from getting inside, and it makes it safer for larger animals, too. 

Use Rainwater For Gardening

Once you’ve got your tank of rainwater, what are you meant to do with it? The fact is that collecting the water is only the start, and it’s not actually a particularly eco-friendly thing to do by itself. However, if you use that water when you’re gardening, it all becomes worthwhile – not only will your plants thrive, but you won’t have to use any water from your tap or hose, which saves on resources. 

Plants and vegetables actually grow much better when they’re watered with rainwater – it’s what they’re made for, after all – because it’s full of all the nutrients they need to bloom beautifully, and it’s free of the chemicals you’ll find in other types of water. In the end, a rainwater harvesting system can make your garden look stunning. 

Use Rainwater For Chores

It might surprise you to realize that rainwater isn’t just for gardening – you can actually use it for all kinds of household chores as well, although there are some extra steps to take in some cases. Some of the best ways to use rainwater include washing your car, cleaning your patio and outdoor furniture, or even mopping your floors – you don’t need what’s known as potable water for these tasks, and using rainwater means you’re saving on resources again, which is what sustainability is all about. 

You can make things even better if you’re able to rig up a system to use rainwater in your laundry or for the toilets in your home. This is going to require some plumbing know-how, and it’s not something everyone is going to be able to do, but if you speak to an expert they’ll be able to set it up for you, making your home a truly sustainable one.