The average amount of time we spend in the shower is about 10 minutes, which is about five minutes too long. But it's understandable: It's hard to tell how long you've been in the shower ... unless you time it. Bring the kitchen timer into the bathroom and set it to five minutes. When your time is up, so is your shower. You can also sync your smartphone to a speaker and suds up to your favorite song. The average showerhead uses about 5 gallons of water per minute, so reducing your shower time saves 25 gallons per shower, per person.

Appliances are not built to last forever, and eventually they need to be replaced. Think about your washing machine or dishwasher: They are some of the biggest users of water in the home and can become less efficient and technologically outdated the older they get. The rule of thumb is this: If either of these is more than 10 years old, consider getting them replaced. New appliances feature new technology that not only uses significantly less water, but also does a better job at cleaning your clothes and dishes. Just switching to a new model dishwasher can save you as much as 25 gallons of water per load.

A new report from the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene has found that one appliance at home designed to keep things clean could actually be making us sick. With a movement to only use cold water when doing laundry, we haven't changed the way we sort and wash clothes. The study found high levels of bacteria in washing machines and clothes since the cold water does little to eradicate the illness-causing germs. Bacterial like E. coli and staph were found in 83 percent of the laundered samples. The researchers suggest sorting clothes by usage, not color, and said everyday items like clothing can be washed in cold water. But items like undergarments and bedding should be separated and washed in hot water to eradicate germs.