Stay at Home Moms

What is your flush policy?

Do you try to conserve water in your household by conserving on flushing or in other ways?  Do you have a "if it's yellow leave it mellow, if it's brown flush it down policy"? 

I'm just curious how many, if any, households do this.  We are not in a drought or anything (...right now - it's California, I'm sure we'll have one soon), but I am always thinking about how we can use less resources, especially water.  

Sorry if this is a little grody!

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Re: What is your flush policy?

  • Lol, I grew up in southern California and we lived by "if it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" :). We also had all the low flow shower heads, etc. We don't do any of that here, sad to say (but I am still anal about short showers and not running the dishwasher until it is crammed full!)
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  • I can't handle this.  I think it leaves a smell, even after flushing.  We flush everytime. 

    My husband has this really weird habit (and really wasteful) of flushing before he goes and then after.  I've asked him why and he doesn't have an answer.  Just "habit."  It's bizarre. 

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  • I live in an area with an overabundance of water (New Orleans).  My thoughts are that water is cheap and renewable, and stuff sitting in the toilet is yucky.  I don't always flush if I'm worried I'll wake DS up, but otherwise I do no matter what it is.  Pee alone doesn't really bother me that much but toilet paper floating in the water does.  Sometimes DH will blow his nose and not flush. Eww. He also spits gum in the toilet and doesn't flush.  That in particular makes me want to vomit.
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  • We flush everytime we use the bathroom. If I want to conserve water, I'll find other ways of doing so.
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  • LOL.  I'm laughing at how much I'm grossing people out.  Sorry!

    For the record, we do not have this policy currently in our house.  Mostly b/c I think my husband would find it unnecessary and kinda gross. 

    We used to do this when I was a kid (also from So Cal Devon!) and it wasn't a big deal to me or my parents.  To each their own I guess.

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  • I found it funny that shortly after responding to this post, I was putting towels away in the bedroom and saw that my husband peed and didn't flush... 

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  • imageWhitePicketFence:
    We flush everytime we use the bathroom. If I want to conserve water, I'll find other ways of doing so.

    Ditto!

    ::TTC #2 since April 2010:: Diagnosed: PCOS ~ March 2011, Diagnosed: Mild CAH ~ May 2011, Myomectomy ~ June 2011
  • When its just the baby and I all day, I follow the "if it's yellow policy". Especially during naptime since the bathroom is just outside her door and Im afraid of waking her with the flush. When DH or guests are here I flush each time.
    DD1: Maya 05/10
    DD2: Lucia (Lucy) 07/13
  • I always flush.  I have rain barrels.  We have talked about hooking one up to our toilet, but we haven't done it yet.
    DD: 04/09 TTC#2 since 10/09 Dx: PCOS w/IR M/c #1: 07/10 M/c #2: 09/10 M/c #3: 03/11
  • We don't flush at all.  Really.  We don't have running water, so we use an outhouse.  I was just talking to DH about how I feel like we are going pretty crazy with the water usage.  We have been watering the garden, doing a lot of cooking, and therefore a lot of dishes, and I set up the outdoor shower.  We went through seventy gallons of water in one day!  DH laughed at me.
  • We flush every time.
  • ayramayram member
    Often let it mellow...4 little boys would love to flush all day long for every little pee.
    Mom to 4 boys under age 6 Evan, Darren, Liam & Isaac
  • Flush every time.  I think it's confusing for little ones - if they don't flush yellow at your house, then what happens when they visit someone else's home.  I would be aggravated if other children came to our home and I was constantly flushing after them. 
  • Laney we do this and I don't care if anyone thinks it's gross :P

    It originally started b/c I was home alone for 10 hours a day and wanted to be more eco-conscious.   I didn't care if I saw my own pee all the time.  It's evolved now so we all do it in our house.  We flush only after 4  or so uses of the bathroom.

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  • imageJenWhite123:
    Flush every time.  I think it's confusing for little ones - if they don't flush yellow at your house, then what happens when they visit someone else's home.  I would be aggravated if other children came to our home and I was constantly flushing after them. 

    Parker knows to flush at others houses and she's almost always escorted to the bathroom by me so even if she forgot I am there to remind her.  Also, a toddler peeing isn't like an adult.  They have very little bladders and sometimes you don't even know they peed unless you're in there with them. 

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  • I grew up having to be very water conscious because we lived in a rural area with a well. We lived by the yellow/brown rule. My mom still lives there and when you are at her house you follow the rule. She also only turns on the water three times while showering. Get wet, rinse shampoo, rinse conditioner and body. HELL NO! I love my shower.

    We do not practice this at home. I have seen the toilets like they have when we travel to foreign countries popping up in local restaurants that have two different flush buttons, one for solids and one for liquids. I like this idea and wouldn't be opposed to doing it in my home.  

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  • imagesophie206:
    When its just the baby and I all day, I follow the "if it's yellow policy". Especially during naptime since the bathroom is just outside her door and Im afraid of waking her with the flush. When DH or guests are here I flush each time.

    This is me. If just DD and I, I dont always. but if DH or company is in town.. than yes every time

  • If it's just me and DD, (and most of the time it is) I don't flush every time.  I'm pregnant.  If I flushed every time I peed, I'd be flushing 87 times a day.
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