chocolatechic:

I leave the lid up during the wash cycle, and when it has stopped, I just take the hose and fill buckets with that.   It is really easy that way.   I use the water to flush my toilets.  

My washer won't wash with the lid up, so I'd have to listen very closely to catch it then. What I think I can do - and I haven't done it yet (too many other projects going on right now) - is to put a five gallon bucket under the hose that drains into one of those huge granite sinks. I might not get more than 5 gallons because I couldn't catch it every time to switch buckets when it was full, but that's 5 gallons less I would have to buy. It's hard to pay close attention when I'm up here working and it's down there in the opposite corner of the house.  

I use the cheapest soap (dry and liquid) I can find. I do not have a problem with reusing the grey water in any of my gardens, flower, fruit, or vegetable. I don't think I would have any trouble using grey water that had homemade laundry soaps in it. You use so little of the detergent and a lot of water, so most of the soap is diluted. I do not use grey water that contains ingredients found in commercial body washes, shampoos, or fabric softener. They contain a lanolin-like ingredient that can plug the pores of some plants.

I do the same thing as Frugal2.  Collect the water in smaller containers and pour into 32 gallon trash cans.  Be sure to put the lids back on the trash cans after the water has been transferred - to keep out the mosquitoes.

Pat:

My washer won't wash with the lid up, so I'd have to listen very closely to catch it then. What I think I can do - and I haven't done it yet (too many other projects going on right now) - is to put a five gallon bucket under the hose that drains into one of those huge granite sinks. I might not get more than 5 gallons because I couldn't catch it every time to switch buckets when it was full, but that's 5 gallons less I would have to buy. It's hard to pay close attention when I'm up here working and it's down there in the opposite corner of the house.  

I had a washer like that.   I just set a timer when I started a load, and carried the timer with me.    

chocolatechic:

I had a washer like that.   I just set a timer when I started a load, and carried the timer with me.    

D'oh! That's a good idea, thanks.

Pat:

 That's a good idea, thanks.

Your welcome.   

And if you are looking for rain barrels, don't forget to post something on your local version on Freecycle asking for a rain barrel or info on where to get one.  Lots of things to be had there for free!  Graywater harvesting can be a big pain if you want to do all the plumbing- best to keep it simple in pails.  Found a really good website for gray water harvesting info: http://www.graywater.net/  Don't forget to also look at your water usage in other areas: low flow showerheads, toilets and faucet aerators, turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and while lathering up in the shower.  I even keep a pail in the shower to catch some of the runoff and use it to flush the toilet.  And all my veggie washing and cooking water goes into my garden or compost pile or on the lawn.  And use toilets the way people with septic systems have been doing for years- if it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down!!  I cut my water bill by 1/3rd just by doing those things even before we changed the aerators and got one dual flush toilet!!

Hey

I see this is an old post but just found it while looking for info. The house i live in has a regular chain hanging off the porch extension imamazed how much water drain off, if feels buckets. the chain reaches to the ground hoever when i put in in a rain barrel it works fone. hope you see this and hope it helps.