The Meter Is Running on Long Showers

If you’re trying to conserve water but have a houseful of teen-agers who seem to spend hours showering, you might want to try the new Shower Timer to monitor water consumption and possibly lower your bills.

The small (3 inches wide by 2 inches high), digital device doubles as a clock and a timer and attaches with waterproof Velcro strips to your shower wall. When you start your shower, simply push a button to activate the timer, then push it again when you’ve finished. The timer will show the time it took to shower, up to 19 minutes, 59 seconds.

Water experts calculate that for one five-minute shower with a regular shower head, you use as much as 25 to 35 gallons, so you can save quite a bit of water by taking shorter showers. (See chart.)

Shower Timer has a 90-day warranty and comes with a battery. You can find it at all Target outlets and Strouds stores. Or you can order it ($15, including shipping and handling) from GM Marketing Inc., P.O. Box 8014-263, Redondo Beach, Calif. 90277.

5-Minute Shorter Shower

GALLONS OF WATER SAVED

Persons Week Month Year 1 175 753 9,030 2 350 1,505 18,060 3 575 2,258 27,096 4 700 3,010 36,120

Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Keeping a Count on the Fat Intake

Counting calories this spring? When shopping for groceries, you might want to enlist the help of the handy Percent-O-Fat Calculator, a simple spin device that computes the number of calories and the fat percentage in most foods. It’s easy to use and fits in a shirt pocket or purse.

On the calculator dial, you just align the number of grams of fat listed in the food with the number of calories and read the percentage of fat. The back of the dial has a quick reference guide to the percentage of fat in foods you may be selecting.

Made of lightweight plastic in bright pink, blue or green, the calculator comes with a booklet, “Figure the Fat & Calculate Your Way to Better Health,” that tells you about harmful effects of fat and gives tips on controlling fat intake and information on menu planning, shopping and cooking for a healthier diet.

Percent-O-Fat Calculator (suggested retail, $5.95) is available nationwide in selected health-food stores, pharmacies and groceries. If you can’t find it in your area, you can order it from APR Industries, 11201 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90045; (213) 641-7242 in California; (800) 327-1232 outside California.

A Wall Unit as Useful Dispenser

The Dispenser, a compact wall unit that holds soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion, is a simple solution to cleaning up the bottle mess you probably have in your bathroom and/or kitchen.

Eleven inches high, 10 1/2 inches wide, the Dispenser is made of sturdy white plastic in a contemporary design and mounts easily on bathtub or shower tile. You just pour silicone glue (that’s included) into three tracks on the back of the unit and let it cure overnight before filling the four bottles inside. The front hood of the unit swings open and the 16-ounce bottles snap out for easy filling or cleaning. A set of labels is included.

When you push the button for the designated liquid, you also control the portion, as it dispenses one-third teaspoon per stroke.

The Dispenser ($29.95 for the four-chamber model, $21.95 for the two) is available nationwide in mass merchandise chain stores and some department stores and drugstores. There’s also a two-chamber junior model for nurseries or children’s rooms ($22.95) that comes with a pink and blue elephant graphic on the front. All units have a five-year guarantee.

For a retail outlet near you that carries the models, contact Better Living Products Inc., 2255 N. University Parkway, Suite 15, Provo, Utah 84604; (800) 365-3909.