I don't think there'd be any problem with putting onto the soil in the garden, not sure I'd risk using it in pots and tubs, or topping up the water butt - there will inevitably be some residual chemicals from the washing powder, fabric conditioner, etc. I know it's very good to use in steam irons though, which presumably means the limescale element's been removed, so acid loving plants might like it, just not sure about the residues.

Wouldnt use it in your barrel for wildlife, you might posion them, as Bamboo says there'll still be trace elements in it. I take it you mean a wildlife pond in your barrel... Any pics?

I'd be tempted to conduct my own little experiment here. Water just one or two tubs with your waste water and the others with fresh water.....and at the end of the year come back on here and tell us what happened!!

Thats a good idea Sid. Why didn't I think of that lol

lol Great

Thanks everyone, I had heard that you could use your bath and shower waste water to water plants because by law all chemicals used in products have to be biodegradable so therefore safe to plants. Wasn't sure if that applied to washing powders etc though! I have a picture of my barrel on here 'Great', it's used by birds mainly, cats sometimes drink from it and we have a few frogs in there too, wouldn't want to risk harming any of them!