What is better for my toilets; grey water or rain water?

Did you ask two questions?

ally83s,

Are you on a public utility? It seems to me you are asking if rain water or laundry water is ok for flushing as one question and then asking if recycled water is ok for your clothes washer.

I personally would never use laundry water in my toilets, but that is because I am on a septic system and it is not allowed. However if you are on a central sewer system, you may be fine. I would check with your provider to see if they have a rule against it, and if so why.

In many communities there are laws and regulations as to grey water and where this can be used. Where I live these regulations are based on public health concerns.

Clothes washers used to have an item called a "suds saver" where some of the wash water was put into a receptacle (utility tub) right next to the machine via a hose and then sucked back into the machine to be reused. Fresh water was then added to make sure laundry got clean.

My mother had such a machine and used this feature for only some loads as some microbes can be concentrated during this kind of use. Those were the days that she added chlorine bleach to sheets, towels and cotton underwear, however.

The new HE washers use very little in the way of detergents and water. Many have further eco efficiency settings which save energy as well. My machine works very well the the 7th Generation products using such little water and products that I can do an entire week's worth of laundry in one day without over-saturating our septic system.

Because I worked in public health and infection control and still have a public health professional as a relative, I am leery about the wisdom of recycling as you were thinking of doing. I do recycle and use rain water and water from the shower (caught while it warms) on my plants and gardens!

Hopes this helps.
TBRech