How to wash dishes with less water?
If there are any drawbacks that we can think of when trying to go zero waste, we would say it’s dishwashing. There really is no other way around it. The more reusables you use the more washing up you need to do. Sigh However, there are things or rather habits we can adopt in order to get away with fewer dishes. The less the merrier (no, it's not a saying) but it should be. Plus, going back to single-use or disposables are not really an option.
How to use the dishwasher economically
1. Opt for the economy or eco-programme function
Most modern water-efficient dishwasher takes up about 15 litres per cycle. Some have an economy or eco programme function to help you save up to 20% of energy by using less power to heat up the water. Technically, the process involves water to be heated slowly over a long cycle. It's certainly time-saving.2. Load all dirty dishes in one go
Washing half a load simply wastes half the energy that your dishwasher produce. It is always good to plan a specific time of day every week to do a load in one go.3. Don’t pre-wash your dishes
It is not necessary to rinse your dishes before you place them into the dishwasher. You are just wasting more water so we recommend using Full Circle Be Good Dish Brush to get rid of the food scraps on your dishes instead - no water or soap required at this stage.
How to hand-wash dishes efficiently
If you’re someone who doesn’t have a dishwasher or simply prefer to hand-wash your dishes, there are ways to be efficient as well.1. Soak dirty dishes in a wash basin
Instead of rinsing all the dishes under a tap, soak all your heavily soiled dishes in a wash basin. We recommend using Joseph Joseph’s wash and drain basin. It’s a smart essential to have at the kitchen sink. It has an integrated plug that can be closed off to collect water or open to drain water after you’re done soaking and washing the dishes.
2. Use an eco-friendly dish detergent
You probably only need one or two squeezes. We recommend White Magic Eco Clean Dishwashing Liquid that is completely made from natural essential oils and is free of harsh chemicals. The bottle is completely biodegradable too.
3. Scrape your dishes thoroughly
Empty food scraps into trash or (even better) into a compost bin like the food waste caddy from Joseph Joseph. You can toss in everything willy nilly, meat or vegetable scraps or even dairy and salad dressing.
4. Rinse the soapy dishes
Rinse under a thin stream of water no larger than your thumb. This way you will be able to conserve more water.
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How do you conserve water when washing your dishes? Share with us if you have any failproof ways!
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