6 Rules for Greener Dishwashing

Learn how to wash dishes by hand—for times when a dishwasher isn't available or appropriate—and save the most water possible.

In the house I share with two roommates, we call our dishwasher the fourth roommate. We pity him because while he is much appreciated, he is certainly overworked. With all of the from-scratch cooking and baking going on here, there are often large pots, heavy pans that have no business in the dishwasher, and sharp knives that require hand washing—plus all of the plates and mugs that didn't make it into this load of the already overfull appliance.

Tackling a mess like this or the one you may have in your kitchen can be done with water conservation in mind, following these rules.

1. Hand Wash Big Items

Your spaghetti pot might fit in the dishwasher, but it'll take up valuable real estate that could be occupied by six or more plates. It’s more water-wise to wash big pots like this by hand.

Other items that should be washed by hand, according to the American Cleaning Institute, include:

• wooden items (like spoons and bowls)
• silver and pewter
• milk glass
• china and other delicate dishware
• hand-painted items
• items with metal trim
• cast iron
• cutlery

2. Soak Pots and Pans ASAP

The longer that squash-and-cheese dish sits after coming out of the oven, the more glue-like the stuck-on food will become. Give it a tiny squirt of soap or a few shakes of baking soda and a bit of hot water to soften up ASAP.

3. Wash Your Stack In Order

The American Cleaning Institute suggests washing dishes in order of cleanliness: glassware and flatware first; then plates and serving dishes; then cookware. I've always known to wash first anything that will come in direct contact with your mouth, then remaining glass items, and then items in order of cleanliness.

Save the greasy or bacteria-filled dishes for last. Don't share wash water with a dish that contained raw meat or other potential pathogens. Drain and scrub the sink to eliminate leftover bacteria after washing the nasties.

Read more: http://www.urbanfarmonline.com/sustainable-living/green-living/6-rules-for-greener-dishwashing.aspx

Dish washing by hand – vs – dishwasher

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

In an article that I read recently the comparison was made of washing dishes by hand versa the dishwasher and it was claimed that a dishwasher was more environmentally friendly and had a smaller carbon footprint than doing the dishes by hand.

To be perfectly honest my response to that is “duh?” This article must have been written by someone who is getting some kickback from the dishwasher manufacturers for sure. There is no way, at least not that I can see, where the dishwasher could be more environmentally friendly than hand washing the dishes. Before I would and could take that as gospel, however, I would require a lot of convincing.

For some reason it just is incomprehensible to me that washing dishes by hand should be worse for the environment than using a dishwasher. Excuse me please but every time a dishwasher runs a cycle, and there are a couple of them during its operation, it does heat up another, fresh, load of water. Unless you use a commercial dishwasher that uses the same water all day long keeping it constantly heated. That too would not make sense to me as regards to energy efficiency and all that. So, where precisely, are the savings and where is it better for the environment if we use a dishwasher instead of washing the dishes by hand?

Right, so, every time it does a cycle the domestic dishwasher heats the water to a relatively high temperature. Now, if I do my dishes in a bowl in the sink I use a certain amount of hot water from either the tap or other means and then with that water I do glasses and cups, followed by plates and such, and last by pots and pans. All in the same water, with occasional rinsing in hot water of certain stuff. I am sure that I do not use as much water or as much energy, nor as much detergent, as does any kind of domestic dishwasher.

In my book washing dishes by hand is the environmentally friendly thing to do in the same way as is line drying ones clothes, as and where possible. I once tried using a dryer but gave that up as a bad idea. Someone gave me that dryer but unfortunately they did not also leave me a legacy with which to run it. When a pair of jeans needs over four hours in a dryer to get dried then, I am afraid to say, I rather stick it on the radiator and run the heating for a while – if it is not on at the time anyway. While it may take a little longer on the heating it will get dry nevertheless and I do not have to waste four hours of electricity at about 2KW, both in terms of environmental footprint as well as in terms of finances. Four hours at that rate is a lot of money when it comes to the electricity bill, money that I ca n use much better elsewhere.

However, as far as the dishes are concerned, I am sure that washing them by hand is much better for the environment and for my pocketbook, so I shall continue to wash them by hand. What about you?

© M Smith (Veshengro), June 2008