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Last week we talked about skipping the garbage disposal and for this week’s tip we will remain in the kitchen. As we mentioned in Week 53, the general consensus still seems to be that a high efficiency dish washer is more efficient than hand washing. It's estimated that hand washing one load of dishes can use up to 20 gallons of water compared to just 4 gallons by the dishwasher.
However, some people don’t have a dishwasher or simply prefer to hand wash and if that’s you there are ways to significantly cut back on water usage:
- Scrape: Scrape food from your plates before the food becomes dry (and don’t forget to compost!). A silicone spatula is a great tool to get the job done.
- Pre-rinse: Pre-rinse the plates with just a little water to get the food to soften up. Either fill the sink or basin with about an inch of water to soak the dishes or add a little water on the plate and set aside on a flat surface. *Tip - If you are soaking in a basin, when you’re done you can use that water in your garden instead of pouring it down the drain.
- Two-sided sink (or basin): Next step is to set up your sink. You will need to create a two-sided sink (if you don’t have one) which is easy to do with wash basins. One side will have hot water for the washing and one side will have warm water for rinsing. *Tip - when water is heating up, save the water to use in your garden or for coffee or tea later.
- Mix soap: Instead of putting soap directly into the water, mix 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon of soap in a small bowl. Dip your sponge directly into the bowl, and this can be enough soap needed for washing all your dishes.
- Dry: Set up a drying rack for the dishes and air dry.
If you are curious about more ways to save water in your household, first calculate your water footprint, review your detailed results, and then learn more ways to save water around your house.
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