Hand washing dishes is a total drag. And not just because it takes so long that you can feel wrinkles forming, but the process can waste a ton of water if you’re not careful. Thankfully, we found ways to save money by hand washing dishes.
Dishwashers have come a long way in a short time. For example, compact Energy Star dishwashers use as little as two gallons of water and one kilowatt-hour of energy per load. And while this is great news, it still leaves many of us in the lurch. Either because we can’t afford to have one, or we don’t have access to them.
Luckily, efficient hand washing is a close second in terms of electricity and water use, especially if you have to choose between washing dishes by hand or using an older model of dishwasher. Here’s how to score clean dishes with as little water (and elbow grease) as possible.
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1. Install an Aerator
According to the NRDC, adding a faucet aerator is a cheap and easy home makeover option that can save you a substantial amount of money. This easily screws onto the nozzle of your faucet, reducing the tap’s flow to 1.5 gallons per minute or less. This can save you four gallons of water for every minute your tap is running.
2. Wipe Food Off Your Plate Right Away
One of the easiest ways to save water by hand washing dishes is before the dishes even hit the sink. That means scraping off as much food as possible. The sooner you wipe excess food off your plate, the easier the process of washing dishes will be. Make sure to scrape your dishes as thoroughly as possible.
3. Use Less Soap
Most of us use way more dish soap than we need, and more suds means using more water to rinse them off. Instead of squirting the soap directly into your dishwasher, mix one cup of water and one tablespoon of soap in a small bowl. Dip your dish rag or sponge into the bowl as you go along. Believe it or not, this one tiny bowl of water and soap can successfully wash about two sinks’ worth of dishes.
4. Use Two Basins
One of the best ways to save water by hand washing dishes is by filling your sink with hot water so you don’t constantly have the faucet going, which wastes gallons of water. If you don’t have a double sink, you can grab an extra bin to help. If you have a double sink, fill one basin with hot water for cleaning, and the other with warm water for rinsing.
5. Wash Your Dishes From Cleanest to Dirtiest
Washing your dishes from cleanest to dirtiest serves two purposes. One, your grimier dishes will have more time to soak in the hot water, making them easier to scrub when you get to them. And two, your tub of rinse water will last much longer, which in turn saves you from having to refill your hot water, and saves money.
6. Scrub, Rinse, Repeat
Scrub each dish thoroughly, dunk it into the rinse water, and place it on your dish drying rack. If your water starts to get dirty and greasy, let half of it drain and add fresh water. You can save up to 200 to 500 gallons of water a month by not leaving the water running while rinsing.
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