Greener Dish Washing
| March 25, 2009 | Filled under Uncategorized |
How to wash dishes is often a debate in the world of environmentalism. Hand wash or dishwasher? Which soap? Rinse or don’t rinse? Food scraps in trash or garbage disposal? Do non-antibacterial soaps kill germs? Who knew dishes could be such a big subject?! Hopefully this article can help answer these questions.
Hand wash or dishwasher?
Dishwashers are the way to go when trying to be green! A study by the University of Bonn in Germany found that dishwashers use half the energy, one-sixth of the water and less soap. The dishwasher also will kill more germs. Plus your hands will thank you!
Which soap do I use?
For hand washing (I still hand wash Sigg Bottles and such) I use Method. Other options include Seventh Generation, Ecover, Planet Ultra, Biokleen, ECOS, Shaklee and Eco Store USA.
For in my dishwasher I use Seventh Generation but not everyone has much luck with it. You will need to try a few most likely to see what works for your type of water and your dishwasher. Other options are- Method, Ecover Tablets, Ecover Powder, Seventh Generation Tablets, Biokleen, ECOS, Shaklee and Eco Store USA.
While Green Works makes a liquid I don’t support them because they won’t tell us what is in that last little bit that isn’t natural. If they will open up about it that would be great but until then I won’t support them. Now if it’s that or a conventional product pick Green Works but you should be able to find at least one other option.
To rinse or not?
If you have a good dishwasher very little rinsing may be needed. With the soap I use and the dishwasher we have, rinsing is a must. To make it less wasteful I always rinse them just once or twice a day in a sink full of hot soapy water. This makes it easier and it uses much less water! Rinsing one dish at a time with the tap running will waste a lot of water and time.
Do I put the food scraps in the trash or garbage disposal?
The best answer is to put them in the composter but if you don’t have one or if it is something that can’t go in the composter, the trash is the best bet. It would take to long to tell you why it is in this blog so go to TreeHugger.com’s article about it.
Do the soaps that aren’t antibacterial kill germs?
100% yes!!! Antibiotics are finding there way in to our bodies in so many ways now! With things like MRSA we really should be starting to see the dangers in over using antibiotics. Also antibacterial soaps are really soaps with something called triclosan which is a pesticide! Yes you heard me. I don’t know about you but I really don’t like eating my organic food on a plate washed with pesticides or after my hands have been “washed” with them. Eww!
Looking for a plastic free way to do dishes?
Well as always Beth Terry (Fake Plastic Fish) has some tips for you. She uses bar soap on a Skoy cloth, scours with baking soda and makes her own dishwasher soap. She also uses vinegar in the rinse cycle.
So how do you wash your dishes?
I love the Ecover tablets and rinse aid.
We do some rinsing, but mostly, it’s Kelsey (our dog’s) job to lick the plates clean. Then we pop them in the dishwasher. We run the dishwasher about twice a week with Seventh Generation. I’ve never had any trouble with it either.
Of course, there are things that aren’t supposed to go in the dishwasher or that I use everyday – knifes, pots, cutting board. I just wash those by hand. Usually, if I’m just making something for myself, I’ll leave the frying pan “dirty”. All I’m making is stir fries for myself day after day for lunch and don’t feel the need to clean it every day. If I happen to make eggs for my honey in it though, I’m sure to clean it out before my next stir-fry.
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I think washing by hand CAN be more efficient — the dishwasher still uses several gallons of water, plus the water needs to be hot just like with washing in the sink. When I wrote about dish washing, several diligent commenters told how they wash dishes carefully in the sink to minimize their water use. But the dishwasher is so convenient, I love and adore mine.
For rinsing, I often have something soaking in the sink. Then I just dip in a scrub brush and scrub bits off other dishes that way instead of with running water — I think it saves a bit.
We tried homemade dishwasher detergent and it immediately etched our glasses. I buy Ecover now.
I use vinegar in the Jet Dry dispenser in my dishwasher it works great! I haven’t found an environmentally friendly dishwashing detergent that I like yet so for now I use a store brand that’s phosphate free mixed w/ a box of baking soda. The baking soda makes the detergent work a little better and makes the box of detergent last a little longer – not a bad thing either.
For hand washing dishes I use Shaklee which I won in a content. It works well. I also started using ecoStore which I also like and wrote about http://condo-blues.blogspot.com/2009/03/are-ecostore-plant-based-cleaners_27.html. They have a dishwasher detergent that I might try once I run out of my current stuff.
Marianna: I would try the Ecover but don’t have it around here.
Heather: I’m sure Kelsey is very happy with that job haha. I wish I only ran my dishwasher twice a week…
Mos and Nikou: I will check it out!
Cheap Like Me: Well I’m staying on the dishwasher side. See dish washing is a big topic with greenies haha.
Condo Blues: I use vinegar as well. I need to try the baking soda.
Just stumbled upon your blog and wanted you to know I think it is great!
Very good ideas. Personally, with two people and a few sets of dishes, it's a little difficult to accumulate dishes to only run it 2-3 times a week. And I feel like I'm wasting if I run it after 2 days with it only about 55-60% full. Any tips on that?
Helen: Do you use any disposable dishes or bottled water? If so I would switch to reusables which will be a little more to wash and may help you have a full load and reduce your waste. If not just get the dishwasher as full as you can before running it.