Eco-friendly solutions and taking care of the planet are increasingly becoming a lifestyle that begins to determine our actions in many areas. Going shopping we resign from plastic, buying cosmetics – we choose options in glass, when brushing our teeth – we opt for bamboo toothbrushes.
But how can we wash our dishes ecologically and is it even possible? How to do it, so that ecological cleaning does not bother us and does not irritate our conscience? Here are a few ways.
A dishwasher is considered to be the most ecological solution for washing dishes. It doesn’t require any extra commitment from us, we just need to rinse the dirty dish properly and put it in a designated place. It consumes less water than traditional washing and less detergent is needed to wash more dishes. This is great, especially for large families where a fairly high daily production of dirty dishes is obvious.
However, just having a dishwasher and using it is not always eco-friendly. If we want to use its potential in 100%, we should remember to rinse off any dried-on leftovers, use appropriate (also more ecological) detergents, put the dishes in according to the direction of the water stream, and most importantly, turn it on only when it’s really full.
When you live alone or with two people, a dishwasher, despite all its advantages, may not be a very ecological solution. If you’re concerned about the environment, you can use products and utensils that are both helpful and safer for the environment than their traditional counterparts when doing the dishes every day. What’s more, a few simple tricks and methods will help you out.
This is a simple method that can help us to reduce the amount of water used per wash. The working principle is very simple. We pour warm water into each chamber of the sink. We also add liquid to the first one. It can be an ecological liquid bought in the store or one prepared by yourself at home. Citric acid or baking soda will also work here, but then it will be necessary to use protective gloves for washing. The first phase of washing, i.e. soaking and cleaning, will take place here. The second chamber with clean water (you can possibly add half a glass of vinegar to it) will serve for rinsing the already clean dishes. Thanks to this we avoid rinsing dishes under running water.
To get the most benefit from the two-chamber method, combine it with the proper order of washing the dishes. Put plates on the bottom so they can soak, then cutlery and cups. Glasses, glasses, and mugs go first when it comes to washing. Then wash the cutlery and plates. Leave pots and greasy pans for last.
Various gadgets can definitely help us in ecological dishwashing. For removing and cleaning the first and biggest dirt all kinds of brushes will work great, here it is worth betting on those made of wood, for example in the form of a mushroom. On sale are also ecological sponges made of soft material that does not scratch delicate surfaces. Soap for washing dishes in bars is also an interesting solution.
main photo: unsplash.com/Marek Studzinski
