How to Wash Dishes With Less Water

Washing dishes uses a lot of water. With only a small change to the order and way you wash, you can save water and speed through a stack of dirty dishes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sink with double basin, or single sink with extra plastic tub set up next to it
• Dish soap
• Dirty dishes
• Dishwasher (optional)

1. Fill one side of your sink with hot soapy water and then turn off the faucet.

2. Soak all the dishes that need to be hand washed. As you scrub each dish, place it in the empty side of the sink. Do not rinse until all of the hand wash dishes have been scrubbed.

3. Rinse the dishes with cold water. You will use less water by rinsing them all at once. The water from one dish will cascade down to the other dishes and start the rinsing process.

4. Once your hand wash dishes are complete, begin loading the rest of the dishes into the soapy water. Be sure to scrape any leftover food into the garbage before soaking the dishes.

5. Briefly scrub the remaining dishes and load them directly into the dishwasher. You do not need to rinse them.

6. Start your dishwasher on the lightest setting. Because there is no food stuck on the plate, you will only need a short cycle. Dishes are nearly clean by the time they reach the dishwasher.

7. Drain the sink and pat yourself on the back for saving water.

Tips & Warnings

• You only need clean soapy water for your hand washed dishes. The rest of the dishes will be sanitized in the dishwasher. The primary goal is to remove any leftover food or sauce from the dishes.
• Hot water cleans dishes better, so make your soak water as hot as you can stand.
• Rinse with cold water to save extra money.