How to Conserve Water When Doing Dishes

Water conservation is a way of life today. Most people water the grass less and take shorter showers. Learn to conserve water in everything you do to make the water you have last longer. One place people usually neglect to conserve water is while washing the dishes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Wash dishes by hand to conserve the most water. Start by preparing the dishes. Scrape each dish into the garbage.

2. Use a towel or scouring pad instead of water to loosen stubborn food residue. Pile dishes as close to the sink as possible.

3. Organize the area where you have the dirty dishes. Place all the glassware together and closest to the sink. Silverware is next, followed by dishes and finally, pots and pans.

4. Fill the sink with water, as hot as you can stand it. Use rubber gloves to protect your hands and allow hotter water. Add the correct amount of soap according to the directions on the soap bottle. Begin by washing the glasses.

5. Place the unrinsed glasses in the next sink compartment. Wait until you've washed every glass; now rinse them all at once to conserve water. Use a sprayer for quickest and cleanest rinsing.

6. Continue by washing the silverware next. Rinse all the silverware at once. Wash the plates and bowls next. Rinse them altogether.

7. Clean the pots and pans last. Rinse these also all at one time.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a double sink, buy a plastic tub at any discount store. Use this tub as your rinse sink.
• If your faucet doesn't have a sprayer, consider installing one. The money you save on your water bill makes up for the cost of the sprayer and you'll conserve water every day.