Steps
- Scrape solids (bones, peels, crumbs, and uneaten tidbits) into the trash or (if they are vegetable matter like watermelon rinds) the compost. You can usually use the utensils that were used to eat.
- Gather all the dishes together near the sink. Having them all in one stack will save time, and time saved while the water is running is water saved.
- Rinse only as necessary. Whether you're washing by hand or in a dishwasher, you may need to do less pre-rinsing than you think. Experiment to find out how little you can get away with. It can also save you some time, not to have to handle each dish several times. Ideally, scrape the large stuff off a dish and place it either in the dishpan or in the dishwasher.
- Know the limits of your dishwasher, if you have one. Some dishwashers will get off most dried-on gunk, especially if you use a good detergent. If you have a dishwasher and it's this type, you may only need to prewash very heavy burnt-on gunk and protein that is cooked to the dish.
- Run the shortest dishwasher cycle that will clean dishes satisfactorily. Try the different buttons and cycles on your dishwasher with medium-dirty dishes. Start at the shortest and work up.
- Wash full loads. If you're filling a dishwasher, add as many dishes as will fit comfortably and get properly clean. Leaving excess space in each load just means more loads. Don't pack them in to the point where they're not getting enough water to get clean.
- Wash dishes by hand by placing a stack at a time into a dishpan and filling it with warm soapy water. Use that water for as many dishes as you can, as long as it's still warm and sudsy. Let them soak for a few minutes to loosen up the gunk. Then, swish them with a brush, dish mop, or dish cloth. Stack the washed dishes aside, but don't let them dry out.
- Don't overdo it on the dish soap, either. Use just enough to keep the water sudsy with whatever amount of grease is on your dishes. Start with just a little and add more if you need to.
- Rinse dishes in batches, using warm or cool water. Turn off the water whenever you're not rinsing, and try turning it on only partway.
- Air dry, if possible. This is not about saving water so much as saving energy and time. Washing dishes by hand, you can stack them in a dish drainer. A tray underneath will keep the water from dripping all over the counter. In a dishwasher, choose the air dry cycle and leave the door cracked open a bit after the cycle runs if necessary.
Tips
- Don't dawdle. If the water is running, move right along. Turn it off as soon as you're done with that step. Besides, who wants to hang around washing dishes?
- If somebody in your household tends to leave the water running, start by reminding them not to. If you can do it without provoking an argument, turn the water off for them a few times. They'll get the point.
- Consider installing a flow restricting aerator in the sink where you do dishes. Available at most hardware stores and plumbing supply stores, these simple and inexpensive devices screw right into the faucet and limit the maximum flow of water. If you know someone who can't seem to stop running the water at full blast, you can still make full blast flow less water.
- Dishwashers can use a moderate amount of water, since they recirculate water once it's pumped in. Don't run a longer cycle than you need.
- Maintain your dishwasher. While keeping it in good repair may not save water directly, it will clean better on the same amount of water and save you time and rinsing.
Warnings
- Get the dishes clean first and save water second. It isn't extra water if it's necessary to ensure health or hygiene.
Things You'll Need
- Dirty dishes.
- A sink/dishwasher.
- A clean cloth/soap/sponge.
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