Maximizing Hand Dishwashing Efficiency in 5 Easy Steps

True, there are highly efficient dish washers that use less water than hand washing each dish one by one while leaving the water running the whole time with the sink drain open. But washing dishes by hand does not need to take more than a few gallons of water. Here is how:

1. Use Two Sinks. If you don't have two sinks, you can supplement with a separate dish tub. The first sink gets a couple gallons of water (preferable hot water), mixed with bio-degradable dish soap. The second sink gets the rinse water. You can let the rinse water accumulate naturally as you rinse each dish.

2. Plug the Drains. It creates a reservoir that your dishes can soak in rather than a waterfall for play. Also, your plants will love that leftover water. If it is too grimy, then your compost pile will accept it.

3. Let Your Dishes Pile Up. The longer you can stall, the less water is needed per dish for a load of dishes. If you do have a dishwasher, but don't want to use it, you can store dirty dishes in there until you decide to handwash them. That way, they are out of site. If you don't have a dishwasher, get creative.

4. Use an Upside Down Automatic Dryer. Gravity combined with air will automatically dry your dishes.

5. Hum a tune. Washing dishes by hand is a perfect time to hummmmmm...

It is the scrubbing and the detergent that really gets dishes clean. The water just helps to flush it all away. While there are expensive exceptions when it comes to machine based water waste, almost all energy star rated dishwashers are still more energy intensive in terms of electricity, water, and dollars used when compared to hand-washing.

Want to know what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint? Find out on Planet Green TV's Wa$ted.