How to Conserve Water When Doing Dishes

Dishes are something that all households have to do on an almost daily basis, but this often leads to extreme water waste which is bad for both your wallet and the environment. The good news is that there are several ways to save water while you’re washing!

One of best way to save water when doing dishes is to invest in an energy efficient dishwasher. Although this may be a large initial investment, it will drastically reduce your water waste overtime beginning with its first sue. Dishwashers built before 1994 aren’t considered to be energy efficient because they use roughly ten gallons per cycle.

If your sink has a garbage disposal, consider replacing it with indoor composting for those after dinner scraps. Throwing your food away will lead to methane emissions and grinding them in the garbage disposal uses unnecessary amounts of water.

If you don’t have a dishwasher and purchasing one is not an option, there are still ways to save water!

Be sure not to keep your faucet running while doing the dishes. Use just enough water to get the sponge or washcloth soapy and wet and lightly washing after complete.

If you really want to cut back on the amount of water you’re using when washing dishes in an extreme way, you can even start using paper plates. This eliminates the need to wash dishes entirely and can be recycled after use.

How to Use a Dishwasher the Right Way

If you have a dishwasher, consider trying the shortest cycle. You only need to use a little bit of water to pre rinse dishes. Most energy efficient dishwashers are capable of removing even the most stubborn dried on foods. Also, avoid using your dishwasher unless you plan to wash a full load. If you leave extra space in your dishwasher, you waste more power, water and your own energy.

Washing Dishes by Hand

Although you may want to wait until you have enough dishes to run a load, you shouldn’t let your dishes pile up.

You can save yourself a lot of frustration and water usage by washing dishes immediately after use. Washing one or two dishes doesn’t require much water to get them clean again. Avoid using the faucet to rinse soapy dishes. Instead, fill your sink up with warm water and change it when necessary. You can greatly reduce the amount of dishes you produce by designating yourself and family member’s one glass per day.

Make sure to conduct standard maintenance on your dishwasher. If your dishwasher isn’t running like it should, it may not clean the dishes properly. If your dishes are still dirty after you remove them from the dishwasher, you’ll need to use more water to remove any remnants left behind.

People who don’t own a dishwasher can go to their local hardware store and purchase a flow restricting aerator. This device is relatively inexpensive and restricts the amount of water pressure produced from your faucet.