# Hand-washing dishes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647 "2011-09-17T18:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/1 "2011-09-17T18:12:59Z")
Roomie fills the sink with water and soap and lets the dishes soak. She goes back later to scrub and rinse. This can leave oily residue on the dishes (especially plastic containers). I wash each thing separately under hot running water. This is wasteful, but there is never any residue and I know the dishes are very clean. A friend’s Peruvian wife washes dishes in cold water. WTF? 😕 How does _that_ work? How do you hand-wash your dishes? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/2 "2011-09-17T18:25:12Z")
We wash under running water, like you do. This is largely because my partner is Japanese, and I think that’s the way they do it. When I was a little’un, my sister and I had to wash and dry the dishes, and we washed and rinsed in a double sink. In one side was the clean (at the beginning) soapy water and the other side was where we rinsed (I think we rinsed under running cold water, but I’m not sure). There was a strict order of washing: glasses first, then plates and silverware, then pots and pans. This way the glassware, plates and silverware would be cleaner, and the pots and pans could be scrubbed, with more soap if necessary, to get clean. By the way, we have a new dishwasher, but we never use it. I don’t know why. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/3 "2011-09-17T18:33:27Z")
When I start I put hot soapy water in a dish pan and let the silverware and cooking utensils soak. I wash the cups first, dunking them in the water, rinsing in hot water then putting on the dish drainer. Then the plastic stuff, then the plates and bowls, then finally the big stuff. All washed under the soapy water and rinsed by themselves in the hot water from the tap. Of course, this works best if you have two sink wells, or one huge one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/4 "2011-09-17T18:33:38Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > By the way, we have a new dishwasher, but we never use it. I don’t know why. Dad had a built-in dishwasher, but he never used it. He said it didn’t get the dishes clean enough. (I learned to do dishes from dad – but he wouldn’t let anyone else do dishes.) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/5 "2011-09-17T18:38:04Z")
[ul] [li]Scrape out and rinse all items to be washed[/li][li]Apply liquid detergent directly to sponge[/li][li]Wipe dirty dishes with soapy sponge[/li][li]Rinse soapy dishes[/li][li]Dry wet dishes with dish towel[/li][li]Return dishes to cupboard[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/6 "2011-09-17T19:21:48Z")
Back when I used to hand-wash dishes, my routine was to fill one side of the sink with hot\*, soapy water, put all the flatware in the bottom of it to be soaking, then wash the glassware, rinse that on the other side under hot\*, clean water, wash any plastic utensils, rinse, wash plates, bowls, etc., rinse, wash pots, pans, etc., rinse, and finally, wash and rinse the utensils. - I cannot tolerate much hot water, so would guess that “hot” here is temps \<= 110[sup]o[/sup]F. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/7 "2011-09-17T19:24:26Z")
I wash under running hot water, one item at a time. My dad soaps up all the dishes first using a trickle of water, and then rinses each item and puts it on the rack to dry. The “rack” is the dishwasher. The dishwasher has always been fully functional – he just never used it – and I’ve grown up to do the same. I couldn’t even tell you rationally why I don’t use the dishwasher, since I understand it’s less water-wasteful and requires less effort than washing the way I do, but I find the dishwasher daunting. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/8 "2011-09-17T19:38:26Z")
Soaking in hot soapy water, scrub and rinse under warm-hot water. Our landlady does not want us to install a dishwasher, or get the one that is here, but broken, fixed. I have no problem ignoring her and getting one anyway but hubby is worried she’d kick us out. Guess who does the most dishes… ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/9 "2011-09-17T19:47:02Z")
Hate, hate, hate hand washing. Dishwasher generally is more water-efficient and easier. Hand washing takes forever and I find it gross and messy. I don’t soak when I do, just scrub. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/10 "2011-09-17T22:12:47Z")
I wash by hand in a plastic bowl of very hot water with detergent after scraping and initial cursory rinsing, then rinse the soap off by pouring hot clear water over the racked items, then either leave to.air dry or wipe with a clean dish towel. I definitely use less water than a dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/11 "2011-09-17T23:54:35Z")
Fill one side of the sink with water as hot as I can stand it. Wash each plate, then, holding said plate over the empty sink, rinse it under running water. I don’t like to hand wash dishes, partly because it’s a sucky chore, and partly because I’m convinced that they don’t get as clean as they do via dishwasher. > [@Mangetout](#): > > I definitely use less water than a dishwasher. I wouldn’t be so sure of that. There was a study last year that showed that using a dishwasher used about 1/2 as much water as any common hand washing method. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/12 "2011-09-18T00:29:33Z")
If I’m actually hand washing dishes, I rinse off what I can, wipe them with a soapy sponge, rinse them with water and put them aside to drip/air dry. But in practice I just use the dishwasher. If you _really_ wanted to do it properly, here’s the correct way. You’ll need a 4 bay sink. Bay 1: Empty, (pre) rinse off the big stuff here. This would be the bay with the disposal. Bay 2: Filled with hot soapy water, soak/scrub here. Bay 3: Rinse off soap here or keep filled with clean water and dip dishes here to remove soap, change water as necessary. Bay 4: Sanitize here: Sink filled with water and sanitizer (100ppm Bleach IIRC) Finally, put dishes on a rack to _air dry_. Never towel dry as that can cause cross contamination either from the towel or from something that wasn’t cleaned well to everything else. Also, we have a rule at work. Knives NEVER EVER get ‘soaked’ or otherwise should be underwater for any reason ever. It’s too easy for someone to reach in to start washing dishes and grab the business end of one of them and wind up with a nasty cut. Happened to someone about 20 years ago and we haven’t let it happen since, not once. Joey P, ServSafe Certified Joey P, just remembered he has to get recertified in the next 2.5 months. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/13 "2011-09-18T00:33:03Z")
I use a dish pan; I soak the dishes for about as long as it takes to wipe down the counters and table. I use the hottest water possible and wear gloves. I rinse in hot water because the dishes dry faster, though I have read cold water removes soap better. If I ever notice any grease residue in the dish pan, I scrub it out with a Comet-type product. Plastic is annoying because it has to be washed first in the cleanest water, but you can’t put it in the bottom of the strainer. And it never completely air dries. Dishwashers aren’t any better because at least one container is flipped over by the water and you end up dumping the water off the clean dishes. > [@elfkin477](#): > > I wouldn’t be so sure of that. There was a study last year that showed that using a dishwasher used about 1/2 as much water as any common hand washing method. I would like to see that study, because the last time I checked, dishwasher only use less water if they are completely filled and the water is left running the whole time with the hand washing. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/14 "2011-09-18T04:20:09Z")
I fill all the things to be washed with hot water and small amount of whatever-you-call-the-soap-used-for-dishes. Then I clean each with a sponge, with no water running. Then I rinse them all. I reckon this method minimizes water usage. I worked in a butcher’s shop as a teenager and was taught o wash in the hottest water I could stand, but soak in cold water. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/15 "2011-09-18T04:52:33Z")
I’ve started hand-washing more than using the dishwasher - I don’t mind it at all. I usually wash the dishes that I’ve had soaking with water in them (not a full sink) while supper is cooking. I drain the soaking water out, put hot water in the sink with detergent, wash them, then rinse them in hot water and air dry in a strainer in the second sink. I’ll sometimes wash just a few dishes with the sponge with the detergent in the handle and running water. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/16 "2011-09-18T07:58:36Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I wouldn’t be so sure of that. There was a study last year that showed that using a dishwasher used about 1/2 as much water as any common hand washing method. I measured it when this topic came up before. I use a maximum of 6 litres for a big family dinner for 4 people. That’s including all rinsing. How much does a dishwasher use? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/17 "2011-09-18T08:04:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I measured it when this topic came up before. I use a maximum of 6 litres for a big family dinner for 4 people. That’s including all rinsing. How much does a dishwasher use? 10 litres, according to [this article.](http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/washing_up_2.html) And it says ‘as little as 10 litres’, indicating many dishwashers use more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/18 "2011-09-18T15:46:44Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > 10 litres, according to [this article.](http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/washing_up_2.html) And it says ‘as little as 10 litres’, indicating many dishwashers use more than that. Though realistically even small dishwashers will hold more than what results from “a big family meal for four”, so it’s not a direct comparison. We wash by hand. I researched dishwashers a few years ago and found that when people wanted to prove they were more efficient they generally could (see example above; and my wife even did it to prove the point). And while I don’t think that’s realistic - people often run water while washing, and sometimes sink water sits and has to be refilled - I don’t care so much. When we remodel the kitchen we’ll likely add a dishwasher for resale value, but in general we’re fine doing it by hand. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/19 "2011-09-18T15:54:23Z")
Sure, but do people typically fill them right up before running them? I’d need extra plates etc to be able to do that. I’d be interested to see these studies that people keep talking about. They don’t ring true to me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647/20 "2011-09-18T16:31:17Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > 10 litres, according to [this article.](http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/washing_up_2.html) And it says ‘as little as 10 litres’, indicating many dishwashers use more than that. I’ve always try not to get too hung up on the amount of water I use. My back of the envelope (read, Windows Calculator) math says 10 liters is about 7¢. Running the dishwasher every single day would cost about $25 per year. If you could save half of that, it would save you about $1 per month. I’d be surprised if there was even a significant savings in the amount of energy it takes to heat the water. Also, looking at the first dishwasher I found on Google, one cycle is 1.28kwh. At my rate that’s 9¢. So, if we say it uses 10 liters of water that’s 7¢ + 9¢ to run it that puts us at 16¢ per cycle plus the heat for the incoming water. For me, that’s worth it, personally. It reminds me of when I tried the whole “if it’s brown” thing. When I did the math I found that by NOT flushing the toilet 3 times per day I saved $3.30 per _year_. Yeah, for the smell and how dirty the toilet got, less then one cent per day wasn’t worth it. Long story, short. Water’s cheap. There’s better ways to save money. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hand-washing-dishes/596647.md?page=2)