The washing up is one of those seemingly never-ending jobs, with dishes constantly piling up, no matter what we do! Of course, we have to eat so a certain amount of mess and clear-up is something we have to accept - but because of the amount of daily washing up there is to do, the environmental impact of the job could be quite high indeed.
There are ways in which you can mitigate the impact that your washing up has, however, and the first step is to think about how you’re using water.
You might not believe it, given the UK’s famously damp climate, but parts of England are predicted to be hit with water shortages in as little as ten years’ time, so anything you can do to reduce your water usage and consumption will be most welcome.
Waiting until you have a significant number of dishes to do can be more water wise than just washing up a few plates and cups. That way, you only need to fill the sink once and you’re able to clean more items, using less water as a result.
Think about the order in which you wash up, as well. Washing glasses and cleaner items first means you don’t have to refill the sink in order to clean pots, pans, baking trays and roasting dishes.
Using the dishwasher more frequently can also help you waste less water, as modern appliances are very eco-friendly these days. Make sure you rinse items first to keep the appliance in good working order and fill it as full as you can for even more efficiency gains.
Also think about the tools you’re using to do the washing up in the first place. Sponges don’t last very long and go straight to landfill, so do some research into the different eco friendly kitchen products available out there to help reduce this kind of waste.
You can also find soluble detergents and liquids that you can use in your existing bottles, thus reducing the amount of single-use plastic you have at home, as well.
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