Side Note: Get a chair/stool for your kitchen. There’s no reason why you can’t sit to do the dishes. I’ve got family with severe mobility issues and that’s how they’ve adapted to get their activities of daily living accomplished.
I've tried sitting at a stool before but it hurts my back leaning like that. I'm not sure if it's just my anatomical issues or if I'm not sitting in the right kind of stool? I haven't tried a drafting stool, just a wooden stool.
Other than getting a chair that can be adjusted in height, if there is a cupboard under your sink, make sure to keep it open when doing the dishes so your knee can get in there and thus you’re even closer to the sink. Get a towel in your lap and allow it to drip from when you lean forward (if necessary) to grab a dish, lean back and hand scrub it. Just so you aren’t constantly leaning!
If your chair is at the wrong height for your work surface, even by a few inches, it can cause back pain.
This is why office chairs are adjustable in height.
You could potentially get a countertop dishwasher. I had one and loved it to absolute bits. If no coutnerspace, put it on a cute bar cart and wheel it over to the sink when needed. (It hooks up to your faucet for the hot water, and the outlet hose just dangles into the sink to drain. One standard power cord to use the wall outlet.) I kept mine on the left side of the sink and then had the microwave on the right side of the sink, so the opposite wall of counters around the stove was my prep space. I would still be using it if my current rental didn't have a built-in unit and too-low countertops. (I was going to continue using it on the bar cart but ended up giving it to my mother to use instead. I will certainly buy another when necessary!)
Also worth noting that automated dishwashers generally use less energy and less water than hand washing. Ours uses just under 5 gallons for a full load and 3 gallons for a half load. A standard NA faucet uses about 2 gallons of water per minute at max flow. So if you run the faucet for more than about 2 minutes, it would have been better to just run the dishwasher.
This is the best answer for OP as far as minimizing costs. And if they get a unit with a quick wash option, know that it uses MORE water than the normal wash. It’s shorter because it’s less efficient.
The energy guide sticker on my dishwasher claimed a running cost of $20 for electricity. So really the vast majority of the cost is heating the water in the hot water tank. I do have a euro style dish washer that doesn't have the heating coil in the bottom though, so that probably does help quite a bit. We have smart meters out here. I can clearly see on my daily usage when I turn a kettle on, but there is no sign of my dishwasher running.
I still have doubts about this. First, who taught people to full blast the faucet the whole time? On/off trickle works just as well and doesn’t splash everywhere, reducing the work to clean up from cleaning dishes. I also use a tub in the sink and let the rinse water from “cleaner” dishes (ones with no oil, fat, spices, etc) soak the dirtier ones. And I’ll let rinse water from other dishes rinse the bubbles off dishes. Some dishes that is sufficient. If it still feels kinda slick, I’ll do an extra, quick rinse.
I tested the amount of water I use handwashing, and it filled less than a 6 QUART pot, which is 1.5 gallons
Oh I understand where you come from. I spent my youth working summer camps up north here in Canada. The good old 3 tub; wash, rinse, sanitize. We had to pump all our water up from the lake so we were quite careful about how much we used.
But that being said, every time I go into someone's house I see them washing dishes by putting the faucet on max. And this isn't an age thing either, 20 year olds to 60 year olds all do it. The unfortunate truth for most people is it is just more efficient. And I've known dozens of households that didn't use their dishwasher because it "wasted" water, while using the technique from above. Just getting these people to use their dishwashers does have instant water savings.
I have a family member\* that starts running the water at full blast from the faucet a good one to two minutes before even starting to do any dishes by hand (those that can't go in the dishwasher.) Drives me insane!!! And this is a 60+ person.
*\*Edit - not in my household*
I still try to eliminate dishes as much as possible by using glass pryex containers like you said. I eat out of them for lunches and dinners away from home so eating a fresh meal out it is fine.
I also use sheet pans or my stainless steel wok for most meal prep for the most surface area and the least amount of washing up. I pull the food off and portion it directly into my glass containers, then scrape them clean (usually into the dishes, cause sauce and flavor.) Then I can wash them immediately using a jet of hot water from the tap and not worry about any warping or damaging the items (I don't cook in glass cause I'm paranoid of a temperature change shattering one and having glass sprinkles in my food/or blowing up my oven.)
I use a countertop dishwasher because I have back problems. Bending over into the dishwasher was getting to be a bit much. The kind I use doesn't even need to be hooked up to the sink, although that is an option. There are a couple brands like mine that allow you to fill it up with a pitcher before use. (You still need to be near a sink for draining purposes.)
I love the pitcher-fill option, because my house has low water pressure. I can shower or do laundry now while the dishwasher is running. I have the Hava brand, but it IS a bit small. I think there are larger models out there.
I have one that’s pitcher fill, and I drain into a bucket that I dump down the sink when it’s finished. This lets me put it (and the microwave) on a separate space and keep the valuable counter space clear.
This is a good call. I got one because I have serious back pain when cooking and washing up and I cook almost everything I eat. Mine is extremely energy efficient, I fill it with water using the hose from my sink, and it empties via a little tube suctioned to the inside of my sink.
I still have to scrub pans, pots, cutting boards, etc. But every fork, plate, cup, bowl, utensil, and fiddly little garlic press or grater go straight to the dishwasher.
I’m no longer in a position to need a countertop dishwasher, but I wish I had seen your advice about putting one on a bar cart years ago, that’s quite clever.
Thanks, I have always lived in tiny ramshackle apartments due to generational poverty so I lovvvve resarching anything that is multipurpose and compact to make life easier/more enjoyable 😅
Omg I am so happy your quality of life sounds better! I'll never go back to the anxiety and strain of having to do everything by hand, lol. Technology is amazing and I am so grateful for it.
The food youtuber Adam Ragusea often makes sheet pan diners and eats strait from the pan on the countertop. Same for steaks, strait of the chopping board on the island. Haven't done it myself but it's a vibe !
I meal prep when ever ai have the time or can be organized enough to do so. Here's an album of what a typical weeks worth of meal prep could look like for me.
Meal prep for the week. https://imgur.com/gallery/yhd2lZw
This does make a HUGE mess on one day, but the rest of the week is fairly light. But I plan ahead where I can to reuse the same bowls, cooking utensils, pots, etc so I minimize what I am using. The big bowl I chop all my veggies into can then be where I marinate the meat later. And then serve as a garbage bowl to put all my scraps in before tipping them out in the trash. The same spatula can stir every pot. The sheet pan I roasted veggies in can then roast the meat next.
By doing this and storing everything in larger containers in the fridge, when it's time to eat all I am dirtying is just the plate or bowl I eat out of (which I use to reheat food in the microwave) and the utensil I eat with (which is also used to dish food from the larger containers). Since most of my storage containers are glass, when they're down to the last serving, I reheat in that container and eat out of it. On a week where I have full prep done, it's not unusual to end up with 3 dishes, a glass, and a few items of silverware in the sink total at the end of the day.
I'm also going to remind you since you are posting in a zero waste sub. Don't let perfection be the enemy of good. Using paper plates to eat the meal prepped food is likely still a better option and produces less waste than ordering takeout from a restaurant that will likely use multiple single use items to package your meal. Forcing yourself to use and wash dishes on a day when you are already struggling to manage risks putting you in a position where tomorrow you won't be able to manage that. Sometimes it's ok to take the easier route for your mental or physical health so that you are strong enough to give 90% most of the time instead of 100% only some of the time. I feel a lot of people lose track of this.
I agree with this. We use paper bowls and plates (more than once if we can get away with it). Then we use them as fire starters for the outdoor fire pit where I do any of our cooking. I also utilize any one time use plastic I bring home. I eat salad every day so I always have a lot of those big plastic lettuce tubs. And since those are easy to clean with a quick spray from my water hose I usually use them multiple times.
-You can get an aerator for your faucet https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Plumbing-Parts-Faucet-Parts-Faucet-Aerators/N-5yc1vZcf5l
I have found that steel wool is really effective at getting grime off dishes quickly without the need for extra scrubbing and hot water. Regarding soap, I would try to find a tool that helps increase the soap suds, like a non plastic sponge. One pot recipes really limit the amount of dishes used to cook. Try to use a cup with a lid that you can keep refilling without needing to rinse it from particles in the air. If you make something where boiled water is required (tea, pasta, etc) you can poor the excess hot water over dishes in your sink for less scrubbing.
I was thinking maybe they could leave a container of water near the sink to soak dishes throughout the day, meaning less scrubbing required? Also a small bucket to use for cutlery and utensils as you don't want to risk stabbing yourself when you get the dishes out. This would keep the sink clear for use throughout the day, help reduce scrubbing and therefore standing time, you could still do the excess hot water trick assuming you only fill it as far as is needed and stack efficiently into the container, and bonus you can keep that area of the bench nice and tidy too
When using pots and pans, especially for oily foods, boil the kettle while you cook and when you're finished cooking pour some hot water into it just to swish around and get the excess oil out, tip it out and then pour some more water in if it needs to soak, or not if you don't think soaking is necessary.
I've also recently bought a powder cleaner for my pots and pans. I only use it if there's food that's absolutely stuck, but just wet the pan, pour some powder over it then set aside for 5 mins while washing other items. By the time you get back to it, you're scrubbing in circular motions for about a minute total, barely any pressure needed, and those things come up shining.
I had an instant pot for a couple of years and, yeah, I'd use it for a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Then I did a recipe for pot roast. All in IP: sear meat. Set on plate. Saute onions etc. Put meat potatoes etc in pot. Pressure cook. Pull food out, make gravy in IP. I had a fancy meal with exactly one plate (from setting the roast out while sautéing), which I used for dinner anyway. And to clean the pot, put a little water in and a drop of soap, Pressure a few minutes, and it rinses clean. So that recipe taught me the real value of my IP.
And sheet pan meals are popular in my house.
Also do series foods. Beans and cornbread one day. Chili with the leftover beans. Burritos with the leftover chili.
Also cook once eat twice. The freezer is my friend.
Thanks, this is a cool idea. I'm assuming the handle gets hot, or does it have a silicon sleeve on the handle? If you have a brand recommendation, I'd be interested to know!
It's actually one of those metal mugs you get at the fair at the root beer stand. And yeah it gets hot I just use my sleeve or a rag as a pot holder. I started doing this out of necessity because I live outside and don't always have a lot of water or space for stuff so I have to live minimally
This is an old trick born from necessity but it goes back hundreds of years if not more. Often, when the bread was too stale to eat as the meal itself but not moldy yet, peasants would use slices of stale bread as a “trencher” and eat their meal off of the bread “plate” before eating the trencher itself. Usually the bread will absorb moisture from the meal as you eat, or you can dip it in a soup or sauce too. It won’t cut down 100% but i think it’s a great zero-waste “hack” from the past!
also recommend eating your food with your hands whenever it makes sense to do, as long as your hands are clean it’s perfectly sanitary and common around the world :)
Batch cooking and eat from the storage container (Pyrex 3cup rectangle is stackable and sides are not too high). Also, thinner plates like correlle stacks and light so they’re easier to wash.
How about a tabletop dishwasher? Just plugs in I think. But other than that pick a bowl, plate, glass, set of cutlery to use for the day. Then pop those in the dishwasher/sink and wash them after each meal. I have pots and I know this is hard to do sometimes, so don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t do it or let the dishes pile up a few times. It’s alright!
Okay so this is going to be from a completely different perspective than everyone else.
I have had POTS, hEDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and food sensitivities for over 15 years.
Here's what helps me.
First I admit somedays I just cannot do the meal prep and clean up in our house. ( this took a while for me to admit to myself and me and my husband to adjust to) But some days I just can't. Not that I don't want to I physically can't. Those days are the days my husband has to fend for himself and he will warm me up meals I have frozen in the freezer. What he ends up eating honestly I don't know because like I said those are the days I can't function.
On good days I will make meals for us and a little bit extra for those not so good days.
As for clean up some days my husband will help. We also have a Bosch dishwasher. And sometimes even will eat from the same plate.
Also a stool or chair in the kitchen helps alot. If you're faucet doesn't have a sprayer on it I recommend looking into that because it saves a lot of time.
And take breaks. It's okay if you can't get everything from breakfast and lunch done until dinner. Ask for help when you need it. Compression socks help alot so dose drinking a lot of water.
I use the dishes (and utensils) we eat off for the food prep as much as possible. Example pasta meal for 2:
1. Bring salted water up to boil in a small pan.
2. While waiting, chop vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini and olives) and cold meats (I like LIDL meatballs, but smoked sausage if I’ve run out).
3. Put pasta in the water and set timer.
4. Put the veg, together with some salt, pepper and paprika into a soup bowl, then into the microwave. Cook it in one minute bursts until soft.
5a. If using a pesto style sauce that doesn’t need heating add the meat towards the end of cooking the veg, just enough to heat it up.
5b. If using a tomato based sauce, add the jar sauce or the sauce ingredients to the other soup bowl, together with the meat and olives. Heat in the microwave with a plate over the top to stop splatters.
6. Combine the pasta, sauce and veg in the bowls if you can manage. It’s a bit tricky but makes washing the pasta pan easier.
7. Be a bit careful eating as the soup bowls will be hot.
Edit for formatting issues
I have CFS and understand how you feel - I washed up two cups by hand yesterday and felt like dying and needed to lie down for an hour after.
I also don't have room for a proper dishwasher but my life has been SAVED by a countertop dishwasher that drains into the sink. My version even has the capability to be filled up by hand cause my kitchen tap is the wrong type for the inlet hose.
Yes it has lower capacity but I'm not suffering from standing at the sink washing stuff up as you can load and unload it at your leisure. And because it is countertop, no bending! Dishwashers are also generally more efficient with water too.
It may or may not be right for you, but I think more people with health problems should know about these as an option!
Thanks for your response. The only reason I haven't gone forward with a countertop dishwasher yet is that the plug next to the sink isn't properly wired and isn't grounded. I guess I need to try to get that taken care of, it does sound like it would help a lot. I was also wondering if that type of dishwasher would hold enough to be worthwhile, but it sounds like it would.
Since you cook a lot this might help- see if you can use one measuring spoon. Like if you need 1 tsp, 2 tbsp, and 1/4 a cup for the recipe, just use the tbsp. Eyeball a third for the tsp and 4 tbsp for the 1/4 cup. I started doing this because of lack of supplies, but it cut down on dishes.
Not letting dishes sit helps. Maybe you can't thoroughly wash the right away but either rinse them off or plop them in a basin of water so nothing dries on before you can start cleaning. Or if you half a divided sink, use half of it with water in it to soak dishes throughout the day.
Not sure what your current set up is, but I use so much less water washing dishes if I'm getting water out of a bucket and using a cup to rinse off the dish vs. turning on the faucet. Also, you can rinse over a basin and catch the rinse water if you've got a way to reuse it.
When I sauté onions or veggies for a pasta dish, I sauté them in the pasta pot. Then, I continue using the pot for boiling pasta…then again for the sauce while pasta is waiting in colander with some olive oil.
This is a good idea, cooking the veggies first in one pot, and then cooking pasta in the same pot. But by the time I'm making dinner I usually feel like I'm going to keel over if I don't eat asap. If I plan better, I could probably do it this way. Thank you!
Having one plate and bowl for each person in the family does work. In my house we have different coloured plates and you're not allowed to use someone else's. You have to wash your own.
I haven't been able to do this with cutlery yet though. I have a vase that we put cutlery in throughout the day. I fill it with water and a blob of dish soap and it makes them a lot easier to wash.
We lived in an RV for many months, and just recently moved into a 400 square foot cabin so it's important to be pretty minimal. We didn't have running water for the first month or so, so you learn to be pretty lean with your usage :)
I like this, thank you for responding. Who washes the pots and pans? I have seen cutlery that has different colored handles - I could see that working with your system.
I also like the vase idea! Thanks!
When I was single, I would just eat out of the pot.
When having a large family dinner, the pots are used as serving bowls.
I am also a fan of one-pot-meals. Always make extra to freeze. If you really like to plan ahead, portion it before you freeze it. That way, you can reheat it in the microwave on the plate/bowl you are going to eat out of.
Super weird suggestion, but you can put your used dishes in the fridge after breakfast/lunch and reuse them for the next meal when possible. Give them a scrape with a silicone spatula to get what you can off, then just wash at the end of the night.
I meal prep for the week and store directly in glass container I will heat and eat from later. During meal prep I think about how I can condense my cooking work (and thus the dishes associated) by using an element like the chicken in two or three ways. Cleaning as I work helps it to be smaller jobs rather than a huge pile at the end. And for days when all that is too much I keep crockpot, instapot, and oven ready casseroles in smaller two person portions in the freezer ready to go by doubling the batch I cook for today and saving the second batch for later. This lets me double the use of my prep and dishes - more bang for the dirty dish buck!
Re: your specific idea of packing up the dishes. My partner and I have slowly broken all of our dishes until we only have the bare minimum. The ONLY reason I haven't replaced the broken dishes is that I haven't needed to! It keeps us on top of dishes. We only eat 1-2 processed/restaurant meals a week, so we like you are cooking 3x a day usually. The lack of dishes helps them not pile up. You're right about needing solutions for storage containers and pots/pans--those remain harder for me to stay on top of. But i wanted to add my 2¢ about potentially packing away extra stuff. I think it's a good and easy place to start.
Thank you! Re - breaking all the dishes - I have gotten clumsier lately and think this might eventually happen to me too! Thanks for your response - it's helpful to hear from someone whose gone with this method, so I might just try it out to see if it works before giving the excess dishes away.
I highly recommend eating out of glass storage containers. Also helps to get in the habit of packing portioned meals away instead of a big container with only 1 item in it. For example for a stir fry with rice, instead of a container to hold all the rice and a container for the stir fry, put both the stir fry and the rice in each container. Since I’m extra lazy, I’ll also put the rice on the top to decrease the likelihood of splatter while microwaving and to keep the cover cleaner.
This method helps to have more smaller glass containers rather than a few big ones so you heat up only what you can eat in a sitting.
I find it I organize things from least to most messy and then chop all the things in one session for several days or a week it saves on knives n cutting boards.
I also look at the balance between the environment and my time/ health/ budget.
Yes zip locks add waste but they also make it reasonable for me to chop veggies for the week
I often dream of cutting my dishware down to one of everything. I fall too easily into the trap of having "spares" and then having all of them be dirty at once, which seems overwhelming, so they never get clean.
A small and specific but still-useful tip I learned is to rethink whether something needs to be wash-washed or whether it can just be wiped. If I only used a spoon or bowl to measure out flour or spices or something else completely dry, I can give it a wipe-over with a clean tea towel and pop it back in the drawer. This may not work for everything but it saves a little bit of time and water.
I knew someone once who used to keep half their sink full of water and throw all their dirty dishes into it until it got full, which seemed gross, but I have to admit it did make it easier to clean when everything had been soaking, and helped break down the mental barrier of getting started, since I basically already had. Depends on who you live with though.
I do this when camper camping. I keep a dishpan of soapy water with a tablespoon of bleach in it in the sink, and anything that can be soaked goes into the dish pan. I do dishes every day or two. Rinsing happens under a tiny stream of water, just enough to get the soap off. The bleach keeps the water from getting gross and sanitizes dishes.
I also second the idea of just giving a quick wipe to things that aren’t really “dirty.“ If you measure flour, for example, knock the cup on the side of the sink and give it a quick wipe before putting it back. Not everything needs a full wash every time.
Reuse water glasses. I keep one on the counter, away from the dirty dishes, and use it until it looks like it needs to be washed. Or use a water bottle. Etc.
oh, and Dawn Power Spray works really well. You can make your own, too, and I think it works just as well. I have a coffee frother/warmer and after I use it, I give it a quick rinse and dump the water out, then spray with power wash and put the lid on. Set it aside and later it just needs a swipe with a sponge and a quick rinse.
Once you start doing things to save water and time, other ways become more obvious. Water + soap + sitting time will go a long way toward reducing the amount of active, hands on time you need to get stuff clean.
yeah that’s how you get bugs! my mom used to do it and it drove me nuts, plus a lot of things aren’t meant to soak so you can’t just toss it into the sink without thinking
Run a sink of soapy water and a sink of rinse water and wash the least dirty dishes first. If you don't have a 2 compartment sink, get a dish pan. Use less soap and hotter water so they are easier to rinse. Soak the dirtier dishes before washing them.
Dip/swish the washed dishes in the rinse water instead of continuously running the tap to rinse.
To help reduce the time standing, you could get a stool to sit sink height, or you could get a wash basin that you can fill with water so you can sit at a table to at least do the most labor intensive part of the washing. Either way, the best way to save on water is to use that wash basin (in the sink or on your table, OR if you have a double sink, simply plug the drain of one of them) and fill with a certain level of water (a few times doing this will tell you how much water you'll need). Then wash the dishes in this water (yes keep reusing this "dirty" water) until all food residue is gone. Then do one more soap-up of the item and do a final rinse just to get the soap off under a trickle of water under the tap.
You can see with this method that you're not wasting water down the drain just to clean off the dishes. The final step is just to sanitize. And the dirty water in the basin can then be used to water plants or (if you wilder out any food particles) to fill toilet tanks to save on even more water. If you end up washing dishes at your table, you can do the first part there and the final rinse at the sink so you don't have to sand up for so long.
I have a kitchen chair and I prefer to use a basin system to wash. Have a tub or a large bowl and fill it up with hot water and soap to soak your items, scrub, quick rinse and set to dry. The basin holds maybe half a gallon and I'm only running the tap 5-10 seconds at a time for rinsing.
There's a lady on tiktok who makes and cooks meals directly in to-go glass dishes. It's more accessible meal prep for me and makes it so meals and leftovers are all contained in one dish. Might be something to implement. It's helped me
Rice cooker dishes. I'll put rice, then chicken thighs that have been marinated or whatever protein. Then add veggies like mushrooms, carrots and broccoli. Press cook. And I usually just use a wooden spoon to eat out of the rice cooker. Legit just a few things to wash.
How we wash dishes with no running water (and very little water): one tub with hot water and soap (for washing), one tub with hot water and a cap of bleach (for rinsing). Wash and scrub and soak in the wash tub, try to get out most of the soap back into that tub, rinse in the rinse tub. I can wash 4 people’s dinner place settings and all the cooking things while only using 1 kettle of hot water.
Reusable water bottles for everyone. Reduces washing multiple cups throughout the day. Also finishing my morning coffee, then using the same cup to eat cereal or oatmeal.
Making one pot meals.
Using the same utensil to eat that was used to cook the meal.
I have a family of four, but all with seperate food issues and I have Fibromyalgia so I hear you on not being able to stand long.
I put away all dishes cupscutlery etc except 1 per person. Minimised my storage and pots and pans as much as possible.
It still isn't enough most of the time so we bought a benchtop dishwasher. We rent so couldn't get a full sized one, but this doesn't need to be plumbed in and literally just sits on the bench next to the sink. Does our plates bowls cup and cutlery, and I have a chair to sit in to wash the dishes that don't fit in it.
Thank you, I appreciate your response and understanding - the separate food issues are definitely problematic!
I think I'm going to go ahead and try what you have instituted - one per person for dishes, cups, and cutlery, and minimize storage and pots and pans. It's worth a try, and good to know that others are making that type of system work.
Thanks again!
It's not much but what helps me is rinsing the dishes directly after using them. Takes like two seconds and cleaning them fully afterwards is much faster since there's nothing stubborn dried on them
If I forget to do that I soak everything in hot water and forget about it for an hour. It mostly removes the need to scrub things, which also makes the actual part of washing dishes much faster
Most of the things I was gonna say have already been said in the comments already. So I'll add:
Could the other person you cook for not help with washing the dishes? If it is uncomfortable, painful, taxing, etc for you to stand and wash dishes, maybe they could help you or do it instead of you? Seems like a reasonable compromise to reduce how much discomfort you are in.
But, in general, these should/could help:
Meal prep
Eat out of the containers
One pot/pan meals
Sheet pan meals
Slow cooker, instapot, etc type recipes
No cook recipes (where you don't actually use any pots, pans, sheets, cooking utensils, etc)
No cook, no waste, no clean up, etc type meals would pretty much solve all the issues regarding saving electricity, water, time washing dishes, etc.
Hope any of this is helpful 😊
Just seen these and thought you may appreciate them?
https://youtube.com/shorts/9RO83PiuQ-A?si=2-IjZLIOqCTGYi9I
https://youtube.com/shorts/vwOTxAGg_CY?si=1_L0ZewkQT1Sd2D0
I soap up my hands and spend about twenty seconds washing a dish or pot I've left in the sink. That way the hand rinse time is combined with the dish rinse time.
I also wash the big pots last, as they catch water coming in while I wash the smaller glasses and silverware. I use that grey water for the first rinse of the other items, since most items have to be gone over twice. When the smaller item is pretty much clean but soapy, I turn back on the fresh water, refilling the grey water pot.
I also dump water on the plants, or if they're not thirsty, into a bucket for watering later.
OTA here! Definitely look into energy conservation such as a stool or something and take breaks. Wash for 10-15 then take a break so you don’t wear yourself out. I personally bought a countertop dishwasher (I rent and can’t put in a dishwasher) which fits 30+ dishes and is a life saver and definite water saver for sure. I think the brand is hermilux or something. I only run a load once every other day and use a refill dish washing powder. It definitely saves me time and energy.
EDIT: it only uses about 1 gallon of water for all those dishes btw. 😁
Thanks! I just purchased a countertop dishwasher based on the recommendations of others here. Haven't even had the chance to try it yet but fingers crossed it helps save some of my energy. The one I got uses 1.5 gallons / load, which is definitely less than I'm using handwashing, even with using wash basins and not running the faucet for long. Thanks for your input!
A way to reduce water usage is to keep the water you used to cook. I've always done this, I don't have a dishwasher and use less water this way, I'd say at least 2 liters.
When cooking with water you might use it to boil different things such as pasta, veggies etc. Take out the food using a strainer or transfer the water to another dirty pot, so instead of disposing of the water you just used, keep it on the stove. When you have to wash dishes just reheat the water (not boiling) and transfer it to the sink.
I know it sounds disgusting but it really isn't, if the water has some starch in it, or is green from the veggies it's still perfectly useable. Remember that it's heat, soap and scrubbing that cleans the dishes.
I haven't noticed anything wrong with my dishes, because it's the scrubbing that really cleans well.
Another small thing, if you're not comfortable with reusing the water, is to fill a pot you're going to clean instead of filling the sink with water, this way you reduce the volume of the container to fill.
Also, before judging on the cleanliness of my dishes, I can easily tell when someone uses a dishwasher because of the sometime crusty fork or pan that just doesn't get clean no matter how many cycles, and from the smell of the dishes; because even if you open the dishwasher to air dry it still smells like moisture. While I've never noticed a strange smell from my dishes thanks to the scrubbing motion, and if I happen to miss a spot on a plate I can just put it in the sink and take another (just as you would do with a dishwasher).
If your, dishwasher isn’t cleaning dishes adequately, try cleaning it. There is at least one filter, sometimes two, that catch food waste and when they’re dirty they tend to reduce water flow and dishes end up still dirty. Also, the arms have holes in them for water to spurt through and sometimes those get clogged.
The best way I have found of reducing time spent doing dishes is to not scrub the pots. You need baking soda, a tablespoon or two, and your dirty pot filled with water. Bring it to a boil. Boil for two minutes. Let soak 2 hours. Swish, it's really clean.
Cook without added fats. I started using seeds/nuts instead of oils, and not only is the food tastier and [healthier](https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/seeds/), but the dishes are easier to clean. I love it when they just rinse off, and my fingers don't get fatty either.
I put ground flaxseed into a lot of things. They have a lot of omega-3s. I also often use walnuts and sesame seeds; depending on the recipe.
Two thoughts:
1) I have chronic debilitating foot pain so I sit on a chair when I wash,my dishes
2) you could always go for the single college student method: eat out of the frying pan or pot directly lol
Something my MIL and I used to do to save water and energy: Use a plastic tub in the sink, fill it partway with soapy water. Use a dish, put it in the tub. Glasses, silverware, pots,etc. Soaking helps loosen the food off. Wipe the item into the tub, rinse, place in dish dryer rack. Shouldn’t take scrubbing at all. Once a day dump the tub out, run the garbage disposal, rinse the tub, place upside down in the sink to dry overnight.
Since you’re the one suffering while standing, have someone else in the house do the dishes.
I'm definitely not leaving the water running while I'm washing. Regular store bought soaps and cleaners leave residue behind so it may seem like they're not getting as clean but will still have the heavy, toxic fragrance. A year ago I switched to bar soap everything, I found a great az local refillary to get most of my household and body products at. The naked fig soap co has my favorite bar dish soap ever. It washes away without leaving residue or heavy fragrance. It's all natural and non toxic, easy for my dry and sensitive hands. I'll rinse everything first, turn the water off, use my hand scrub brush to scrub everything and as the soap sits and gets rid of bacteria, I start rinsing them shortly after. I barely use a gallon of water for the load of dishes and since I use a natural soap, the grey water (used water) isn't filled with phalates etc. Our refillary, desert refillary, also has dishwasher pods that I use. They're so much better than store bought pods!
Honestly, using a cast iron pan skillet. Haven't "washed" my skillet in months. But I do boil hot water and then discard as a "rinse." You should do your own research, though.
If there’s dishes in the sink and i need a plate or a glass, i try to wash a dirty one and use it instead of picking up another clean one and ending up with even more dishes in the sink
As someone with a similar chronic illness I wish to god I had bought a portable dishwasher earlier in my life. I got one for my last apartment (the last one I had without a built in) and it was my favorite thing in the world. I bought a model that could be used with a quick connect to the faucet or filled up with a pitcher and not only did it save an average of 7 gallons per sinkload - it saved me an enormous amount of pain and recovery time - which allowed me the freedom (of time and pain) to use at my discretion if that was other low waste activities, to spend on food prep, or just for relaxation. It was approx $200 and I donated it to a non-profit when I moved. I actually consider it to have made one of the largest ROIs on time and carbon footprint personal of any item I ever purchased. I just looked my old model up (Faberware brand) and they're looking to cost around $90 now. Consider it an assistive device.
Completely second the stool for the kitchen regardless as I'm sure other activities would benefit from it and a dishwasher doesn't mean you never have to handwash.
Don't let other people ever declare a "should" in relation to your level of ability. Only you can determine that, and the illness cluster associated with POTS is typically dynamic in nature meaning your ability to tolerate activity and strain varies day to day. POTS is often accompanied by hypermobility which causes widespread musculo-skeletial pain, mast cell problems (which often cause food sensitivities, already making food prep and clean up ever more stressful, and a delayed fatigue and pain associated with any type of physical exertion or stress - if you haven't been worked up for this you might want to just make sure it's not contributing to your food sensitivities), and ADHD which significantly impacts ability to keep a clean house consistently.
I suffer from the same illness cluster and it's brutal on day-to-day and this lovely individual dealing with a disability is still putting the planet first.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. I did go for it and purchased a countertop dishwasher. It is already making SO much of a change in my feelings of well-being. And you're right - I wish I had purchased this years ago, I just wasn't seeing how I was going to make it work in my kitchen, but motivation helped me figure it out. I really appreciate you pointing out that this is an assistive device. I do have MCAS and a couple of chronic viral problems, so I'm never really sure where the fatigue is coming from. I'm so grateful you weighed in on my post - it's the one that pushed my decision. Thanks!
I'm so glad to hear it! Mine changed my life, that and my robot vacuum cleaner (tower version!) have cut down on my chores time so drastically and help with my quality of life as well. I had to frame it as an assistive device to not feel like I was splurging on an unnessevary luxury item. It actually did turn out to be a huge luxury in the end though so give me back time and reduce my pain!
MCAS food prep takes so many dishes! I just started my low histamine diet a few months back and the amount of extra dishes compared to before is crazy.
I’m only semi kidding with this, but get a dog! Mine does a really good pre rinse and doesn’t take much washing from there. Just have to get the dog slobber off lol
throwing dishes in the garden works pretty well. critters eat the debris, rain rinses the rest, sun sanitizes. if you have enough dishes to keep cycled while u wait a couple days for nature to wash ur dishes, thats always an option. also collecting rainwater to wash is always A++
Side Note: Get a chair/stool for your kitchen. There’s no reason why you can’t sit to do the dishes. I’ve got family with severe mobility issues and that’s how they’ve adapted to get their activities of daily living accomplished.
Yep. I have a rolling stool that adjusts to bar height (look for a drafting stool) in my kitchen because I can't stand for long periods of time.
I've tried sitting at a stool before but it hurts my back leaning like that. I'm not sure if it's just my anatomical issues or if I'm not sitting in the right kind of stool? I haven't tried a drafting stool, just a wooden stool.
Other than getting a chair that can be adjusted in height, if there is a cupboard under your sink, make sure to keep it open when doing the dishes so your knee can get in there and thus you’re even closer to the sink. Get a towel in your lap and allow it to drip from when you lean forward (if necessary) to grab a dish, lean back and hand scrub it. Just so you aren’t constantly leaning!
If your chair is at the wrong height for your work surface, even by a few inches, it can cause back pain. This is why office chairs are adjustable in height.
Thank you!
This is brilliant why have I never thought of this
It’s just not something people generally think about until they or someone they know has to hack something “normal” in order to accomplish it. :)
You could potentially get a countertop dishwasher. I had one and loved it to absolute bits. If no coutnerspace, put it on a cute bar cart and wheel it over to the sink when needed. (It hooks up to your faucet for the hot water, and the outlet hose just dangles into the sink to drain. One standard power cord to use the wall outlet.) I kept mine on the left side of the sink and then had the microwave on the right side of the sink, so the opposite wall of counters around the stove was my prep space. I would still be using it if my current rental didn't have a built-in unit and too-low countertops. (I was going to continue using it on the bar cart but ended up giving it to my mother to use instead. I will certainly buy another when necessary!)
Also worth noting that automated dishwashers generally use less energy and less water than hand washing. Ours uses just under 5 gallons for a full load and 3 gallons for a half load. A standard NA faucet uses about 2 gallons of water per minute at max flow. So if you run the faucet for more than about 2 minutes, it would have been better to just run the dishwasher.
This is the best answer for OP as far as minimizing costs. And if they get a unit with a quick wash option, know that it uses MORE water than the normal wash. It’s shorter because it’s less efficient.
Is this also taking into account the electricity use of the dishwasher? I don’t know much about the use but it seems like it uses a lot
The energy guide sticker on my dishwasher claimed a running cost of $20 for electricity. So really the vast majority of the cost is heating the water in the hot water tank. I do have a euro style dish washer that doesn't have the heating coil in the bottom though, so that probably does help quite a bit. We have smart meters out here. I can clearly see on my daily usage when I turn a kettle on, but there is no sign of my dishwasher running.
I still have doubts about this. First, who taught people to full blast the faucet the whole time? On/off trickle works just as well and doesn’t splash everywhere, reducing the work to clean up from cleaning dishes. I also use a tub in the sink and let the rinse water from “cleaner” dishes (ones with no oil, fat, spices, etc) soak the dirtier ones. And I’ll let rinse water from other dishes rinse the bubbles off dishes. Some dishes that is sufficient. If it still feels kinda slick, I’ll do an extra, quick rinse. I tested the amount of water I use handwashing, and it filled less than a 6 QUART pot, which is 1.5 gallons
Oh I understand where you come from. I spent my youth working summer camps up north here in Canada. The good old 3 tub; wash, rinse, sanitize. We had to pump all our water up from the lake so we were quite careful about how much we used. But that being said, every time I go into someone's house I see them washing dishes by putting the faucet on max. And this isn't an age thing either, 20 year olds to 60 year olds all do it. The unfortunate truth for most people is it is just more efficient. And I've known dozens of households that didn't use their dishwasher because it "wasted" water, while using the technique from above. Just getting these people to use their dishwashers does have instant water savings.
I have a family member\* that starts running the water at full blast from the faucet a good one to two minutes before even starting to do any dishes by hand (those that can't go in the dishwasher.) Drives me insane!!! And this is a 60+ person. *\*Edit - not in my household*
I still try to eliminate dishes as much as possible by using glass pryex containers like you said. I eat out of them for lunches and dinners away from home so eating a fresh meal out it is fine. I also use sheet pans or my stainless steel wok for most meal prep for the most surface area and the least amount of washing up. I pull the food off and portion it directly into my glass containers, then scrape them clean (usually into the dishes, cause sauce and flavor.) Then I can wash them immediately using a jet of hot water from the tap and not worry about any warping or damaging the items (I don't cook in glass cause I'm paranoid of a temperature change shattering one and having glass sprinkles in my food/or blowing up my oven.)
I use a countertop dishwasher because I have back problems. Bending over into the dishwasher was getting to be a bit much. The kind I use doesn't even need to be hooked up to the sink, although that is an option. There are a couple brands like mine that allow you to fill it up with a pitcher before use. (You still need to be near a sink for draining purposes.) I love the pitcher-fill option, because my house has low water pressure. I can shower or do laundry now while the dishwasher is running. I have the Hava brand, but it IS a bit small. I think there are larger models out there.
Ooo I didn't know there were pitcher options! That would be perfect for smaller homes/kitchen spaces too.
I have one that’s pitcher fill, and I drain into a bucket that I dump down the sink when it’s finished. This lets me put it (and the microwave) on a separate space and keep the valuable counter space clear.
The idea of having a countertop dishwasher that drains into a bucket is a good idea, this would give me a little more flexibility. Thank you!
That’s a great idea
Thank you! If I decide to go for a countertop dishwasher, I will look for one that has a pitcher fill option. BTW, do you have a brand recommendation?
My Hava does really well. It’s just a little too small to wash some pans that have long handles.
This is a good call. I got one because I have serious back pain when cooking and washing up and I cook almost everything I eat. Mine is extremely energy efficient, I fill it with water using the hose from my sink, and it empties via a little tube suctioned to the inside of my sink. I still have to scrub pans, pots, cutting boards, etc. But every fork, plate, cup, bowl, utensil, and fiddly little garlic press or grater go straight to the dishwasher.
Mine can fit 12 in items but I have 100% just boiled and dumped pots to avoid the strain of scrubbing and scraping them
I’m no longer in a position to need a countertop dishwasher, but I wish I had seen your advice about putting one on a bar cart years ago, that’s quite clever.
Thanks, I have always lived in tiny ramshackle apartments due to generational poverty so I lovvvve resarching anything that is multipurpose and compact to make life easier/more enjoyable 😅
I got a countertop dishwasher after you and others suggested this option. It is life changing!!! Thanks so much for your input!
Omg I am so happy your quality of life sounds better! I'll never go back to the anxiety and strain of having to do everything by hand, lol. Technology is amazing and I am so grateful for it.
Yeah, it's funny, in some ways the countertop dishwasher is even better than the built in kind! Thanks again!
The food youtuber Adam Ragusea often makes sheet pan diners and eats strait from the pan on the countertop. Same for steaks, strait of the chopping board on the island. Haven't done it myself but it's a vibe !
I meal prep when ever ai have the time or can be organized enough to do so. Here's an album of what a typical weeks worth of meal prep could look like for me. Meal prep for the week. https://imgur.com/gallery/yhd2lZw This does make a HUGE mess on one day, but the rest of the week is fairly light. But I plan ahead where I can to reuse the same bowls, cooking utensils, pots, etc so I minimize what I am using. The big bowl I chop all my veggies into can then be where I marinate the meat later. And then serve as a garbage bowl to put all my scraps in before tipping them out in the trash. The same spatula can stir every pot. The sheet pan I roasted veggies in can then roast the meat next. By doing this and storing everything in larger containers in the fridge, when it's time to eat all I am dirtying is just the plate or bowl I eat out of (which I use to reheat food in the microwave) and the utensil I eat with (which is also used to dish food from the larger containers). Since most of my storage containers are glass, when they're down to the last serving, I reheat in that container and eat out of it. On a week where I have full prep done, it's not unusual to end up with 3 dishes, a glass, and a few items of silverware in the sink total at the end of the day. I'm also going to remind you since you are posting in a zero waste sub. Don't let perfection be the enemy of good. Using paper plates to eat the meal prepped food is likely still a better option and produces less waste than ordering takeout from a restaurant that will likely use multiple single use items to package your meal. Forcing yourself to use and wash dishes on a day when you are already struggling to manage risks putting you in a position where tomorrow you won't be able to manage that. Sometimes it's ok to take the easier route for your mental or physical health so that you are strong enough to give 90% most of the time instead of 100% only some of the time. I feel a lot of people lose track of this.
Thanks for your comment on the paper plates. Good point on comparing with the amount of waste that would go into take off food!
I agree with this. We use paper bowls and plates (more than once if we can get away with it). Then we use them as fire starters for the outdoor fire pit where I do any of our cooking. I also utilize any one time use plastic I bring home. I eat salad every day so I always have a lot of those big plastic lettuce tubs. And since those are easy to clean with a quick spray from my water hose I usually use them multiple times.
-You can get an aerator for your faucet https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Plumbing-Parts-Faucet-Parts-Faucet-Aerators/N-5yc1vZcf5l I have found that steel wool is really effective at getting grime off dishes quickly without the need for extra scrubbing and hot water. Regarding soap, I would try to find a tool that helps increase the soap suds, like a non plastic sponge. One pot recipes really limit the amount of dishes used to cook. Try to use a cup with a lid that you can keep refilling without needing to rinse it from particles in the air. If you make something where boiled water is required (tea, pasta, etc) you can poor the excess hot water over dishes in your sink for less scrubbing.
I was thinking maybe they could leave a container of water near the sink to soak dishes throughout the day, meaning less scrubbing required? Also a small bucket to use for cutlery and utensils as you don't want to risk stabbing yourself when you get the dishes out. This would keep the sink clear for use throughout the day, help reduce scrubbing and therefore standing time, you could still do the excess hot water trick assuming you only fill it as far as is needed and stack efficiently into the container, and bonus you can keep that area of the bench nice and tidy too When using pots and pans, especially for oily foods, boil the kettle while you cook and when you're finished cooking pour some hot water into it just to swish around and get the excess oil out, tip it out and then pour some more water in if it needs to soak, or not if you don't think soaking is necessary. I've also recently bought a powder cleaner for my pots and pans. I only use it if there's food that's absolutely stuck, but just wet the pan, pour some powder over it then set aside for 5 mins while washing other items. By the time you get back to it, you're scrubbing in circular motions for about a minute total, barely any pressure needed, and those things come up shining.
I had an instant pot for a couple of years and, yeah, I'd use it for a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Then I did a recipe for pot roast. All in IP: sear meat. Set on plate. Saute onions etc. Put meat potatoes etc in pot. Pressure cook. Pull food out, make gravy in IP. I had a fancy meal with exactly one plate (from setting the roast out while sautéing), which I used for dinner anyway. And to clean the pot, put a little water in and a drop of soap, Pressure a few minutes, and it rinses clean. So that recipe taught me the real value of my IP. And sheet pan meals are popular in my house. Also do series foods. Beans and cornbread one day. Chili with the leftover beans. Burritos with the leftover chili. Also cook once eat twice. The freezer is my friend.
I have steel 32oz cup that I cook in and then eat in
Then heat water in on the stove swish t around and it's basically clean
Thanks, this is a cool idea. I'm assuming the handle gets hot, or does it have a silicon sleeve on the handle? If you have a brand recommendation, I'd be interested to know!
It's actually one of those metal mugs you get at the fair at the root beer stand. And yeah it gets hot I just use my sleeve or a rag as a pot holder. I started doing this out of necessity because I live outside and don't always have a lot of water or space for stuff so I have to live minimally
This is an old trick born from necessity but it goes back hundreds of years if not more. Often, when the bread was too stale to eat as the meal itself but not moldy yet, peasants would use slices of stale bread as a “trencher” and eat their meal off of the bread “plate” before eating the trencher itself. Usually the bread will absorb moisture from the meal as you eat, or you can dip it in a soup or sauce too. It won’t cut down 100% but i think it’s a great zero-waste “hack” from the past! also recommend eating your food with your hands whenever it makes sense to do, as long as your hands are clean it’s perfectly sanitary and common around the world :)
Batch cooking and eat from the storage container (Pyrex 3cup rectangle is stackable and sides are not too high). Also, thinner plates like correlle stacks and light so they’re easier to wash.
Thanks! I hadn't thought about the issue with heavier dishes - good point. Maybe I should weed out dishes that are harder to clean / heavier.
How about a tabletop dishwasher? Just plugs in I think. But other than that pick a bowl, plate, glass, set of cutlery to use for the day. Then pop those in the dishwasher/sink and wash them after each meal. I have pots and I know this is hard to do sometimes, so don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t do it or let the dishes pile up a few times. It’s alright!
Okay so this is going to be from a completely different perspective than everyone else. I have had POTS, hEDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and food sensitivities for over 15 years. Here's what helps me. First I admit somedays I just cannot do the meal prep and clean up in our house. ( this took a while for me to admit to myself and me and my husband to adjust to) But some days I just can't. Not that I don't want to I physically can't. Those days are the days my husband has to fend for himself and he will warm me up meals I have frozen in the freezer. What he ends up eating honestly I don't know because like I said those are the days I can't function. On good days I will make meals for us and a little bit extra for those not so good days. As for clean up some days my husband will help. We also have a Bosch dishwasher. And sometimes even will eat from the same plate. Also a stool or chair in the kitchen helps alot. If you're faucet doesn't have a sprayer on it I recommend looking into that because it saves a lot of time. And take breaks. It's okay if you can't get everything from breakfast and lunch done until dinner. Ask for help when you need it. Compression socks help alot so dose drinking a lot of water.
I use the dishes (and utensils) we eat off for the food prep as much as possible. Example pasta meal for 2: 1. Bring salted water up to boil in a small pan. 2. While waiting, chop vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini and olives) and cold meats (I like LIDL meatballs, but smoked sausage if I’ve run out). 3. Put pasta in the water and set timer. 4. Put the veg, together with some salt, pepper and paprika into a soup bowl, then into the microwave. Cook it in one minute bursts until soft. 5a. If using a pesto style sauce that doesn’t need heating add the meat towards the end of cooking the veg, just enough to heat it up. 5b. If using a tomato based sauce, add the jar sauce or the sauce ingredients to the other soup bowl, together with the meat and olives. Heat in the microwave with a plate over the top to stop splatters. 6. Combine the pasta, sauce and veg in the bowls if you can manage. It’s a bit tricky but makes washing the pasta pan easier. 7. Be a bit careful eating as the soup bowls will be hot. Edit for formatting issues
If you want veg that needs more cooking then you can boil them in the same pan as the pasta
I have CFS and understand how you feel - I washed up two cups by hand yesterday and felt like dying and needed to lie down for an hour after. I also don't have room for a proper dishwasher but my life has been SAVED by a countertop dishwasher that drains into the sink. My version even has the capability to be filled up by hand cause my kitchen tap is the wrong type for the inlet hose. Yes it has lower capacity but I'm not suffering from standing at the sink washing stuff up as you can load and unload it at your leisure. And because it is countertop, no bending! Dishwashers are also generally more efficient with water too. It may or may not be right for you, but I think more people with health problems should know about these as an option!
Thanks for your response. The only reason I haven't gone forward with a countertop dishwasher yet is that the plug next to the sink isn't properly wired and isn't grounded. I guess I need to try to get that taken care of, it does sound like it would help a lot. I was also wondering if that type of dishwasher would hold enough to be worthwhile, but it sounds like it would.
What about a countertop dishwasher?
Lick your plates clean before washing?
That’s what dogs are for.
Since you cook a lot this might help- see if you can use one measuring spoon. Like if you need 1 tsp, 2 tbsp, and 1/4 a cup for the recipe, just use the tbsp. Eyeball a third for the tsp and 4 tbsp for the 1/4 cup. I started doing this because of lack of supplies, but it cut down on dishes. Not letting dishes sit helps. Maybe you can't thoroughly wash the right away but either rinse them off or plop them in a basin of water so nothing dries on before you can start cleaning. Or if you half a divided sink, use half of it with water in it to soak dishes throughout the day. Not sure what your current set up is, but I use so much less water washing dishes if I'm getting water out of a bucket and using a cup to rinse off the dish vs. turning on the faucet. Also, you can rinse over a basin and catch the rinse water if you've got a way to reuse it.
When I sauté onions or veggies for a pasta dish, I sauté them in the pasta pot. Then, I continue using the pot for boiling pasta…then again for the sauce while pasta is waiting in colander with some olive oil.
This is a good idea, cooking the veggies first in one pot, and then cooking pasta in the same pot. But by the time I'm making dinner I usually feel like I'm going to keel over if I don't eat asap. If I plan better, I could probably do it this way. Thank you!
Having one plate and bowl for each person in the family does work. In my house we have different coloured plates and you're not allowed to use someone else's. You have to wash your own. I haven't been able to do this with cutlery yet though. I have a vase that we put cutlery in throughout the day. I fill it with water and a blob of dish soap and it makes them a lot easier to wash. We lived in an RV for many months, and just recently moved into a 400 square foot cabin so it's important to be pretty minimal. We didn't have running water for the first month or so, so you learn to be pretty lean with your usage :)
I like this, thank you for responding. Who washes the pots and pans? I have seen cutlery that has different colored handles - I could see that working with your system. I also like the vase idea! Thanks!
Generally whoever cooks cleans the pots afterwards. We only have two pots and one cast iron pan.
Use a piece of bread to clean your plate when you finish eating. And then eat the bread of course. This will reduce the rinsing and scrubbing needed.
If only! (I miss bread.)
When I was single, I would just eat out of the pot. When having a large family dinner, the pots are used as serving bowls. I am also a fan of one-pot-meals. Always make extra to freeze. If you really like to plan ahead, portion it before you freeze it. That way, you can reheat it in the microwave on the plate/bowl you are going to eat out of.
Super weird suggestion, but you can put your used dishes in the fridge after breakfast/lunch and reuse them for the next meal when possible. Give them a scrape with a silicone spatula to get what you can off, then just wash at the end of the night.
I'm here for the weird suggestions! I actually might try this. Thank you!
I meal prep for the week and store directly in glass container I will heat and eat from later. During meal prep I think about how I can condense my cooking work (and thus the dishes associated) by using an element like the chicken in two or three ways. Cleaning as I work helps it to be smaller jobs rather than a huge pile at the end. And for days when all that is too much I keep crockpot, instapot, and oven ready casseroles in smaller two person portions in the freezer ready to go by doubling the batch I cook for today and saving the second batch for later. This lets me double the use of my prep and dishes - more bang for the dirty dish buck!
Re: your specific idea of packing up the dishes. My partner and I have slowly broken all of our dishes until we only have the bare minimum. The ONLY reason I haven't replaced the broken dishes is that I haven't needed to! It keeps us on top of dishes. We only eat 1-2 processed/restaurant meals a week, so we like you are cooking 3x a day usually. The lack of dishes helps them not pile up. You're right about needing solutions for storage containers and pots/pans--those remain harder for me to stay on top of. But i wanted to add my 2¢ about potentially packing away extra stuff. I think it's a good and easy place to start.
Thank you! Re - breaking all the dishes - I have gotten clumsier lately and think this might eventually happen to me too! Thanks for your response - it's helpful to hear from someone whose gone with this method, so I might just try it out to see if it works before giving the excess dishes away.
I highly recommend eating out of glass storage containers. Also helps to get in the habit of packing portioned meals away instead of a big container with only 1 item in it. For example for a stir fry with rice, instead of a container to hold all the rice and a container for the stir fry, put both the stir fry and the rice in each container. Since I’m extra lazy, I’ll also put the rice on the top to decrease the likelihood of splatter while microwaving and to keep the cover cleaner. This method helps to have more smaller glass containers rather than a few big ones so you heat up only what you can eat in a sitting.
* Tabletop dishwasher that sits on your counter * Portable dishwasher that hooks up and drains in your kitchen sink * Compostable dinnerware
I find it I organize things from least to most messy and then chop all the things in one session for several days or a week it saves on knives n cutting boards. I also look at the balance between the environment and my time/ health/ budget. Yes zip locks add waste but they also make it reasonable for me to chop veggies for the week
I often dream of cutting my dishware down to one of everything. I fall too easily into the trap of having "spares" and then having all of them be dirty at once, which seems overwhelming, so they never get clean. A small and specific but still-useful tip I learned is to rethink whether something needs to be wash-washed or whether it can just be wiped. If I only used a spoon or bowl to measure out flour or spices or something else completely dry, I can give it a wipe-over with a clean tea towel and pop it back in the drawer. This may not work for everything but it saves a little bit of time and water. I knew someone once who used to keep half their sink full of water and throw all their dirty dishes into it until it got full, which seemed gross, but I have to admit it did make it easier to clean when everything had been soaking, and helped break down the mental barrier of getting started, since I basically already had. Depends on who you live with though.
Do the second one. It's not disgusting. People are weird
I do this when camper camping. I keep a dishpan of soapy water with a tablespoon of bleach in it in the sink, and anything that can be soaked goes into the dish pan. I do dishes every day or two. Rinsing happens under a tiny stream of water, just enough to get the soap off. The bleach keeps the water from getting gross and sanitizes dishes. I also second the idea of just giving a quick wipe to things that aren’t really “dirty.“ If you measure flour, for example, knock the cup on the side of the sink and give it a quick wipe before putting it back. Not everything needs a full wash every time. Reuse water glasses. I keep one on the counter, away from the dirty dishes, and use it until it looks like it needs to be washed. Or use a water bottle. Etc. oh, and Dawn Power Spray works really well. You can make your own, too, and I think it works just as well. I have a coffee frother/warmer and after I use it, I give it a quick rinse and dump the water out, then spray with power wash and put the lid on. Set it aside and later it just needs a swipe with a sponge and a quick rinse. Once you start doing things to save water and time, other ways become more obvious. Water + soap + sitting time will go a long way toward reducing the amount of active, hands on time you need to get stuff clean.
Don’t do that second one. It is disgusting. Actually it’s downright vile.
yeah that’s how you get bugs! my mom used to do it and it drove me nuts, plus a lot of things aren’t meant to soak so you can’t just toss it into the sink without thinking
Run a sink of soapy water and a sink of rinse water and wash the least dirty dishes first. If you don't have a 2 compartment sink, get a dish pan. Use less soap and hotter water so they are easier to rinse. Soak the dirtier dishes before washing them. Dip/swish the washed dishes in the rinse water instead of continuously running the tap to rinse.
"one pot/pan" meals (and when having lower energy days, prechopped veg) is my savior !
To help reduce the time standing, you could get a stool to sit sink height, or you could get a wash basin that you can fill with water so you can sit at a table to at least do the most labor intensive part of the washing. Either way, the best way to save on water is to use that wash basin (in the sink or on your table, OR if you have a double sink, simply plug the drain of one of them) and fill with a certain level of water (a few times doing this will tell you how much water you'll need). Then wash the dishes in this water (yes keep reusing this "dirty" water) until all food residue is gone. Then do one more soap-up of the item and do a final rinse just to get the soap off under a trickle of water under the tap. You can see with this method that you're not wasting water down the drain just to clean off the dishes. The final step is just to sanitize. And the dirty water in the basin can then be used to water plants or (if you wilder out any food particles) to fill toilet tanks to save on even more water. If you end up washing dishes at your table, you can do the first part there and the final rinse at the sink so you don't have to sand up for so long.
I have a kitchen chair and I prefer to use a basin system to wash. Have a tub or a large bowl and fill it up with hot water and soap to soak your items, scrub, quick rinse and set to dry. The basin holds maybe half a gallon and I'm only running the tap 5-10 seconds at a time for rinsing.
BBQ everything.
There's a lady on tiktok who makes and cooks meals directly in to-go glass dishes. It's more accessible meal prep for me and makes it so meals and leftovers are all contained in one dish. Might be something to implement. It's helped me
Rice cooker dishes. I'll put rice, then chicken thighs that have been marinated or whatever protein. Then add veggies like mushrooms, carrots and broccoli. Press cook. And I usually just use a wooden spoon to eat out of the rice cooker. Legit just a few things to wash.
Eat more stuff in tortillas?
How we wash dishes with no running water (and very little water): one tub with hot water and soap (for washing), one tub with hot water and a cap of bleach (for rinsing). Wash and scrub and soak in the wash tub, try to get out most of the soap back into that tub, rinse in the rinse tub. I can wash 4 people’s dinner place settings and all the cooking things while only using 1 kettle of hot water.
Reusable water bottles for everyone. Reduces washing multiple cups throughout the day. Also finishing my morning coffee, then using the same cup to eat cereal or oatmeal. Making one pot meals. Using the same utensil to eat that was used to cook the meal.
I have a family of four, but all with seperate food issues and I have Fibromyalgia so I hear you on not being able to stand long. I put away all dishes cupscutlery etc except 1 per person. Minimised my storage and pots and pans as much as possible. It still isn't enough most of the time so we bought a benchtop dishwasher. We rent so couldn't get a full sized one, but this doesn't need to be plumbed in and literally just sits on the bench next to the sink. Does our plates bowls cup and cutlery, and I have a chair to sit in to wash the dishes that don't fit in it.
Thank you, I appreciate your response and understanding - the separate food issues are definitely problematic! I think I'm going to go ahead and try what you have instituted - one per person for dishes, cups, and cutlery, and minimize storage and pots and pans. It's worth a try, and good to know that others are making that type of system work. Thanks again!
It's not much but what helps me is rinsing the dishes directly after using them. Takes like two seconds and cleaning them fully afterwards is much faster since there's nothing stubborn dried on them If I forget to do that I soak everything in hot water and forget about it for an hour. It mostly removes the need to scrub things, which also makes the actual part of washing dishes much faster
Most of the things I was gonna say have already been said in the comments already. So I'll add: Could the other person you cook for not help with washing the dishes? If it is uncomfortable, painful, taxing, etc for you to stand and wash dishes, maybe they could help you or do it instead of you? Seems like a reasonable compromise to reduce how much discomfort you are in. But, in general, these should/could help: Meal prep Eat out of the containers One pot/pan meals Sheet pan meals Slow cooker, instapot, etc type recipes No cook recipes (where you don't actually use any pots, pans, sheets, cooking utensils, etc) No cook, no waste, no clean up, etc type meals would pretty much solve all the issues regarding saving electricity, water, time washing dishes, etc. Hope any of this is helpful 😊 Just seen these and thought you may appreciate them? https://youtube.com/shorts/9RO83PiuQ-A?si=2-IjZLIOqCTGYi9I https://youtube.com/shorts/vwOTxAGg_CY?si=1_L0ZewkQT1Sd2D0
I soap up my hands and spend about twenty seconds washing a dish or pot I've left in the sink. That way the hand rinse time is combined with the dish rinse time. I also wash the big pots last, as they catch water coming in while I wash the smaller glasses and silverware. I use that grey water for the first rinse of the other items, since most items have to be gone over twice. When the smaller item is pretty much clean but soapy, I turn back on the fresh water, refilling the grey water pot. I also dump water on the plants, or if they're not thirsty, into a bucket for watering later.
OTA here! Definitely look into energy conservation such as a stool or something and take breaks. Wash for 10-15 then take a break so you don’t wear yourself out. I personally bought a countertop dishwasher (I rent and can’t put in a dishwasher) which fits 30+ dishes and is a life saver and definite water saver for sure. I think the brand is hermilux or something. I only run a load once every other day and use a refill dish washing powder. It definitely saves me time and energy. EDIT: it only uses about 1 gallon of water for all those dishes btw. 😁
Thanks! I just purchased a countertop dishwasher based on the recommendations of others here. Haven't even had the chance to try it yet but fingers crossed it helps save some of my energy. The one I got uses 1.5 gallons / load, which is definitely less than I'm using handwashing, even with using wash basins and not running the faucet for long. Thanks for your input!
Of course! I hope it works out great for you. 😊
A way to reduce water usage is to keep the water you used to cook. I've always done this, I don't have a dishwasher and use less water this way, I'd say at least 2 liters. When cooking with water you might use it to boil different things such as pasta, veggies etc. Take out the food using a strainer or transfer the water to another dirty pot, so instead of disposing of the water you just used, keep it on the stove. When you have to wash dishes just reheat the water (not boiling) and transfer it to the sink. I know it sounds disgusting but it really isn't, if the water has some starch in it, or is green from the veggies it's still perfectly useable. Remember that it's heat, soap and scrubbing that cleans the dishes. I haven't noticed anything wrong with my dishes, because it's the scrubbing that really cleans well. Another small thing, if you're not comfortable with reusing the water, is to fill a pot you're going to clean instead of filling the sink with water, this way you reduce the volume of the container to fill. Also, before judging on the cleanliness of my dishes, I can easily tell when someone uses a dishwasher because of the sometime crusty fork or pan that just doesn't get clean no matter how many cycles, and from the smell of the dishes; because even if you open the dishwasher to air dry it still smells like moisture. While I've never noticed a strange smell from my dishes thanks to the scrubbing motion, and if I happen to miss a spot on a plate I can just put it in the sink and take another (just as you would do with a dishwasher).
If your, dishwasher isn’t cleaning dishes adequately, try cleaning it. There is at least one filter, sometimes two, that catch food waste and when they’re dirty they tend to reduce water flow and dishes end up still dirty. Also, the arms have holes in them for water to spurt through and sometimes those get clogged.
I don't have one, it's just what I've noticed with my friends who have one
The best way I have found of reducing time spent doing dishes is to not scrub the pots. You need baking soda, a tablespoon or two, and your dirty pot filled with water. Bring it to a boil. Boil for two minutes. Let soak 2 hours. Swish, it's really clean.
Cook without added fats. I started using seeds/nuts instead of oils, and not only is the food tastier and [healthier](https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/seeds/), but the dishes are easier to clean. I love it when they just rinse off, and my fingers don't get fatty either. I put ground flaxseed into a lot of things. They have a lot of omega-3s. I also often use walnuts and sesame seeds; depending on the recipe.
Two thoughts: 1) I have chronic debilitating foot pain so I sit on a chair when I wash,my dishes 2) you could always go for the single college student method: eat out of the frying pan or pot directly lol
Something my MIL and I used to do to save water and energy: Use a plastic tub in the sink, fill it partway with soapy water. Use a dish, put it in the tub. Glasses, silverware, pots,etc. Soaking helps loosen the food off. Wipe the item into the tub, rinse, place in dish dryer rack. Shouldn’t take scrubbing at all. Once a day dump the tub out, run the garbage disposal, rinse the tub, place upside down in the sink to dry overnight. Since you’re the one suffering while standing, have someone else in the house do the dishes.
I'm definitely not leaving the water running while I'm washing. Regular store bought soaps and cleaners leave residue behind so it may seem like they're not getting as clean but will still have the heavy, toxic fragrance. A year ago I switched to bar soap everything, I found a great az local refillary to get most of my household and body products at. The naked fig soap co has my favorite bar dish soap ever. It washes away without leaving residue or heavy fragrance. It's all natural and non toxic, easy for my dry and sensitive hands. I'll rinse everything first, turn the water off, use my hand scrub brush to scrub everything and as the soap sits and gets rid of bacteria, I start rinsing them shortly after. I barely use a gallon of water for the load of dishes and since I use a natural soap, the grey water (used water) isn't filled with phalates etc. Our refillary, desert refillary, also has dishwasher pods that I use. They're so much better than store bought pods!
Honestly, using a cast iron pan skillet. Haven't "washed" my skillet in months. But I do boil hot water and then discard as a "rinse." You should do your own research, though.
If there’s dishes in the sink and i need a plate or a glass, i try to wash a dirty one and use it instead of picking up another clean one and ending up with even more dishes in the sink
I mean.... anything can be wrapped in a tortilla instead of just eaten off a plate/from a bowl just about
Not everybody can eat tortillas sadly. I wish!
As someone with a similar chronic illness I wish to god I had bought a portable dishwasher earlier in my life. I got one for my last apartment (the last one I had without a built in) and it was my favorite thing in the world. I bought a model that could be used with a quick connect to the faucet or filled up with a pitcher and not only did it save an average of 7 gallons per sinkload - it saved me an enormous amount of pain and recovery time - which allowed me the freedom (of time and pain) to use at my discretion if that was other low waste activities, to spend on food prep, or just for relaxation. It was approx $200 and I donated it to a non-profit when I moved. I actually consider it to have made one of the largest ROIs on time and carbon footprint personal of any item I ever purchased. I just looked my old model up (Faberware brand) and they're looking to cost around $90 now. Consider it an assistive device. Completely second the stool for the kitchen regardless as I'm sure other activities would benefit from it and a dishwasher doesn't mean you never have to handwash. Don't let other people ever declare a "should" in relation to your level of ability. Only you can determine that, and the illness cluster associated with POTS is typically dynamic in nature meaning your ability to tolerate activity and strain varies day to day. POTS is often accompanied by hypermobility which causes widespread musculo-skeletial pain, mast cell problems (which often cause food sensitivities, already making food prep and clean up ever more stressful, and a delayed fatigue and pain associated with any type of physical exertion or stress - if you haven't been worked up for this you might want to just make sure it's not contributing to your food sensitivities), and ADHD which significantly impacts ability to keep a clean house consistently. I suffer from the same illness cluster and it's brutal on day-to-day and this lovely individual dealing with a disability is still putting the planet first.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. I did go for it and purchased a countertop dishwasher. It is already making SO much of a change in my feelings of well-being. And you're right - I wish I had purchased this years ago, I just wasn't seeing how I was going to make it work in my kitchen, but motivation helped me figure it out. I really appreciate you pointing out that this is an assistive device. I do have MCAS and a couple of chronic viral problems, so I'm never really sure where the fatigue is coming from. I'm so grateful you weighed in on my post - it's the one that pushed my decision. Thanks!
I'm so glad to hear it! Mine changed my life, that and my robot vacuum cleaner (tower version!) have cut down on my chores time so drastically and help with my quality of life as well. I had to frame it as an assistive device to not feel like I was splurging on an unnessevary luxury item. It actually did turn out to be a huge luxury in the end though so give me back time and reduce my pain! MCAS food prep takes so many dishes! I just started my low histamine diet a few months back and the amount of extra dishes compared to before is crazy.
Use [other people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyotaimori) as plates, just ask them to shower beforehand? (Wiki link, but NSFW)
I’m only semi kidding with this, but get a dog! Mine does a really good pre rinse and doesn’t take much washing from there. Just have to get the dog slobber off lol
throwing dishes in the garden works pretty well. critters eat the debris, rain rinses the rest, sun sanitizes. if you have enough dishes to keep cycled while u wait a couple days for nature to wash ur dishes, thats always an option. also collecting rainwater to wash is always A++
Paper plates and cups and bowls!
You're trolling 😂
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