Mistakes You Make When Washing Dishes

We warn you (although you are probably aware of this sad reality) that there will be a period of many dishes to be washed. Christmas is not only a celebration of gifts and hearty meals but also a real feast of filthy merriment, which you must cleanse in record time.

But washing dishes is not only strenuous or unpleasant but also dangerous to your health, especially when not performed properly. In the gallery, we present to you the most common mistakes that deserving housewives make when washing dishes!

Avoid them, and viruses and bacteria that threaten your health will find their numbers dwindling.

To enjoy a continuous state of well-being, find out from here and where it is best to keep your toothbrush!

You forget to change the dish sponge

Let's face it: it's forbidden to stick to the dish sponge because it doesn't have to be your ally in the kitchen for more than a few days. Sponges are a real sanctuary for bacteria (E. coli and salmonella are among their most dangerous inhabitants)!

Experts even recommend replacing the dish sponges with Grandma's old dishcloth: dry it between uses, away from the sink, and replace it with a clean one every day. You can wash it with your clothes, but be careful how you dry it: either in the dryer or in the sun, to make sure you kill the bacteria.

You use too much water

Excessive water consumption is one of the biggest problems of humanity, and the daily activity of washing dishes is proving to be one of the biggest sources of depletion of the liquid of life.

From this point of view, a dishwasher is a commendable investment, consuming about 11 liters of water per use, while experts estimate that hand washing would deplete no less than 102 liters of water!

You can also save when you wash your hands: turn off the tap when you rub the dishes with detergent or wash the dishes together, in a basin of water in the sink, and just rinse them separately!

Fill your sink with foam

If you have decided to pamper your dishes and set up a real bubble bath to make them feel good, as you do in the evening, you are making one of the most important mistakes! In addition to consuming more water to rinse off all that foam, there is a risk that you may not be able to remove all the detergent and end up swallowing it unintentionally.

We also recommend that you invest in mild detergent for sensitive skin. Aggressive ones contain a lot of chemicals that are harmful to health (avoid names such as triclosan, borax, 1,4-dioxane, an ingredient with carcinogenic potential).

Use the food scraper

Researchers have turned 180 degrees and now claim that the food scraper, originally considered one of the great inventions of modern technology, is not as efficient as it seems.

The main problem is, again, the high water consumption that it entails: it is estimated that it would give ready about 34 liters in one day! Better to resort to the classic method or, ideally, recycle your garbage!

You are not using the washing machine properly

If you leave the washing machine running almost empty, then you will be consuming water and electricity in vain, and the consistent bill will prevent you from buying the shoes you want. On the other hand, if you fill it to the brim, the dishes will not be cleaned properly.

It is best to read (and follow) the operating instructions carefully: the manufacturer has performed tests to give you the most detailed recommendations. 

He also chooses to wash his hands with knives (he can scratch the other dishes in the washing machine), ceramic pots and pans or other sensitive materials, and luxury crockery, which can, in turn, be affected if not treated with due respect.

Do not follow hygiene rules

Do not use the same cloth to wipe the dishes indefinitely: even if, in theory, it only removes moisture, it will in turn be soaked with bacteria.

If you use a dishwasher, be sure to clean it at least once a week, as the mixture of heat and moisture is a welcome shelter for microorganisms. Always use hot water so that you do not have to wear gloves, so be careful with the delicate skin of your hands.

Wash the dishes in a dirty sink

If you've tended to disregard your toilet bowl so far, find out that your beautiful sink harbors 100,000 times more bacteria, according to an analysis by the National Health Service.

It is important to wash the sink often with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda (or salt) and do the same with the dishwasher, letting it run a wash cycle without "loading", but adding the same natural mixture with sanitizing superprofits!