How do you clean your dishes (without a dishwasher)

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How do you clean your dishes (without a dishwasher)
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roobarb

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 139
Location: Carmarthenshire

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 15 2:27 pm Post subject: How do you clean your dishes (without a dishwasher)

We wash up by hand, and have always used a sponge/scourer type thing to clean the dishes. These work well, but don't seem to last very long - or at least the scourer part of it doesn't. I hate throwing them away as it just adds more plastic to landfill, which we try to avoid. I've just tried the EcoForce recylced sponge/scourer to try and ease my conscience, but these lasted even less time, and I once tried the loafer type thing as a scourer, which were even worse and went mouldy. I'm not a fan of washing up brushes as to me they don't seem to get things as clean. So, what do others use to clean dishes when hand dishwashing?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 15 2:31 pm Post subject:
One of these

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 15 2:37 pm Post subject:

i have used the green scouring pads to good effect,the industrial ones work better than the sponge backed ones

the frayed end of a 16mm trawl rope is quite useful

sand and peat both work

hounds can be very tidy

ps dishwashers are eco friendlyish and cheaper than bowl+detergent+rinse if paying for and heating water (unless you have "free "hot water)

and they cut the time to under 10 mins stacking /unloading per day for 3 or 4 people

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 15 7:11 pm Post subject:
Cheap and nasty sponge/scourer pads. What also worked was a knitted dishcloth and a loofah for occasional scrubby use, hung up to dry well though. Salt does well on cast-iron-pan gunk.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 15 7:25 pm Post subject:
You can knit dishcloths out of sisal string, which makes good scrubby things. Ravelry (other knitting websites are available) has loads of patterns for scrubby type things. I knitted exfoliating wash mitts as Thingymas gifts one year, which worked quite well. I don't know if they'd last any longer, but they'd be compostable.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16006

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 15 6:10 am Post subject:
I use a dishcloth with a metal scourer for difficult bits. Most things go through the dishwasher, but I always wash pots and baking trays by hand.

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 15 11:54 am Post subject:

I have a phobia of foam rubber sponge (can't the stuff), so Howard does the bulk of the washing up.

(That's my story and I'm sticking to it

)

Sainsburys used to do these wonderful orange "scouring cloths" but they were discontinued years ago.

I have recently found things called Euro scrubby. More expensive - I found them at Burford Garden Centre, and at the Sarah Raven open day, but they work really well, can be machine washed, and with care, can last for ages.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 15 12:37 pm Post subject:
I have a washing up brush which I bought in Oxfam. It's plastic, but has a replaceable head. Very good.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 15 1:54 pm Post subject:
I use the net that comes round citrus fruits as a scrubber. I don't even buy the citrus fruit, I beg the nets from my friends who do! So far there have only been to 2 colours. I am probably just tight, but may even be thrifty!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16006

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 15 8:25 am Post subject:

lowri

Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 1322
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun May 15, 16 3:04 pm Post subject:
I think you can't beat really hot water, the hotter the better, but I can see where dpack is coming from.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun May 15, 16 11:08 pm Post subject:
A stiff nylon dish brush on the non stick & a stainless wire scourer on everything else.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6614
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Mon May 16, 16 4:07 pm Post subject:
Cellulose sponge with a scrubby side, and a small square of chain mail for the rare really nasty cast iron issues Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Ringer-Stainless-Chainmail-Cleaner-8x6-Inch/dp/B00FKBR1ZG

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon May 16, 16 5:05 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

I thought you'd be using an industrial pressure washer

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon May 16, 16 9:05 pm Post subject:
I reckon he's been out-toughed by Slim using chainmail.

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