Complete guide to washing-up by hand

Tips for efficiently washing-up by hand

1. Do the washing-up as soon as possible

It is best to always wash-up as soon as you finish eating so as to avoid the remains of food drying out and making the tableware harder to clean. But until you get around to washing up, rinse the tableware and add a few drops of bleach to avoid bacteria building up.

2. Get rid of food remains as soon as possible

Throw away any food remains before washing up. Use a scraper or spatula to get rid of the more stubborn remains before putting the tableware in the sink and to avoid lumps of food building up.

3. If you do not have a twin sink, always use a washing-up bowl

The most environmentally friendly way to wash-up is to have a sink or washing-up bowl with hot water and soap to soak and wash the tableware, and then another for final rinsing after washing.

4. Use water as hot as possible

The hotter the water is, the easier it is to dissolve and eliminate dirt. Furthermore, wearing gloves is ideal to protect our hands, but we should make sure we clean and dry them after each use, and change them at least once a month.

5. Change scouring pads regularly

Wire wool scouring pads are not recommended for delicate surfaces such as non-stick frying pans. To clean them use sponge type scouring pads, but it is important to clean the pads and change them regularly.

6. Drying by hand is preferable

Tableware should be dried with a clean tea towel before putting it away. This is particularly important for cast iron frying pans, since they can rust easily.

7. Clean the sink when you have finished

Finally, the sink is the place in the kitchen that poses most hygiene risks. After washing-up, we should clean the sink with a scouring pad and detergent, rinse it and then dry it with a cloth.

Recommended items and products for washing-up

Use a non-abrasive scouring pad for non-stick utensils and delicate tableware. Using a scouring pad is ideal for getting rid of stubborn or burnt-on food remains. Brushes are useful for cleaning all types of bottles. Finally, we recommend always wearing gloves, since they will protect your hands from the detergent, which is designed to remove grease and fat and can dry out the skin on your hands. When choosing which detergent to use, look for one that has high degreasing power, but that is also mild on your hands, particularly if you wash-up by hand frequently.