Greener Ways to Wash (and dry) The Dishes
Washing the dishes is something that we all do. Whether you wash your dishes by hand or use a dishwasher, there are a few simple swaps, for less harm to the planet.
Swedish dishcloths have been around for 30 years or so. Unlike microfiber cloths that leach plastics, these are made from cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton. After a few months, just cut up and compost, or bin to naturally break down.
Choose unscented biodegradable dishwash liquid for pregnancy/nursing, affected medical conditions and if washing baby or pet bowls (citrus is toxic to pets).
Seep Rubber Gloves in Cardboard Packs
SEEP Natural Rubber Gloves are sold in three sizes with textured grip, and in cardboard packaging. These solve both problems (quality rubber gloves in stores are expensive and sold in plastic packaging, while cheap gloves tend to fall apart after a few uses). This is a quality eco brand that lasts!
Keep rubber cleaning gloves away from children and pets (and also from dementia patients – one patient recently died from swallowing a glove).
Use with plastic-free cloths and sponges. Choose Unscented dishwash and cleaners for pregnancy/nursing and when cleaning/washing baby/pet bowls or if cleaning (citrus oils are toxic to pets).
Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). For half-full bottles of chemical liquids, don’t pour down drain (dispose of at your local tip).
A Plastic-Free Sponge and Dishcloth (combined)
Cloud Cloth is the ultimate alternative to single-use paper towels. Made from cotton and plant cellulose, this combination of a sponge and dishcloth can absorb 10 times its weight in water, so you can easily mop up any spills. One cloth can be laundered again and again, to replace as many as 1500 paper towels.
It’s super-easy to sanitise – just throw it in the dishwasher, or boil.
Reusable Swedish Dishcloths (from Dundee)
These reusable Swedish dishcloths were indeed first invented around 30 years ago in Sweden, and instead of plastic nylon, they are made from cellulose (wood pulp). Far stronger than conventional dish cloths, each one can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels!
Durable enough to be rinsed and even washed in the machine (and leaching no microplastics) at end of use, you can just cut them up and compost, or bin where they will naturally biodegrade.
Suitable for general cleaning or washing-up, each pack includes 4 cloths for daily rotation (so you don’t end up doing your washing-up with the cloth used for toilets!)
Each cloth can hold up to 15 times its weight in liquid, so you can imagine how useful they are around the house. They are also perfect for picnics, or even people who live in their vans or on a barge!
I’ve tried many of these types of cloths. And these are by far the best. They soak up so well, are a great size and I love the bright colours. They also wash really well. I will be buying again. Genuine customer review
Fun Facts about Dundee
These cloths are from a small family company in Dundee (which started as a school project!) Home to the world’s oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse, it’s known as the city of ‘jute, jam and journalism’, as its economy was based on jute production, fruit preserves and publishing.
It’s also (would you believe this?) the sunniest city in Scotland!
There are only two seasons in Scotland. June and winter. Billy Connelly
A Set of Textured Cotton Dishcloths
These textured cotton dishcloths are super-stylish, sold in a pack of three (cobalt, green, red or citrus). The texture of the stitching, means these are great for all cleaning jobs. Sold with an easy-to-recycle card belly band. Machine-washable (do not tumble dry).
Design in London by a small woman-owned company, 5% of annual profits are donated to a charity that helps refugees and displaced people, during their greatest time of need. Ethically produced in Indian, and shipped to England by sea.
Wild & Stone organic cotton dishcloths support cleaner farming, and are soft to the touch, yet effective. Sold with matching organic cotton hand towels.
Zero Waste Washing-Up Tools
This bamboo washing-up brush is the zero waste alternative to plastic brushes. It has a bamboo handle and sistal bristles (from a type of cactus). So it can tackle tough grease and grime, without scratching your dishes. At end of use, just biodegrade in the compost bin (or bin to naturally break down without harm to the planet).
EcoCoconut Dish Brush is made from coir (coconut fibres) as alternative to plastic scouring pads. It’s non-scratch so okay for stubborn plates and non-stick pans, but not for plastic surfaces. Rinse after each use, and store in a dry place. You may notice some loose fibres at first, this will reduce over time.
The pack of two donut-shaped biodegradable scourers, are the alternative to those green-backed plastic scourers, that release microplastics down drains, once rinsed. These are safe to be used on non-stick pans, and also good to clean your cooker hob or stove top, and even safe for enamel sinks and baths.
The bottle brush has a curled tip, for precision cleaning at the bottom of bottles, and can also be used to clean wine glasses and stainless steel flasks.
A Stainless Steel Washing-up Bowl
Instead of plastic bowls that support the oil industry and go mouldy and slimy, invest in a lifetime of use stainless steel washing-up bowl (also in orange).
This has a non-porous surface to wipe off food residue, and is heat-resistant and is easily recycled, at end of life. Stainless steel does not absorb stains or smells. just wash with mild soap, then rinse and wipe dry. Remove water marks with a cleaning vinegar and water mix, then a quick rinse.
Miniml: Biodegradable Refillable Dish Wash Liquid
Most conventional brands of dishwash-liquid are made with chemicals and fragrance, sold in plastic bottles. The ingredients may give lots of bubbles, but detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate (engine degreasers) are too harsh for hands and the planet.
Instead, choose low-foaming biodegradable dishwash liquids. These don’t create algae bloom when washed down sinks, so don’t harm marine wildlife, when they break down and reach the sea.
Miniml Dishwash Liquids are made with Yorkshire water and scented naturally (choose from Apple Orchard or Rhubarb Lemon). Then just find a shop for refilling or use the prepaid postage label, and the company will rinse, refill and send new full bottles to you. The small bottles give 50 washes, and the large bottles give 500 washes.
You can recycle empty chemical dish wash liquids. For half-full bottles, don’t pour them down sinks or drains, ask your council about safe disposal (usually at hazardous waste).
How to Wash Greasy Pots & Pans
Soda Crystals (wear protective gloves, can cause eye irritation) are good. For greasy pans, mix 200g into 500ml of water, and soak in this solution with hot water. Leave to soak for a few hours, before rinsing thoroughly, and washing up as normal.
Natural Rinse Aid in Refillable Containers
Miniml Rinse Aid again has local stores to refill or prepaid labels to return for washing and refilling. Sold in a plastic refillable container, this is made (in Yorkshire) with natural unscented ingredients. You can also use it for cabinet glass washers and combi ovens.
Fill Dishwash Powder (in refillable jars)
Fill Dishwasher Powder is made (in Northamptonshire by a registered Living Wage employer) with natural ingredients (unscented or scented with essential oils), sold in a glass jar and metal lid.
When empty, either refill in participating stockists, or order refills in cardboard boxes, which include a freepost return box to send back for washing and return.
To use, remove food debris, then add one scoop to your machine dispenser, check salt level and use with their rinse aid. Keep the powder away from moisture, in an airtight container.
Greenscents Organic Dishwasher Powder
Greenscents Dishwasher Powder is organic, unscented and sold in a brown paper bag. Free from cheap fillers and plastic wrappers (most ‘biodegradable pods’ are not – it’s greenwash). This uses a unique blend of natural botanicals and probiotics for powerful cleaning without toxins, enzymes or petrochemicals found in most brands.
This is the first dishwasher powder to receive Soil Association organic status in the UK. It’s also free from palm oil, vegan and not tested on animals.
One compostable pouch contains enough powder for 30 dishwasher cycles. You can also use it with cleaning vinegar as a rinse aid.
Due to the natural formulation, performance may depend on your machine, cycle type or water hardness. Email the company who is happy to help, with any queries on eco settings etc.
SEEP is a fabulous brand, which makes plastic-free alternatives to nylon cleaning cloths and green-topped scrubby sponges. From pop-up sponges to scouring pads, this company makes quality items, all sold in zero waste packaging. Use with their natural rubber gloves.
Use with plastic-free cloths and sponges. Choose Unscented dishwash and cleaners for pregnancy/nursing and when cleaning/washing baby/pet bowls or if cleaning (citrus oils are toxic to pets).
Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). For half-full bottles of chemical liquids, don’t pour down drain (dispose of at your local tip).
Seep Rubber Gloves in Cardboard Packs
SEEP Natural Rubber Gloves are sold in three sizes with textured grip, and in cardboard packaging. These solve both problems (quality rubber gloves in stores are expensive and sold in plastic packaging, while cheap gloves tend to fall apart after a few uses). This is a quality eco brand that lasts!
Keep rubber cleaning gloves away from children and pets (and also from dementia patients – one patient recently died from swallowing a glove).
Use with plastic-free cloths and sponges. Choose Unscented dishwash and cleaners for pregnancy/nursing and when cleaning/washing baby/pet bowls or if cleaning (citrus oils are toxic to pets).
Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). For half-full bottles of chemical liquids, don’t pour down drain (dispose of at your local tip).
Seep Eco Sponge Cloths
Eco Sponge Cloths are sold in 4 unique designs. These are ‘Swedish dishcloths’ that are made from wood pulp cellulose and repurposed cotton, and can absorb 13 times their weight in water.
One cloth can replace 15 rolls of paper towels, ideal to wipe up spills or washing-up. These are the alternative to those pink cloths that ‘break off bits’ when they get wet or worn.
Seep Pop-Up Sponges
Pop-up sponges are made from wood pulp, so they come flat to save on packaging. Wet them and they spring to shape. They’re durable and plastic-free, giving you a quick clean with less waste.
Seep Eco Sponge Scourers
Eco Sponge Scourers (sold in a set of 12) are ideal for washing-up, containing loofah (a plant related to cucumber) and wood pulp cellulose. Safe enough to use on non-stick pots and pans. An alternative to those green plastic nylon scouring pads.
Seep Copper Scouring Pads
Copper scourers clean tough dishes without microplastic shed and won’t rust as quickly as steel. They’re durable, recyclable, and handy for everything from pots to oven racks. Alternative to silver ‘scourers’ sold in plastic packaging.
Seep Bamboo Cleaning Cloths
The bamboo cloths can be used wet or dry, and are easy to recycle with other textiles. Sold in a pack of three (neutral, navy, turquoise), you can keep one for each cleaning tasks so you don’t get them mixed up, and end up cleaning the loo with the washing-up cloth!
