While we adjust our way of living during the COVID-19 Pandemic, it seems we all have a never-ending abundance of dishes to wash. As soon as breakfast dishes are washed there’s another sink full by lunch. And let’s not even discuss the dreaded dinner dishes.
With the overflow of dishes to be washed, the question you should ask yourself is, what are you using to wash these dishes? There are dishwashers, hand washing, different sponges or tools. Whatever you’re using matters and affects your health.
Normally, you would use some kind of dish sponge. I used whatever dish sponge was on sale or came in a value pack. However, on my journey to living a low-waste lifestyle, I found my dishwashing habits were not lining up with this.
In this post, I’ll break down dishwashing habits into 2 categories: Dish Sponges & Low Waste Cleaning Sets
Dish sponges are the most common way to wash your dishes. Unfortunately, they’re also the unhealthiest way. Let’s go over some reasons why you should ditch that sponge!
Bacteria – Sponges are a great environment for bacteria to grow and breed. Food residue sticks to the surface and seeps inside the pores. These sponges also don’t dry properly. Therefore, this gives the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and breed.
Waste – Most sponges are sent to landfills; (see What Happens To Our Waste). They’re also filled with micro-plastics such as polyester and nylon. These micro-plastics rinse down your drain, through our water systems, and to the ocean. As a result, our marine life is digesting these harmful chemicals. There are 3 main reasons you should toss that sponge out: sponges are non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, and being digested by our marine life.
I have seen a variety of ‘low waste’ cleaning sets. However, I’ll focus on two materials I’ve used so far: silicone and wood. Both materials allow you to properly clean your dishes, prevent bacteria growth, and are either recyclable or biodegradable.
Effective – The wooden set does the best job of cleaning everything effectively. Most sets come with multiple items to use. Mine has a bottle cleaner, a bristled brush, and a hard-bristle brush for pots and pans. In my opinion, this brush set cleans better than my sponge ever did.
Sanitary – The wooden set dries out completely and quickly between washes. The item must be able to get completely dry, as a constant wet or moist area is going to breed bacteria.
Biodegradable – The wooden set is compostable and biodegradable. This helps remove the carbon footprint that is so harmful to our environment. This set is made to last, with the reviews I’ve read, it seems to last years. However, when it’s time to rid of it, it’s nice to know it’s compostable and biodegradable.
Variety – Silicone scrubbers come in a large variety. There are a lot of different shapes, sizes, and even thicknesses to choose from based on your needs. Having so many options is not often found in the low-waste community.
Sanitary – Just like the wooden set, silicone scrubbers also dry out completely and quickly between washes. This is exactly the environment you’re looking for to avoid any bacteria growth. Silicone scrubbers are easily cleaned and offer a more sanitary option for washing your dishes.
Recyclable – Silicone can be recycled for a much longer period in comparison to plastic. They’re also a lot more ocean-friendly. I would consider silicone to be a low-waste option which is a great place to start!
Through my experiences with using these three different materials, I found my wooden set to work the best and fit the ‘low waste’ lifestyle I’m journeying on.
Using a low-waste dish cleaning set helps you in so many ways. To name a few, you save money, save effort, improve your health, and end up with a lot cleaner dishes and kitchen. These low-waste options are built to last you years, so there’s no need to replace them every couple of weeks!
I started by switching from a normal dish sponge to a silicone scrubber and I noticed a difference right away. The silicone scrubbers would dry almost immediately after I was done washing. There was never a smell or damp feeling after use. I felt a lot better about how I was cleaning my dishes.
However, I ran into a bit of trouble when it came to needing a good scrub. The silicone scrubbers weren’t able to clean tough pots or pans. They worked great for cups or plates but not for anything that needed a good scrub or scrape. Not to mention, they don’t biodegrade, though they’re recyclable.
This is when I ordered my wooden set. I have yet to encounter any problems with this set. In fact, not only does it dry out quickly and completely, it scrubs very effectively. I just put my utensils in an old mason jar I wasn’t using, and voila, a low-waste dish-cleaning set! Here is a link to the specific set I bought and fell in love with!
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