While we adjust our way of living during this 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? Obviously, there are dishwashers. However, in our previous houses, we didn’t even have a dishwasher. More often than not, I also find those I know are usually hand-washing their pots and pans.
Normally, you would use some sort of dish sponge. I was using whatever dish sponge was on sale or came in a value pack. However, on my journey to living a more zero-waste lifestyle, I found my dishwashing habits were not lining up with this lifestyle.
I’m going to break down dishwashing habits into 2 categories: Dish Sponges & Zero Waste Cleaning Sets
Dish Sponges
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 is likely to stick to the surface as well as seep inside the pores. Also, sponges never fully 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.
Zero Waste Sets
I have seen a variety of ‘zero waste’ cleaning sets. However, I’m going to focus on two different materials I have used so far; silicone and wood. Both of these materials allow you to properly clean your dishes, prevent bacteria growth, and are either recyclable or biodegradable.
Wood Cleaning Set
Effective – The wooden set does the best job of cleaning everything effectively. Most sets will come with multiple items to use, such as the one I bought. 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 did.
Sanitary – The wooden set dries out completely and quickly between washes. It’s important that the item is 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.
Silicone Scrubbers
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 zero-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 in order to avoid any bacteria growth. Silicone scrubbers are easily cleaned and offer a more sanitary option for washing your dishes.
Recyclable – Silicone is able to be recycled for a much longer period of time 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!
Worth The Switch
Through my experiences with using these three different materials, I found my wooden set to work the best and fit the ‘zero waste’ lifestyle I’m journeying on.
Using a zero-waste dish cleaning set helps you in so many ways. To name a few; you save money, save effort, and end up with a lot cleaner dishes and kitchen. These zero-waste options are built to last you years, so there’s no need to replace them every 2 weeks to once a month!
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 also never a weird smell or damp feeling after use. I felt a lot better about how I was cleaning my dishes.
However, I ran into a little bit of trouble when it came to needing a good scrub. The silicone scrubbers weren’t able to scrub tough pots or pans. They worked great for cups or plates but for anything that needed a good scrub or scrape, I had some issues. Not to mention, they don’t biodegrade, though they are 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 completely and quickly, but it scrubs very effectively. I just put my utensils in an old mason jar I wasn’t using and voila, a zero-waste dish-cleaning set! Here is a link to the specific set I bought and fell in love with!
