Talking About Green

Washing up has been a hated chore for many years but it just can’t be avoided. Even those who switched to using dishwashers are starting to return to the traditional method of washing crockery, glasses and cutlery, mainly due to the costs involved with running a machine and also for the effect they have on the environment.

If you’re tired of staring at a sink full of dishes, here are 5 handy tips to reduce your washing up.

1. One at a time. On average we drink 4 cups of tea or coffee a day and incredibly some of us will use 4 mugs, or 4 cups, 4 saucers and 4 teaspoons. The dirty crockery quickly builds up and there’s really no reason why we can’t use one of each item throughout the day. A quick rinse and it’s ready to use and then you can wash up fewer items in the evening. The same can apply to side plates and other crockery and cutlery items if you really think about it.
2. Cut down on Utensils. Many homes tend to accumulate a lot of unnecessary equipment over the years and you may find that you’ve gathered more than one set of dinner plates, dozens of teaspoons and several other utensils such as soup ladles and cheese graters. Make sure you just have what you need: If you’re grating some cheese and there’s a dirty grater sitting in the sink, it is guaranteed to be too tempting to resist the shiny clean one that’s in the cupboard. Don’t succumb – just have one cheese grater and you only ever need to wash up one of them. The same principle applies for every item of kitchen equipment.
3. Consider more One Pot Meals. Above all you want to be eating healthily and no-one wants to recommend processed microwaveable meals just so that you can cut down on the washing up! One pot meals are a healthy alternative that use fewer utensils at the same time, thereby cutting down on your workload when the meal is finished. You may well have your own favourite one pot recipe or you can source some new dishes to try while reducing your washing up at the same time.
4. Use Your Cooking Utensils a Little More Creatively. Now you may feel like a slob for doing this but you can find some attractive cookware in many shops nowadays. It looks good enough to eat out of so why don’t you do just that? These pots look far better than your typical saucepan so there’s no need to feel uneasy. OK so you may not do it at a dinner party but in the comfort of your own home, why not?
5. Recyclable Products. Recycling has never been easier with many local authorities collecting from your door. Healthy meals such as pasta salads can be found in recyclable containers so keep an eye out for them.

Anything that helps the environment and means less work for you can only be a good thing so consider all of these tips and cut down on your washing up.

For more information on dishwashers please visit Miele kitchen appliances.

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