Washing dishes thoroughly after use is important: It’s part of the tasks that maintain hygiene in the kitchen, which contributes to a clean and healthy environment at home; Ensures that everything is always ready to use when needed; Helps to extend the useful life of utensils and equipment; Eliminates residues and dirt which accumulation favors the development of mold and other microorganisms that can be harmful to health. Dishwashers solve all of this, as long as they are used correctly. But there are people who don't have one and wash the dishes by hand. In this case, there are some good practices to follow so that everything is washed well and that also save time, water, energy and other resources. First of all Before washing dishes, whether by machine or hand, visible food and grease residues must be removed. A scraper or the recently used cutlery, for example, will do it. The quicker you wash the dishes after using them, the easier it is to do. But if you can't handle everything quickly, soaking it will make the task easier because it helps to loosen what's stuck and prevents it from drying out. Deeper containers (pans and pots, for example) can be filled with water (if hot it helps), with a little detergent. Plates and shallow dishes can be placed in a container with hot water and detergent. The same goes for cutlery, and if the container is narrow and tall, the handles face upwards. Machine wash Arranging the dishwasher without overlapping ensures the dishes are washed properly. Machines are not all the same and, therefore, to load them (and also regarding the pre-cleaning and use of the different programs) the specific instructions must be followed. Hand wash When washing dishes by hand, the first idea is to do it in the most practical way: under the tap with hot water running, adding detergent to the dish scrubber as needed, and then rinsing each item with clean water. Despite being practical and allowing you to wash very well, washing and rinsing dishes like this is a substantial expense: of water, energy, detergent and even time. To save these resources the ideal is to wash dishes using two containers: one for washing them and the other for rinsing. If it is not possible to use two containers, then at least one should be used for washing, with hot water and detergent. Rinsing with clean water after washing, is intended to remove all traces of detergent so as not to contaminate food in later uses. Attention should be paid to the inside of glasses, cups and other deep, narrow items. Once everything is rinsed and in the drainer, if the tap allows it and/or it is possible, you can even run clean water over it again. From the less dirty to the dirtiest When washing and cleaning, the rule is to start with what is less dirty and finish with what is dirtiest. This way, what is less dirty is not contaminated and the materials used (water, dish scrubber and/or cloths) stay clean for longer. So, the correct sequence for washing dishes, once the remains are removed, will be: First the glasses; Next come cups and cutlery; Then the individual plates and bowls; Finally, the trays, pots, pans and frying pans. It may be necessary to change the water in the containers, which should be done: When the wash water appears greasy, becomes cold or the detergent stops foaming. When the rinse water starts to foam with detergent. Clean the dishes This is a rarer task, but doing it with a clean cloth after washing, followed by arranging dishes in the respective cabinets, is the best way to keep the kitchen tidy and clean, and also to avoid drying stains on the dishes. Attention: if you choose to clean the dishes, changing the cloth when it starts to get damp is a good practice. In fact, use different cloths for different types of dishes – one (which doesn’t leave lint) for glasses, another for plates, dishes and cutlery and another, thicker one, for pans and other kitchen utensils. Of course, leaving the dishes to dry on the drainer saves time and with milder temperatures everything dries quickly. In this case, covering the washed dishes with a clean dish cloth is not for decoration or to look tidy: it is just so that nothing soils the washed dishes ready to be used again. In the end, don't forget Wash the dish scrubber and cloths and put them away, remembering that they should be changed regularly. Leave the sink tidy, clean and dry. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
