Dishes are an inevitable part of eating, and unless you use only paper products (which can be expensive and wasteful), you are probably going to end up washing some of your own. This guide on how to wash dishes will help you learn to do it the right way.

1. Only run dishwashers when they are full to avoid wasting water.http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm
2. Turn off the heated dry option on your dishwater to save energy.http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm

Whether you have a dishwasher or not, approaching a sink full of dirty dishes can be a confusing endeavor. Where should you begin? How can you get the dishes completely clean without scrubbing away laboriously at dried food, or wasting gallons of water? This page will show you the correct way to get your dishes spotless with as little labor and water waste as possible.

If you have a dishwasher, consider yourself lucky, as these inventions make doing dishes far less tedious. For most dishes, you may simply scrape away the excess food, and set them in the dishwasher with enough clear space to allow the jet streams to access them. http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/kitchen-and-bath/kitchenware/how-to-wash-dishes/ Of course, even the best dishwasher models will probably not clean off tough, caked-on food spots. For especially dirty dishes, pots and pans, fill your sink with a dash of dish soap and just enough water to cover your items. Allow to soak until food softens and can easily be scraped off.

1. Fill your sink with soapy water
2. Soak dishes to soften dried food
3. Wash each dish individually with a scrubber or sponge
4. If you have a double sink, fill the other side with rinse water and rinse off each dish as you go
5. If you only have a single sink, drain when all dishes have been washed (it will help to use a dish rack to organize your dishes in the sink) and then rinse your dishes http://www.eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

Once a dish has been washed and rinsed, it is ready to be dried. If you allow the dishes to sit for too long after washing, you may end up with streaks, so this should be done as quickly as possible. http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/kitchen-and-bath/kitchenware/how-to-wash-dishes/

• Choose a soft dish rag, preferably one that does not leave a trail of lint. Gently wipe to absorb water, and then you can put the dish away and move on to the next one. If you have a dish rack, it may be more convenient to place dishes onto it after drying, and then put them all away at one time.