Green Guide For Washing Dishes By Hand
🌱 Washing dishes by hand doesn’t need harsh detergents or plastic — it just needs the right use of soap and water.
Hand washing dishes is one of the easiest places to reduce unnecessary chemicals and plastic in the home.
Most commercial dishwashing liquids rely on strong synthetic surfactants and added foaming agents. They’re designed to look effective, not necessarily to be gentle on hands, waterways, or surfaces.
A green approach to hand washing dishes focuses on:
- Real soap, not detergents
- Simple formulations that actually clean grease
- Fewer products that do more than one job
This guide walks through practical, low-tox ways to wash dishes effectively — without a dishwasher and without plastic-heavy products.
Start With Soap, Not Detergent
If you’re used to supermarket dishwashing liquid, the biggest mental shift is understanding the difference between soap and detergent.
Detergents are synthetic and engineered to foam heavily.
Soap is a naturally derived surfactant that lifts grease so it can be rinsed away.
For hand washing dishes, real soap is all you need.
Castile-style soap is especially well suited because it:
- Cuts grease effectively
- Rinses clean
- Is gentle on hands
- Works across multiple cleaning tasks
You can use it as-is or turn it into a simple dish liquid if you prefer a liquid format.
DIY Dish Liquid (Soap-Based)
A soap-based dish liquid is ideal if you:
- Prefer a pump bottle
- Wash dishes frequently
- Want something gentle on hands
This is simply a diluted soap solution designed for hand washing dishes and often doubles as a hand wash.
Expect fewer bubbles than commercial products — that’s normal and doesn’t mean it isn’t cleaning.
DIY Dish Powder (Stronger, Less Gentle)
Dish powder is a good option when:
- Dishes are heavily greasy
- You have hard water
- You want extra cleaning power
To use:
- Add 1–2 tablespoons to the sink as the water runs
- Swish with your hand to dissolve and create suds
- Wash as usual
Because dish powders are more alkaline, they can be harsher on hands. Gloves are a good idea for regular use.
Option 3: Just Use Soap (The Simplest Method)
You don’t need a liquid or powder at all.
There are many effective ways to use soap directly:
- Sprinkle coconut soap flakes into the sink
- Rub a soap bar onto a sponge
- Use a soap cage to create lather in the water
- Lather a cloth or brush directly
The key is to choose 100% real soap, not detergent bars marketed as soap.
Use Plastic-Free Tools Where Possible
Cleaning products aren’t the only source of waste in the kitchen.
Dish sponges and cloths made from plastic shed microplastics and contribute to landfill.
Good alternatives include:
- Cellulose sponges
- Coconut fibre or sisal brushes
- Natural dishcloths
These options clean well, last longer, and avoid microplastic pollution — with the added bonus of being easier to compost at end of life.
Practical Tips for Better Results
- Soap-based cleaners create less foam than commercial detergents — this is normal
- Foam is not a measure of cleaning power
- Hot water helps soap dissolve and lift grease more effectively
- Start with hot water to build lather, then cool it to a comfortable temperature
- In hard water areas, dish powder often performs better than liquid soap
