Eco Friendly House And Garden

The old fashioned way of washing the dishes can really make a difference to your water use!

I know that there are many eco friendly dishwashers on the market, and they can well be more eco friendly in the busy family kitchen than filling up the sink all the time (if you use the economy setting, use eco friendly low-phosphate, low-chlorine detergents and stop the machine before the dry cycle). However, for those of us with too small a kitchen for an A-rated dishwasher or not enough dirty dishes to fill one up - then the humble bowl of hot soapy water is our only option!

Well, here are a few tricks to make sure that you make the most of your water, waste as little detergent as possible and really get those dishes clean!

I know it seems a bit basic to list these things, but my partner just throws everything in the same sink (greasy lasagna dishes and half-filled coffee cups alongside my nice wine glasses) and fills the sink to the very top!  An eco kitchen disaster!

Before The Wash:
Firstly, always scrape off your dirty dishes with your cutlery or a specific plastic scraper rather than rinse them under running water.  Running water speaks for itself: Out of the tap and down the drain!

If you really want to rinse your plates, then do it over a bowl or in your sink with the plug in and save the water for use with soaking your most soiled kitchenware.  I know it doesn’t sound nice to soak your oven trays in a mixture of old gravy and cold water, but you are going to rewash them later anyway – and they can’t really get any dirtier than they already are, can they?

Then just before washing up, sort your dirty utensils and crockery in order of cleanliness, with the hardly used plates and glasses first and the greasy, oily plates and pans towards the end.  I know it sounds a bit old-fashioned, but if you put all the greasy stuff in first, then the clean stuff will never get clean!  You don’t really want to add oil to the water your clean glasses are sitting in, do you?

Setting The Scene:
Now you are ready to start running the water, but first – make sure that if you don’t have a second sink or half-sink as well as your main one – then you must use a washing up bowl.

The reason is that, if you are not rinsing your stuff before washing it, then the odd cup might have some coffee still in it – now, do you want to pour that coffee into your clean water?  No.  It needs to be poured into the other sink or down the side of the bowl!

Basically, you need to keep your water as clean as possible for as long as possible through out the wash!

And, don’t worry about the hot tap pouring out cold water into the sink or bowl first, as it will probably get too hot anyway after a while – better not waste it for no reason, eh?

Also, if your hot water is through a boiler, it might be cheaper energy-wise to boil the kettle for your dishes rather than heat up the whole tank, so either coincide your washing up with your shower or use the kettle to make a cup of tea at the same time as washing up!

Also, it’s not a bad idea to have at least 2 scrubbing aids or scourers/sponges/cloths.  One for the really clean stuff, and one (or more) for the really dirty stuff.  No point wiping your cups clean with a cloth that has got burnt pasta all over it!  And, it means you can keep using them for longer as, once you ‘clean’ one gets to dirty to be ‘clean’, it can become your ‘dirty’ one for pots and pans etc.  A double life!

Washing Up, At Last:
Now, get in there with the washing up as normal, all the clean stuff in first – rinse if you have to, or better still dip in a bowl of cold water you already have to one side to avoid waste again.  However, if you don’t over-use your detergent then you shouldn’t really need to rinse it anyway.

As you move through to the dirty stuff, don’t forget to change your weapon of choice, so keeping the clean cloth or scourer clean, and getting out the tougher (dirtier) cloths or scourers as you progress!

All the while you are pouring your dirty liquids down the drain, the water should last longer for you so you don’t need to change it as early as you might normally.

When the water finally gets to dirty to clean things properly in, you can still ‘wash up’ all the remaining dirty things in the same water, but put them back on the dirty side of the sink. 

Why leave them still covered in baked-on or dried-on food until you wash up again?  Why not get them virtually clean with the already warm water so they are nearly clean for the next time!  You would have got rid of most of the grease and stains this time around with your old water.  Nice one.

Drying Up:
Don’t dry up!  Things dry themselves pretty well in just an hour or so - so leave them to it! 

Using a dish cloth to dry your things means that you make that dirty – so it will have to be washed too!  Why create more work for yourself when you should be sitting down drinking that nice cup of tea you made yourself at the beginning!

Finding Energy Efficient Appliances Should Be Easy…

It is now easier than ever to find yourself and energy-efficient electrical appliance without compromising on quality or service.

Basically, manufacturers these days are trying to improve the energy efficiency of their electrical items to win your purchase. In Europe there is now the ‘Energy Rating Scheme’ (EU energy ratings from A (most energy efficient) through to G (least energy efficient)and that this is displayed on their and their competitors appliances. And in the US there is the Energy Star rating system doing the same thing.

Needless to say, many manufacturers want you to buy their products – and so they need to make sure that theirs matches up or betters the competition!! All good for the environment and the consumers pocket.

How To Get It Right:
Below are 4 simple steps to make sure that you are getting the best in terms of energy efficiency in your new appliances. They include just the basics – as obviously there are performance and branding issues that are specific to each household – as well as different budgets.

You also need to be aware that more energy efficient models are not necessarily better at washing your clothes or not breaking down all the time! The energy rating schemes only cover energy requirements – not the machines themselves – so you still need to research the products before purchase and read reviews or speak to the sales person in your store or on-line.

1) Research your products in advance.
Make sure that you have decided exactly what you need out of the appliance, for simplicities sake – a toaster that does 4 slices at a time or a dishwasher to fit in a small space in you kitchen, etc.

Once you have narrowed down your options, take a look at customer reviews to check usability and to line it up with your budget. Don’t forget that the price you pay will not always reflect what you get for your money and buying the cheaper model may cost you more in repairs than the slightly more expensive version that has a longer working life.

2) Look for the Energy Saving Logo/the Energy Star.
By checking which of your short-list have been labelled as more energy-efficient can help you make the right choice in terms of reduced running costs for yourself.

Buying a lower rated item in the EU (D-G) may well mean you end up using more electricity per wash – theoretically making the machine/appliance ‘cost more’ over the year:

Cost of Item + cost to run per year + cost of any repairs = actual cost of item to you.

Energy Ratings are now available on many appliances including TV’s, set top boxes, heating equipment and fridges – plus many more. Some items have more than 1 ‘score’ in the EU so make sure you check each one.

3) Ask In Store.
As more and more consumers are wanting to know about ways to reduce their energy costs – retailers are better informed of their options. Staff take training in this area to make sure that they are advising you on the best product for your requirements.

They should be able to explain how the energy rating systems work in your country and for every appliance you are interested in. They should also know how to find out and compare details on all their models – for example showing which perform best on standby and whether certain items come with energy saving features like automatic ‘sleep mode’. Up to 8% of UK TV energy is wasted while on standby!

If you have done your research before you arrive in the store, then you won’t be overwhelmed by the choices available when you get to the shelves – try not to be swayed by appearance if you are serious about energy saving. Wanting that pink version that is D-rated is only a passing phase!!!!

4) Consider Doubling up!
Integrated appliances are the way forward with energy-saving. For example buying a TV with built in digital receiver – only buying 1 product rather than 2. Fridge-freezers and washer-Driers do the same.

• Less raw materials to create – it’s all in one casing
• Less packaging – only one item instead of 2 or more
• Less transport – only 1 item to get to the store/your home
• Less products in total – less plugs and cabling needed
• Less electricity when on standby – only one power source

You may already have the second appliance – but when it is no longer required or breaks down – you then don’t need to replace it!

I hope that these few steps have been useful, and there will be more about appliances coming soon to help you make the better choices for the environment!

PS - cut down on games console usage if you can – they use loads of energy to run! A well used console can add around £160 EXTRA onto your electricity bill!!!

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