You may have decided that it would be better to avoid using harsh detergents in the kitchen, but is it possible to clean your kitchenware with just water?
Which is better for your health and the cleanliness of your dishes, if you use dish soap, or if you avoid it as much as possible? Let me shed some light on the subject.
Water may be sufficient to wash your dishes, as long as you manage to completely remove the food residue and nothing that supports bacterial growth is left on them. An abrasive tool, such as a brush, can help you with this. However, fatty food residues of animal origin cannot be completely washed off dishes with water alone, as fats do not dissolve in water. Fat and water molecules cannot mix effectively, so you need soap that binds to both.
Does dish soap really clean dishes?
Dish soap, like hand soap, works by loosening dirt, which can then be easily washed off with water. Most microorganisms are removed with water, along with food residues.
Plain soap doesn’t kill bacteria, it cleans effectively by dissolving dirt so that it is easily washed away by water, along with the bacteria.
New-generation dish soaps use enzymes that break down proteins and starches. These enzymes work similarly to those that carry out digestive processes in our body. Some dishwashing detergents also contain chlorine to disinfect the dishes. So yes, dish soap does clean dishes.
What did they use before dish soap?
In ancient times, abrasive agents such as rubbing with sand were first used in addition to water.
In the Middle Ages, chemical cleaning agents such as rhubarb juice were also introduced. They also used abrasives and dish mops to wash sensitive dishes.
A famous housekeeping book from 1869, The American Woman’s Home, recommends using warm water and hard soap for washing dishes, as well as using salt and lemon juice as chemical cleaners. Abrasive powders, wire scrubbers, and dishmops were used as physical washing tools.
Synthetic dishwashing detergents in their modern form appeared in the 20th century after the 1st and 2nd World Wars caused a shortage of the oils and fats required for the production of soap.
Until the end of the 20th century, phosphate-containing detergents were the norm, which cleaned very effectively, but were extremely harmful to the environment. Since the use of phosphates has been banned in many places since the 1990s, it became necessary to develop other types of cleaning agents. You may wish to learn more about the old dishwashing methods.
What is the healthiest way to wash dishes?
The healthiest way to wash dishes is to use a dishwasher. The advantage of a dishwasher over washing by hand is that it requires water at a higher temperature than our skin can handle. The dishwasher also uses less water than is usually used for manual washing.
Our skin can tolerate water at a temperature of 48°C / 118°F for a short time, but this is the upper limit. The dishwasher, on the other hand, works with water at a temperature of 45-75°C / 113-167°F. In this way, it removes food residues and microorganisms more effectively than manual washing. Learn more about how can you stop dishes from being greasy.
After washing the dishes correctly, it is also important to dry them correctly. Wiping with a kitchen towel is the worst way to dry dishes, as kitchen textiles often carry and spread microorganisms.
It is best to let the dishes air dry. In the case of machine washing, let them dry in the dishwasher.
Why is it important to wash the dishes correctly?
Washing dishes correctly is important from a food safety point of view. If food residues remain on them, they provide a good breeding ground for the development of microorganisms.
Bacteria and fungi that feed on food residues pose a health risk, especially for young children and immunocompromised people. Therefore, it is important to completely remove deposits from our dishes.
Final thoughts
Therefore, it is not possible to completely remove the greasy and oily residue from our dishes with water alone. The food deposits left on them create optimal living conditions for various microorganisms. This is especially important if the dishes have been in contact with raw poultry, meat, or fish.
Washing with clean, hot water can be enough to wash off water-soluble food residue, such as sugar, from our kitchenware. It is important to completely remove food residues from our dishes in order to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi on them.
The healthiest and most efficient way to wash dishes is to use a dishwasher. Thanks to its high-temperature washing cycles and effective detergent, it cleans more thoroughly than manual dishwashing.