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Washing By Hand

BLANCO's guide to deciding between you and your machine

Washing up by hand

Dishwashers are now a standard feature of almost every kitchen. They make the perfect companion for your kitchen sink, and are a great way to avoid tackling a large load of dishes by hand. In today's world, many models are actually even more economical and environmentally friendly than washing up by hand, thanks to their low water and energy consumption. But not everything can or should be cleaned in a dishwasher.

6 golden rules for washing by hand

Coated frying pans, long-stemmed wineglasses and certain materials, such as wood, all belong in the sink. You will also have to scrub burned pot bottoms by hand when it's time to wash up. We’ve put together a few tips and tricks for you here to ensure that washing up doesn’t become a chore. Learn how to wash up properly – and do some good for yourself and the environment!

Waste can be disposed of quickly with BLANCO waste separation systems.

1. Dispose of food leftovers

Whether you use the dishwasher or wash up by hand, you should get rid of any large bits of food waste. Food remains can clog up the drain of both the sink and the dishwasher. Disposing of leftovers is particularly easy if you have a waste management system integrated directly beneath the sink, such as the BLANCO SOLON. The SOLON composting system is particularly practical for disposing of compost and organic waste, and can be seamlessly integrated into the countertop.

Burnt-on substances are easier to remove if you soak them first.

2. Soak non-wooden dishes and utensils

Dried, burnt-in food remains are easier to remove if you soak them first. Black, burnt pot bottoms can be tackled with a mixture of dish soap, salt and water. Carefully stir the mixture and distribute it evenly. Avoid scrubbing if possible, as this can cause scratches. Other dishes, such as plates and forks, can also soak to help in scrubbing their remaining bits. Wood utensils and cutting boards should be kept out of the soak.

3. Sort your dishes

The basic principle is that the dirtier the dishes, the later you should rinse it off. In other words, glasses come first, then cups, plates and cutlery. Pots and pans come at the end, especially if they have burned-on remains. Grease-smeared dishes should also only be cleaned at the end of your washing session.

4. Do not wash dishes under running water

Leaving the water running while rinsing dishes is a waste of resources. If you have a double bowl sik, It’s better to gather everything that can’t go in the dishwasher and utilize both bowls for rinsing and soaking. Remember: the hotter the water, the easier it is to remove grease and caked-on foods. Note: just add a couple of drops of dish liquid once you’ve already put some water in the bowl. This helps to prevent excessive foam and works harder for less.
BLANCO soap dispensers helps to ration out dish liquid, and also looks elegant while doing so.

Scrub and rinse your sink to keep free of bacteria

5. Keep up best sink hygiene practices

Damp sponges and cloths are a perfect breeding ground for germs, such as bacteria and mold. To avoid this, let cloths, sponges and dishcloths dry off completely after you wash up. Cleaning utensils that you use daily should be swapped out after a week. Wash dish towels regularly.

Cleaning tips for special cookware

Sharp knives

You should never wash sharp kitchen knives in a dishwasher. Both wooden handles and sharp blades can be damaged by high temperatures and the high amounts of cleaning detergent. It’s better to clean knives with dish liquid and warm water. Simply wipe the knife with a dishcloth and rinse it briefly with clean water.

Wineglasses and champagne flutes

You’ll often find that beautiful, long-stemmed glasses don't fit into the dishwasher. In addition, the dishwasher often leaves the glass smudged with water marks. It’s better to wash high-quality wineglasses by hand: simply dip each glass into lukewarm water with a little dish liquid. Lipstick and slight traces of grease can be quickly removed with a cloth. The glasses should then be rinsed with clean water. If you want to get them particularly sparkling, you could polish the glasses with a lint-free linen cloth once they’re dry.

Wood and wooden boards

Wooden chopping boards, wooden cooking spoons and rolling pins should always be cleaned with hot soapy water. As a natural alternative, you could also use coarse sea salt and a little lemon juice for cleaning wood. Rubbing wood with this mixture has been proven to be effective, even in instances of discoloration. However, it's important to avoid soaking for extended periods of time, and always let the cutting boards dry off properly to help kill off any remaining germs.. If your wooden board needs a little more care, you can sand down the top later and saturate the board with food-safe oil after cleaning. Afterwards, you can rub off any excess oil with a cotton cloth.

Coated pans

Coated pans are usually easy to clean with a little water and a few drops of washing-up liquid. If that’s not enough, put some dishwasher detergent in the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Alternatively, you can remove stubborn marks with baking powder. Dissolve the baking powder in water and bring the mixture to a boil in the pan. After the mixture has been acting upon it for a couple of hours, you will be able to remove the burnt-in residues with ease. Another option is heating salt in the pan until it become brown. Then wipe everything out with a rag or newspaper. However, under no circumstances should you use an abrasive sponge.