Hand Washing Doesn’t Actually Clean Dishes Without This 60-Second Step

Photo: Getty Images/Petar Chernaev
Hand washing your dishes seems simple enough, right? You take your trusty sponge, add some grease-fighting soap, then go to town on all that leftover red-lentil penne that decided to cling on for dear life. Even if all your plates look nice and shiny afterward though, you might not be getting things as clean as you think.

One big germy mistake most people make while doing their dishes is not taking the time to give everything a solid soak. According to Apartment Therapy, the extra step ensures your plates and bowls are properly sanitized and free of foodborne illness-causing bacteria. You can kill those bad guys by soaking your dishes for one minute in a sanitizing bleach solution of one tablespoon bleach and one gallon of cool water. Just be sure to use gloves or utensils when taking your dishes out of the solution (because bleach is no joke, y'all).

Think of it as giving your dishes a detoxifying bath. You could even add this essential oil blend that gets dirty dishes extra clean and treat them to the closest experience they'll ever have to being in a dishwasher. Unless that is, you decide to trade in your (soak), wash, rinse, repeat routine for an automatic option instead.

This piece was published on September 25, 2018. It was updated on December 21, 2018.

Uh oh: Dishwashing might be messing with your sex life. Don't worry, though—here are some foreplay tips for a healthier sex life that can balance it all out.

Loading More Posts...