Whether you wash your dishes by hand or toss them in the dishwasher, you’ve probably wondered if those dishes are really clean enough to eat off of again. When cleaning dishes that have touched raw meat, common allergens, and other harmful ingredients and bacteria, there are a few principles to follow that will ensure sparkling clean dishes every time! 

Hand-Washing Dishes

1. Clean Your Sink. When hand washing dishes, it is important to make sure that the dishes do not continue to come into contact with bacteria commonly found in our sinks. Food, drinks, raw meat, etc. are all items that typically get washed down the sink making it a breeding ground for nasty germs. Clean People Sink & Bath Scrub is a fantastic cleaning solution made for destroying dirt and grime in your sink, and a bonus is that you’ll be left with a sparkling clean sink. 
   
2. Clean Your Dishes.
   Using your Clean People Liquid Dish Soap, fill up the sink with hot water and drizzle enough dish soap to make the water soapy. Allow the dirty dishes to soak in the sink for 5-10 minutes. Doing so allows the dish soap to begin breaking down the grime and any hardened food on your dishes to allow for easier cleaning. Once the dishes have soaked, grab a clean sponge or brush and begin cleaning each dish.  
3. Sanitize Your Dishes.
   If you have dishes that have touched raw meat or common allergens that could cause harm or cross-contamination, consider including a post-wash soak into your routine. Fill up your sink with the hottest water possible for the dishes being sanitized (common recommendations are between 165 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit)  and allow them to soak for up to one minute. To avoid severe burns, use silicone gloves to drain the sink and retrieve the dishes.
4. Dry Your Dishes!
   Drying your hand washed dishes right away is beneficial in avoiding unnecessary bacteria build-up from the air and the water clinging to them. Be sure to store your dry dishes in a cabinet that is also clean and free from dust and other contaminants.

Using a Dishwasher

1. Begin With A Clean Machine.
   Routinely cleaning your dishwasher is important to ensure that harmful bacteria or mold is not being rinsed and washed onto your dishes. Remove the filter (commonly found in the bottom of the dishwasher) and clean it with some dish soap and an old toothbrush. Replace the filter and run an empty normal hot cycle with a cup of vinegar in the top rack. The vinegar will break down any mineral build up and will also aid in sanitizing the inside of the machine. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, wipe down the interior of the dishwasher, and you’re ready to wash your dishes. 
2. Put Your Dirty Dishes In.
   It is not necessary to pre-rinse your dishes unless the dish is heavily soiled or has hardened food on it. Most modern dishwashers have special sensors that allow them to detect the level of dirtiness on your dishes. Doing a pre-rinse could actually be making your dishwasher not clean your dishes properly if it cannot detect how dirty they are. Once the dishes are loaded, place one Clean People Dishwasher Pod, or a scoop of Clean People Dishwasher Powder into the dispenser and run your cleaning cycle.
3. Dry Your Dishes!
   As soon as you’re able to, remove the dishes and dry any excess water to discourage mold and mildew from trying to grow! Store in a clean, dry cabinet until next time. For additional savings check out the Clean People Everything Kitchen Kit!