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Old 28-06-2016, 20:11   #1
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Washing dishes

Probably the most boring question ever, but what is the most efficient method for washing dishes? If I have a boat with only 29 gallons of water tank">fresh water tank age, what's the best way to clean up? I would probbaly use a lot of paper ware but am really curious how people wash pots and such on a cruise to, say, The Bahamas. Thanks.
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Old 28-06-2016, 20:26   #2
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Re: Washing dishes

I have 2 55gal tanks and I still think i need to conserve as I am often too lazy to motor down the mooring field to the water tap.

I wash everything with salt water (foot pumped from a seacock) and once clean give the dishes a very quick and stingy fresh water rinse. Most silverware I just wipe off with wet paper towel sheet. Once in a while when I have time and inclination I wipe all my everyday dishes and silverware with rubbing alcohol wetted paper towel sheet. I figure it is more efficient than to do frequent water runs to the dock.

Years ago, when I was a member of a sailing club, during our week long cruises we had to conserve the water between the ports so we would put all the plastic and metal dishes into a heavy duty mesh bag and trail it in the water off the stern for a while. The dishes would come out spotless clean and just needed a quick wipe to get the salt residue off.
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Old 28-06-2016, 21:59   #3
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Re: Washing dishes

Jim plumbed sea water to the galley in our first Insatiable. I pre-washed in salt water with detergent. A very light fresh water rinse, and air dry. Or dry and put away, on passage.

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Old 28-06-2016, 22:50   #4
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Re: Washing dishes

We have an electric saltwater pump for copious washing and rinsing food bits and soap off. We then use a very little bit of freshwater to rinse the salt off. Before we had a watermaker, we used a spray bottle on mist to be super conservative with fresh water.
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Old 29-06-2016, 03:24   #5
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Re: Washing dishes

Good answers...

Basically:

never stack dirty dishes before washing
place as many dirty dishes in sink as possible
use a foot pump to give you a but of water
soap the top dish thoruoghly
use foot pump to rinse soapy water off onto dishes below
repeat

Having a salt water pump can get the worst part done first
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Old 29-06-2016, 03:43   #6
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Re: Washing dishes

And the most important principle -- give them a shower, not a bath. Nothing more wasteful, or more unsanitary, than filling the sink.
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Old 29-06-2016, 03:59   #7
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Re: Washing dishes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandero View Post
Good answers...

Basically:

never stack dirty dishes before washing
place as many dirty dishes in sink as possible
use a foot pump to give you a but of water
soap the top dish thoruoghly
use foot pump to rinse soapy water off onto dishes below
repeat

Having a salt water pump can get the worst part done first
WRONG...

place one dirty dish in the sink wash another...
then wash the one in the sink... placing another one is the sink

The waiting "on deck dish" in the sink gets a pre wash ... the rest remain not stacked up... no need to soil the bottom of dishes...
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Old 29-06-2016, 05:56   #8
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Re: Washing dishes

I plumbed sea water from a sea cock for the fridge outlet, put a T and valves on it.
12 volt water pump on it.

I do all my washing in sea water, add a few drops of bleach in rivers, and spray rinse with fresh water.

Sea water requires an extra squirt of dishwashing liquid, but any cheap brand is fine, no need for any special brand.
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Old 29-06-2016, 05:59   #9
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Re: Washing dishes

I haven't tried it but read what I thought a very good tip here.
Wash with salt water of course, but use a spray bottle like an old Windex bottle to rinse with.
I'm going with plan "B", a watermaker, and don't worry about water consumption.

I've learned that me being the water Nazi doesn't go over well with the better half.
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Old 29-06-2016, 06:14   #10
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Re: Washing dishes

Although the OP specifically asked about washing dishes, pots and pans need to be washed too. Having non stick surfaces like teflon or ceramica on them make clean-up much easier.
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Old 29-06-2016, 06:41   #11
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Re: Washing dishes

Yup, seawater foot pump for bulk wash, with fresh water spritz from tanks. Pots and pans get a raw water soak and dump before the final wash with fresh water.

No need to use paperware. Wasteful and expensive. Save them for the occasional boat party.
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Old 29-06-2016, 06:44   #12
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Re: Washing dishes

In addition, there are water saver devices one installs on the faucet outlet - quicker shutoff than using the facet knob(s). Scanvik used to make a wand, I got a pushbutton one from Canadian tire last year. This is, of course, for pressure water.
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Old 29-06-2016, 06:48   #13
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Re: Washing dishes

I agree re not stacking plates.. makes life a lot simpler... mind you if the plate hasn't been licked clean it means you are giving the crew too much tucker.
When I am using salt water to wash up only only give a fresh water rinse to glasses and cups.
My boat came with two rather large sinks 33cm x 33cm x 23cm deep.... good size for stowing kit like the pressure cooker in but hopeless for washing up. So I use an (Australian) Willow brand 11 litre mop bucket 30cm x 23cm x 23cm as an insert... doesn't sound much smaller but means less water...deeper water.
Means that when on 'fresh' you use a lot less as well.... and you don't have issues with gunky bits going down plughole and blocking things
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Old 29-06-2016, 06:49   #14
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Re: Washing dishes

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Jackson View Post
In addition, there are water saver devices one installs on the faucet outlet - quicker shutoff than using the facet knob(s). Scanvik used to make a wand, I got a pushbutton one from Canadian tire last year. This is, of course, for pressure water.
If you want to save water the first thing to do is turn off the pressure water and make them use the foot pump.
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Old 29-06-2016, 07:31   #15
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Re: Washing dishes

I wash the dishes overboard on the passage. Anchored, I wash the dishes in the boat, just like one does at home.

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