What is the best thing to do after sanitizing the dishes?

Q: What to do after sanitizing dishes?

Get the dishes squeaky clean. Allow dishes to sit in the solution for 30 seconds, then wash and rinse thoroughly as you normally would. Give your dishes even more time to soak before washing, if youd like.

For starters, clean dirty plates and cups with an antibacterial soap.

Índice Show

First, clean your sink.
Get the dishes squeaky clean.
Consider a post-wash soak.
Pay attention to how the dishes feel.
Dry clean dishware with a towel.
Wipe down your cupboard shelves.
Use Hot Water and Dish Soap to Remove Food and Grease
Always Wash the Cleaner Items First
Cleaning and Sanitizing Are Not the Same Things
Opt for Air Drying When Possible
Sanitize Your Sponge or Brush Regularly
What to do after sanitizing dishes?
What is the best way to sanitize dishes?
How should dishes be dried after sanitizing?
What should you use to rinse items after cleaning them and before sanitizing them?

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Popping your pots, pans, plates, and other used tableware items into the dishwasher is a major time saver; the appliance does all the heavy lifting, from rinsing and cleaning to sanitizing and drying. But this isn't the only way to ensure your dishes are disinfected before they return back to your cupboards. It certainly ispossible to get these essentials clean by hand—and to make sure they are safe to cook with and eat on the next time around. Ahead, we gathered insight from cleaning experts on how to properly and thoroughly hand-wash and sanitize your dishes.

First, clean your sink.

Before getting to your dishes, you'll want to make sure the temporary home you're placing them in is clean. Meaning, the sink. Angela Bell, a Grove Collaborative guide and sustainable cleaning expert, says vinegar is the best natural cleaner to sanitize the area, along with a cleaning cloth or sponge. "Remember to launder dishcloths regularly and keep any washing tools clean and dry in between uses," she says. "Boil or microwave your sponge to kill bacteria."

Get the dishes squeaky clean.

Joshua Henderson, a Colgate and Palmolive senior scientist, explains that using an EPA-registered antibacterial dish soap, like Ultra Palmolive Antibacterial dish liquid ($4.99, target.com), is essential to sanitize your dirty dishes; they kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and rids surfaces of germs in 30 seconds. "We recommend that you dilute one part product to 20 parts water," Henderson says. "Allow dishes to sit in the solution for 30 seconds, then wash and rinse thoroughly as you normally would." Give your dishes even more time to soak before washing, if you'd like. Bell explains that allowing them to sit in the solution before scrubbing and rinsing can help the soap break down stuck-on food. Another pro tip? No matter the dish liquid you use, avoid mixing detergents or adding bleach, since this could release toxic fumes.

close up of of washing dishes in sink

Credit: Nattakorn Maneerat

Consider a post-wash soak.

"If you don't have a dishwasher, you can sanitize simply by using a hot water soak," Bell says. If you opt for this technique, you'll stillneed to wash your dishes first. After this step, "fill up a bin or the sink with water about as hot as you can get it (165 to 180 degrees)." In the event that the tap water from your sink doesn't get that hot, Bell suggests using a kettle. From there, let the clean dishes soak in the steamy water for about one minute. Either let the water cool before reaching for the dishware or use silicone kitchen gloves, like Grove Co. Cleaning Gloves ($7.95, grove.co) to prevent burns.

Pay attention to how the dishes feel.

While dishes may sparkle after giving them a good cleaning, there could be leftover residue or caked-on food. One way to tell if a dish is still dirty is if it has a gritty, greasy, or soapy feel. Henderson also notes that if a stream of water doesn't flow uniformly on a dish's surface, there could be residue on it. "There may even be bacteria or particles so small that you can't see or feel them," adds Bell. "Using the scouring end of a good scrubber sponge (like Grove Co.'s Walnut Scrubber Sponge ($4.95, grove.co)) can be a great way to break down food particles while handwashing."

Dry clean dishware with a towel.

Tackle the drying process as soon as the items are clean. Bell urges people to avoid air-drying, since this can expose dishes to bacteria. Instead, consider using a clean towel, like the Grove Co. Kitchen Towel ($9.95, grove.co), which absorbs water easily.

Wipe down your cupboard shelves.

Keeping the space where your dishes permanently reside is just as important as the rest of the sanitizing process; this also helps avoid cross contamination. Again, turn to a vinegar and water solution or another pre-made disinfectant, such as the Grove Co. All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner ($6.95, grove.co), to get your cabinetry and drawers clean. Bell suggests cleaning and disinfecting your silverware holder at least once a week. "These are commonly made of plastic, stainless steel, or silicon, which means you can use the same process you use to clean your dishes," she says. "Be sure to wash down the inside of the drawer, as well!"

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If you don’t have the luxury of a dishwasher in your home, you know how quickly dishes can pile up and wreak havoc on your kitchen. Even if you have a fail-proof system for conquering your tower of plates and coffee mugs, hand washing your dishes eats up extra time and energy. Thankfully, life without a dishwasher doesn’t have to be miserable—or germ-ridden thanks to these tips that ensure the dishes are actually getting clean.

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Credit: Ghazalle Badiozamani/Kitchn

Use Hot Water and Dish Soap to Remove Food and Grease

The first step to an effective (and efficient) hand-washing regimen is removing leftover food or grease from your dishes. In this phase, hot water is the key—but keep in mind the heat isn’t intended to truly sanitize your dishes.

The temperature required to kill bacteria is well above what your skin can handle and likely higher than your tap could ever go. But Allen Michael, editor of Home Viable, said your water temperature plays a big part in preparing them for sanitizing. “Hot water has been proven to be a lousy disinfectant, but it works really well to loosen up food and grease from sticking to your dishes,” he said.

With hot water, you can give everything a once-over with a mildly soapy sponge or brush to get your sink load looking clean.

If you’re dealing with more stubborn food particles, like residue from baked goods on pots and pans, Lily Cameron, supervisor at Fantastic Services, says you’ll need to enlist some help by pre-soaking. Fill a sink or dishpan with hot water, add some dish soap or baking soda, and let your cookware sit for 15 to 30 minutes before you wash.

Always Wash the Cleaner Items First

When it comes to doing dishes, order matters. To avoid spreading germs or food particles and keep your dishwater cleaner, cleaning experts recommend saving the messiest items for last.

“Start the washing process with items that are less dirty like glasses and cups, then proceed to dirtier items like bowls and serving dishes, and finish with the dirtiest items like pots and pans,” says Cameron. To make things easier, you can keep the dirtier dishes in the soaking solution while you clean the other ones.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Are Not the Same Things

When it comes to foodborne germs, there’s a difference between the appearance of clean and actually clean, and our guess is you’re aiming for the latter. Hot water and dish soap are great for degreasing your dishes, but if you truly want germ-free dishes at the end of your hand-washing, that requires another step.

The public health organization Stop Foodborne Illness recommends one of two methods: You can either suspend your dishes in a really hot water bath (at least 170°F, for at least 30 seconds), or soak dishes in a sanitizing solution of bleach and water (one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach and one gallon of cool water, for at least one minute).

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

Opt for Air Drying When Possible

You’re not out of the woods. Believe it or not, how you dry your dishes actually contributes to their cleanliness. Rather than using a potentially germ-filled dish cloth to dry your dishes, invest in a drying rack and let them air dry. Not only will air drying prevent the unnecessary spread of germs, it also takes far less time than wiping down each piece individually.

If you’re in a hurry, Cameron suggests grabbing a clean towel to wipe down your glassware, dishes, and bowls—just replace the towel with a new one when you notice it’s wet. And if you don’t have a drying rack or you run out of space, Leanne Stapf, Vice President of Operations for The Cleaning Authority, says you can always use an extra oven rack.

Sanitize Your Sponge or Brush Regularly

You’ve probably heard that sponges are hotbeds for potentially dangerous bacteria, and when they’re not sanitized, they can be—gulp—dirtier than a toilet. To avoid wiping nasty germs all over dishes you’re trying to clean, make sure to sanitize your sponge or your brush on a daily basis.

One effective way to clean a sponge is to use vinegar or bleach (but never together!). Stapf swears by her soaking method. “You can either fill a cup with vinegar and soak the sponge for about five minutes, or you can fill a cup with diluted bleach—½ cup of bleach for every gallon of water—and soak the sponge for five minutes,” she says.

Even if you’re sanitizing your tools regularly, you should replace your sponge or brush on a regular basis, anywhere from monthly to weekly, depending on how often you hand wash. (It turns out even our best attempts at sponge sanitation are only so effective.)

What to do after sanitizing dishes?

Get the dishes squeaky clean. "Allow dishes to sit in the solution for 30 seconds, then wash and rinse thoroughly as you normally would." Give your dishes even more time to soak before washing, if you'd like.

What is the best way to sanitize dishes?

HOW TO SANITIZE.

Chlorine bleach solution method: Soak dishes for at least one minute in a sanitizing solution made up of 1 tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach + 1 gallon of cool water (hot water stops bleach from sanitizing). ... .

Hot water method: Soak dishes completely covered in 170°F water for at least 30 seconds..

How should dishes be dried after sanitizing?

Always Air Dry Air-dry all items. NEVER use a towel to dry items. Doing this could contaminate the items. Make sure they are completely dry before stacking or storing them.

What should you use to rinse items after cleaning them and before sanitizing them?

Use a brush, if necessary. Rinse in clear water after washing. Place items in a wire basket or other container and immerse them in a sanitizing solution. Sanitizing solution can be prepared by mixing 1 tablespoon unscented chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of warm (not hot) water.