Vegetable washing is a scam. You stand there, singing “Let It Rain,” while clean water circles the drain. Instead, fill a bowl with water and swish your veggies like washing a tiny submarine. Use that leftover water to water your basil plant—it’s called “gray water,” and it’s fancy. Surprising fact: Pasta water is gold. It’s full of starch and vitamins; pour it on your garden. Your tomatoes will thank you by not tasting like cardboard.
Dishwashers are actually better than hand-washing—if you run them full. Half-loads are like driving a Ferrari to buy milk. And please, scrape, don’t rinse dishes. Pre-rinsing wastes 20 gallons per load. The machine has enzymes; let them do their job. You’re not their supervisor.
