They remove residual food as well as bacteria.
They are formulated to be tough on dirty dishes but kind to hands.
Choose products that have the Charter for Sustainable Cleaning logo on their label, this indicates that you are choosing a product that meets strict sustainability criteria.
If you wash your dishes, fill the sink or a basin and do not wash them under running water.
Wash the dishes straight after the meal, this will make washing-up much easier and also help save water.
Before you start, scrape the remaining food from plates.
For dried-on or burnt food stains, soak dishes in hot water, as hot as possible, with a small drop of washing-up liquid. This will make washing up easier and help save water.
Use the correct amount of washing-up liquid – follow the instructions on the label.
Start by washing less-soiled items first and leave the dirtier, greasier items until last. This will help the washing-up water last longer.
A dishwasher uses ten times less water and three times less energy than washing the dishes by hand.