Do the dishes in cold water

greenpixey

Not sure if I'm posting in the right forum but here it goes (feel free to move it if necessary)

14 Weeks ago we ripped out our kitchen with the plan to have a new one within 8 weeks. After a lot of problems (had to dig up the floor, re-cement, level it, lay new floor, damp paint the walls etc) we are still with out a kitchen... Now when everything is done and we can start thinking of buying the "dream kitchen" our boiler broke down and has been condemned and our savings has to go towards a complete new system.

Now during the whole time I have done the dishes in the bathroom without any major problems but being without hot water now has put a dampener on the whole. I have for the last 2 weeks been doing it with just cold water and are wondering if that is actually good for us.
Can it cause any health problems in the long run. I always clean the bath so there shouldn't be any major bacteria harboring... but I never feel that the dishes have properly been cleaned.
( I do have an electric shower but it is not very effective or money saving)

The plumber we got has said it might be another month before we can actually have a new boiler installed since he is overbooked and we want to stick to him since he is trustworthy and given us a good price.

I'm not to concerned to be without the heating since I got lot of good advice from this forum how to make draft excluder etc... it's just being without hot water that concerns me.

Any advice or tips that you can share with me?

bumpybecky

been there, done that and you've got my sympathy

when we were in this situation we used a kettle to boil water on the landing outside the bathroom, then used that hot water to do the dishes in a washing up bowl in the bath

good luck

Magentasue

I've done the same - washing up bowl with water boiled in the kettle. I used to put it on the table and wash up there, then chuck the water over plants in the garden. I wouldn't use cold water if I could get hot water from kettles.

greenpixey

Such simple solution and it didn't even cross my mind.:doh: I will get a washing up bowl in ASDA tomorrow and make sure my toddler is nowhere near the kettle.

Many thanks to you both :kisses3:

sooz

quite apart from the hygiene aspect, you need to use hot water to ensure that any fat gets dissolved and washed down the drains, rather than sitting in the u-bend under the waste. If you wash up in cold water all the time, the fat collects (even the small residues off plates and frying pans ets) and will eventually block your bath or sink

odds-n-sods

And did you know that soap doesn't work properly in cold water?? It doens't do its job unless its used in warm water.