Can I Wash Dishes During A Boil Water Advisory
So there I was, last Tuesday, standing in my kitchen with a colander full of spaghetti sauce-stained bowls and a sinking feeling in my gut. The local news alert on my phone gl...
So there I was, last Tuesday, standing in my kitchen with a colander full of spaghetti sauce-stained bowls and a sinking feeling in my gut. The local news alert on my phone glowed like a tiny, digital harbinger of doom: “BOIL WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT.” I froze, spatula in hand, staring at the faucet as if it might hiss at me. My first panicked thought wasn’t about drinking water—it was, “Can I even wash these dang dishes?”
Let’s be real: these advisories always seem to hit at the worst possible time. You’re not thinking about your fancy water filter or the bottled water in the pantry. You’re thinking about the crusted cheese on that lasagna pan and whether you’ll have to lick it clean. (Spoiler: please don’t lick it clean.)
So, Can You Wash Dishes or Not?
The short, slightly frustrating answer is: Yes, but with a lot of extra steps. You won’t die from a rinse, but you also don’t want to invite a microscopic party to your gut. The main danger isn’t the soap—it’s the untreated water hanging out on your plates after you think they’re clean.
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Here’s the gist: if you have a dishwasher, you’re mostly in the clear—as long as it has a sanitize cycle that hits at least 150°F (65°C). No sanitize cycle? Then you’re stuck hand-washing like a pioneer, my friend. And if you’re washing by hand, you need to treat that water very seriously.
The Hand-Washing Survival Guide (No Drama)
First, scrape off all the food bits into the trash. Don’t rinse them down the sink—you’re not trying to give the bacteria a slip-n-slide into your drain. Then, wash your dishes in hot, soapy water like you normally would. But here’s the kicker: you must rinse them with a separate basin of water that has been boiled for one minute and cooled down. Yes, that means boiling a pot of water just for rinsing.
After that, you have two options for drying. You can either let them air dry completely (bacteria hate a dry surface) or dry them with a clean, disposable paper towel. Do not use your regular dish towel—it might be harboring the very germs you’re trying to avoid. Irony, right?
And for the love of all that is sanitary, don’t use a sponge. Sponges are basically tiny hotels for bacteria, even on a good day. During a boil water advisory, they’re like a five-star resort for E. coli. Use a brush or a disposable rag instead.
What About the “I’ll Just Let Them Sit” Strategy?
Oh, I see you. You’re thinking, “I’ll just stack them in the sink until the advisory is over.” I get it. That was my second thought after the fog of panic lifted. But here’s the problem: baked-on food is a breeding ground for bacteria, especially if your kitchen is warm. You’re basically creating a science experiment for tomorrow’s you to deal with.
Plus, if you’re using tap water to rinse off the initial gunk before you “let them sit,” you’re already spreading potential contaminants around your sink. Just bite the bullet and do it right the first time. Your future self will thank you, and your kitchen won’t smell like a petri dish.
Boil Water Advisories | City of Hendersonville, NC
And yes, I’m talking directly to you, the person reading this while surrounded by dirty mugs. I see you. I was you.
The One Thing You Should NOT Wash
Let’s talk about your coffee maker. Or your ice maker. Or your refrigerator water dispenser. These things are like little caves where bacteria love to hide. Don’t run water through them during an advisory unless you plan to thoroughly clean and sanitize them afterward.
If you absolutely need coffee, use bottled water in the reservoir. But honestly? Just hit the drive-thru. You’ve got enough on your plate—literally. Don’t make your life harder.
When the Advisory Lifts: The Clean-Up
Once you get the “all clear,” don’t just high-five your sink and walk away. Run all your taps for at least one minute to flush out any stale or contaminated water. Then, run your dishwasher empty on a sanitize cycle, or wash all your hand-washed dishes again with the now-safe water. Yes, again. I know it’s painful.
You should also replace your toothbrush and any drink straws you used during the advisory. Better safe than sorry, right? Your mouth will forgive you eventually.
The Bottom Line (Because You’re Busy)
Washing dishes during a boil water advisory is possible, but it’s not a free-for-all. Treat the water with respect, boil your rinse water, and skip the sponge. It’s annoying, but it’s way better than spending a day worshipping the porcelain throne. Trust me on that last one.
So next time your phone buzzes with that dreaded alert, take a deep breath. You’ve got this. And if all else fails, paper plates were invented for a reason. No shame in the plastic fork game.
