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Choosing between air-drying dishes or using a dish towel often comes down to the available space on the dish rack. For those with a dishwasher, letting the machine dry your dishes might seem like the easiest choice. While convenience often shapes our dish-drying routine, there's an additional factor to consider: how sanitary each method is.
As noted by the University of Rochester Medical Center, different drying techniques vary in their level of cleanliness. Having spotless dishes isn't only about the wash, but also about drying them without undoing your cleaning efforts. The ranking below will help you identify the most sanitary drying options, starting with the best technique.
1. Using the Dishwasher's Sanitizing Cycle
For dishwashers equipped with a "sanitize" feature, this is by far the most reliable method for ensuring your dishes are free from germs. The hot-water rinse, which reaches temperatures of at least 150°F, effectively kills bacteria—much more efficiently than hand-washing can.
Selecting the "heated dry" option prompts the dishwasher to circulate hot air, turning the moisture on your dishes into steam. This is the cleanest way to dry dishes, though some caution that it places additional strain on the appliance's fan, which could lead to increased wear and tear over time.
If you want to prolong the lifespan of your dishwasher while ensuring the cleanest dishes, consider using this method sparingly—such as for washing baby bottles or when someone in your household is unwell.
2. Drying in the Dishwasher
Even without using the sanitizing cycle, drying your dishes inside the dishwasher is the next best alternative. The drying cycle reaches high temperatures, effectively killing germs and bacteria.
3. Air-Drying
No dishwasher? Hold off on reaching for that dishtowel. As it turns out, air-drying dishes on a dish rack is generally a more sanitary method than using a towel. To maximize space for air-drying, consider a two-tier dish rack or one that fits over your kitchen sink.
4. Drying with a Paper Towel
Since paper towels are for single use, they won't transfer bacteria the way a reusable dish towel might. The main drawback is that using paper towels for all your dish-drying needs could become wasteful unless you switch to reusable paper towels.
5. Drying with a Dishtowel
Because we often don't wash our dishtowels frequently enough, they may end up spreading germs onto our clean dishes. If you need to use a dishtowel for items that can't be air-dried, try to wash it as often as possible and use a fresh towel each day. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly between uses.
