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Is washing up water ok to water plants with?
linzijayne74
Posts: 198
Hi there. I've read and heard a couple of times now that using spent washing-up water is ok to use in the garden to water plants with (as long as there's no bleach in it) and as I'm keen to re-use waste where possible, I'm interested to know your thoughts on this please? I would imagine it's perhaps best to let the suds evaporate first? Many thanks in advance.
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Yes - it's fine linzi. I never use it on edibles, and I think you'd just have to be careful of the amount of detergent in it, but usual dishwashing stuff is perfectly ok.
Make sure it's cool too...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would not want to use washing up water on my plants as its the residues of food - fat, salts etc. that would be the things I would be concerned about. I would also be unhappy about washing up liquids - unless organic - leaching their chemical content into the water table as these chemicals are highly toxic to aquatic life.
This is what I used on my garden during the mid 1970s drought and I have never had such fabulous plants, but that might have had something to do with the fact that I was religiously watering the things instead of neglecting them slightly. I also used the bathwater which meant walking downstairs with buckets of sudsy water.....I'm sure it was a great exercise regime. Its not something I would like to do long term as I think the plants deserve something clean occasionally and I have no idea how much detergent formulae have changed since those far off days but I'd say, give it a go. We should use more grey water......it would be great if loos could be plumbed into the system to reuse washing up and bath/shower water for flushing.
Prolonged dry spells were always called 'teaspoons in the heather' weather in my Mum's garden. None of the plants came to any harm from the dishwater. The odd dinted flower from being clattered by the teaspoon that lingers at the bottom of the washing up bowl though
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I can't see how it would harm anything. You could tip it on soil rather than leaves then it definitely wouldn't. I wash up in the sink, no bowl, but then it goes to the septic tank so it's still available to plants in that area
In the sticks near Peterborough
I always used a bowl when we had a septic tank nut, simply to protect the brand new sink...
Good point about the soil not the leaves - I should have remembered to add that. I rarely put water directly on foliage but I forget that it may not be something everyone does.
I like 'teaspoons in the heather'
Last edited: 28 August 2016 15:02:46
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi everyone, I must firstly apologise for the fact I'm only replying now; it's been a mad few days but I don't think the details are applicable to this forum!
Secondly, a big THANK YOU for all your responses. On balance I think I'll give it a go. We use very little liquid in our bowl and unless there was excess oils/salt residue in there, it should be ok. I shall ask my husband to decant the bowl into our watering cans and use once thoroughly cooled down.
Thanks again!
If planning to do this on a regular basis I would prob buy a biodegradable dish soap such as ecover.
For the last 30 yrs my neighbour has emptied her washing up bowl onto 2 hydrangeas in her front garden.
Both neighbour and the hydrangeas are still doing well.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.