My Dad's "Navy Dishwash" Trick Is So Smart

"I was born in Berkeley, California, to two Baby-Boomer Deadheads and was raised during one of the worst droughts the state had ever seen. So much of what my parents instilled in my brother and me revolved around taking only what you need, and not being wasteful. As Californians through and through, the most precious, important thing for us was also the simplest: water."

"While mine was nightly and considerably more work - I was lucky enough to have parents who are the most incredible chefs, but they also tend to use every pot, pan, and gadget they own for a simple weeknight dinner - I was glad I didn't have to haul out the peels, rinds, and fishbones that had been marinating with themselves."

"Early on, my dad taught me the importance of three things: Finishing the job (meaning wiping down the sink and countertops when the dishes are done), maintaining a clean kitchen (mostly for my mother's sanity), and, of course, conserving water, which was not only expensive, but also incredibly scarce. I probably wasn't even 10 when he taught me the art of "Navy dishwashing.""

"As you can probably guess, my eco-conscious parents made me and my brother take "Navy showers" when we were growing up, where we turned the water on, got wet, then turned it off and lathered up with soap and shampoo before turning the water on again to quickly rinse off. This method saves gallons of water, while also killing the romantic notion of a long, luxurious shower."

Born in Berkeley, California, to two Baby-Boomer Deadheads and raised during a severe drought, the narrator learned to value water and avoid waste. Parents emphasized taking only what was needed and conserving resources. The narrator's chore was doing dishes each night while a sibling handled trash, recycling, and compost. Household cooking used many pots, pans, and gadgets, increasing dishwork. The father taught finishing the job by wiping the sink and countertops, maintaining a clean kitchen, and conserving water. The father introduced "Navy dishwashing." The family practiced "Navy showers"—wetting, turning off water to lather, then briefly rinsing—to save gallons and reduce long showers.

Read at Apartment Therapy