Fill the outer bowl of the salad spinner with cold water. Enough to completely submerge the salad you're going to be washing. Place the salad leaves in the spinner basket and gently lower it into the cold water. Use a hand to gently agitate the leaves and rinse off any dirt. Lift the basket out and pour the water away. I use mine to water my house plants. Put the basket back in, put the top on the spinner and spin it really well. Pour out any water and repeat until the leaves look nice and dry. That's it. You're done!