Doing Dishes
Doing dishes is probably the thing most “kids” know well, unless
all they know is loading a dishwasher. Still, loading a dishwasher is not
automatic, and contrary to what some people think--you should not let your
dog “rinse” your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher.
A dishwasher will clean best if loaded properly. Each dishwasher is a bit
different in how it is loaded, so check the directions. Put silverware in
the basket handle down, so the messy part is up where it can be washed most
effectively. Some utensils should not be washed in the dishwasher: wood-handled
knives, your grandmother`s heirloom silver, cooking utensils that are too
tall to fit, & wooden spoons.
Scrape all the garbage off dishes first. Never put little chunks of food
in the dishwasher. Glasses used for milk should be rinsed out first. Plates
with egg, cheese, or syrup should be rinsed well, especially if the dishes
will be sitting for a few days before you run the dishwasher. If you make
any really starchy meals like oatmeal or cream of wheat, soak them well
first, or better, wash them by hand.
Pots and pans rarely come clean in the dishwasher. Usually they have to be scrubbed by hand. An S.O.S. pad is still the best “tool” to use for getting the gunk off stainless steel pots. Use a plastic scrubber for non-stick surfaces. Many pots will be easier to clean if they are pre-soaked. Just fill the pan with hot water and some dish soap (regular liquid dish soap: never use dishwasher soap to presoak anything).
Use about half as much soap as the cups in the dishwasher allow for and
about a quarter as much if you have soft water. The dishes will be clean,
they won`t etch as easily, and you`ll save money by using less soap.
Handwashing dishes may be your only option. Scrape all the garbage off
dishes. Make sure your soapy water is as hot as you can stand (again, not
too much soap: your dishes won`t get any cleaner and they`ll be harder to
rinse). Use a clean dishrag, rinse all the soap off in hot water and drain
or dry with a clean, dry cotton towel. Terry towels are best used to dry
hands, not dishes. Find flour sack towels or waffle weave cotton towels
made for drying dishes. Always rinse the dishrag out well when you are done
washing dishes and hang it to dry. You can use the same rag for a couple
of days if it`s not too dirty.
There is a logical order for washing dishes. Always wash glasses first,
silverware second, plates/bowls next, and pots and pans last: from least
dirty to most dirty. If you have a lot of dishes to wash and your water
gets too funky, dump it out half way through and start again with clean
water. Be sure to wash all parts of dishes: backs of plates, between fork
tines, etc. When you wash a glass, don`t try to stick your whole hand in
the glass. Put your dishrag in the glass and twist it. If there is a ring
of crud at the bottom because you let it sit for days, you may have to soak
it first. If all else fails, a baby bottle brush is an ideal tool to have
in the kitchen for this exact purpose. Rinse dishes well in hot water.
Part of washing dishes, by hand or machine, is to wash the rest of the
kitchen: meaning, you must wash the counter tops, the stove top, the table,
and anything else that got messy during meal preparation and eating. Use
your hot soapy dishrag, wrung out well, to wipe those surfaces. They usually
don`t require rinsing. Remember to rinse the dishrag before you hang it
to dry. If you use a dishpan, rinse it and wipe it dry with your wrung-out
dishrag.
You`ll never
do wrong if you remember that a dish should be clean enough that you wouldn`t
be embarrassed to have your mother use it.