How to Wash Dishes

Everyone enjoys a good meal. However, with any good meal at home comes doing the dishes. Washing dishes after a meal is cumbersome and irritating. This is something that most people would agree to. There are people who do not want to use a dishwasher. They feel that hand washing the dishes cleans them better. There are others who prefer a dishwasher because it saves time and energy. Hand washing dishes may take a long time and may test your patience but if you follow certain steps while washing dishes the task will become much easier and hassle-free. Being organized will ensure that this task is done with minimum time and effort. Read on these easy-to-follow instructions that will help you wash the dishes properly.

Complexity Level: Basic

Time Required: 30 minutes

Resources Required:

1. Soiled dishes

2. A liquid dishwashing detergent

3. Brush or sponge

4. Dishtowels

5. A large tub or bowl

6. Waterproof gloves (optional)

7. A large sink (unless you are using the dishwasher)

Instructions:

1. Beginning to wash the dishes

Collect all the soiled utensils. Scrape off the leftover food into the disposal bag or bin. Wear gloves if you want. Soak the dishes and utensils that are heavily soiled in hot water. Add the liquid soap to this and keep them aside for some time. Fill the tub with hot water and add soap. Mix the soap well with the water. Wash the glassware and silverware first as they will be cleaned easily. Simply immerse them in the soap water, rinse them and dry them with the towel. Keep them to dry on the rack or counter. For the greasy dishes, soak them in the soap water and then use a sponge or a brush to remove the grease or sauce. Replace the soap water when the water becomes too dirty.

2. Rinsing and drying the dishes

After you are done with scrubbing the dishes, rinse them in clean water and dry them with a dish towel the moment you are done. If you have used less soap, then it shouldn’t take vigorous rinsing. Rinse the heavily-soiled utensils and the dishes with stubborn grease thoroughly. Make sure all the grease is removed. If not, use a bit more soap and rinse again with hot water.

3. Checking the dishes and putting them away

After you have rinsed the dishes, check each of them before putting them away. Run a finger on them to make sure that all the grease have been removed. Put them away to their allocated places the moment you are done with them. This will prevent your counter beside the sink from getting cluttered. It will also decrease the chances of accidentally breaking them.

4. Using a dishwasher to wash the dishes

If you are using a dishwasher, scrape away the leftover food from the dishes. In case of heavily-soiled dishes, soak them in soap water. Load the dishes into the dishwasher, keeping the more delicate dinnerware on the top. Add the soap, then lock the machine and run it. Once it is done, take the dishes out, make sure they are thoroughly cleaned and dried and then keep them away.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why do I need hot water to wash the dishes?

You need hot water to wash the dishes because hot water cuts through the grease fast. This ensures that your dishes are cleaned thoroughly in the least amount of time. The hotter the water, the more easily it cuts the grease.

2. Why do I need to scrape the leftover food before washing the dishes?

If you do not scrape leftover food before washing them, the solid bits may clog the drain of your sink or dishwasher. It will be easier for you to wash the dishes if you do not have any solid leftover sticking to your plates.

3. Can I scrub the dishes without soaking them?

Soaking the dishes is necessary if they are heavily soiled. Also, utensils which have burnt food sticking onto them need to be soaked. Soaking the dishes and utensils in hot water and soap helps in getting the grease and the burnt layers off the utensils more quickly, making it easier for you to clean them.

4. How to hand wash dishes quickly?

To hand wash dishes quickly, rinse the dishes once before washing them. Soak them in hot water and soap. You may add bicarbonate of soda to the soap water. Use a brush or a sponge to scrub off the remaining grease and rinse in hot water. Dry with a towel. Following this may take as less as 15 minutes to wash all your dishes.

5. Can I use a dishwasher to wash any kind of kitchenware?

It is better to not use the dishwasher for any delicate kind of kitchenware such as chinaware. There are also dishes that carry specific instructions to be washed by hand. Avoid putting anything like this into the dishwasher.

Quick Tips:

1. Scrape the food off the plates before washing them.

2. Soak pots, pans and trays used for frying or baking before washing them.

3. Use hot water for getting rid of the grease from the plates faster.

4. Dry the dishes immediately after rinsing so that the water does not dry on the dishes and leave spots behind.

5. Rinse the brush, sponge and the dish towels after use to clean them.

6. Change the soap water whenever you feel it is getting too dirty.

Things To Watch Out For:

1. Wear rubber gloves or you might get scalded by the hot water.

2. Wash knives separately to prevent cutting yourself.

3. Check if the dishes are clean before you put them away.

4. Take special care to wash chinaware and fragile silver.

5. Change your sponges, brushes and towels every few months as regular dampness may encourage the growth of bacteria.

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