Washing Dishes the Proper Way

How to wash dishes 101

Imagine having the perfect date, who fixes you a delicious dinner. At the end of the dinner they announce, I cooked, you wash the dishes. You get this knot in your stomach your heads spinning, because you have never washed a dish in your life. You grew up in a household where both parents worked. It was either a drive thru meal, tv dinner, you get the idea. You  don’t want to lose this very special person, so you go on a quest to be the perfect dish washer ever.

The basics, are described below,

After the dinner, scrape all food left on plates onto one plate, stack all dirty scraped plates, put under plate with the left over food on it.  Carry to sink area . Dispose of food scraped into trash. Gather all silver wear. And any utensil used, scrape all of them just like you did the plates. Dump all ice and liquid down drain. Put lids back on casserole dishes or food platters you wish to keep. Put those in the fridge.

Next decision to make, either use the dishwasher or wash by hand. If your using a dishwasher you will need to access what can be put in the dishwasher. The manufacturer usually states this on the bottom of dish, if it is safe, unless its your grandmas antique heirloom platter, that was made before dishwashers were invented. In that case please wash gently by hand with a towel in the bottom of the sink, same with any fine crystal. If using the dishwasher method, put all plates and bowels on bottom rack, glasses on top, opening side down, utensils in baskets provided. Dishwashers have special cleaning agents, liquids, powders, pouches of powder. Whatever you use it will go in a special reservoir. Usually with a door for a timed release. Follow manufacturers directions on dishwasher and cleaning agent.

If your using the sink method, mostly for every day dishes, fill the sink with warm water, hot as you can stand. Use a couple squirts of dish soap in the water. If uncertain read the bottle directions, do not use too much it will leave the dishes soapy and hard to rinse. Start with the glasses, use a clean cotton dish cloth, disposable cloths that come in a package, or a sponge, to soap up, inside and out and around rim, rinse, put on towel or strainer to air dry or to towel dry. Some fancy glasses with small openings require a special brush with a handle to get to the bottom of the glass. Next wash the plates, then last the pots and pans, they should be scraped clean like the dishes. At this point you may need to, change to fresh water. Some pots and pans have cooked on food. This can be removed using one of two methods, Fill the pot with warm soapy water and let set for a couple hrs. or put some scrub time in with a scrubby pad. These can be found in the cleaning aisle, just make sure and read the directions, to find out if it can be used on the intended pot. Lastly wash the utensils, be careful of sharp knives, do not dump them with the other dishes to be washed. Dry all dishes and put away, stainless steel silver wear should be very dry to prevent water spots. Drain the sink, rinse. Throw away any disposable cloths. Put usable cloths and towels used in laundry.

All the dishes should be washed at this point, if you used a cloth tablecloth shake it outside. If it is soiled put it in the laundry. Wipe off table with appropriate cleaner. Read the directions of cleaner.

You are now ready, to wash without fear and impress that special person, who fixed you that special meal.