Introduction: How to (properly) Do the Dishes
Most people have automatic dishwashers, but others aren't so lucky. Doing the dishes is necessary, and making sure they are cleaned to the best of your ability is crucial for your health and safety. Anyone who is over the age of 12 should be able to complete this task, but supervision is welcomed, especially if sharp objects are present.
This task doesn't have to be a huge chore either; music can help alleviate the working part of it. Furthermore, if you don't let the dishes accumulate over days, then there will not be so many when you get around to doing them.
This method will surely get you recognized for being tidy, clean, and effective. Have fun!
Running hot water
clean wash cloth
clean hand towels
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Step 1: Counterspace
So you have the dishes in the sink. The first thing you need to do is to make counter space available for the dishes after you have washed them.
Make sure no electrical appliances are near the water, and if they are, make sure they are unplugged and/or turned completely off.
Take the dishes out of the sink, and have a semi-organized grouping of dishes; cups together, plates and bowls stacked, and silverware all together.
Now prepare the sink for the dishes.
Step 2: Sink
You took all of the dishes out of the sink, but you see the sink is filled with scraps of food. Gross!
If it isn't already in the drain, place your drain stopper in the drain. Take the spray nozzle, or a wet wash cloth or scrubber, and push all of the scraps into the stopper. Take the stopper out and dump the scraps into the garbage. Rinse the sink again, making sure no food is stuck to the sides of the sink, or on the bottom. Also, clean the drain stopper after you have dumped the scraps out; food likes to stick to it. Once the sink is clean, you are ready to start filling it up.
Step 3: Loading the Sink
The sink is all clean, and your dishes are ready to be washed. Now it's time to wash them.
Start by putting the stopper in the drain, and making sure it's secure- a leaky sink is very frustrating to deal with.
Turn the hot water on, and make it as hot as you can stand it. Now squirt some soap into the bottom of the sink, and wait for a few seconds to let the soap do it's thing.
Now place the large flat dishes in first, usually plates or big pans.
Next, place cups on their side in the water, surrounding the plates. This will also make it so that the silverware gets put in as well. Just lay the cup containing the silverware on its side and let the silverware spill out.
Then, put the bowls in the sink, either on their sides or face down semi-covering the cups.
Lastly, any plastic containers should be put in the sink. They float, so it's easiest to make their journey the least bumpy.
Make sure you do not overfill your sink with dishes. Have the water level approximately half way of the top layer of dishes. This ensures that the soapy water can start working on them early on.
Step 4: Washing
The dishes are in the sink! Now it's time to do the actual physical work.
You can start with whatever you want, but if you do one type of dish at a time, it makes the organization that much easier.
For cups: Take the cup, and wash around the outside of the glass, slowly turning the cup in your hand. Grab it by the rim with the washcloth, and slowly turn the cup to wash the rim. Now insert part of the wash cloth into the cup and, with one finger, wash the bottom edges, again moving in a slow circle.
For bowls: This is much like a cup, but bigger. Wash the outside, moving in a slow circle around the outside. Now grab the rim of the bowl, just like you did for the cup, and wash around the rim. Take the washcloth, place it in the bowl, and wash the inside in a circular motion.
For plates: Again, this is a lot like the cup, but no inside part. Grab the plate by the rim with your free hand and the wash cloth and work your way around the rim, and on the bottom of the plate. Now much like the bowl, move in a circular motion around the inside of the plate.
For plastic containers: This is like a bowl but with a rim, and is usually square. Take the container, and use one finger in the wash cloth, and run it along the rim in the container. Then, wash the outside like you do the bowl, and then the inside, paying special attention to the corners.
Forks: Grab the fork, and rub it with the washcloth on both sides. Work it in between the tines, and then down the handle.
Spoons: Grab the spoon, and just like the fork rub it with the washcloth on both sides. Now grab it firmly in two fingers and pull the handle through your fingers.
Knives: BE CAREFUL! Gingerly take the knife, sharp edge facing down and away form you. Do not place the wash cloth on the sharp edges of the knife. Instead, place it on the flat side of the knife, and push away from you. When washing the handle, hold the knife with the sharp edges down, on the flat side, and pull towards you with the wash cloth.
For spatulas: Much like the fork, hold the spatula in your hand, and work your way across the edge. Make sure you get into all the crevices and holes. Work the wash cloth in any holes or opening, to make sure no food particles are stuck. Then, hold it in your free hand and pull down on the handle with your wash cloth.
Pans: Grab the edge of the pan with your free hand and the wash cloth. Move along the edge with your wash cloth, and then on the back. Finish by working your washcloth in the corners and on the bottom of the pan.
There are going to be instances of stubborn food that just doesn't want to come of. You have two options; take your scrubber, add a little soap in the dish, and scrub it like mad. Or, you can take that dish, put a little soap in it, and fill it with water. Then you let it sit for about an hour, and when you come back, the food won't be so hard to get off.
Step 5: Rinse Set-up
The dishes are washed and ready to be rinsed, but the other counter is dirty. That isn't going to work.
First, unplug the drain to the sink and let all of the water drain.
Now, make sure all of the electronics are away from the area, unplugged, and/or turned completely off.
Clean the counter space with your rinsed wash cloth, and lay a few clean towels down. This is where you will put the clean rinsed dishes. Now you are ready to rinse the dishes.
Step 6: Rinsing
Everything is set up and ready to be rinsed, so let's do it.
Turn the water up as hot as you can stand it.
Take your dishes, and rinse them thoroughly under the water.
For cups: Hold the glass in your hand, and spin in under the water, making sure you rub the cup as you do. Now fill the cup about a quarter of the way with water and slosh it around inside. Dump the water out and then place the cup upside down on the towel.
For plates: Grab the plate and turn it under the water, and then flip it over and do the same thing. Place it upside down on the towel when you are done.
For bowls: This is just a combination of rinsing plates and cups. Rinse the outside of the bowl much like you did the plate, turning it like you did the cups. Fill the bowl a quarter of the way with water and slosh it around. Do this one more time and then dump all of the water out and place the bowl upside down on the towel.
For silverware: You can take a few at a time, and run them under the water. When handling knives, just hold onto the handles and turn your wrist so the water hits every part of the silverware. When finished, place them on the towel.
For spatulas: The same concept goes for the big cooking utensils, but it is easier to just do one at a time. Take it by the handle, run the water over the other end, making sure to get the running water into the crevices and holes Then flip it around and rinse the handle, and put it on the towel.
For plastic containers: Again this is much like what you need to do with the bowl. Rinse the outside, and then make sure running water gets into all of the corners, and fill it about a quarter of the way with water and slosh it around. Dump it out and place it upside down on the towel.
For pans: Pans can be clunky, but rinsing isn't too much trouble. Take the pan and put the bottom part of it under the water. Make sure water runs over every part of it. Now flip it over and do the same thing, paying close attention to the corners and crevices. Now place it upside down on the towel.
Step 7: Drying and Putting Dishes Away
All of the dishes are rinsed, so now they just need to be put away. You are so close to being done, keep up the great work!
Take another clean towel, and use it to dry the dishes you just washed. To do this, basically use the towel like you used the wash cloth when you washed that particular dish. For further clarification, see the videos posted below
Step 8: Clean Up
Everything is washed, rinsed, and put away. Now all that is left is to put the towels and wash cloth you used in the dirty clothes and wipe up any water that might have spilled. Make sure the sink doesn't have any food scraps in it, and if it does, clean it out like you did when you were getting th sink ready. After you have done all of this, you are completely done! Look at how beautiful and clean you kitchen is now.