Washing Dishes
The all time greatest Kitchen tips! After the feast...
10/07/08 12:03
Cooking for large
families always involves the least favorite chore of
all time and that's dishes, I absolutely hate doing
dishes. Not to say that I'm bad at them, in fact,
quite the opposite is true. I have learned over the
years that dishes are one household chore that
requires special attention and believe it or not
organization. I am in the process of teaching my
teens some very basic tricks to turn this burden into
an efficient process that won't leave them at the end
of their wits, so to speak.
I taught this to them years ago when they started cleaning the kitchen after dinner, and never considered they might need a bit of a refresher course. My wife and I have fallen into the habit of passing through the kitchen to yell a few words ofridicule encouragement. Not that this isn't
effective. It's just that after a few years of being
responsible for cleaning the kitchen, their skills
should be improving not regressing. What you don’t
believe me? Let me say it again. When my two oldest
daughter’s turned 10 the after dinner kitchen duties
became their responsibility. Maybe we started them
off a little young but that is one area of life that
we are completely comfortable with them growing up to
fast in.
I don't understand why kids would rather goof around poking and prodding each other into hysterical fits of laughter than just getting their chores done so they can have time to themselves. Did I really jusk ask that? Of course goofing around is funner, but who wants mom and dad bitching at them for hours on end? No seriously, sometimes they take hours to finish what should be a 20-30 minute job at most. I have come to learn that the kitchen can be a little daunting after prepping, cooking and serving up a meal for 9 people, not to mention what ever dishes have accumulated throughout the day. So the time has come for a bit of a refresher that goes a little something like this.
Huddle up the team for some words of wisdom!
The trick is to get yourself a game plan and stick to it. Stand back and take a look at the whole picture and put the individual tasks in order. Hopefully, the table has been cleared by your younger siblings and the left overs have been put away by your super cheap Dad.
1. First, you always try to remove the bulk of the mess with the least amount of work first. Your first priority is always to remove the pot/pans and large serving bowls from the picture to get a better look at the rest of the mess. Just stack them up in a neat pile and place them aside.
2. Next tackle all the cans, jars, and recyclable containers. Get them to the recycle bin and continue at the mess.
3. Now fill a large bowl with hot water and separate all the cutlery and small dirty items and place them in it to soak.
4. Now is time to open the garbage and scrape off all the scraps, while running the hot water over them for a quick rinse. Now open up the dishwasher and start loading. By the time you are done loading the cups, glasses, and rinsed plates the mess is nearly done.
5. Breath a sigh of relief, you are nearly there.
6. Now to get yourself a dish cloth and wipe down the sink(s) and fill it with hot soapy water. You can now use this cloth to wipe down the table and counters.
7. Now to start the dishwasher and hand wash all the dishes that didn’t fit. Doh! Yah I said hand wash, not pile up the largest items in a neat pile and leave them for the morning, WASH THEM NOW!
8. Last but not least is to sweep the floor...
There! You’re done and Mom and Dad will be so proud, you should be too!
Now get your butt up to your room and study!
I taught this to them years ago when they started cleaning the kitchen after dinner, and never considered they might need a bit of a refresher course. My wife and I have fallen into the habit of passing through the kitchen to yell a few words of
I don't understand why kids would rather goof around poking and prodding each other into hysterical fits of laughter than just getting their chores done so they can have time to themselves. Did I really jusk ask that? Of course goofing around is funner, but who wants mom and dad bitching at them for hours on end? No seriously, sometimes they take hours to finish what should be a 20-30 minute job at most. I have come to learn that the kitchen can be a little daunting after prepping, cooking and serving up a meal for 9 people, not to mention what ever dishes have accumulated throughout the day. So the time has come for a bit of a refresher that goes a little something like this.
Huddle up the team for some words of wisdom!
The trick is to get yourself a game plan and stick to it. Stand back and take a look at the whole picture and put the individual tasks in order. Hopefully, the table has been cleared by your younger siblings and the left overs have been put away by your super cheap Dad.
1. First, you always try to remove the bulk of the mess with the least amount of work first. Your first priority is always to remove the pot/pans and large serving bowls from the picture to get a better look at the rest of the mess. Just stack them up in a neat pile and place them aside.
2. Next tackle all the cans, jars, and recyclable containers. Get them to the recycle bin and continue at the mess.
3. Now fill a large bowl with hot water and separate all the cutlery and small dirty items and place them in it to soak.
4. Now is time to open the garbage and scrape off all the scraps, while running the hot water over them for a quick rinse. Now open up the dishwasher and start loading. By the time you are done loading the cups, glasses, and rinsed plates the mess is nearly done.
5. Breath a sigh of relief, you are nearly there.
6. Now to get yourself a dish cloth and wipe down the sink(s) and fill it with hot soapy water. You can now use this cloth to wipe down the table and counters.
7. Now to start the dishwasher and hand wash all the dishes that didn’t fit. Doh! Yah I said hand wash, not pile up the largest items in a neat pile and leave them for the morning, WASH THEM NOW!
8. Last but not least is to sweep the floor...
There! You’re done and Mom and Dad will be so proud, you should be too!
Now get your butt up to your room and study!
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