Your Hand-Washing Methods

[ea56]

In March of this year our DW conked out and I had to begin washing the dishes by hand until it was repaired under warranty, which took almost a month. By the time the DW was repaired I had discovered that after 30 years of having a DW, I actually preferred doing the dishes by hand. I like that I don’t have to unload the DW later on, and I actually enjoy cooking more too. I don’t have to be aware of what pot, pans, bowls and other utensils I’m using, to be sure I won’t be needing them again before I run the DW. And the whole process of washing the dishes is strangely therapeutic somehow, at least for me. So, even after the DW was repaired, I’m not using it, and haven’t since it stopped working in mid March.

I know that most members here are horrified that I like to wash the dishes by hand, but then I’ve never been one to follow the crowd, LOL.

I use good quality rubber gloves so I can use the hottest water from the tap for washing and rinsing. I scrape the dishes, stack them in the order they are to be washed. Run about 3-4 inches of hot water in the left hand side of the sink with a good squirt of Dawn or Palmolive dish detergent, putting the silverware in the bottom. I wash the glasses first,then plates and bowls, and next the pot and pans. I place the washed items in the right hand side of the sink as they are washed, and then rinse them all at once with a slow stream of hot water, so the items underneath are getting rinsed too, saving water, stacking the rinsed dishes in the dish rack.

Once all the dishes are washed and rinsed, I go over the counters and stove with the dishcloth, then drain, clean and rinse out the sinks. By the time all this is done the dishes are almost all dry, and only need a light touch of a clean dish towel.

And I think that our kitchen is cleaner now too. I don’t see myself ever going back to using the DW again, but never say never.

Eddie

 

[tolivac]

I am doing dishes by hand,too since my KA dishwasher died.Haven't gotten a another one yet.don't want a new machine since they are overpriced and cycles just take too long.I can wash my dishes in less than 10 min.Havn't gotten sick yet.

 

[lordkenmore]

I've washed dishes by hand more often than not. Indeed, I never even used a dishwasher until about 11 years ago. Every place either had no working dishwasher, or there was a prevailing attitude of "it's not worth bothering with for the volume of dirty dishes generated here!" Finally, 11 years ago, there was a dishwasher available that worked, and I thought I'd try it just to try it. "It's not worth it, but it wouldn't hurt to play with it!" And before the first box of Cascade was even quarter gone, I was addicted to the convenience.

 

Alas, the dishwasher era was short lived. I haven't lived in a place with a dishwasher in nearly ten years now.

 

In the background, we hear Lord Kenmore's loud sobs.

 

I've felt at times that a dishwasher is #1 priority for the next place I live. Washing dishes by hand is not fun. It's often tiresome. It can be pure drudgery. And I've thought I might have more enthusiasm for cooking if I had a machine to help with cleanup.

 

Oddly, though, I've started questioning how important a dishwasher would be... It's not that I've suddenly started liking to wash dishes. But I see certain arguments in favor of handwashing dishes. I don't like the idea of long running times on modern dishwashers. (I may be a control freak, or simply too safety minded--but I don't like leaving appliances running totally unattended. I don't sit over them, but I don't like to have them running when I'm out, or in bed.) I also see the argument that "I'm single, I live alone, and it's not that hard washing a few dishes here and there." And there is a real argument to be made for a kitchen with fewer items (less clutter), even though that likely precludes being able to run full dishwasher loads. There is also a real argument to be made for a kitchen that emphasizes quality equipment, which will work better and last longer, but be too expensive to buy in huge quantities. A good sauce pan might be obtainable. It could be unaffordable--or at least painfully expensive--buying multiple good pans so that one is always guaranteed to have a pan available, and can always run full dishwasher loads. And, of course, there are always a certain number of items that are not dishwasher safe for whatever reason, so one might not ever eliminate washing dishes by hand. One could argue that by the time one runs hot water to wash a good knife and cutting board, one might as well just wash the rest of the prep equipment, and be done with it.  Plus, of course, being negotiable on a dishwasher may open options when looking for a place to live.

 

We'll see what happens, I guess.

 

[lordkenmore]

As for approach to washing dishes...

 

I've probably used lots of approaches...

 

Currently, I'm practicing real minimalism--I have very few dishes in daily use. This could help cut clutter (although it would help a lot more if I got rid of everything I don't use...). But one advantage of having few dishes in use is that it forces me to keep up with the dishes. Years back, it was too easy to just let dirty dishes accumulate. And so a ten minute job I don't like became a much longer, much more tiresome process.

 

Historically, I've air dried when possible. This was the method I grew up with.

 

I'm currently using higher end detergents. They cost more, admittedly, but I think the value is better. You may get a bigger bottle of cheap detergent for a given price, but the good stuff goes further, so it lasts longer, and it also has cleaning power available when one needs it.

 

In the past, though, when I had more disposable income, I tended to use "green" (e.g., Seventh Generation) detergents. They weren't as powerful, but I liked the green aspect, and I thought they were easier on my hands. Plus the scents (based on real scent, not some lab concoction) were nicer.

 

[askolover]

I use my hands to place items into the dishwasher.  I then use my hands to add detergent to the dispenser cups.  Close the door and latch with one hand and turn timer knob with the other hand.  When it's finished, I use my washed hands to remove clean dishes and place in proper cabinet or drawer.

ducks and runs.....

 

[thomasortega]

Hand dishwashing

I literally have only two items that are NOT dishwasher safe:

Kitchenaid Fresh prep shredder (the blades are dishwasher safe, but not the body
and an Imusa griddle that is aluminum with Teflon and I regret i bought it exactly because it's not DW safe.

Handwashign procedure for those items:

1) Use them only when really needed
2) Make that doggy face to my husband
3) Kiss him
4) Tell him I love him
5) Ask him to wash
6) Wait 5 or 7 or 15 days that both items will be in the sink waiting to be washed.
7) Say "Thank God" when they're finally washed.
8) Put them away and hope I don't need to use them again very soon.
9) Forget the nightmare it was to have them washed and the next day or two use them again.
10) Remember as soon as I can I'll replace all my pots and pans and griddle by decent Le Creuset.
11) Post it on AWO because you know your husband will read it and remember I want a kitchen 100% Le Creuset (of course not all at once because Le Creuset is expensive as hell)
12) Have a brain fart and start making plans to break into Kevin's house when he's not there and grab his Le Creuset collection, the "Hoo'vah" twin tub and the Maytag A-50 and kidnap Westy.
13) Start thinking about what I'm going to cook this weekend only to invite the giant Le Creuset (Kevin, his soul mate and Westy can come together, eventually, if they want)
14) Freak out knowing that probably tomorrow morning Darryl will make a comment about how wonderful the copper chef or that blue whatever crap infused with diamonds or whatever "as seen on TV" tragic pan that is dishwasher safe.
15) Go to the kitchen and kiss the spectacular brand new Kenmore portable dishwasher Darryl bought a couple of months ago and it NEVER, EVER failed to clean perfectly whatever mess i toss in it, even using crappy Palmolive gel.
16) Remember there's nothing more satisfying than love to cook (I really love cooking) and use whatever amount of dishes or pots or whatever because the dishwasher is huge will always handle it perfectly.
17) End this post a little sad when I remember I have crappy Tramontina (Teflon coated aluminum) pans that are HORRIBLE.
18) Regret I didn't pay almost $1000 on luggage overweight to bring all my Le Creusets (over 15) when I moved to the US.

 

[jakeseacrest]

So the other day I thought I would just give my Cuisinart bowl and blade a quick hand wash since it had been in the pantry unused for a few months.

I now have 3 stitches on my pinky finger. It must be the gods warning me not to hand wash no matter how small so I will continue to put everything in the dishwasher

 

[petek]

95% of our stuff goes in the dishwasher.. Usually it takes a couple of days or more to have a complete load. Re dishwashering the blender blades.. I wouldn't do it.. Oster iirc specifically recommends not to as it can dry out the bearing or seals.. and always run your blender 30 secs or so after washing to get the water out.

 

[maytagbear]

I can no longer stand without external support

a walker, or grab bars, so a dishwasher has new meaning and importance in my life. Fortunately, the supplied Elux-idaire is one of the best dishwashers I have ever used.

The "china/crystal" and "eco" cycles are only about 90 minutes, and that's fast enough for my needs. I love the electronic controls, and most of the time, I just poke "start," and wheel away.

I have a few things which are too delicate or too large, but they are rarely used.

About the only things I wash by hand ARE my hands!

Lawrence/Maytagbear