Washing the Dishes 🧽 🍽

Today’s Lesson is 568 words, a 2 min 16 sec reading time. Sign up here. 📽 Link to the music video 📍 Introduction With a plan of attack, you can blast through that tower of gunk before you know it. Sparkling sinks make for happy people, so give these tips & tricks a try. 🧼💪 🧹 Required Gear: * Dish soap * Sponge or scrubbie * Drying towel, mat, or rack * Gloves (recommended) 🔢 Instructions: * Rinse off/wash clean-ish items first * Rinse dirty dishes with hot water * Soak a sponge with warm water & a few drops of dish soap * Turn off faucet (to save water) * Attack the pile of dishes, loosely grouping items by type, working from cleanest to dirtiest * Rinse or spray down soapy dishes * Air dry on a rack, mat, or towel * (Extra credit) Wipe down sink 📝 Notes, Tips, Tricks: Prepping to Wash * Scrape & rinse your dirty dishes as soon as possible, even if you plan to wash them later. Without rinsing, residue dries & sticks. * Pre-soak large pots & pans with a few drops of dish soap & hot water. This loosens stuck-on food. Longer soaks now → faster cleaning later. * Consider investing in a refillable soap dispenser. Dish soap is cheaper in bulk, & a pump helps control the flow. This prevents over-soaping, which makes you rinse longer. * Loosely group dishes by type before washing for increased efficiency. This way, you spend less time changing gear. * Soak utensils pointing down in a sudsy cup or bowl. * To reduce your load, reduce your dish footprint. Rinse & reuse items throughout the day. * Don’t stack dirty dishes in the sink. You need that area for washing. Place them next to it instead. If tight on space, stack dishes in a box or dirty dish bin. * If an item was very lightly used (e.g., cup for measuring rice), don’t add it to the pile of dirty dishes. It will get dirty. Instead, just rinse & dry. * Allow pots & pans to cool before washing. Sudden temperature changes can warp them. Washing * Dish soap is hard on hands & nails. Gloves will protect your paws 🐾💅 * To speed the process, listen to upbeat music, or set a timer & try to beat it! * If the load is huge, break it up into chunks & chip away slowly. Try using one very soapy sponge until it runs out. Or, commit to everything except the pots & pans (soak for later) * The hotter the water, the better. Heat combats grease. Also, warm dishes dry faster. Rubber gloves help your hands stand the heat. * Baking soda helps cut through grease. Sprinkle a little inside the sink or on very soiled cookware. *Hand-Wash Only Items* * Cast iron: Soap ruins its non-stick seasoning— just scrub with hot water & wipe dry. Season regularly with oil & heat. Learn how here. * Wood cutting boards: Wash & prop up to dry. Treat with mineral oil to avoid warping/cracking & keep it smooth. More here. * Non-stick: Use a soft sponge or towel only. Never use abrasive sponges or brushes. The sensitive coating is easily damaged, which ruins the pan’s non-stick properties & can release harmful chemicals. Once scratched or chipped, recycle the item to avoid accidentally ingesting the potentially harmful non-stick chemicals. Drying: * When drying on a towel, prop up items slightly for airflow. * Dry by hand to reduce spots on some items (e.g., wine glasses). * Use a lint-free cotton dish towel. 🎓 Further Studies: * How do you Wash the Dishes Quickly? [Reddit Thread] * Home Remedies for Washing Dishes in Hard Water * How to Clean a Sponge [Good Housekeeping] * What's the Best Way to Wash Dishes? 📚 Liked this lesson? Check out more in the Table of Contents 📚 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com