Dish Tips!

If you’re like me, washing dishes have become a part of your everyday routine and while it’s not your favorite activity, you’ve gotten used to it. (I actually kind of like it. It’s invigorating to see your accomplishment in action as the counter reappears under the hill of dishes!) Even so, washing dishes does get tiring. Here are several ideas that can make it comparatively EASIER.

 

My dear sister came up with this one: After everyone’s done eating, rinse off plates and bowls under the faucet and stack them together. No matter how long it takes for you to get around to washing, from 5 minutes to several hours, the water will have soaked underneath stubborn spots and the leftover food comes right off with ease. Truly, it works!

 

As much as possible, use glass or similar hard-surfaced dishes when preparing or measuring anything oily. Plastic is very difficult to clean when it has come in contact with oil. (Glass mixing bowls and measuring cups are wonderful alternatives!)

 

If you did use plastic, here’s a quick tip: when you’re done with it, rub dish soap around wherever it feels greasy inside and out and leave it to sit. Leave it soaking while you wash everything else, then scrub with a sponge or rag. Oftentimes my dishwashing time is actually cut in half when I pre-soap oily plastic.

 

If your garlic press didn’t come with a self-cleaning rubber thingy, try brushing it with an old toothbrush or fingernail scrubber. If you don’t have either handy, let the press soak while you do the other dishes and then whisk the rag across and rinse under plenty of water. Usually the remnants of garlic will have loosened enough to fall out.

 

Do you have any favorite dish-washing ideas?