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Rooted in Wilkes

July 14, 2024 hardwarelifewife 1 Comment

Last Spring I was basking in the sunshine, kneeling in my front flower garden, while planting one of my favorite “memory flowers”, a little white geranium. I should provide a bit of background on a “memory flower” for those who are new to my blog. A “memory flower” is a specific flower or plant that I have associated with special family members/friend that either gifted the plant to me OR I have sweet memories associated with the flower. My personal connections to flowers and what I plant in my garden is deeply rooted… linked to my personal life experiences and memories of those who I love and those who are no longer with us.

Read more about Flower Memories in the blog post: Flower Power

As I carefully took that “memory flower” out of the small, green container and placed it into my hand, I realized the root system of the tiny, white geranium was extremely shallow and weak. I began to cringe. My first thought was that the white geranium wouldn’t make it.

White geraniums are a staple in my containers every year. This planter in my garden has a nice healthy mix of summer annuals

After lots of TLC, it did survive the long, hot summer season but it didn’t thrive like some of my other plants that had a stronger established root systems when they were originally planted.

This shallow planting experience began an instant stream of thoughts about, “Being Well Rooted”. How would that translate into my understanding of my own life experiences?

Beginning with the concept in mind, establishing a good root system offering a deeper and stronger bond to the plant, conveying nourishment to all the branches…This began a spiral of thoughts. What roots have I established in my life? Am I well rooted in Wilkes?

*All images used in this blog post are courtesy of our beautiful Wilkes County. I hope you find a few familiar places or maybe even some new places to explore.*

Life is different here from anywhere else in the world. The pace of living is slower. It’s a great place to live and raise a family. Wilkes is simply HOME. My Roots are here. That part was easy to discern.

This blog post was created out of my life experiences and memories… remembering and honoring those who helped me to establish and discover my Roots and in good time, cultivated my unique story.

A Bit of Personal Perspective: A Foundation of Memories

I grew up in Wilkes County, surrounded by the beautiful, majestic mountains as our daily view looming at our back door step. It was the perfect blue mountain scenery that surrounded me and greeted me, and hugged me from the distance. As a rambling traveler moving away from and returning to our county borders, a definite welcome sight, the Blue Ridge in the distance, whispering, “Welcome HOME”.

I spent my “kid summers” wading in the creek that was located in the woods behind my house. No shoes were ever needed on a hot summer day. Running in the grass, barefoot, was the order of the day. As a kid, summer days seemed endless… these days were marked with sweet memories. From eating a watermelon wedge, soaking up the last bite of summertime sweet goodness to a full on chase and catch of lightning bugs, all were definite summer staples. I can remember being absolutely giddy with excitement about the opportunity to put those little, bright yellow bugs into a mason jar and watch them blink away in the dusk of a humid summer evening. Then finally, reluctantly, releasing them from the jar before heading inside before my nightly slumber ensued. Summers were filled with the beauty of the natural world that surrounded me in Wilkes. Wonderful childhood memories marked by the love of family and HOME.

Growing into My Roots

Eventually, I grew up and went away to college and enjoyed the experience that a larger city offered. I came HOME to Wilkes often during those college years to visit my family. Little did I know, ultimately, I had unlocked my ROOTS. My foundation was strong and I was slowly beginning to find my center.

Each return trip back HOME was so similar… marked by the familiar smells of freshly cut grass, and sometimes, with the pungent smell of manure which signaled, the hard work of local farmers. The sights of rolled hay fields, and corn fields in full view abound in my memories.

The sounds of nature … birds singing cheerfully, and crickets chirping their solitary song each evening at dusk. You could also listen to the church bells ringing in the distance calling out to its members singing a soulful little tune on Sunday mornings. The sounds that are mostly removed from the ears…heavy traffic, sirens, and other street noise that tends to dominate city life.

And if you could pause long enough and listen… the rambling sound of race cars in the distance could be heard certain times of the year. You just know, if you live in Wilkes, when to expect and hear the humming sounds of race cars churning around the race track. I could always hear the roar and hum of race cars rumbling through the woods when the wind carried just perfectly from my childhood home.

Thankful to see North Wilkesboro Speedway open again!

And lastly, the pinnacle view, that I always took for granted, as a young person, the mountains in the distance, all signaled that I was HOME. Those beautiful mountains, served as a big hug from my surroundings here in Wilkes County, HOME. All familiar, and part of my heart and soul from my own life experiences. Memories branching out becoming my ROOTS.

A view from my front yard… we are blessed to have Mountain View’s everywhere

Finding Support and Growth

After College Graduation, I found myself returning HOME again, looking to fully take up ROOTS as an educator in my community where I grew up. Those formative years provided me with a sense of belonging to a welcoming community, where Southern hospitality still exists and I’m grateful that we live in such a friendly place.

I found work and I began to prepare for the future. I worked in middle school education for over 25 years before retirement. I enjoyed teaching. What I discovered in my educational years, Creativity was at the utmost importance as I planned my lessons to make middle schoolers feel more engaged with their learning, but, it still had to be challenging. Creativity was a central element that has become part of my internal root system.

Sometimes we realize that change is happening, and I knew it was time to concentrate on my ROOTS again. People can be easily replaced at work with another person, but you can’t be replaced at home. HOME and FAMILY an essential part of my daily being, deeply rooting me back to where I needed to be, HOME.

Initially, my vision of work after retirement was not what I anticipated. The ultimate reality that happened… Staffing changes, COVID, and other factors have put me in the forefront along the side of my faithful husband and partner who definitely welcomed me with open arms. We are now ROOTED in the hardware industry that had such strong roots and ties within our local community.

Branching Out

When retirement came, it was a bit a relief. I was utterly exhausted. I had been as they say, “burning the candle at both ends”. I had been working as a full time Mom, as an educator, working as a part-time business owner for our hardware store, blogging, and lastly, beginning to care for my aging grandparents. My life was extremely full.

We have found a rhythm at work inside our “old school hardware store” and have launched headlong into helping our community as we can through our business ownership in Downtown North Wilkesboro.

In the last few years, Richard and I have worked alongside other Downtown Merchants, to form The Downtown North Wilkesboro Merchants Association, and we both actively participate in this group. You may recognize this group, as we have worked to create, The Spooktacular Festival for our community when the Greenway Trail of Treats was cancelled a few years ago.

The Hardware Life: A Life Lesson in Grafting

Wilkes County hosts a Peach Festival in July and Apple Festival in October, so the tradition of farming is central in our community. Fruit farmers often graft their fruit trees to create a new variety. The act of grafting… taking one plant cutting and merging with another, creating a unique union and the growth of a new species.

One of the quickest ways to send information out to our hardware store customer base was using the different creative tools that social media platforms offered. I literally had to dig deep into these tools and just go for it. Over the last 9 years, we have slowly grown a loyal audience on Facebook and Instagram, growing and expanding our hardware community. We have been able to share our product offerings, and our staff personal skill sets that make our hardware store a unique shopping experience for our customers.

My blog has continued to grow since I began, The Hardware Life Wife in 2018. As a novice writer, the blog pieces were fairly short and without pictures. I have learned more about the “how to blog process” as I have had the time. Initially, I honestly couldn’t devote much time to it. It was mostly a “summertime project” and I worked on blog posts between planning school lessons while I was still teaching full time. My blog has been a wonderful ROOTED creative outlet for me to share with others.

After a few years of consistent blogging, it became a goal of mine to add as many authentic pictures as I could to help break up the longer content pieces that I was now writing. Photographs provide a visual experience for the reader, adding an extra dimension, or as I could say “branch” to the story that is needed.

Drawing upon my experience as an educator, I knew that I must give reluctant readers a reason to engage with my blog, as my writing pieces grew into more lengthy content. Another overall goal was to increase my blog readership.

Using these new goals and being ROOTED in educational experience, I decided to use “Chunking”. Chunking is breaking content down into smaller sections. I could use photographic images to further break down the information which would help the reader to stay focused on the writing content and the images adding to the overall narrative. Grafting in action!

The use of stock images was not my intention, so I opted to insert my personal images into each blog post where I could create a more vivid reading experience for my readers.

Surprisingly, my personal photos were well received. I was stunned. This new finding was giving me the confidence and the opportunity to share more of my personal photography for which, I’m thankful and extremely grateful. I have been able to “branch out” and graft my core ROOTS into new areas of creativity and it has been an amazing journey!

Slowly, my heart has been wrapped around creating more beautiful images to share with my readers. My love of photography has grown and developed over the last few years. Seeking my ROOTS of creativity… ROOTED in my heart, showcasing everyday life in Wilkes County as I see it through my life lens using my camera, Rooted In Wilkes. All of the images you see today are all my own, with the exception of the photo of myself and Richard. I hope that you find these pictures add to the story.

Closing Thoughts: My ROOTED Experience

I must admit that one does not have to be a native of Wilkes to enjoy the beauty our area. The sights, sounds, and scenery of our greater community where I grew up and discovered my ROOTS. As I age, my appreciation of the beauty of my surroundings has grown. Anyone can Experience life in Wilkes if you are willing to take a moment to “branch out” and look for new opportunities and places in your nearby surroundings. Grafting opportunities are endless. Change is constant. So no matter wherever you find yourself, share your roots/story with others.

*All images used in this blog post are courtesy of our beautiful Wilkes County. I hope you found a few familiar places or maybe even some new places to explore.*

The beauty of Wilkes is all encompassing and deeply rooted in my life and for that, I’m grateful. I encourage you to go ahead and make some deep roots here. I found HOME, multiple opportunities to grow into my ROOTS, expanding my branches of creativity and learning, and how to GRAFT when needed. My ROOTS have allowed me to stop and slow down to appreciate the small things in this world, which ultimately are the BIG things in life. I think you will be glad that you took time to be Rooted in Wilkes.

*This piece is dedicated to all friends and family who have been such a supportive influence upon my ROOTS growing up in Wilkes County.*

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July 4th

July 4, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

It’s a time to celebrate the birth of our nation. July 4th, 1776… marks the adoption and approval of the Declaration of Independence as the 13 Colonies broke away from England. If you will remember your American history, the conflict between the 13 Colonies and the British Empire had been ongoing since 1775. The Declaration of Independence was officially our “breaking up letter” to the British and another stepping stone to the process of making our nation. Once independence was won in October 1781, with the final victory at Yorktown, The 13 Colonies were truly free!

A peak inside Independence Hall in Philadelphia

What most people do not know is that the holiday of July 4th, Independence Day was not fully celebrated for about 100 years after independence! It was 1870 when Independence Day became a national holiday, and federal holiday in 1941.

Enough of the history lesson! Old habits die hard! The former life of a history teacher… 😂

So how do we celebrate the July 4th holiday in modern times??? Maybe for most of us, Fireworks, Flags, Food, And Family Fun are always at the center of most celebrations whether you celebrate at home or traveling on vacation.

Fireworks

Fireworks in our town are the centerpiece and the culmination of the celebration of the day. Families gather to watch the Fire Truck Parade before the fireworks and at dusk, the finale, the Fireworks. It’s an exciting time for kids and adults to view the colorful show in the darkened skies.

Where’s your favorite spot to view the fireworks on July 4th???

Flags

As flag etiquette and tradition states, an American flag can and should be flown during state and federal holidays. July 4th fits that category.

Upon buying a hardware store in 2015, one of the first things we noticed was the American Flag flying outside the store everyday. We wanted to make sure that our customers could always find a high quality American flag in our store for purchase. So when we arrived in New Orleans (our first hardware show) we made sure to order from Valley Forge Flags to keep that tradition alive.

In 2018, we added another service for our customers- drop off old American flags for proper disposal. Our customers can leave an old American flag and we will make sure the Flag Code of the US in observed in the discarding of the American flag. Our community received this service well and plan to continue to do this well into our future.

Drop off your old American flag 🇺🇸 and purchase a new one in the month of July 20% off!

Food

Summer food is just fun! Let’s face it, the garden is producing wonderful fresh vegetables, fresh fruits are plentiful and quite tasty. What foods scream July 4th to you??? Here’s a few that are traditional favorites at our house each July 4th.

A Lodge Grill is a great option for camping and extremely durable!

1. Hamburgers and Hotdogs with homemade chili (click link to view recipe)

Southern Sides for the BBQ Grilling Season

2. Homemade baked beans (click link to view recipe, see above)

3. Fresh fruit- watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches… ahhh! The list is long and simply fantastic!!!

Wedge or chunks??? Which is your favorite way to eat watermelon???

4. Fresh squeezed lemonade

This dishpan sold at Wilkes County Hardware is a quick, festive and easy holiday drink dispenser. I used the half gallon mason jars and filled them with water, fresh lemonade, sweet tea, and a fruit flavored water.

Southern Sides for the BBQ Grilling Season

5. Homemade ice cream- Nothing is better than a bit of sweet homemade ice cream on the July 4th holiday. I often add fruit into my basic homemade ice cream recipe.

Southern Summer… Making Homemade Ice Cream

Family Fun

Whether you choose to travel this July 4th weekend along with 60 million other travelers, I wish you traveling safety!

Maybe you might be just staying home, planning a cookout, splashing in the pool, or just relaxing the day away… check out the following swim safety tips.

Top 10 Pool Safety Tips:

1. Never swim alone -swim with a buddy always

2. Be mindful of opening and closing times at your community pool or public pool. AND yes, even when you are on vacation as well! Pool chemistry is checked at least once a day (usually before opening each day). Chemicals are often added prior to opening/closing each day and time is a factor! Give the pool chemicals time to work properly and swim safely without the worry of harsh pool chemicals impacting your skin.

3. Obey all pool rules. This one might be obvious but definitely crucial for a safe swimming environment.

4. Be mindful of drains and skimmers. Stay away from these areas as you swim. Educate your children about these areas as well.

5. Protect your skin! Use proper sunscreen and enjoy your pool day.

6. Avoid night swimming… pool areas should be well lit and have lights installed in the pool for SAFE night swimming. This rule applies back to basic pool hours noted at your public swimming pool, community pool or your vacation swimming pool fun.

7. Roughhousing and running around the pool area creates safety concerns. This also includes the safety equipment, like hanging on the safety rope. The safety rope has to be in place at public pools to designate the shift from shallow to deep water in the pool. If it is damaged, the pool may have to close. 😬

8. Stay weather aware. Summer storms are frequent throughout our area. If you hear thunder, it’s time to get out of the pool.

9. Come prepared. Take the essentials: towels, sunscreen, phone (in case of emergency) water (hydration), first aid supplies (bee stings, cuts etc) and of course the best pool snacks!

10. Lastly, keep watchful eyes on all in the pool, even though your kids maybe good swimmers. Accidents can happen can occur instantly.

Wishing y’all a SAFE and Happy July 4th weekend!!!! Have a Fantastic Fourth!

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Family Splashing Fun-Pool Days of Summer

June 8, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

School is out and the fun days of summer are upon us! Summer days can be spent with family and friends splashing in the sun by the pool. Those pool days can offer a bit a relaxation or a “mini”vacation day, even if it’s at your local community pool or home pool.

The calming mind-body response to a pool or a lake view creates, the “rest and digest” effect, originating in the parasympathetic nervous system. Think about it…connecting back to the water, the sounds of water … aids in relaxation, digestion, and can even lower blood pressure,and your heart rate. I’ll take that oasis of good health all day long!

But before the splashing of summer fun can begin, let’s address the elephant in the room. Owning a pool requires constant maintenance.

In just the last week, the questions are rolling in with the ever moving target of pool maintenance. So let’s take a moment to consider a few common scenarios and keys to safely have fun all summer long. Hopefully these pieces of information might be useful to you as a pool owner or even as a casual visitor to your local pool in search of a relaxing oasis for a brief moment this summer.

Testing the Water

I can recount the numerous times that Dad asked me to go check and complete the quick pool chemistry test for the family pool. Dad taught both my sister and I how to do some of the basic maintenance tasks involved in having a pool. One of those necessary tasks, checking the pool chemistry basics…chlorine levels and PH.

I used a kit similar to this one many times as a kid growing up at home!

Everyone pitched in and helped with keeping the pool water clean, and clear…all the while, maintaining that beautiful, wavy-blue color. We wanted to be ready to swim all summer long with NO green slimy algae growing. It was a lot of work! Scrubbing the side walls, vacuuming the pool, scooping leaves, whatever needed to be done🤪.

**This photograph was a winner for me at Wilkes Art Gallery Photography Exhibition January 2024-1st Place Everyday Life Photography entitled, Walking on Water**

Dad made sure to stay on top of the necessary pool maintenance tasks so that our pool days were fun-filled to balance out all that work…Volleyball games in pool, floating around the pool, basking in the sunshine listening to the latest music tunes on the radio… life couldn’t have been any better! Those are some great pool memories and always look forward to the summer pool season each year, as it offers another way to unwind and relax, and spending time with family.

Chlorine Maintenance

Let’s get back to the task at hand.. Often, our pool customers ask Richard about their pool water and how to keep it chemically balanced all summer long. It’s a delicate balance of maintaining a clean sanitized pool. Having the right tools, equipment, chemicals, and knowledge is crucial to a pool owner.

Here are a few common key factors that will influence the chlorine levels and the PH of the pool water… sun, rain, and heavy use of the pool.

Our pool water testing is complimentary to our customers. No charge for this service!

We often have a collection of empty water bottles and jars by the end of the summer pool season.

Knowing that these three factors (sun, rain, usage) dramatically influence your pool water chemistry, being proactive about your pool chemistry is key. Stay on top of your cleaning and maintenance routines in regard to your pool. Wilkes County Hardware has all the basics you will need for your pool swimming fun all season long… Chlorine, Baking Soda, Algaecide, calcium and more!

Pool Chemicals 101

Another common question thread that we get from our pool customers is how to use these chemicals correctly. Some pool chemicals require a process of stirring and mixing with water prior to pouring into the pool. This process aids in dissolving and a better even distribution of chemicals.

Always use a bucket to stir up chlorine… often times he will use a bucket to stir up other types of pool chemicals as well to ensure even distribution into pool as to not have it sink to bottom.., as this photo demonstrates (see description below for full details)

In order to use granular chlorine effectively, take a clean 5 gallon bucket add some pool water then add granular chlorine. You never want to add water after the granular chlorine, it could create a volatile reaction!!!! Always begin with water. Stir mixture … 15-30 seconds … with a suitable “stick” (wooden paddle, handle, pvc pipe). Pour about half mixture into pool and add in more pool water into bucket and stir again. Pour remaining granular chlorine solution into pool.

Granular pool shock MUST be dissolved using water/bucket method prior to pouring into pool. This is a fast way to boost your chlorine levels like… after a fun pool party to raise your chlorine levels back to where you need it to be.

Chlorine tablets are a great way to **SLOW release** chemicals into your pool, long term. These dissolve in pool over time.

**Liquid chlorine… FAST action and convenient way to boost your chlorine levels and no mixing in a bucket! You can pour straight into your pool.** **One gallon is equivalent to about one granular shock**

Baking soda will help you correct your PH levels when the PH level is too low.

Pool owners can use and Dilute in water … Muriatic Acid to lower alkalinity and PH levels.

***Have fun swimming safely all summer long! Stop by and pick up a new summer shirt at Wilkes County Hardware***

Pool Swim Safety Tips:

1. Never swim alone -swim with a buddy always

2. Be mindful of opening and closing times at your community pool or public pool. AND yes, even when you are on vacation as well! Pool chemistry is checked at least once a day (usually before opening each day). Chemicals are often added prior to opening/closing each day and time is a factor! Give the pool chemicals time to work properly and swim safely without the worry of harsh pool chemicals impacting your skin.

3. Obey all pool rules. This one might be obvious but definitely crucial for a safe swimming environment.

4. Be mindful of drains and skimmers. Stay away from these areas as you swim. Educate your children about these areas as well.

5. Protect your skin! Use proper sunscreen and enjoy your pool day.

6. Avoid night swimming… pool areas should be well lit and have lights installed in the pool for SAFE night swimming. This rule applies back to basic pool hours noted at your public swimming pool, community pool or your vacation swimming pool fun.

8. Stay weather aware. Summer storms are frequent throughout our area. If you hear thunder, it’s time to get out of the pool.

9. Come prepared. Take the essentials: towels, sunscreen, phone (in case of emergency) water (hydration), first aid supplies (bee stings, cuts etc) and of course the best pool snacks!

10. Lastly, keep watchful eyes on all children in the pool, even though they maybe good swimmers. Accidents can happen can occur instantly.

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Finding Clover

March 17, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Many people consider clover as an invasive weed in their lawn. I believe it is now a LUCKY task for the finder… no matter if you find a 🍀 four leaf clover, all are lucky!

Why do you suggest it is a lucky task???? Clover spreads and often can take over in your grass. Is that lucky??? Well maybe not if you love a perfectly manicured lawn. But for those who continue to read this story maybe you find a bit of inspiration in finding clover today.

I found this green patch of clover flourishing several years ago in my grandparents yard. It was a thick patch of clover that was overtaking an area in their lawn near the driveway.

It was a beautiful capture for me as a photographer, and I cherish it as a sweet memory of my grandparents yard and flower garden.

Time has passed and I recently found this quote concerning clover that is too good not to share today as we are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and it provided me a bit confirmation of what I already knew.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover has a meaning: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and, if you can find a 4-leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck.” —Jean LeGrand

I never found a four-leaf clover 🍀 in that small patch of clover at my grandparents house, but I was definitely LUCKY. My grandparents gave and showed me all three of those characteristics…hope, faith and love. So I consider myself to be the luckiest person alive. Here’s to you finding a beautiful patch of clover today.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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“All Washed Up”… Hand Washing Dishes, A Chore or A Pleasant “Dish-traction”???

February 12, 2024 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

My dishwasher died last week . I simply went to turn it on before I left to go to work, and it didn’t come on. After all connections were checked, called the manufacturer, etc, we decided it was time to begin looking for a new one. No further “dish-cussion” was needed!

My kitchen window where my sink has a view… the view changes from season to season, but one thing is consistent, plants are always growing and happy here. A great excuse to enjoy doing the dishes, lovely plants and flowers to enjoy!

Much to my dismay, as I believe is the now the norm, the “box” store stock remains very low and the dishwasher has to be ordered. It’s not ideal. But I do want to shop around a bit in order to find the best option. I realize that this appliance is not a life altering product for us… if it was a washer, or a stove … well that would be a much more serious problem. But, we can definitely manage without a dishwasher.

My mind quickly went back to my Grandparents homes. Both sets of my grandparents had dishwashers and they rarely used them. I feel confident it was the era they grew up in, and hand washing dishes was just second nature to cooking a meal.

Granny kept a dishpan in her sink as a “catch pan” for loose dishes in between meals. She also washed dishes in the pan… saving water and detergent. After family meals we all piled into the kitchen, washing, drying, and putting the dishes away so that she didn’t have to do all those dishes. We had fun laughing, and telling stories, as Granny sat smiling, and of course, supervising all of us. The dishes didn’t take long when we all pooled together and did them together.

As my experience has begun without a functional dishwasher, I pulled out an old dishpan as a “catch-all” for my miscellaneous dirty dishes. A very sweet memory of my Granny’s kitchen.

Hand washing dishes isn’t glamorous but let’s face it, not many household daily tasks are! So I needed to simply reframe my mind about this new daily chore I was facing. Using the fond memories of washing dishes side by side with my Granny and other family in her kitchen, I am ready to “wipe up” my success in hand washing dishes.

Washing dishes shouldn’t be monotonous, but a therapeutic “cleansing” experience… not leaving me “sloppy, soppy wet” like a well used sponge.

Sponges! Available at Wilkes County Hardware. Sponges have a short lifespan in the kitchen. When they start to “smell” they need to go away to the trash. The average lifespan is 2 weeks to 30 days depending on how often it is sanitized/ used.

After all, we (Richard and I) both hand wash several items already each day. Yes, he helps me with the dishes every evening, since I do most of the cooking before he gets home from the hardware store. It is rare that we put any pots or pans in our dishwasher. Those go straight to the sink for immediate attention.

Hand washing dishes shouldn’t be big deal, right??? Hmmm, I’m “dish-tracted” by the thoughts of using paper plates, cups, and utensils for a while. No, I shall not be “bowled” over by such thoughts! I’m not “throwing the baby out with the dishwater” as they say. Keeping the sweetness of the situation while focusing on what needs to change… the dirty, dingy dish water. A new scenario of being without a dishwasher and how to manage a load of dirty dishes without kitchen chaos.

The ultimate goal… a clean sink and kitchen!!! I thrive in this type of environment.

Management of hand washing dishes without a clear plan could prove disastrous or chaotic, so I’m sharing a few tips and tricks that you could implement whenever you find yourself hand washing dishes. I hope these suggestions are useful to you and your family … not leaving you all wet and soggy! I have definitely used several of these tips myself as I have ventured into back into hand washing dishes in earnest.

Before You Begin….

1. Begin with a clean sink! Reduce the chance of bacteria by beginning with a clean and sanitized sink.

Easy cleaning products for sink cleaning and much more always available at Wilkes County Hardware.

2. Evaluate your needs to be successful… Take a quick inventory of your scrubbing tools. Invest in tools of the trade, scrubber, brushes, detergent, gloves, sponges etc. Purchase good quality cleaning products that you love. This will make hand washing dishes easier and less stressful when you have the right tools! Think about a carpenter or a plumber not having his tools to make a simple repair… it’s the same thing!

Brushes, sponges and more! Making hand washing dishes a little bit easier, all inside your local hardware store at WCH.

Use the dish soap that you love! These Meyers soaps are great selling items at Wilkes County Hardware.

For greasy messes and much more! Sold at Wilkes County Hardware.

3. Set the Mood… that’s right, get your mind on the task at hand and get ready!!!Find your favorite playlist, podcast, or even set a timer be finished (washed/dry) by a specific time (15-20 minutes). Don’t procrastinate, just be vigilant and get it done.

Let kids help pick music or set the timer. Make it a family event/game time on how fast you can get things finished and put away!

4. Consider the Bin/Dishpan Method

A. Presoak in separate bin… allows you to keep those miscellaneous food bits away from your sink drain, and the plumbers away!

My sink is a large one bowl sink. For small handwashing tasks, the dishpan method works well! Bravo Granny!!! She definitely knew what she was doing with that technique.

B. Stash the bin under the cabinet with the dirty dishes if you don’t have time to do the dishes prior to your departure OR use the bin in the sink as a catch all prior to doing the dishes.

C. Wash in the bin or dishpan…save on water/soap instead of filling up sink especially if you just have a small batch of dishes to clean.

For small handwashing tasks, the dishpan method works well!

D. Use a dishpan/bin for a hot rinse soak after hand washing. Using extra hot water helps to sanitize your dishes and remove any excess residue that might be left from the dish soap. Make sure that you use gloves to protect your hands from the hot warm or wait until water cools before drying and putting away.

This large white dishpan is extremely versatile for many uses in your kitchen! Stop by to pick one up at WCH

Doing the Dishes: Washing Up

I’ve totally converted to these!!! These wash up your dishes beautifully and are virtually indestructible! One of our best selling gifts! Hands down one of my favorite things!

1. Clean in order… glasses, silverware, plates, dirtier pots/pans go very last!

2. Presoaking is your friend! Pre-soak dairy and starchy based foods in cold water instead of hot water it should clean up easier.

3. Turn up the heat… I’m talking about your dish water, add gloves if necessary. The hotter the soapy dish water, can help sanitize your dishes effectively.

4. Scrape plates/dishes off prior to hand washing. Remove excess food bits to keep dish water as clean as possible.

5. Be proactive, don’t let the dishes stack up, do the dishes as you cook and prep for your meals.

6. Keep the sink clear… consider using the bin method for dirty dishes. Placing dirty dishes into sink as you go through them… glasses, silverware, plates, etc.

7. Go by the feel of your dishes… One way to tell if a dish is still dirty, it may have a gritty, greasy, or possibly a soapy feel. Keep washing and scrubbing!

The Rinse Cycle

1. Just Eyeball it… a dish is clean if you can see a smooth stream of water across the surface of the plate as you rinse it.

2. Use a dishpan/bin for a hot rinse soak after hand washing. I’m well aware that some people say that the water/steam in a dishwasher is the only way you can properly sanitize your dishes… Hmmm… but I would bet that everyone doesn’t have a dishwasher. People have existed without dishwashers for decades, and germs were kept at bay. So what can you do to properly sanitize??? Using extra hot water helps to sanitize your dishes and remove any excess residue that might be left from the dish soap. And using dry, clean towels as you put your dishes away helps to avoid cross contamination. If you decide to rinse with extra hot water, make sure that you use gloves to protect your hands or wait until water cools before drying and putting away.

Drying Time

These gorgeous handmade towels are perfect for daily use!!! Stop by and pick up seasonal favorites to make your kitchen tasks more enjoyable. Yes, you deserve a few special items in your kitchen!!! These wash up extremely well. Another kitchen staple found! 💕

1. Have plenty of clean, dry towels on hand for drying dishes. Do not reuse a wet towel. A wet towel will slow down your work and definitely take longer. Take all wet kitchen towels to laundry basket for washing. Kitchen towels can harbor bacteria if not properly washed and dried or if reused multiple times before laundering.

I pull at least two or three basic towels out for hand drying and then they go into the laundry basket for cleaning to prevent cross contamination.

Yes, you can use your handmade towels for drying dishes!!! These are meant to be used!!!

2. For air drying your dishes, have a dish drainer ready to go! Make sure air flow is good. Hand dry any pieces that don’t fit onto your drainer.

3. Encourage your family to help clear away the clean dishes. Make it a game, such as… I bet we can do it in so many minutes… or play favorite songs while they help. It’s good character building and life skills for younger kids.

4. Clean your sink again after draining out the spent, old dish water and you are done for the day!

5. Moisturize your hands! The hot water and detergent can do a number on your hands so be kind and do a bit of self care to your hands afterwards.

The best moisturizer lotion.. hands down!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The Physical Science of Hand Washing Dishes may actually speak for itself. Hand washing dishes can be therapeutic, calming, and a stress reliever. The repetitive act of washing dishes can relieve stress by providing a sense of accomplishment of a job well done and task completion. That being said, for some, washing dishes can be a very stressful chore, and overwhelming, especially if the sink is loaded down with stinky, dirty dishes!!! If your mindset is not working towards a positive outcome, then take time to reframe.

Once you are ready to scrub into the warm hand dishwashing water, the constant heat of the water can create a calming effect upon the body and senses, aiding in stress reduction. Muscle tension can be lowered, by hand washing the dishes. Increased circulation and movement are added bonuses.

Lastly, hand washing dishes is an iconic activity of the 5 senses to be performed and enjoyed. Use your body’s physical cues… staying in the moment… Sensing the warmth of water and the feel of the dish in your hands, gripping a soft sponge, the sound of water splashing in the sink. Catching the lingering smell of the scented dish soap, hearing the sound of the squeaky clean dish as you rinse it off. And the sounds of family members clanging the dishes into the cabinets after the muscle motions of drying the dishes after a meal around the table filled with laughter. What more could you ask for… Family togetherness in your kitchen and home. I think I’ll do the dishes for a little bit longer and enjoy my newly found love for hand washing the dishes…. At least for a few more days.

The Hardware Life – A wife's journey into the hardware business