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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Doing the Dishes: Washing Up

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

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.

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 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.