How To Wash Dishes By Hand

 

When you wash your dishes every day, even by hand, this eliminates nasty bacteria found in old, lingering food and also helps your kitchen to look and smell cleaner, too.

 

Dishwashing is made a lot easier by having the right dishwashing supplies on hand and washing them in the correct order. Want to make sure you’re washing your dishes the right way?

 

Follow this quick guide to save time and avoid ending up with a greasy residue on your dishes.

 

Why is it Important to Wash Dishes?

 

Clean dishes and utensils are important to family health. Bacteria grow on dishes and utensils that have not been thoroughly cleaned, rinsed, and dried. Dirty dishes, utensils, and food scraps left sitting in the kitchen can attract cockroaches, mice, or other pests. Dishwashing is key in any and every house cleaning routine, be sure to call in the pros when you’re feeling overwhelmed!

 

How Often to Wash Dishes?

 

If you use a dishwasher, you can get by with washing dishes every other day as the dishwasher reaches temperatures hot enough to kill bacteria and mold, which you can’t achieve when handwashing.

 

Wash dirty dishes at least daily if you are handwashing them. This will prevent food from becoming dried on and hard to wash off. It also prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus in the leftover food particles and keeps them from attracting insects and other pests. You can choose to wash dishes and cookware after each meal or cooking session.

 

Washing Dishes by Hand

 

 

• To avoid polluting your wash water, begin by scraping the dishes of excess food. Put all leftover food into the trash and stack the dishes in preparation for washing.
• Set aside any dishes with stuck-on food. Run a little water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid to pre-soak items that need this treatment. Give the dishes 15 to 30 minutes to soak or just until the hot water has begun to cool down. You can also replace hot water in the sink as it cools.
• Place the stopper in the sink and run the water (as hot as possible, but not so hot that you are uncomfortable) until it is half full. Add dish soap to the water in the amount recommended on the instruction label. Be sure the other side of a double sink is clean and available for rinsing or prepare a dishpan of rinse water.
• Start by first hand washing lightly soiled items like glasses, cups, and flatware. This allows them to soak a bit before washing. Wash one item at a time under the soapy water using a sponge or scrubber. Check for spots before transferring to the rinse basin. Wash knives one by one and place them carefully in the drying rack.
• Wash and scrub the serving dishes, bowls, and plates gently with your sponge. Keep an eye out for when you should change the dishwashing water. Change it if it appears greasy or no suds are left.
• Any cookware with tough food residue and grease should have been soaking already. Wash the pans thoroughly.
• If you have a double sink, use the second side of the sink to rinse off the dishwashing suds from the dishes. If you don’t have a double sink, you can use a dishpan filled with hot water to dip and rinse your dishes. You do not want any suds remaining.
• If you’ve used hot water to rinse, the dishes will dry quickly on their own. In some instances, you may have to use a dishtowel or paper towel. Make sure the towel is clean. Change the towel when it becomes damp. Use a lint-free cloth for drying silverware.
• Wipe down the sink, dish drainer, and dishpan. Any rags, dishcloths, or sponges must be left out to air dry or thrown into the washing machine.

 

Washing Dishes Using the Dishwasher

 

 

• Get rid of any leftover food on your dishes and rinse them off. Scrape the food off of your plates or cookware into the garbage disposal with your silverware to easily clear away the majority of it. Try to remove as much as you can so that it doesn’t clog your dishwasher. After you scrape the food, rinse the dishes in the sink to remove any smaller pieces that still may be stuck.
  • If you’re running your dishwasher immediately after you eat, you don’t need to rinse your dishes.
• Put cups, small bowls, and plastics on the top shelf of your dishwasher. Set the cups and bowls between the tines on the top rack of your dishwashers⁠, and make sure they’re facedown or angled so that water doesn’t pool on them. Load from back to front so that you can fit more in.
  • Avoid nesting items, since this will prevent water from reaching and cleaning them.
  • Plastics are loaded on the top shelf to prevent them from melting because the bottom of the dishwasher is hotter.
  • Make sure all of your dishes say that they’re dishwasher-safe.
• Load plates, serving bowls, and other larger cookware on the bottom rack. Keep large flat pans and any other oversized items on the sides or the back of the bottom rack so that they don’t block the water spray. Stand your plates on their ends so that their dirty sides face the water sprayer and are cleaned more effectively. When you put in your pots and pans, make sure they’re upside down so that water doesn’t pool inside them.
  • Never stack your dishes on top of one another even if this seems more efficient, since the water in your dishwasher won’t be able to clean them all.
  • Do not load cookware made of wood, pewter, cast iron, crystal, fine china, bronze, or brass.
• Put the utensils into the basket on the bottom rack or door. Make sure the handles face downwards so the dirty parts get cleaned. Leave space in between each utensil so the water can get in between the surfaces.
  • Mix spoons, forks, and knives so that they don’t nest together. Don’t load sharp knives because the dishwasher can dull them, but duller knives like butter knives are okay to put in the dishwasher.
  • Make sure long-handled utensils are laid flat on the top rack instead.
  • Separate silver and stainless steel cutlery since the silver may pit when they’re touching.

 

FAQs

 

What is the correct way to wash the dishes?

Start with utensils, then move up to glassware, plates, bowls, and other medium-sized objects. The biggest dishes tend to be the dirtiest, so save them for last. Give them a good rinse before placing them in your dish rack to dry.

What’s the best thing to wash dishes with?

Brushes tend to stay drier when they’re not used, and they don’t have as many deep crevices as sponges where water and bacteria can grow.

 

Will hot or cold water kill more bacteria on dishes?

Washing your dishes in cold water removes only visible dirt off your dishes and utensils; it doesn’t sanitize nor disinfect your dishes from germs and other forms of bacteria. That is why it is important to use hot water when washing your dishes.

 

How can you conserve water while washing dishes?

Fill the sink with soap and water and turn off the faucet while cleaning. After you’ve filled the basin, don’t let water go down the drain unless you’re using it to rinse off suds.

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