5 Dish-Washing Tips to Save You Time

Washing dishes can be as boring as watching paint dry, but for those of us without a dishwasher it is an unavoidable daily chore. Next time you find yourself standing in front of the sink preparing to tackle a load of dirty dishes, use these five tips to make the best use of your time.

1. Use a bin. Save time, water, and money by choosing to wash your dishes in a bin instead of under a running faucet. When you are ready to begin washing, fill the bin with hot water and a few drops of dish soap. Make sure to empty the bin and refill it when the water becomes dirty.
2. Sort dishes by type. Sort and wash your dirty dishes in order from least to most greasy: wash your glasses first, followed by cutlery, plates and bowls, and pots and pans last. Using this method will minimize the amount of times you have to empty and refill your bin.
3. Clean food off immediately. Even if you do not have the time to wash the dishes immediately after eating, taking a few seconds to scrape the remaining food into the garbage – it will make a world of difference when it comes time to wash them. Food left on the plate loses its moisture and hardens onto the surface, making it much tougher to clean the longer it sits.
4. Turn it up! The hotter the water, the better. Hot water is much more effective at cutting through tough grease spots than cold water, plus it makes dried-on food (if you didn't follow tip #3) break away from the plate easier. It also reduces water spots on dried cutlery and drinking cups.
5. Let it soak. If you have a messy baking pan or cast-iron skillet caked in grease, letting it soak is the best way to spend as little time scrubbing as possible. Fill the dirty dish with a couple drops of dish soap and hot water and let it sit for at least an hour; you will find the grime comes off much easier after pre-soaking.

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