A Guide To Washing My Dishes....

....And how you should too. Unless you have a better way.

There are at least 3 tiers of dishwashing that I do...assuming it's one of those weeks where I let things pile up.

Here is a simple rule: Set 1: Items used for comsuming. Set 2: Items used for preparing. Set 3: Items used for cooking.

1. The first set, I use a fair amount of dishwashing liquid, and fill up the sink with HOT (all the way to the left) water. The first set to be washed are what I call the 'must-be-clean' set. These are plates, bowls, silverware, and cups & glasses. These are not really to be mixed with other greasy or grimy dishes unless you just have enough for one sinkfull. If you have a few plates with caked on food--like spaghetti sauce or baked beans, it's ok to let them soak for about 20 minutes while you watch your TV programs. Don't worry about your next set b/c the water will still be very hot. After soaking, you'll want to transfer these to your empty side of the sink, running a small stream of tepid water while you scrub them down with your choice of scrubber or sponge or cloth. If you have enough for set number 2, save your silverware b/c they'll be at the bottom, and you'll have to reach into the STILL VERY HOT water to get to them, and they can often slide around and are hard to see under the soapy bubbles. After scrubbing them all, rinse them with slightly warmer water and place on towel to air dry for the time being.

2. These are the not as important dishes, yet non-grimy items. These include pot lids, measuring cups, pots & pans you only used for water-based foods like beans, soups, and some sauces (assuming you didn't let the sauce mixes dry in the pan), and you can also throw in any left-over food plates---especially take-home plates from other people. B/c, let's be honest: when you return them to their owner, they'll be washed again. You do it too...you know it. If you're doing these in one go, while they are soaking go ahead and dry your first set of dishes and put them away. After a while..again, 20 minutes should suffice while you flip through the channels...transfer these to the other side of the sink while scrubbing. Go ahead and get any silverware that's at the bottom, or go ahead and drain the sink and get them while there's no water. Rinse all dishes off with slightly warmer water and place on towel to air-dry.

**If you've got more than one sinkfull of the first 2 sets, go ahead and drain the water, refill and repeat as needed. Take a break if you need.

3. Now all that's left are your dirtiest cooking items like your pots and pans that you've probably still got food stuck on. Also, some of these are just too large for a whole bunch. So, just refill your sink with very hot water, place as many as you can.....and let them soak. If you want to let these go for a while, that's fine. When you think they've soaked enough, dry off your second set of dishes, and scrub and rinse these off. You should be almost done, so just bear down and see it through to the end.

If you look around and see some dishes around the house you forgot....don't worry! Just set them to the side and get them another day. If they have food, just run some water over them and let them soak inside the sink for a day or two.

Also, coffee pots can either be cleaned along with the FIRST set of dishes, or by themselves if you've got a scrubber with a dishwashing liquid dispenser...as long as you do it after each use. Or right before, if you're like me.

For any other items I didn't include....use your judgement on how clean it should be. If it's used for consuming: set 1. Preparing: set 2 is ok. Cooking: set 3 should suffice. No Room: Save for the next time.