Tips to make washing the dishes easier and faster

Washing the dishes is a much debated job. Some hate it, some just do it because it needs to be done and some (I suspect few of us) find it relaxing. Whatever the case there are steps you can follow to make this job much easier and faster. Here are a few that are part of my daily routine and have helped me immensely:

Step 1.

Keep your sink in order. No matter how small or big it is when the things are in order they are much better to handle than a chaotic situation that will make you feel desperate. Stack the dishes according to their size keeping the larger ones underneath. If there is not much space in the sink leave some items out like the glasses.

Step 2.

Use kitchen paper to remove any leftovers. The paper will take most of them and be thrown in the dustbin with them instead of them making your life harder while trying to wash them down.

Step 3.

Soak them. As soon as the dish/glass/pan gets in the sink pour water on or in it. Water will keep it from drying and thus will be easier to remove whatever the paper couldn't.

Step 4.

Use a good sponge and a concentrated liquid which will last for a long time.

Step 5.

Do them regularly! Don't let them pile up!

These may seem simple and common sense but following them will make washing the dishes look like a game!


Extra tip:

Sometimes when you use a pan to fry it will leave fat residue. And I must admit that I really don't like the idea of me rubbing a pan filled with fat. (gross!) So this is what I do:

Fill your kettle with water and boil it. Put some lemon juice and some dish-washing liquid in the pan and pour over it the boiling water. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes and voila! The fat gathers at the top of the pan so you can pour it down the sink!