How to Wash Dishes By Hand

Automatic dish washers have pretty much replaced washing dishes by hand. I would not be surprised to learn young people of today have a vague understanding about how to wash dishes by hand. Maybe I am being a little hard on them.

The first thing to do when preparing to wash dishes is to remove all the food from the plates . This is called scrapping the dishes. Also make sure all food is removed from the pots and pans and utensils. The discarded food should be scrapped into a trash container.

Step1

Prepare the dishes for washing

• Stack the soiled plates by size. The largest dishes on the bottom and the smallest dishes on the top. Place the stack of dishes on the side of the sink on the counter.
• Collect all the eating utensils and place them on the side of the sink next to the plates.
• Gather up all the glassware and place them on the side of the sink on the counter.
• The cooking pots and pans should also be scrapped and placed nearby the sink.

Step 2

Run Warm soapy water into the sink and rise water into other half of the sink

Fill the kitchen sink with warm soapy water. The dish detergent is especially made to clean dishes and cut grease. If the sink is a double sink, fill the other side with water, any temperature will do. Make sure the drain rack is next to the clear water and dishes may drain properly into the clear water side of the sink. You will need a dish sponge or a dish cloth to wash the soiled dishes. A cloth towel will be needed to completely dry the clean dishes.

Step 3

First wash the glassware in the warm soapy water.

• Take the sponge and push it up and down the inside of the glass.
• Make sure the rim of glasses are washed with the sponge.
• After washing the glasses and glassware, dip each piece in the clean water.
• Rinse all the soap off the glasses and glassware.
• Place the rinsed pieces in the drain rack and let them drain and air dry.

Step 4

Wash the utensils

• Place all the utensils in the warm soapy dish water. Be careful not to cut yourself with the knives.
• Wash each spoon, fork and knife individually with the warm soapy dish water.
• Make sure each is washed on the back and front. Check the prongs of the fork and make sure there is no food left between them.
• Rinse each utensil and place in the drain rack in their designated holding areas.

Step 5

Wash the plates

• Wash each plate in the warm soapy water and then rinse each individually.
  
• Place the rinsed dish in its designated spot in the dish rack.
  

Step 6

Wash the pots and pans

• Take each pot and each pan and wash it in the warm soapy water.
• If needed, use a scoring pad to remove cooked on food from the pots and pans.
• After washing, rinse each piece in the clean water.
• Wipe the cooking pots and pans dry with a clean dish towel.
• Place each pot and pan in their designated area in the kitchen cabinet.

Step 7

The clean up process

• Wipe down the stove and table and kitchen counters.
• Make sure there is no standing food or water on them.
• Hang the wet dish cloth in its designated place to air dry.
• The dish sponge must be positioned in its designated area so the water can drain completely from it. This reduces the growth of bacteria within the sponge

Step 8

Put thing where they belong

• Place the glassware, plates and utensils in their designed storage areas in the kitchen.
• Place the drain rack where it belongs.
• Drain the water from both sides of the sink and turn on the garbage disposal while the two are draining. Make sure there is no food left in the garbage disposal. If there is, turn on the water from the faucet and let it run until all the food has completely run through the garbage disposal. This step keeps the foul odor from the garbage disposal.
  
• Make sure the sinks are wiped dry and all the areas adjacent to them.
  

Step 9

YOU'VE HAND WASHED THE DISHES - CONGRATULATIONS!