RL Tips: Washing Dishes

In a perfect world, we'd never have to deal with dirty dishes and we'll all have an automatic dishwasher that instantly works its magic. However, for most of us, handwashing dishes is a part of our reality—we have to scrub greasy pots and pans until our hands tire out. To help ease the burden of clearing the sink, here are some tips you can try: 

• Use hot water. Heat helps food particles break away from surfaces easily and plays a role in loosening up grease. Hot water also prevents streaking in glasses and high-quality cutlery.
• Rinse dishes immediately. If you don't have the time to wash them right after eating, make sure to rinse the dishes before leaving them on the sink. When dirty dishes are left to air dry, moisture evaporates from the food and creates a bond with the surface it is sitting on—making it harder to clean. 
• Soak dishes with stubborn stains. For really stubborn food deposits, fill a basin with hot water then add a few drops of dishwashing liquid or baking soda before soaking the greasy pans overnight. In the morning, you should be able to wash all the grime off with minimal effort.  
• Wash from least greasy to most greasy. Start with glassware followed by cutlery, then plates and bowls. Leave the greasy serving dishes, pots and pans for last as these require the most cleaning.