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Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

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Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#42

I handwash all dishes and can go through maybe 50+ in about 5 minutes. My approach is very efficient. * First, get every dish wet (so that the food will rinse off easier), just a quick splash of water the surface of every dish. * Then, soap your sponge and begin cleaning. Stack all dishes off to the side sensibly (plates on bottom, bowls on top, silverware atop that). Don't put your sponge down to rinse off anything.…

My method is almost the same. Dishwashers are a scam.

I really do not understand dish washers: you have to clean the dish 80% before going into the washer, so why not spend the 10 seconds to actually wash the thing? I've timing both and hand washing beats dishwashers by an significant amount every time.

Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#44
The most efficient process is, first let the dishes soak, then hand wash the dishes while the tap is running (ie not in a wash basin), finally let dry in the drying rack (ie not with a drying towel). Bachelors the world over confirm that this is the most efficient system.

Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#46
We invested in a brand dishwasher a while ago and compared to the cheapo appliance we had before, we are very happy. We just load it up with dirty dishes as they come, sometimes opting to do big pots by hand instead, so that the same space can be allocated to multiple other dishes (mostly plates) instead.

We sometimes run it over night on the eco setting (or if we otherwise have four hours to spare), but mostly we use the quick power wash setting, which cleans the dishes in roughly one hour.

When we're home (on the weekends), we run the dishwasher multiple times a day.

Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My method is almost the same. Dishwashers are a scam.

I really do not understand dish washers: you have to clean the dish 80% before going into the washer, so why not spend the 10 seconds to actually wash the thing? I've timing both and hand washing beats dishwashers by an significant amount every time.

This is an understanding based on a very incorrect usage of dish washers. Dishes are supposed to go into the dishwasher dirty, without rinsing. Any food garbage is supposed to be scraped off roughly (ie scrape off actual pieces of food but dont worry if a few rice stick to the plate).

Dishwashers save on water and energy. They are convenient for bulk washing of dishes. Dishwashers need to be used correctly to be optimal, just like any other technology.

For a family of 4 with 2 preschoolers it is absolutely necessary to have a dishwasher.

Anyone who is sceptical of dishwashers and their merits needs to watch the Technology Connections video on dishwashers.

Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#49
What I've been annoyed with for years: Drying Racks.

What do people do instead of using these? I'm guess just hand drying them. I do have a lot of air-tight container lids that are super annoying to hand dry.

I like the convenience of the drying rack, but hate the countertop clutter and space it takes.

Re: Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My method is almost the same. Dishwashers are a scam.

I really do not understand dish washers: you have to clean the dish 80% before going into the washer, so why not spend the 10 seconds to actually wash the thing? I've timing both and hand washing beats dishwashers by an significant amount every time.

modern dishwashers literally tell you _not_ to rinse and place dished in directly. i love seeing this 'hack' and knowing that it was a _total_ waste of time and energy. i can fill my dishwasher in 1 to 2 minutes, do _no_ washing at all, and 1 hour later all my dishes are spotless and sanitized. the damn thing runs at 35 decibels so i can't even hear it.
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