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Ask HN: What is your system for dirty dishes?

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11–20 of 101 posts

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

#12
post #3

Everything gets washed by hand immediately after being used - during cooking if the recipe allows time for it, or right after the meal at the latest. Very happy with this system, I don't get the habit of piling dirty dishes on top of each other and having a separate time slot for a big wash.

My experience with a wok is that you have to do this before the crud dries, or you can't keep the seasoning on it.

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

#13
post #3

Everything gets washed by hand immediately after being used - during cooking if the recipe allows time for it, or right after the meal at the latest. Very happy with this system, I don't get the habit of piling dirty dishes on top of each other and having a separate time slot for a big wash.

[deleted]

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

#14
post #10

My strategy is to wash them or get them into the loading dishwasher as soon as possible, even if getting the pots and pans sorted out delays dinner by a minute or two. I get the best result by treating it as a part of the mise en place of cooking. I'm not especially tidy, and I live with someone who is also not especially tidy, so I learned quickly that if I ignore the dishes, they don't go away.

> even if getting the pots and pans sorted out delays dinner by a minute or two

Ha I do this too whereas my partner will happily come in and start cooking despite the kitchen being messy already, much to my chagrin.

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

#16
post #10

My strategy is to wash them or get them into the loading dishwasher as soon as possible, even if getting the pots and pans sorted out delays dinner by a minute or two. I get the best result by treating it as a part of the mise en place of cooking. I'm not especially tidy, and I live with someone who is also not especially tidy, so I learned quickly that if I ignore the dishes, they don't go away.

> even if getting the pots and pans sorted out delays dinner by a minute or two Ha I do this too whereas my partner will happily come in and start cooking despite the kitchen being messy already, much to my chagrin.

Yeah, I've been in games-of-chicken of each person tolerating the mess a little more so that the other will deal with it. It's not pretty.

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

#20
Load the dirty dishes and pans into the dishwasher as soon as finished using them. Turn the dishwasher on before going to bed. Take out the clean dishes first thing in the morning.

This is a pretty standard algorithm, I suppose. What is somewhat unusual, I guess, is that, occasionally, I use the dishwasher to wash small appliances like a rice cooker, an electric kettle, or a water filter pitcher. It probably shortens their lifespan but I think it's worth the saved time.

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