Today’s Lesson is 568 words, a 2 min 16 sec reading time. Sign up here.

📽 Link to the music video

📍 Introduction 

With a plan of attack, you can blast through that tower of gunk before you know it. Sparkling sinks make for happy people, so give these tips & tricks a try.  🧼💪

🧹 Required Gear:  

* Dish soap

* Sponge or scrubbie

* Drying towel, mat, or rack

* Gloves (recommended) 

 🔢 Instructions: 

* Rinse off/wash clean-ish items first

* Rinse dirty dishes with hot water 

* Soak a sponge with warm water & a few drops of dish soap

* Turn off faucet (to save water)

* Attack the pile of dishes, loosely grouping items by type, working from cleanest to dirtiest

* Rinse or spray down soapy dishes 

* Air dry on a rack, mat, or towel  

* (Extra credit) Wipe down sink

📝 Notes, Tips, Tricks: 

Prepping to Wash

* Scrape & rinse your dirty dishes as soon as possible, even if you plan to wash them later. Without rinsing, residue dries & sticks. 

* Pre-soak large pots & pans with a few drops of dish soap & hot water. This loosens stuck-on food. Longer soaks now → faster cleaning later. 

* Consider investing in a refillable soap dispenser. Dish soap is cheaper in bulk, & a pump helps control the flow. This prevents over-soaping, which makes you rinse longer. 

* Loosely group dishes by type before washing for increased efficiency. This way, you spend less time changing gear.

* Soak utensils pointing down in a sudsy cup or bowl.

* To reduce your load, reduce your dish footprint. Rinse & reuse items throughout the day.  

* Don’t stack dirty dishes in the sink. You need that area for washing. Place them next to it instead. If tight on space, stack dishes in a box or dirty dish bin.  

* If an item was very lightly used (e.g., cup for measuring rice), don’t add it to the pile of dirty dishes. It will get dirty. Instead, just rinse & dry. 

* Allow pots & pans to cool before washing. Sudden temperature changes can warp them.

Washing

* Dish soap is hard on hands & nails. Gloves will protect your paws 🐾💅  

* To speed the process, listen to upbeat music, or set a timer & try to beat it! 

* If the load is huge, break it up into chunks & chip away slowly. Try using one very soapy sponge until it runs out. Or, commit to everything except the pots & pans (soak for later)

* The hotter the water, the better. Heat combats grease. Also, warm dishes dry faster. Rubber gloves help your hands stand the heat.

* Baking soda helps cut through grease. Sprinkle a little inside the sink or on very soiled cookware. 

*Hand-Wash Only Items*

* Cast iron: Soap ruins its non-stick seasoning— just scrub with hot water & wipe dry. Season regularly with oil & heat. Learn how here.

* Wood cutting boards: Wash & prop up to dry. Treat with mineral oil to avoid warping/cracking & keep it smooth. More here. 

* Non-stick: Use a soft sponge or towel only. Never use abrasive sponges or brushes. The sensitive coating is easily damaged, which ruins the pan’s non-stick properties & can release harmful chemicals. Once scratched or chipped, recycle the item to avoid accidentally ingesting the potentially harmful non-stick chemicals.

Drying:  

* When drying on a towel, prop up items slightly for airflow.

* Dry by hand to reduce spots on some items (e.g., wine glasses). 

* Use a lint-free cotton dish towel.

🎓 Further Studies: 

* How do you Wash the Dishes Quickly? [Reddit Thread]

* Home Remedies for Washing Dishes in Hard Water

* How to Clean a Sponge [Good Housekeeping] 

* What's the Best Way to Wash Dishes?

📚 Liked this lesson? Check out more in the Table of Contents 📚

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com