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Washing dishes by hand is the traditional method for cleaning your pots, pans and cutlery after use. It is really very easy and straightforward but as with everything there is a knack to making the job effective, quick and easy. Here are nine easy steps for hand washing dishes.

1 - Scrape any left overs into the bin or garbage disposal as soon as possible. Left overs soon dry out and stick to your dishes. This can make them so much harder to clean.

2 - Rinse plates immediately. If you are not washing-up straight away this will make it easier when you do. Put any thing like a pan with remnants of food stuck at the bottom in soak i.e fill with warm soapy water. This will really speed up dish washing and also make it more effective.

3 - Put on your 'Marigolds' or rubber gloves. This is something which I never do but really you should. You do not want 'Dish wash dry hands' do you?

4 - Fill a bowl or basin with hand-hot water adding a good quality washing-up-liquid as it fills. If use cheap washing-up-liquid you are wasting your money as it won't give good results, and you will have to use so much that it is not cost effective. Only use a small amount of the washing-up-liquid as you can always add more if needed.

5 - Use a washing up brush to wash dishes if possible as it is the most hygienic method. Do not put cloths in the water if possible as it spreads germs.

6 - Leave dishes to drain on the sink drainer. I am told that this is also more hygienic ,and much better, than drying instantly with a tea towel. Tea towels soon become laden with germs, however often you change them.

7 - When your dishes are nearly dry polish with a tea towel and put away. This can help to leave your dishes smear free.

8 - Wash glasses first. Glasses wash better in quite hot water which is clean and fresh. Once the water has cooled and lost it's freshness the glasses will not clean as well. Then cups, plates and dishes. Leave cutlery and then pans till last.

9 - If necessary change the water towards the end of th washing session, especially if there are messy pans which need scrubbing. Once the water has food remnants in it it is not really that hygienic. I suppose it is like smearing dirt onto the dishes that you are supposed to be cleaning. Yuk.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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