Washing the Dishes

@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
July 8, 2010 12:33pm CST
This is one of the household chores that I dispise the most. I absolutely loath having to wash the dishes, but if we are going to eat then it is a necessary evil that we do it. So, I will typically use the dishwasher for the plates, utensils, cups and bowls that we use. However, when it comes to the actual cookware I will typically wash that by hand because it is easier to do it this way than to use the dishwasher. I like to use Dawn dish detergent for those things that I handwash and I will use the store brand dishwasher detergent when I run the dishwasher. Am I the only one that hates to do the dishes? Do you tend to do them by hand, with a dishwasher or a combination of the two. What kind of detergents do you like to use for washing your dishes?
3 people like this
24 responses
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
9 Jul 10
Well I guess I'm a strange person because I have always loved to wash dishes. I rather that then mop floors. LOL I also use dawn for the dishes and I usually wash the dishes that people are to lazy to put into the dishwasher. As for the diswasher I switch from Cascade to store brand depending on the prices and if I have a coupon or not. I seriously think that handwashing the dishes gets the dishes washed better then the dishwasher especially the glasses.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
10 Jul 10
When it comes to the glasses I think it has to do with the water and where I live. Because even if I wash by hand I have to dry right away or they will be spotted all over. I never had this problem in New York. I hope once I move to Puerto Rico this won't happen anymore.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jul 10
I believe that it might have a lot to do with the water where you live. I know that our water is terrible and it is really regular to have spots on our dishes after they've been washed because of the hardness of our water.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I've never had a problem with the dishwasher and the glasses. The place that I've always noticed shortcomings with the dishwasher is with the actual cookware which is the reason that I prefer to do that by hand.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Jul 10
hi dorannmwin oh that's one chore I do mot miss not having to do,lol lo as I am in this stodgy retirement center for now. At least my son has a job so that's great. I always found dish washing to be the most hateful chore of all.I loved to mop and vacuum and do the laundry but dishes. I hated doing them and used the dishwasher for some and hand washed some 'and did not mind the dishwasher so much.but hand washing was my pet peeve. So monotonous and you knew you would have to wash a ton of dishes in your life time. What I think of dish washing-
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Jul 10
thanks.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Don't believe I could have said the way I felt about doing the dishes any better than you've done.
1 person likes this
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
11 Jul 10
I actually do not mind washing dishes. I do them by hand, because I can do all the dishes quicker than the dishwasher, do a better job cleaning them, and use less water and electricity doing it than the dishwasher would use doing the same amount of dishes. However, there is one chore that I absolutely can NOT stand to do. I have no idea why, but I HATE putting away laundry after I have folded it. I will wash clothes, dry them, and fold them all day long, but I absolutely cannot stand putting the stuff away once I have it all folded...I guess that sounds weird...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jul 10
Doesn't sound weird at all because I will wash and fold the laundry, but I refuse to put away my daughter's clean clothes for her. I will sort it all by what drawer it goes into, but after that, the job is all hers. I will not do that for her.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jul 10
Hooray for Dawn dish detergent. Actually, I hate doing the dishes too. The main reason being the way that my hands feel afterward. Lotion doesn't help much. I rinse them and use the dishwasher. I also use a brush as much as possible, I hate sponges. Nasty, disgusting things....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jul 10
I too like using a brush to help me do the dishes. Like you, it is my hands that serve as the main reason that I don't like doing the dishes by hand.
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
10 Aug 10
Hi, dorannmwin. I use the sink to wash all of my dishes in. I don't have a dishwasher. This apartment does not come with one. I use Ajax Antibacterial detergent to wash all of our dishes in. My husband buys this brand.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Aug 10
I've never had Ajax dish soap. We typically buy Dawn simply for the fact that is the dish detergent that my family grew up with and that is the reason that I chose to use that one.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
11 Jul 10
hi dora, everything here is done by hand, be it dishes and utensils or pots and pans. i use diswashing paste with lemon scent most of the time, like to feel it clean before placing it in the drier and eventually keeping the dishes when it has dried. have a nice day. ann
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jul 10
The dryer that you are referring to, is that a dryer rack or is there some kind of nifty contraption that will help you to dry your dishes quicker? I will typically dry my dishes with a towel after I've gotten them washed.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
9 Jul 10
I love doing dishes by hand. I am used to do it since I was a kid so it's not a big deal for me. I don't use dishwasher because only my hubby and I in the house. I like to use dawn dish detergent too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
So, what do you think it will take to convince you to come to my house and wash my dishes for me? I really would appreciate it.
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I used to really loathe washing dishes because up until 2 years ago everything was washed by hand. Since we now have a dishwasher, it's a little more enjoyable. I do wash most of the pots and pans by hand in the sink. Some other things like traveling mugs, etc. I will also wash in the sink. When I wash in the sink I usually use Palmolive dish detergent. I also bought one of the more natural dish detergents but I haven't used it yet. When I use the dishwasher which is probably every day or every other day, then I use either store brand liquid or I like the Electrosol/Finish gel pacs. I really don't like using any of the powder packs or powder detergents.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I've never tried out the gel packs yet, but it is something that I intend to try once we get our new dishwasher installed. Right now we are using a portible dishwasher that is older and I don't know how it would handle one of the gel packs.
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Jul 10
Hi Dorann, I just love washing the dishes. I love the feel of the dishwashing paste or liquid soap and water. I even do some singing while washing our dishes including the pans and other kitchen wares. I even have steps to follow for my dishwashing to avoid greasing in going to the glasses. So, glasses first, followed by the spoon, fork, ladle before those plates, bowls and saucers. The last one –the used kitchen wares.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I think one of the reasons that I hate washing the dishes by hand is because of the fact that our water is so terrible here. It really does keep my hands torn up to do the dishes.
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 10
I must admit I hate doing laundry more than the dishes. We do have a dishwasher, but I never, ever use it. I know my mom had this thing about doing the dishes only by hand - and I have inherited this trait. I like to make sure my dishes are absolutely clean, so I do them all by hand. I love Dawn dish detergent - but in the past few months, we've been using the Costco "Kirkland" brand as it's cheaper and there are no dyes and such in it (supposedly environmental friendly) - and it does clean really well. I think we have a box of Cascade for the dishwasher that just sits there - just in case.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
We are completely opposite in this situation. I rather like doing the laundry (can't explain why) but I have never ever liked doing the dishes and I think it will be something that I will never like.
@chanlot (189)
• Indonesia
9 Jul 10
Although I'm a man, but I did not hesitate to do the work normally done by women, one of them is to wash the dishes. I prefer to do all the activities I use the hands (not because I can not buy equipment), but there are several reasons why I prefer to not use equipment or machinery, namely If our bodies are doing a lot of activity then the body will sweat, so body we are so healthy because a lot of fat burning. Besides doing the activity with the hands is also something fun for me.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I'm glad to see that there is at least one man in this world that enjoys doing the dishes and I'm shocked to see that the way that you like to do them is by hand. However, I really like the way that you've put the benefits of doing it by hand.
9 Jul 10
i also hate to wash dishes. So i basically do other house chores and as i live with an extended family so there's always someone else to do it. As for the detergents, there'z often new make so we like trying out new stuffs.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
To be honest, the dishes situation is one of the things that I really miss about our prior living situation. Before we moved into our own house, I did the cooking and my mother did the dishes. I really liked that deal and tried to carry it to our house with my husband, but he just won't go for it.
• Romania
9 Jul 10
Hello. I am the only person here how enjoy washing the dishes i think.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
No, you aren't the only person that enjoys doing the dishes. However, I do think that you are in the minority regarding this subject matter.
• Philippines
9 Jul 10
Hahaha, on my part i would still choose washing dishes than ironing clothes, i never get did the hang of ironing clothes instead of making the clothes without wrinkles i always get it wrinkled. Anyway if you are having problems with washing dishes since your dress gets dirty wear some apron. For washing dishes use liquid detergents. Hope this helps.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
If you promise not to laugh at me, I'll tell you that I've never used an iron in my life. In fact, my husband and I don't even own an iron.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
8 Jul 10
we dont have a dishwasher so i would have to say that i dont like washing dishes either but i really dont mind it. i often get my teens to do it (much to their chagrin) but oft times, i am doing them by myself so i crank up the music!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
Hey, I wish that I would be able to get my daughter to help at least a little bit in the kitchen, but she never does anything that doesn't have a benefit of some sort to her at the given time.
• United States
8 Jul 10
I used to have a portable dishwasher but the way my family is I couldn't wait to fill the whole thing up to do a load so then I would just end up doing stuff by hand. Plus if I have to soak them in the first place why would I want to waste more water by putting them in the dishwasher and come out so-so anyways. So I just do them by hand now. But my hands dry out really bad in winter from doing the dishes by hand so I do use paper plates to lessen the burden on my hands.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
The drying out of my hands is another of the reasons that I don't like doing the dishes either. Right now my hands look somewhat like what I'd imagine a snake's hands would look like because they are so scaly.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Jul 10
We don't have a dishwashing machine... I'm it. I don't despise doing them, but I can't say I enjoy it either. I'll get out of it if I can.. when I'm in a really terrible mood I have my son do them for me, and of course I constantly nag hubby to do them, which he rarely does. Either way if I don't do them after dinner and nobody else does, then they're left for me the next day.. oh well. I had no problem what so ever doing dishes when we did have a dishwasher, it was like the easiest job in the world, and I'd put everything in the dishwasher, I refused to wash anything by hand!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I would be one that would refuse to wash everything by hand, but I think that for the larger items it is better to do them by hand.
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
9 Jul 10
I too don't like to wash the dishes. But it is a necessary evil when you are eating at home. Because at a restaurant you have someone else cleaning the dishes after you eat. lol. I just use the Sunlight dish liquid detergent to wash the dishes. They do a really fine job at cleaning up the mess on the dishes.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I'm not at all familiar with the detergent that you've referred to, but I agree that the detergent that I use does a fine job.
8 Jul 10
No, you are not the only one who hates washing up and that is why I insisted on getting a dishwasher when I got my new kitchen fitted. I put everything in it unless therre is absloutely no space left than I will ahnd wash some of the things. I think I hate it so much because nobody ever helps. I prepare and cook the food, set the table and clear the table when we have finished eating, so I think sonpen else should atleast wash up. For the dishwasher I use a supermarket own brand powder detergent and for washing up I use an antibacterial liquid, the brand often depends on what's on offer at the supermarket.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
I think that you might have hit the nail on the head here. I believe that the reason that I hate the dishes so much is because of the fact that I spend far too much time in the kitchen. My husband and my children never help me out in the kitchen either.
@dsrp82 (676)
• Brazil
8 Jul 10
I hate washing the dishes! Unfortunately, we don't have a dishwasher, it would be awesome!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jul 10
The dishwasher that I'm using right now is pretty old, but it sure does beat the heck out of doing them by hand all the time.