Pro Tips for Hand-Washing Dishes

Let’s face it, one of the most daunting tasks is washing your dishes by hand. Whether you have a few cups and plates or an entire stack of dishes accumulated throughout the week, the job just doesn’t seem to get any easier — until now!

If you’re looking to hand-wash your dishes quickly and effectively, here are some simple tips to follow that can help make that happen:

Tips for Hand-Washing Dishes

Pre-Soaking is Key

When you typically hand-wash your dishes, do you feel as if you’re getting a strenuous workout trying to scrub off caked-on food particles? If so, you may want to consider pre-soaking your dishes before you put in the heavy work!

To do this effectively, you’ll want to fill up your kitchen sink with warm, soapy water. Next, gently submerge your dishes and let them soak — we recommend letting them sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the time is up, take your trusty sponge and begin to wipe away leftover food debris with ease!

Baking Soda Can Help

Do you happen to have a burnt stainless steel frying pan? Have you tried scrubbing it numerous times to remove the residue inside of it? If that’s the case, you’ll want to use this cleaning hack before you continue to scrub it endlessly:

1. First, put a few drops of dish soap inside the pan.

2. Next, sprinkle a light coating of baking soda on top of the soap, followed by some water from your tap.

3. After that, put the pan on your stovetop, set the burner to high, and let it simmer for a little bit.

4. Once the mixture is simmering, turn the burner off and carefully pour the hot water down your sink drain.

5. Next, put on some household rubber gloves, grab a pan-friendly scrub brush, and sprinkle another gentle coat of baking soda into the pan.

6. While only holding onto the handle of the pan, begin to scrub away the burnt residue with ease. Once complete, give the pan a gentle rinse of cool water, and you’ll be good to go!

Create a Sanitizing Rinse

One of the significant components of using a dishwasher, besides the ease and convenience, is that the appliance offers a sanitizing rinse option to provide your dishes with a deep, refreshing clean. However, if you’re still looking for that peace of mind when it comes to hand-washing your dishes, there’s a simple bleach-based solution that can do the trick:

1. To start, hand-wash and rinse your dishes thoroughly.

2. After that, create a sanitizing solution that’s crafted from one gallon of water and two teaspoons of standard household bleach.

3. Next, place your dishes in the bleach-based solution and let them sit there for approximately 2 minutes.

4. Once the time is up, let your dishes completely air dry, and you’ll be good to go!

Note: This sanitizing tip is not recommended for chipped dinnerware or drinkware and cannot be used on non-stainless steel. Furthermore, follow the steps very carefully to ensure maximum safety.

If You Encounter a Plumbing Problem While Hand-Washing Your Dishes, Call Us!

If you run into a problem with your home’s plumbing, heating, or cooling, and prefer to forgo the DIY route, our technicians are here to help! Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer here at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. or call (865) 518-7008 to speak with a representative directly.