Facilitate Washing up With a Bathtub
Washing the dishes – or “washing the dishes” as the British call it – is the worst part of cooking and eating at home. While I have developed small motivation tricks , some things make the task of washing dishes in a single, undivided sink easier than in modest dishes.
Formerly known to me as “those strange dishes my British friend Ian keeps in his sink,” the kitchen bath has become an integral part of my dishwashing process. Unlike other, slightly unnecessary British things , you will need it in the kitchen (if you don’t have a dishwasher, just sit there smug). Placing a basin in a different basin may seem like overkill, but trust me, it’s not. Quite the opposite, especially if you don’t have a separate sink. The dish tray reduces waste and frees up the sink, which means you have a place to wash and rinse. If you’re still having a hard time figuring out exactly how this works, let me walk you through the process:
- Start with a clean, empty – possibly shiny – shell.
- Once you know you’ll be preparing the dishes, place the tub in the sink and fill it with hot, soapy water.
- Place dirty dishes and utensils in the tub as they build up.
- When you’re ready to wash the dishes, remove the tub from the sink and place it on the counter.
- Marvel at the sheer amount of space you need to rinse and clean, and the amazing amount of water you saved by not filling your entire sink.
- Take the dishes out of the tub and rinse them, wiping down those that need it. (Most will work if you just rinse them off after soaking them in hot, soapy water.)
- When the container is empty, use it to water some of the plants, if you have them.
- Wash the tub and dry thoroughly. Place it back in the sink.
Where can I find the pelvis? I found mine at a hardware store for about six bucks – the label said “dishwasher”, but any plastic basket would work. Clean it regularly and sterilize it occasionally with a dilute bleach solution, and your kitchen bath will make your life easier for years to come.