Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Jenny Linford's avatar

Debora, only you could make a piece about washing up such fun to read! 👏

Expand full comment
Sally Penhaligon's avatar

I was very excited to read this post because I agree, there is immense skill in doing the dishes.. I agree with cleanest first, hottest soapy water and rinsing. But thereafter we must diverge my friend because drying up is a concept I just don't understand. Why do something hot water and mother nature will do for you if you know how to stack?

There is no real skill in washing up, anybody can do that, most learn whilst still a child that if they do it badly they will never have to do it again. There is not a child in this world who has not had their exasperated Mother rip the wash cloth from their hands whilst stating that for god's sake she'd rather do it herself than watch you do it for one more moment. Given this there is really no incentive to improve.

Stacking the drainer is the real skill here, did I say skill? obviously I meant art. There are of course rules, first and foremost if it's only you/your family at home then you must only ever use a single drainer. Your mission is to get everything in that drainer, it can take years to perfect this. You are successful only if your drainer looks like one of those donkeys hauling goods up and down the Silk Road, e.g. the load must be at least 3 times higher than the vessel carrying it.

I don't want to appear pedantic about this so I will allow for occasional exceptions. You can use an overflow drainer for dinner parties of more than 10 guests and 3 courses, small back yard weddings and Christmas day at yours but only if there are at least 2nd cousins coming. If it's just your immediate family forget it.

Expand full comment
93 more comments...

No posts