10 most common mistakes when washing dishes: the opinion of professional cleaners

We will not argue, but we would like to emphasize that you should not completely abstract yourself from the process and repeat the same mistakes again and again, which is why bacteria and grease stains remain on cups, forks and the pans. These are the mistakes, according to professional housekeepers, that housewives most often make.

Improper use of a cleaning sponge can turn it into a source of dirt and unpleasant odors, says Bree Lemmen, brand manager for a home appliance company. “You should clean your sponge every other day and replace it at least once a week,” she says.

Think the more dish soap the better? According to Katie Cohun, a professional cleaner and director of franchising at a major cleaning company, this tactic is in itself poor use of cleaning fluid. “Don’t pour it on the sponge, you only need a few drops.” If you overdo it, you simply won’t be able to wash the soap off: it will settle on the appliances in the form of a thin film or stains, ”says Katie.

Using dirty sponges or rags is not the only mistake that housewives often make. Katie notes that many people don’t keep their sinks clean, which can lead to bacterial cross-contamination.

“In addition, a similar technology-related error is also often encountered: incorrect use of the dishwasher. People often decide that there is no need to clean it since detergents are used. Nothing like that – they can just build up and start to affect the results of the device,” adds Kohun.

As Jessica Eck of the American Cleaning Institute explains, soaking dishes isn’t as easy as it seems. On the one hand, there is no need to accumulate it in the sink: due to this, the kitchen will not look and smell the most pleasant. On the other hand, don’t rush to wash the plates and pans right away: let the water act on the stuck-on food residue.

“A few minutes is not enough to soak dirty dishes. Pour hot water into it, add a little detergent and wait 15-30 minutes. In other words, if you want to achieve a good result, first drink a cup of coffee and then get to work,” advises Jessica.

“Cold water either fails to remove food residue or causes degreasers to be misused – you start pouring too much. The result is the same: the dishes are not clean enough,” says Kohun.

Have you heard that you need to wash glasses and cups first, then cutlery, then plates, and only then pots and pans? As Ek explains, almost everyone misunderstands the idea of ​​this sorting: we think we should group items by purpose. However, the principle is completely different: you have to start with the least dirty things, then move on to the dirtiest. This, on the one hand, will keep the sponge clean, and on the other hand, it will give time to soak where it is most needed.

Have you decided to give your dishwasher a helping hand and pre-rinse your plates under the tap? According to appliance expert Ashley Iredale, this is a big mistake.

“The device has a sensor that allows you to assess the turbidity of the water during the first rinse cycle. If the water turns out to be clean, the machine will “think” that the dishes are not too dirty and will adjust the mode accordingly – as a result, the dishes will not be washed properly. Not removing food debris before washing dishes is truly a mistake. But you should just throw the crumbs in the trash and let technology do the rest,” advises Ashley.

“Improperly dried dishes can result in moldy or smelly cabinets. Always check that there is still moisture on glasses and pans before putting them in the cupboard, and wipe up spills if you find them, recommends Cohoon.

The towel hanging by the sink and intended for “dishes and hands only” very often becomes a cure-all for “everything” – we use it to clean up spills, brush up crumbs, wipe down the counter and table. As a result, the fibers of the fabric are literally clogged with germs and dirt, and such a napkin only stains the dishes. There are three ways to avoid this: change the dishcloths every day, let the dishes air dry, or dry them with paper towels.

Agatha Christie may have loved doing dishes, but let’s face it: the activity doesn’t have many fans, and when it comes to her, many of us prefer Scarlett O’Hara’s tactic – in other words terms, postpone the unpleasant procedure until later. However, insufficient frequency of washing dishes leads to the multiplication of bacteria in the kitchen and the appearance of unpleasant odors, and it is better not to let this happen.

Also read: What to add to water to make baking sheets and molds shine like new

Of course, this isn’t actually bad dishwashing technique, rather it’s the easiest way to frustrate your manicure. Putting on gloves only takes a few seconds – don’t neglect this simple step to avoid drying out your skin and exposing it again to the soap designed to remove grease stains and sauce marks – in other words much more powerful than the one we wash with our hands.

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