You can probably just chalk it up to a life habit that I never gave opportunity… but I have always washed my dishes in a dishwasher. In fact, nearly every day of my life I have used a dishwasher. Go figure. My parents used one. My grandparents used one. It’s been in every home I have lived in…. and when it wasn’t available (broken or kitchen remodelings), it was a source of great stress. Dishwashers get loaded, started, and emptied. End of story. Or so I thought.
Recently, I have begun washing dishes by hand immediately following every meal. Months ago, I read a famous zen story titled, “Wash Your Bowl” (via Leo Babauta) and have considered its meaning ever since.
As a result, I decided to give the mindful practice of “washing my bowl” a literal shot in my life. I began washing every dish following every meal. And since then, I have almost completely stopped using the dishwasher.
I love it. Here are the practical benefits I have seen:
- Less Physical Clutter. How often were dirty plates, bowls, and glassware left on my kitchen counter following a meal just waiting to be loaded in the dishwasher? Far more often than I would like to admit, that’s for sure. Each time, physical clutter was left on my kitchen counter, table, and sink.
- Less Mental Clutter. An unfinished project clutters the mind… always. Even when we were not in the kitchen, the pending responsibility of needing to clean the dishes was always hanging over our evening events. And we were specifically reminded every time we walked into (or even past) our kitchen.
- Seamlessly Transition Between Activities. Once the mind clutter of dirty dishes has been removed, we are freed to move from activity to activity, event to event, and room to room. We are allowed to be fully engaged in the present… however we choose to spend our evenings. There is no need to return to the past and finish the duties of our meal.
- Dishes are Always Clean. Ever need that one mixing bowl, pot, or cooking utensil, only to find out that it’s still dirty sitting in the dishwasher? Yeah, me too. Washing dishes after every meal means the dishes and cooking utensils are always clean and in their drawer.
- Dishes get Cleaner. Perhaps, the age of my built-in dishwasher has something to do with it, but I always hated pulling a bowl or plate out of the dishwasher that didn’t quite get all the way clean. And now I never do. Dishes are cleaned fully, everytime.
- It Takes Less Time. It came as a surprise, but I truly believe that washing our dishes after every meal has taken less time than loading/running/unloading the dishwasher. After most meals, it takes only 2-3 minutes to handwash each item. Cups are a snap. And most plates are a breeze to clean immediately following a meal.
- Example for My Kids. My kids see parents who finish what they start, aren’t afraid to put in a little effort, and leave a room cleaner than they found it. And those are life disciplines that I hope they embrace every day of their lives as they get older.
- It Brings Personal Satisfaction. There is a level of satisfaction in life that accompanies working with our hands and accomplishing a task without the need for mechanical intervention. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against machines. In many ways, they allow us to accomplish and create more than we could without them. I’m just saying there is a simple satisfaction in reminding ourselves that we can still live joyfully without them.
To accomplish the task of washing dishes immediately after every meal, I use three items: a dish wand, a sink rack, and a towel. I wash, dry, and put away. And with every practice in life, I own it – not the other way around. When we entertain or have a large meal that uses a number of cooking pots and pans, we still use the dishwasher.
It’s been a practical step of living intentionally. It’s been a process of choosing to question my life assumptions and live mindfully in all facets. And in that way, maybe it’s more than I just never gave it an opportunity… maybe it’s more honest to say that I never chose to live this intentionally ever before.
Fred D says
When I am in the kitchen, the first thing I do is put some warm soapy water in the sink. As I progress with my cooking, I am constantly cleaning – as – I – go, and when I am finished, I do not have a big mess to clean up. What follows is that I also rinse and soak and then wash up the rest, while I am cleaning the kitchen, and counters, tables etc. It just totally flows ergonomically with the job, and I also always have what I want to use clean.
I also do not use a microwave, and will not own one. I am male.
Libby says
Same. My house has a dishwasher and others use it, but when I’m cooking/cleaning I use it as a drainer for my hand-washed dishes. Cleaning as I work, and using the dishwasher as a drying rack means that by the time supper is ready, most of the dishes are dry and ready to be put away. Then, wash a few plates, cups, and utensils after eating only takes about 10 minutes and everything is done, wiped down, and clean for the meal/day.
Kate says
Not using microwave is a gender issue, for convenience? My younger son never liked watching TV and do have one in his room. He stayed up very late until 3 am at his HS prom and won the raffle. He surprised us and impressed all his friends. Now, he recently moved out. We make sure he has a bed, fridge and a microwave.
Mevelyn Lewis says
I have a dishwasher and much like you, I prefer to hand wash my dishes, wipe the counters, etc and walk out with the job finished. Instead of knowing it would be a couple hours before I could unload the dishes and put them away. Another personal reason is the arthritis in my hands hurt less after having my hands in warm water doing the dishes.
Allison says
A dishwasher is a luxury that I’ve never had, so I’ve always washed by hand. Things don’t pile up, and it’s just always been a habit to wash something immediately after use. Also, it keeps everything in better shape. I’ve never worried that I would ruin a dish by washing it – whereas with a machine, I’d be wary. If I need to disinfect or sanitize something like my dish brush, I use boiling water on the stove top.
Brian says
Dishwashers are great when cleaning nooks and crannies.
About cleanliness, have you tried using a different technique like proper spacing and arrangement, and clearing blocked spray holes?
Derek E says
You don’t even need the sink rack anymore honestly. I just use the racks in the dishwasher. Now I have even more countertop space!
Diana Brown says
I ditched my dishwasher last year and never looked back! I will tell you why. I found the use of electricity to run a load everyday to be consequential, we have to consider how it effects the world around us. We already use quite a bit so if I can cut back its for the best. I have a big beautiful double sink with all the gadgets you could want in its fixtures. And yet they were rarely used except to rinse produce and get glasses of water lol
Dish time is now time spent with loved ones, I wash, next to me my SO rinses, and my daughter dries and stacks. We talk we laugh sometimes its a suds and water fight hehe.
Even when doing dishes by myself it becomes a relaxing meditation. The warm water feels wonderful, the stillness that lets your mind just tune out its quite hypnotic at times.
And no dishwasher has ever done as good a job as hand washing! Plus hand washing gets it done faster.
I do recommend people try it, get the family involved make it a fun loving family time. Or grab some alone time let the warmth of the water relax you as your mind drifts while looking out the window. Happy washings!
AlisonWonder says
If you don’t have a double sink, a tub in the sink is almost as good.
Then you can still run the tap beside it.
Mrscolorado says
I’ve always preferred to wash by hand. It makes me feel more in control of my kitchen. It’s too much effort to load and unload a dishwasher when I can just get the job done faster by hand.
Poston M says
We bought our house with everything in place. We never had to buy any new appliances. It has never occured to me to have no dishes to do in my whole life – handwash or dishwasher – It has become some kind of therapy on its own. The best, time for me, are breakfasts. I really feel I have accomplished something good for the day. Thats’ just me being obsessively with my clean dishes. I am so thankful that we have it handy while we don’t use it so often. Why should we.
Michael Williams says
Whatever floats your boat. To me, loading the dishwasher once in the evening, and having the dishes clean and ready to use the next morning, is a nice time saver. It’s my routine, and I wouldn’t give it up.
KJ says
I also! I load the dishes after each meal and run it in the evening. It is my routine. Nothing cluttering the counters. I’m not a minimalist, but I don’t like clutter. I do like modern conveniences!
Steve says
I grew up without a dishwasher. We always washed dishes by hand.
I eventually bit the bullet and bought a good quality dishwasher in my late 20s. Best thing I ever did. It made my life a lot simpler and I could devote that time saved to other, more useful pursuits.
The key is to pay a bit more and get a good quality dishwasher. You’ll never have a problem with dishes coming out dirty as the job is done properly every time.