Although many swear that life does not exist without a dishwasher, others don't have the option of one or don't find them a necessity. Doing daily dishes isn't usually a big deal, but during the holidays when you're cooking for a crowd, they can seem as scary as the big bad wolf!
1. Don't Delay: If at all possible, do dishes following the meal. No one actually wants to do them then, but if you wait, the chore will seem larger. Grab a friend and get going, you should be able to wash service for 25 by hand in less than a half hour, which is just enough time that the rest of your company has refilled their drinks, found a seat and a game to play and you can go to bed without dread for the morning.
2. Use A Bucket: We swear by the large bucket method. Pick one up at your local hardware store for a few small dollars and have it half filled with soapy hot water. Slide dishes in one by one (plates first, then bowls and do glass and silverware in another bucket or something more shallow) and they'll be ready to wash when you have time. If you don't get to them until the next day for whatever reason, last night's cranberry sauce won't have turned to epoxy on your favorite dishware.
3. Scraping Is Essential: If there's one direction for post dinner guests, it's to please scrape your plates! If you compost, great... if not, preventing things from getting crusty means they clean right up without any elbow grease or time spent on a specific dish. Make sure you have an empty trash can or bowl set out to have things scraped into so no one asks "where do you want it?"
4. Ask For Help: At large gatherings, people always need something to do and no matter how much they loathe doing their own dishes they're usually willing to lend a hand in return for a night away from home. The chore goes infinitely faster if someone is drying while you wash and someone else is even helping put things away (it's ok—they've all seen the inside of a cabinet before, no matter how disorganized you think yours are).
5. Be Ready For The Task: Although it sounds silly, being ready to do dishes is a big part of getting them done. When you have friends and family helping you, it's easy to just tell them to sit down and relax because in the hustle and bustle you forgot to dig out clean towels and such. Be armed with soap, towels to dry and a sponge that doesn't look like it's from the last century.
6. Use A Soap Bowl: To maximize the amount of dishes you can do with as little of soap as possible (while still getting them super clean), squirt a tablespoon of soap in a shallow bowl and add a cup of water. Dip your sponge into the bowl when you need more soap, you'll use 75% less dish soap than normal and your dishes will be easier to rinse off!
Do you have a top for doing dishes for a crowd? Let us know in the comments below!
(Image: Flickr member brandongreer licensed for use by Creative Commons)
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thank you for this! our biggest dream is to have a dishwasher - this is a huge help!
I'm sorry, but this is rather pathetic. People need lessons on this?
My biggest tip: Make the conscious decision to make guests the priority and that may mean that the dishes don't get done in a timely manner. Sometimes my husband has to remind me of this to get me to step away from the sink! My family and friends are with me for a limited time, the clean up can wait. They usually become part of my "after party" wind-down. If I'm not up to doing them all at once, they get added in batches to each meals dishes...so all the plates/flatware might be done with the breakfast dishes, all the glasses/cups with lunch, and pots and pans with dinner.
Having said that, I do try to clean as I cook to minimize what is left after the meal. After eating, I scrape/empty plates/bowls/glasses and pots and pans and stack them to take up as little room as possible, before rejoining the party.
@gbtoo
It's a sad truth! I once drew a flowchart explaining the process of the /dishwasher/ to one of my roommates, and it took him a few weeks to get it remotely down.
Some people just aren't used to doing things for themselves. It's good that they want to try, though!
I just think the photo is hilarious. Mr. Wolf is looking pretty overwhelmed...
We do not have a dishwasher (it is also my biggest wish. My hubby, not so much.) I have been hand washing dishes for 13 years and I have never thought about number 2 or 6. I guess I do need this. Thank you for the tips.
whenever i have a party, i leave a little note by the sink that says "please dont put dishes in me" so the sink is clear when i'm ready to start the process. then i can fill one side of the sink with water to start the soaking while i clean up the rest of the mess. also, if the party is _really_ bit, consider hiring a local kid to come over and wash dishes while you entertain. they can get a headstart on the mess so you dont have such a big mountain when it's over.
It's hilarious. I've handwashed my whole life, even when I've had dishwashers, but it wasn't until my big Fall Dinner last month that I realized just how handy just soaking dishes could be after serving dinner to 16 people. I'd always just done the dishes as soon as they hit the sink, especially because I've always been into saving water, but with that many people, it was impossible--soaking was such a relief when I saw how easy the gunk came off after the dishes had sat in the sink for awhile.
One word of warning, though--make sure knives/sharp tools don't go in the soapy water. My 10" chef's knife ended up at the bottom of the soapy sink, and I did get a little knick while reaching in. I usually wash and put my knives way as soon as I'm done with them, but I had a few kitchen helpers who didn't know better that night.
I deal with dishes as a necessary daily chore, but had to post a comment that the wolf picture absolutely positively MADE my day!
http://rubberchickenmadness.blogspot.com/
Welcome to my world, I don't have a dishwasher and hand wash dishes everyday. I clean up as I go along and I prefer this to the days of using a dishwasher.
I agree with eclectorama. To me nothing says 'party over' more than the hostess standing at the kitchen sink. I'm all for soaking, but beyond that I think the washing should wait until the guests are gone.
Some fantastic ideas here I'd never thought of before...thanks for taking the time to post!