Squeeze your dishwashing sponge dry when done. Microwave for 30 secs when it gets funky.

Try to wash your dishes in size order so your larger pots and dishes are at the bottom of your sink, so you have a "cascade" of soapy water that saves soap and water.

Wash glasses first.

My sister in-law is nurse and was taught in school that it is more sanitary to let your dishes air dry then to towel dry.

If you need to lay your cutlery down to dry make sure the spoons are facing down so that they don't pool any water and you don't get dried on water spots.

Let air dry instead of towel drying ... except cast iron.

Instead of using gloves, use your bare hands to feel each item to make sure it's clean of specks and grease. I learned this from my mom, who is blind, and I didn't know it was "different" until I moved out and all my roommates left specks of food and/or grease on our dishes.

Always wash the glasses first, and lay them to dry on a towel on the counter. Then lay all the silverware (except knives) on the bottom of the (plugged, filled) sink, then the plates and bowls on top, submerging as much as possible. Go take 5 and let them soak, then wash the plates & bowls, then the silverware. Put any pots and pans in the sink. Take 10. Come back and wash and dry the pots and pans.

"Try some soap in a spray bottle."

Oh, that's brilliant!

I keep a sugar shaker full of baking soda (filled when the boxes in the fridge and freezer are replaced) next to the sink. A shake or two helps clean the dishes better than soap alone.

Rinsing the soapy dishes with running water feels wasteful to me. Instead, I have one side of my sink filled (not actually filled, maybe two to three inches of water) with vinegar water. I swipe over the dish with my fingers removing the majority of the suds then dip the dish in the vinegar water. It cuts through and removes any soap on the dish and helps it dry streak and spot free. It also helps the skin and nails; the soap and baking soda are very drying.

wonderful post...and yes agree with all of the above

so what do you do with your wet dishcloth once done washing? I've just made the switch from sponges to dishcloths, because I've read they're less germy and more reusable, and I currently hang mine to dry on a suction cup hook that I put on the sink backsplash. Is this a no-no?

@e53: I use a dish brush. I don't see the difference between a sponge and a dishcloth.

Soak everything in water first.

@e53: I agree with Sam I Am only if you never wash your dishcloths. We use one dishcloth for the day, hang it on a bar inside the cabinet under the sink between meals, and wash all of them with the regular laundry. The biggest difference between a sponge and a cloth is that the sponge can't go in the wash.

It's funny, because I don't see the difference between a scrub brush and a sponge - since neither of those can go in the laundry.

I'm still amazed at how many people see a dishwasher as a necessity when they rent, buy or build a place, too me it's a total luxury item. There was a post on AT a little bit ago with the model 300sq foot apartment and some people complained about the lack of a dishwasher. I was surprised because with 300 sq ft, 1 to 2 occupants, I was thinking there's other more important things to think about.

Don't let dishes sit, rinse off food right after done eating, wash shortly thereafter.

Change sponge out frequently.

I wash flat items first, plates, then glasses, then pots & pans.

Yes...don't leave knives and scissors in the dish drainer, they'll rust.

Having a small dish drainer keeps me from letting dishes sit, I even wash here and there, while I'm cooking.

It's funny, because I don't see the difference between a scrub brush and a sponge - since neither of those can go in the laundry."

Brushes aren't porous; as long as there's no food caught in the bristles they aren't going to harbor bacteria. They're also much easier to clean and much quicker to dry.

Do...ask your hosts their system, if you are kind enough to volunteer to do dishes. As a host, I prefer that my guests not do dishes, partly so they can enjoy themselves, and partly so that I can use my system. One of my peeves is when people use my countertop sponge to wash the dishes.

I've had problems with scrub brushes developing mildew when they are not air-dried properly. I store them upright in a jar near my sink.

My Mom taught me, and I always do this, to wash from cleanest to dirtiest. So usually glasses first, then plates or silverware, then pots and pans. That way, you're not washing your not so dirty glasses in greasy pots and pan water.

Believe it or not, we were actually taught how to rinse dishes in school. :) Rinse off all the oil and leftover food before washing. You can do this either by wiping it off with brown paper or newspaper; or take a small amount of warm water and rinse the plates and utensils. Wash the glasses first because it's the one that's least greasy. Follow with the utensils, then the plates.

I usually rinse one part before I soap the next. So rinse the glasses, then soap & rinse the utensils, then the plates.

We Dutch are famous for our dish washing habits, so it seems (read the unduchables).

Anyway, there are some good tips:
- use a dish brush. It has a little more power to it than a cloth/sponge and is less of an bacteria empire after a while. Ikea sells cheap ones. (we replace every month and use the old one for other cleaning jobs like the tub)
- use a dish washing bucket (bucket that is big, but not deep). Strangely enough I can only find these in the dollar store here in the States and not at an Ace or so where you would expect them, but there great help since you can clean dished in the soapy water in the bucket, and still rinse dishes next to the bucket (we place it in the sink).
- so we only use limited water. Start with the cleanest (glasses) then end with pots and pans.
- we do: clean water in bucket with little detergent, then wash all glasses, all plates. Then new water, then utensils and pots and pans. Air dry and rinse when needed.

YB: Interesting post. My Dutch friend stayed with me and when she washed the dishes I always had to rewash them because they were still dirty. ;)

"Leave knifes in the sink or drainer."

Knife = singular
Knives = plural

Note to self: "Proofread copy before posting."

My biggest pet peeves I can't get others to not do:

>Leave wet cloths or sponges in or around the sink.
>Leave water around the sink.

@Nancy_s- LOL! I saw a couple of typos but said nothing because I know how annoying it is when people like to jump all over a typo, but have nothing of actual substance to add to the discussion! Then YOU had to go & point your own out! LOL! Anyway, good post.

I agree with everyone here about rinsing or wiping first, washing cleanest first, air dry.... I'd also like to add that if it is possible where you live then try to pour all dishwashing grey water out into garden. I live in New Mexico- famous for low rainfall & rivers that have been dry beds for decades. Every drop of water needs to be conserved! All water from washing & rinsing dishes goes out back into garden. Yes, it's a little extra effort, but better in long run. At least we don't have to "fetch" the water from the pump or the well anymore, so carrying a bucket of soapy water to dump outside doesn't seem so difficult & it benefits the earth! (Also, depending where you live this method greatly saves on water & sewage bills. I've even done this in places where my water was included in my rent. Landlords noticed that the water bills were greatly lower than when previous tenants lived there & when I demonstrated my many water conservation methods I've been rewarded with a decrease in rent!) Rinse water can be used to soak clothes that are stained, can be used to wash other things like the counter tops & floors...

Another thing I'd like to point out (no pun intended) is that when placing knives in dish rack the tips should always face down. I have a huge scar on my wrist from reaching into a friend's dish rack years ago & slicing my wrist open on a knife pointing upwards. To this day she now puts the knives points down! Having to go home & rewash her bloody dishes after rushing me to the hospital for stitches was a wake up call!

I don't use a sponge or a towel for washing. I use nylon scrubbies made from the mesh bags that fruit come in. In some situations I will use old washcloths (after marking them with an X using a sharpie marker so they don't get confused with the good washcloths) then I just toss in wash with regular towels.

Good post!

This is a funny post. I was raised "pre-dishwasher", and this is what my Victorian family said:

1. Wash glassware and crystal first in a pan lined with a dishtowel - well now use a plastic pan.
2. Wash flatware secondly in that water.
3. Do the pre-scraped china next.
I've found that if the dishwater is clean and hot enough at all you can do the pots and pans in it. I usually drain and refill the dish pan several times when hand washing. And yes, I hand wash ALL my antique china, silver and glasswear. I NEVER wash my dishes with rubber gloves. I will not allow anybody to help me wash my dishes either. They usually want to use rubber gloves, and everyone I know who uses rubber gloves has chipped china and glassware. Some of mine is over a hundred years old, and I cherish it and enjoy the exprience of washing it all by hand. I don't even want granite or tile counters in my kitchen. The temperature shock and constant banging wears away at the "good" stuff. Wood or Corian are my preferences in counters.
Yes, I have a dishwasher and I use it regularly for my "modern" dishes that have glazes on top of the painted or decaled patterns.
Re sterling or silver plate - it can be washed in the dish washer, but be sure there is no other metal type in the dishwasher. Electrolysis will be established with other metals - especially if they are touching; but I wash my sterling in the diswasher only if I keep all other metals out. Drying silver well with a cotton towel is key to keeping it from tarnishing - although if you have an open flame gas heater, the sulfur from the gas is a nasty oxident. I remember hand drying my mothers "good" silverplate and making sure it was dried for a few hours before putting it back in the silver chest. Moisture and sulfur are deadly to silver.

Salt is your friend. I always keep a container next to the sink because of all that I can do with it...

*Lemon Juice and Salt will spruce up copper-bottom pots.
*Salt is an excellent and gentle scrub-assist...especially for cast-iron.
*50/50 salt and vinegar is a good soaker for removing stains in china and tea pots.
*Also, soak enamel cookware overnight in water plus a handful of salt, boil it for 15-20 min. the next day, then wash to remove enamel stains.
*Plus it exfoliates the skin.

I don't know how I'd clean without it.

dont stack them as my mother does, which makes getting anything out of the pile like a seriously grown up version of pick up sticks...

@ Sarah W.- yes! vinegar, salt, and I also use baking soda! I love the bubbly action of vinegar & baking soda together fizzing off the grease! And I will freshen up the drain with the soda & vinegar once a week.

If you are far-sighted, WEAR YOUR GLASSES while washing up.
My mother, who is famous in our circles for keeping a spotless home, has been having trouble with this area lately. Whenever she come to my house and washes up for me, I always have to rewash the dishes once she leaved because there are dirty. But I love that she tries!

RINSE (and rinse well!) everything after washing! It's disgusting if you don't.
I'm living in a country where no one rinses after washing: poor poor me!

Here are some of my tips, many of which have already been posted, but let's review.

1. Wash with bare hands and feel dishes to make sure you get all the grease and stuck-on bits, which can be very small and nearly invisible, especially when wet.

2. Wash from cleanest to dirtiest. My grandma always said to wash the dishes that touch your mouth first (cups and silverware), then the dishes that you eat off of, then the dishes that you cook in. I always wash glass first.

3. Either have a rinse tub or rinse last. We keep our dish drainer in our second sink (we use the counter to dry glasses on a towel), so I stack soapy dishes by type and size and rinse everything at the end. This also makes me do more dishes than can fit in the strainer normally, so I not only wash more dishes per time, but I stack the strainer very efficiently.

4. If your water looks or feels really dirty, it probably is. Feel free to dump and start with fresh.

5. Start off with less water in the dish pan so you can add more hot water as the water cools.

6. Don't use too much soap - it takes more water to rinse off!

Yay. I am happy to see so many other great dish-washing tips. We don't have a dishwasher in our house (boo...), but since there are just two of us, I think that means that we use our water much more efficiently.