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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jan 6, 2010 10:53:29 GMT -5
Of course, the best solution is whichever one you can manage to do. That being said, now that your sink's clear, it would be more efficient to wash the newest dishes first, since the debris hasn't petrified. Maybe place a couple of "petrified" items in the bottom of the sink as you wash the newest dishes? By the time you're ready for the older dishes, the petrified debris will have softened, and should come off easily.
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hopehope
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,815
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Post by hopehope on Jan 6, 2010 19:39:27 GMT -5
I did all the dishes today. so I'm accepting praise.
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Post by gini on Jan 6, 2010 22:41:46 GMT -5
hopehope
Sending praise.
gini
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Post by bluefrog on Jan 6, 2010 23:59:52 GMT -5
hopehope,
Offering the praise you richly deserve.
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Post by CaringFriend on Jan 7, 2010 10:48:43 GMT -5
I did all the dishes today. so I'm accepting praise. !!! You got it! Praise, that is.
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Post by littleengine on Jan 7, 2010 12:27:53 GMT -5
Minky, that's an excellent idea, I think it might work for me. Thank you!
Hopehope, yay!!!! WTG!
I dragged up a ton of dishes from the basement stash and put them on my dining room floor, right next to the kitchen. They look pretty awful to tell you the truth, and as soon as I start soaking them, they're going to stink. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Well. Maybe I'll start by doing just one, and see how it goes. Maybe the pot that has fish broth from weeks ago would be a good place to start. <gag>
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Post by puppybox on Jan 7, 2010 12:51:28 GMT -5
I fought this fight over the holidays. I "cheated" and threw out tons of stuff. I don't care! I don't feel guilty about doing that any more. of course, now I have no tupperware and had to steal my mothers old washed out yogurt containers to take my lunch to work. I vow not to let myself get sink pudding/mold again!
GO EVERYBODY!
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Post by meryt on Jan 7, 2010 13:27:45 GMT -5
Littleengine, There are those who are earth mothers, love little babies and always long for more; and there are the others. I am one of the others. I found I enjoyed my daughters more and more as they grew older. I now have two wonderful young women, aged 25 and 26 with whom I delight to pass time when it is convenient for all of us to do so. There is no need for guilt. You are who you are. Not "enjoying" your children at times does NOT make you a bad mother. As for dishes, no comments, because today has been mainly bathroom day for me
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Post by CaringFriend on Jan 7, 2010 15:38:14 GMT -5
To add to Minky's idea of "hiding" all of the dishes and cups/glasses, except 1 for each family member............. A co-worker once shared with me that she came from a large family. But instead of taking turns doing the dishes, drying them, and putting them away, each child washed their own plate, glass, and utensils in the dishpan of sudsy water that mom had prepped. I thought that was interesting. Having a limited # of dishes is like having a limited # of clothes. The more you have, the more you use. And they don't always get washed and put away. 4 plates - use, wash, put away for the next meal. Done! I don't have an automatic dishwasher, just the human kind. After breakfast, I put my used cereal bowl in the sink, add a dab of liquid dish detergent to it and fill it with hot water. I put my spoon in the cup or glass I used and add a dab and hot water. I am retired and not rushing off to work. So later, when I enter the kitchen for anything - even if it's for lunch - I rinse those items, dry with a cloth and put them away. I did the same when I worked, except the "dirty" dishes were waiting for me when I got home. Today's dishwashing liquid is like magic! No scrubbing needed! All I had to do was rinse and place in dish rack to dry naturally while prepping supper. My signature line reads: "Every problem has a solution. Keep trying until you find something that works." That's the beauty of this site - so many different ideas are shared. Pick one and try it. If that doesn't work after a while, then try another until you find something that fits your mindset. I also want to share one of the best things I've learned since I've been here: "Motivation follows action." I don't know who said it first, but it is the truth!!!! Are we ever motivated to do "work" or unpleasant things? I tell myself I will just do a small bit, then I find myself continuing until there is a noticeable difference in the project. Good luck to all in whatever job you have to tackle!
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jan 9, 2010 14:50:10 GMT -5
HopeHope: your request has been noted. Allow me to express my admiration at having finished your dishes. Littleengine: good for you for chipping away at the mountain of dishes! I have a couple of ideas about how to get the most out of their new location: Do you have a large container (ice chest, trash can, bucket, etc) that you could fill with soapy water and use as a pre-soak area? 15-20 minutes in a pre-soak would speed up the process, without creating extra work. If you don't have a container, you could put the dishes in a trash bag (I'd use 2) and spray them with soapy water (maybe with some bleach, or vinegar for greasy items), then close the top. This would also help control odors. You could even choose to bag up everything at one time, and wash them as you get around to them. With this method, the number of empty trash bags would serve as a symbol of your progress. Re: having too many dishes, clothes, etc: In my case, discarding about 50% of these items not only forced me to clean them more often--it made cleaning and storing them so much easier. My cupboards are no longer a "house of cards;" nor are they packed as tightly as a suitcase. Before, I didn't put things away--I'd stack them on the counter. This created a "cascade of chaos;" since my workspace was reduced, I made more messes, and they were harder to clean up. Repeat as necessary! I try to keep the drawers, cupboards, etc that I use most frequently for the items I use most frequently, and keep them the most well-organized. This helps me so much. There's an organization in my city that helps people who need things for their homes, such as furniture, bedding, housewares, etc. Their most-needed items are pots and pans, because most people never discard them.
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Post by lozzylooloo on Jan 18, 2010 7:47:41 GMT -5
aah, this website comes through again. i am sitting here procrastinating over doing the tea dishes, which i eally need to do before i go to bed. however, i don't want to do them, and am therefore staying up later and later to put it off... very logical!!
Due to the brilliant success stories (be it having the dishes done, or even just starting them), I am ready to step away and go do those dishes, so i can go to bed and get up in morning to no dishes.
Thank you guys so much for sharing your stories so i make it happen.
Just wondeing how everyone elses dishes are coming along?
Thank you thank you thank you xoxo
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Post by Serendipity on Jan 18, 2010 11:16:15 GMT -5
This morning I am doing the dishes. At least there are no longer flies partying in the sink. I am going to go "inch by inch" literally. I am equipped with paper towels and eco- friendly pink grapefruit cleaning spray. I am going to clean the few spots of counter not covered by dishes. Motto of sorts: never move the dish drainer " just for now"!
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Post by Evelyn on Jan 18, 2010 11:17:10 GMT -5
Congrats to Hopehope!!! Congrats to Puppybox!!! Congrats to you all!! I grew up in a kitchen/houseful of dirty dishes, and it doesn't seem to have done me much permanent harm. (Well, I do tend to wash spaghetti sauce pans almost immediately, because I never want to see or smell 2-week old tomato-tinted beef fat ever again, but other than that...) Learned a couple things along the way... I "cheated" and threw out tons of stuff. I don't care! I don't feel guilty about doing that any more. of course, now I have no tupperware and had to steal my mothers old washed out yogurt containers to take my lunch to work. You were quite right to throw those out. Once something in a plastic container has become unpleasant, it will be nearly impossible to get the unpleasant smell out of the plastic. And even Tupperware is not forever - plastic that is old enough to vote is probably more than ready for retirement. And do toss any aluminum foil-type pans that have become icky - all those little crinkles and crannies will hide bits of old food & general yuck that will be nearly impossible to clean. The same goes for any cracked ceramic dishes (even if they're just tiny little hairline cracks). "Sink pudding," overly-aged fish broth, and other such liquids can be flushed down the toilet rather than poured in the sink - it goes much faster that way. Off to do yesterday's dishes... - Evelyn
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Post by Serendipity on Jan 18, 2010 12:32:42 GMT -5
Evelyn~ I love your butterflies and smileys happily doing the dishes. You perked up my day!
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Post by puppybox on Jan 18, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
I'm behind on dishes again hope there's no mold yet but there probably is. I hate dishes so much.
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