This is my variation on cleaning dishes in the bathtub. First a reference to the bathtub method. (Sorry, I do not know how to make this a real link:)
Dishes may be washed in the bathtub:
takeonestepatatime.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1821I suggest my variation for when:
Knee or other problems cause difficulty in kneeling near bathtub.
Bathtub is unaccessable.
Pathway to the bathtub is difficult to traverse.
Dishes are in danger of tumbling off the countertops if you look too hard at them.
PREPARATION
0.) read all steps through, so you are familiar, and can plan where to prioritize clearing. I will assume that you have a double sink.
1.) Find a picnic cooler, or else substitute another container, preferably larger than the kitchen sink, but light enough to lift when filled with dishes. This will serve as a storage area/ presoaking area.
2.) Find a safe relatively horizontal place near the sink for the cooler. (In my case this is often the kitchen floor.) We will move the cooler before filling it with water, so this is only temporary.
CLEARING WORKING SPACE
3.) scrape dishes and stack them in the cooler. Do not stack dishes beyond point where water can fill the cooler.
Start with the dishes in the kitchen sink. Also start with larger dishes on bottom of cooler. Next clear a counter space where cooler can be moved. Ideally, this is a counter next to the sink, where the cooler spigot can drain into the sink. Then, if possible an area to dry the dishes. Set aside any delicate items (stemware) and any items that may be damaged by soaking (wooden handle utensils, ceramic dishes.) Sort and nest the dishes when possible, so that more horizontal space can be cleared.
Stop when cooler is full, or your ideal work area is clear.
4.) Move anything else that needs to be moved from the work area.
5.) Clean any counters, sinks. This needn't be perfect,
ASSESS THE SITUATION
We will now start washong in small batches, according to the free space we have.
One kitchen sink basin cleared:
Select out one large bowl or pot that will fit into the sink with some room to spare. Use it as a basin to wash smaller items. Rinse the items under the tap in the free portion of the basin, and place them into this free portion. When things get cramped, towel dry and store these items. Towel dry these dishes and put them away. Choose items from the counter or the other sink basin, if possible. The cooler can be closed, and used as a horizontal surface for stacking larger items for later.
Both sink basins cleared:
Use one basin to wash, rinse in second basin, letting the dishes accumulate. Empty wash water, and now use that sink now for draining. Rinse water becomes new wash water.
Both basins and one surface:
Move cooler to surface, Fill with water. Close lid. Use sink basins as before, washing the delicate items set aside earlier. Continue on with clearing second surface.
Both basins and two surfaces:
Now you can use your dish drainer! And now the wash station should be totally functional! Now we can finally attack those dishes in the cooler. Start removing them and washing them. If the top of the cooler is too difficult to reach for easy washing, then drain water out of cooler, and move cooler to a more convenient spot. At some point, the cooler will be empty, and you can rinse it, and put it away.
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I now realize that it seems like extra work to fill the cooler with water and empty it. But there are a couple of reasons to do this. It allows many dishes to soak out of of our way, in a safe spot, important if the dishes are caked with dry food. Also, if the dishes are left in a closed cooler with out water, they will get moldy. Even if the water gets nasty, I think this is healthier than breathing the mold spores that will develop on the dishes.
Also, I am wondering if I am clear enough in explaining what I do. It sounds like nonsense to me as I explain it, but it seems to make sense to me in my own kitchen.
