Doing the Dishes | Imamother

amother ↓

Sun, Aug 26 2007, 9:07 pm

I used to detest dishes-- I don't even understand the basis of my intense aversion, but they would sit... and sit... and sit...

Then we spent some time staying by friends in whose home a dish does not sit for 10 minutes after the meal is done. As a gracious guest, I would try to help around the house and sometimes do the dishes. Before long, my friend and I began a friendly race to see who could get to the dishes first-- and then, voila, when DH and I returned home, aversion cured!

I doubt my story offered much help, but about the back pain, are you scrubbing hard? Maybe try soaking the dishes first... G'luck!

↑ ClaRivka

Mon, Aug 27 2007, 8:27 am

Hey Crayon ur right! I currentlyy don't have a mat at my fleishig sink, only my milchig one.

amother- I let the dishes soak for days....

chen- you are brilliant. I didn't even realize that that is exactly what I do when I was my face. In the bathroom there's a little stool and I always put my leg up!

Thank you guys for making me see reality!

↑ amother

Mon, Aug 27 2007, 8:35 am

I didn't want to be mean, but I was actually going to say that it's much harder to do dishes after they've been sitting (albeit in water) for days...

greenfire

Mon, Aug 27 2007, 9:07 am

chen wrote:

Put one foot up on a low stepstool to take the strain off your back.

I do the same ... one foot up on a step ladder that I need there anyway cause cabinets are tall ... I don't even realize it most of the time ... the foot goes up automatically ...

and definately easier to to them right away - although I also at least leave em soak ...

hbeseder

Tue, Sep 25 2007, 2:05 am

An easy solution for making doing dishes easier, is to always prewash. Instead of placing the dish in the sink, rinse first under running water. Preferably hot. This way, the much hated task of 'dishes' will hardly involve work at all.

Additionally, there is a fun 'tool' to use. Not so much a tool really, as much as a concept. It's called 'Retagging'. Instead of calling it 'dishes', which automatically gets you annoyed, call it a 'ten minute task'. No one hates ten minutes. Look at the clock and without thinking of what the task will require, simply think - in ten minutes I could be done! A positive perspective makes work easier. It can even make it fun! Very Happy

And the above mentioned advice, standing on a softer surface - Idea

very true too.

Wanna find out more? Call the Homemakers' Homework Hotline. Turning your life right-side up. 718.303.4386. All part of the fun Hakol Beseder program. A non-profit org geared for Yiddish women. Homemaking made easy.

homebeseder.blogspot.com