Taming the Monster
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21737)
Canada
December 3, 2016 6:16pm CST
At the end of the day, meal prep is finished, the food has been eaten and it's time for the big clean up.
With just two of us, I rarely do the dishes more than once a day.
The after dinner coffee has been consumed and my husband head back out to the barn to do his evening checks. I head to the kitchen to wash, dry and put away the dishes. That way, everything is tidy in the morning when I get up.
I hear many people complain about the unpleasant chore of washing the dishes. I must be a bit unusual. I don't mind doing the dishes. It gives me about twenty minutes of mindless busywork. This allows me to make plans for the rest of the evening or the next day.
It is that time of day. The dishes are calling. Soon my kitchen will be tidy again.
21 people like this
22 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Dec 16
I'm not a big fan of doing the dishes because it literally hurts my hands, they get so dried out until I put lot's of lotion on. But I hate them hurting while doing the dishes.
5 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
I drink lots and lots of water. It helps me stay hydrated....then I don't need as much lotion. When I use lotion, I need to wait ten minutes before I can do anything.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
When my husband has down time on the farm he will help with the dishes, but usually I wash them while he us doing his evening walk through of the chicken barns.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
4 Dec 16
no dishwashers in the philippines, so they get washed by hand in the sink immediately. the tap water is cool and i'd rather wash dishes and laundry, than cook or iron clothes.
3 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
I do all of those. Sometimes it's the folding and putting away of laundry that is the real chore.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
When I did in home childcare we used a lot of melamine plates. The older children would often help me with the dishes.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
I don't have the luxury of a dishwasher (no place to put one in this tiny kitchen) so all the dishes get washed by me.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
@JudyEv that is when I miss it. My kitchen is very tiny. After a big family meal, usually two of my daughters, or my daughter and her partner will head into the kitchen and tackle most of the mess. Everyone else keeps a safe distance, grabbing clean things to put away, of deliver more dirty dishes...if a third person enters the kitchen their life is in danger. They will either be trod on or simply booted out. No room.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
No dishwasher 
though, truth be told, even when I had a dishwasher I only used it when we had company and after a big meal I didn't want to be faced with a mountain of dishes.
though, truth be told, even when I had a dishwasher I only used it when we had company and after a big meal I didn't want to be faced with a mountain of dishes.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt I really appreciate mine when we have a big crowd for a meal.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 Dec 16
I most dislike greasy frying pans but I usually heat half a saucepan of water to almost boiling and I use that to clear up the dreaded grease off the pan. All the rest for me is a piece of cake really and I clean the Kitchen up most days inside the Cupboards, Fridge and other. I don´t mind doing the rest just that pan so I try to put a big smile on my face well sometimes.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
6 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt
I found cold water cuts the horrible stuff and then I use boiling water and soap on a Sponge soap it all over and let it stay for a few minutes to save hot water as the Electric Heater runs up a huge bill if you let it.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
The pans, greasy or otherwise can be a chore. I susally wipe the worst of the grease into my composer with a paper towel. Then hot soapy water cleans up the pan like a charm.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
@lovinangelsinstead21 with only doing the dishes once a day. I already use a lot less hot water.
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
4 Dec 16
I know you will get those dishes cleaned in a flash. I used to wash dishes when I was little at home. Lots of water and a bucket by the side with soap in it and you will be able to clean them very quick
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
The dishes are done. Now letting my fingers dry a little before I start working on my quilt.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Dec 16
I have a dishwasher so I don't do the dishes per say but I do enjoy the feeling of a clean kitchen.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
6 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt So true, gets the day off to a much better start.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
It is much more pleasant to wake up to a neat, tidy kitchen than a mountain of dirty, dried on dishes.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
7 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt If you don't have that many dishes, then it isn't that bad.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
5 Dec 16
As a kid, I hated doing dishes....as a newly wed, I hated doing dishes.....as a young mom.....I had no time to do dishes...more dislike. My kids grew up and moved out. I had less dishes....they weren't so bad after all.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
6 Dec 16
like yerself, i prefer a tidy kitchen when i get'p'n the morn. ne'er minded washin' dishes 'n still do 'em by hand, e'en though the dishwasher works jest fine (well...last time t'was used anyhow, 'bout 2 years 'go?).
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
6 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt wee kitchen, eh? i've asked the hubs several times why he don't jest find the dishwasher here a new home (did come'n handy when there t'was 9 folks livin' here), i could use the cupboard space!
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx more cupboard space would be nice....but a full size stove....that would be heaven.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
No dishwasher, no room for even the tiniest dishwasher. It's a good thing I don't mind doing dishes.
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
5 Dec 16
I make use of my dishwasher often. But I generally need to hand wash at least once a day. I am not that big of a fan.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
5 Dec 16
When your family has grown up you will probably start to appreciate doing the dishes.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
It's only the two of us. We eat together. Last night our four year old granddaughter was with us for supper. She is a joy to have around.
@sayitnow (424)
•
11 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt that nice for you to have your granddaddy.
1 person likes this
@mommymonky (325)
•
6 Dec 16
I wouldn't mind doing them if they didn't pile up so quickly. As it is though, I have three kids, so I end up picking up all day the same things over and over, and it's getting a bit old. The dishes just feels like another thing in the endless and recurring list of things that I have to repeat all day every day.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Been there, done that. At one point I had four children five and under. In total I have five children. They have since grown and have their own families. My son has five children and every now and again I take all five to give mum and dad a few days together with no children.
1 person likes this
@mommymonky (325)
•
7 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt Oh my gosh! That would be sooooo awesome! I am an only child, myself, and my parents can't handle being around my kids for more than an hour, and never alone.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
Dishes only fill about twenty minutes of my evening. Then I retreat to my sewing.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
13 Dec 16
I have had a dishwasher, but even then I washed most of the dishes by hand. With large gatherings I could load glasses and plates and wash the rest of the dishes while the dishwasher did its job.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
I'm finding the majority of the people on mylot who have comments don't mind doing dishes.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
My husband is the chef in our house and because he was in the business at one time, he cleans up as he goes, when he leaves the kitchen its spotless. Me, not so much. I let them sit in the sink until I stuff them into the dishwasher or do them by hand. I find doing them by hand is a pleasant experience and my mine wanders....
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
4 Dec 16
Nice to know that I'm not alone in thinking deep thoughts while washing dishes.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
Once a day. That's the usual frequency of dishwashing at my house.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35702)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
I have always loved doing dishes. My mom always asked us to choose whether to be cook's helper or dishwasher. My brothers always chose cook's helper and I always chose dishwasher. When I ate at my friend's homes they would be arguing with their siblings about whose turn it was to do the dishes and I would just get at them. 
I love the mindless, simple job and the hot soapy water. Now, putting them away, not so much.
I love the mindless, simple job and the hot soapy water. Now, putting them away, not so much.@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
6 Dec 16
My children washed and dried the dishes after meals when they were younger. They all hated the chore. They all took turns. As they got older we learned a way to keep peace at the table. Kicking someone under the table was called.....playing footsie.....if you were involved.....you did dishes. It took them no time at all Tom earn to keep their feet under their chairs.
