How To Clean Large Dishes When You Have A Small Sink

Smaller living has seen overwhelming growth over the last couple of years. From simply downsizing to investing in the tiny-house movement, this trend has home design buzzing. In an expansion of minimalism, people find that the less space you have, the more room you have for what is truly important. There is less clutter and a significant focus on what you need, creating a healthy space that fosters a simpler way of living. PR Newswire reported that the tiny-home market is expected to reach $3.57 billion by 2026.

Although small living has numerous pros, much like anything else, it can have its cons. Depending on your hobbies, sometimes more space is better. If you are an artist, you might need ample space for your creative process. Or, if you love to cook and bake, a small kitchen may start to feel frustrating, especially when it's time for cleanup. Small kitchens come with small sinks, which can be a pain to try and do dishes in after you have just cooked a big meal. But rest assured, there are plenty of ways to successfully clean large dishes in your small sink.

There are several methods to improve a small-sink-dish-washing experience by thinking about space and speed. To make the most of your space, consider getting a bin for soaking dirty dishware and make full use of your sink. Don't view your sink as an area for storage but as a workstation to keep it functional. Cleaning Institute emphasizes the importance of the order in which you wash dishes. Starting with smaller items such as silverware and glasses allows larger and typically dirtier dishes an extended soaking period.

To minimize the workload, clean as you cook. Utilize the 15 minutes while the pasta boils, or the chicken bakes to clean any accumulated dishes. Try having all dishware used to prep the meal cleaned before it's served so that when the meal is finished, only post-meal dishes remain. Small sinks feel much smaller when you let everything pile up. Keep in mind certain foods require more scrubbing or soaking than others, and avoiding hard-sticking grime creates stressless dishwashing. Things like meat often leave behind crusty residue and grease that is a pain to wash. Cover baking sheets with foil or parchment paper for a quick cleanup. Public Goods also suggests knowing what water temperatures work best for which foods because, against popular belief, hot water doesn't always work best. When it comes to dairy or starch products, use cold water, as hot water causes these substances to gum down and become harder to scrub away.

Several different accessories will elevate a small kitchen and create more room when washing dishes. Consider adding a drying rack to the counter or above your sink. A counter rack will be less expensive, and both will work efficiently in giving more sink usage, but the overhead drying rack won't compromise your counter space. Amazon has countless overhead dish racks that are easy to install and provide a convenient solution to an annoying issue.

Finding the right sponge holder will clear up space along the sides of the sink and the counter. If you purchase an overhead drying rack, the one you choose might come with a sponge holder. But if not, sponge holders that hook to the inside of the sink, like this one from Amazon, are quite handy. Even replacing your faucet head with one with more mobility and water coverage, such as this option from Amazon, will be a game changer in the time spent cleaning dishes. Having a small sink does not mean washing large dishes has to be a challenging endeavor. With a bit of patience and strategizing, your sink won't seem that small after all.