The Order You Wash Dishes In Will Make All The Difference In Getting Food Messes Clean

After a dinner party or family meal, the last thing you want to do is start cleaning up. However, sometimes things can't go in the dishwasher, and that's when washing dishes by hand becomes a "handy" alternative. Everyone accomplishes this task differently, but some methods are far more efficient than others. In fact, the order in which you hand wash your dishes and the water temperature for washing different items should be key considerations every time you head to the kitchen sink.

First, you'll want to gather up all of your glassware and silverware. Wine glasses and silver cutlery can pick up watermarks easily, but washing them in hot water will allow them to dry while maintaining a sparkling appearance. Once you have finished washing these items and the water has cooled down, move on to your other non-silver and non-glass items. You should take on the plates and crockery that had dairy items last, as these are best washed in cold water since dairy messes can become gummed up in hot water. Of course, there are also other ways to make washing your dishes easier.

Speaking to MarthaStewart.com, Jessica Ek, senior director of digital communications at the American Cleaning Institute, shared some tips for achieving sparkling clean dishes. According to Ek, you should always start with your least dirty dishes — usually cups, glasses, and cutlery, as mentioned above. Next, reach for your plates and bowls. Finally, move on to pots and pans, as well as any serving dishes. These will likely be rather dirty and require a bit more elbow grease.

Though your water will naturally cool down, you should drain your sink and add fresh hot water if it becomes overly cold. The same goes for greasy water. Washing your dishes in dirty water won't clean them well, so it is essential to ensure the water is clean. If your dishes have lots of food grime and seem like a pain to rinse, Ek says to soak them in a mix of detergent or baking soda and hot water for at least 15 to 30 minutes before you attempt washing. You can add this mixture directly to the dish (if it's large enough) or use it to create a cleansing soak in your sink.