# Rules for dish washing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839 "2026-10-14T18:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/21 "2026-10-14T23:56:28Z")
Complete agree. Nothing stands between plating and forking. Nothing. Now I do wash up cooking stuff while I’m cooking. Any mixing or measuring tools get washed while the combined ingredients are simmering, frying, roasting, whatevering. So by the end there’s essentially one pot or pan per finished meal component and one serving tool per component to get it out of the cooking vessel and onto the plates. Which plates or bowls are always pre-heated. Hot food that’s no longer hot is not worth eating. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/22 "2026-10-15T00:02:24Z")
My only rule is, must wash up whatever is left in the sink before retiring for the evening. I hate waking up to pots and pans in the sink, ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/23 "2026-10-15T00:12:49Z")
I like to wash everything before bed so as not to leave water or anything else to attract insects. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/24 "2026-10-15T01:16:02Z")
My wife does the vast majority of the cooking in our house. I do all the dishwashing, whether it’s by hand or loading & unloading the dishwasher. The only thing I would add to the discussion is that I put forks in the silverware rack tines down. One time running a tine underneath a fingernail while unloading was one time too many. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/25 "2026-10-15T01:55:56Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > bad rule. when the food is done, I want to eat. Waiting until after the dishes is done ensures cold and sub-optimal food. When I pull the food off the stove, or out of the microwave, it’s too hot to eat. Doing the dishes gives it time to cool off a bit before I eat it. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/26 "2026-10-15T01:57:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m confused. Where is the food at this time? I’ve dished it up and it’s patiently waiting for me at the kitchen table. It stays hot for quite a while, which gives me time to do the dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/27 "2026-10-15T02:16:15Z")
if you had spaghetti that night dishes must be thoroughly rinsed before loading in the dishwasher. Unless you like all your plasticware a nice shade of orange. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/28 "2026-10-15T02:25:36Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > The only thing I would add to the discussion is that I put forks in the silverware rack tines down. One time running a tine underneath a fingernail while unloading was one time too many. The way mine is designed, this is impossible. I used to put them in tines down, though. We put the knives in the drying rack points up, unless someone else might attempt to clean up. the utensil bin is at the back, where no one has to reach over it. And some of the knives aren’t stainless, and might rust in the damp utensil bin. The blades get a lot more air points up. I do carefully lean then away from us. And if there are too many to easily remove, I lay them flat on the drying rack. I don’t ever put a knife in the sink, though. Dangerous for both me and the knife. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/29 "2026-10-15T02:28:15Z")
I’ve never understood the fights over loading the dishwasher. Whoever puts the last few dishes in ALWAYS rearranges things so that all the items fit without blocking each other. Where the dishes “should” go depends on what else is in the dishwasher. We have discussed how we’d like the flatware put in the dishwasher, because it turns out we remove the flatware in completely different ways, and what’s convenient for me is inconvenient for my husband, and vice versa. We have agreed on a compromise that minimizes the overall inconvenience. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/30 "2026-10-15T02:48:44Z")
The way the flatware basket is designed in the dishwasher that came with the apartment, the contents don’t seem to get fully clean if loaded handles-up. I’m careful about unloading promptly and not leaving the bottom rack accessible unless loading or unloading. I shuffle the flatware into the different compartments to prevent nesting (especially with spoons). As for other items, I tend to group similar items (e.g., saucers which are primarily used to serve the cats their canned food, dinner plates) together for easier putting away and do take into account standard concerns about plastics going on the top shelf, making sure everything’s getting hit with lots of soapy water, etc. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/31 "2026-10-15T03:59:52Z")
If you can do a custom home build, put in two real dishwashers. One is loading and/or washing, one is to be emptied. Keeps the sink empty (well, as long as you unload the washed dishes). When I had 3 kids in the house, it was a godsend. Don’t get a “bar” dishwasher, that holds a couple of wine glasses. Go full monty, and two full on dishwashers. You’re welcome! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/32 "2026-10-15T04:21:11Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > If you can do a custom home build, put in two real dishwashers. One is loading and/or washing, one is to be emptied. Keeps the sink empty (well, as long as you unload the washed dishes). My bachelor friend had 2 dishwashers installed when he remodeled his kitchen. It was so that he never had to empty the dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/33 "2026-10-15T04:29:42Z")
My dishwasher flatware holders are large enough that I can load them all business-end down with spoons in one compartment, forks in another, and table knives in another, and they always come out clean, even with potential nesting. I didn’t believe it would work until I tried it. It makes putting away the flatware really fast and less of a chore. I believe in not piling up dishes in the sink during the day because I’m going to need the sink for rinsing vegetables and other food prep. Plus it’s unsightly. So dishes go straight into the dishwasher throughout the daytime. I clean the pans and bowls and such as I go along, so there’s not such a disaster to clean up afterward. Sadly, I’m the only one in the household who follows my rules. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/34 "2026-10-15T05:07:22Z")
I have 2 dishwashers. I fully agree it’s the bomb. And a privilege to have. In this house they are used. Not for storage. There are days we’ve done 3 loads. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839/35 "2026-10-15T05:32:23Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > One of my rules is do the dishes during or immediately after the cooking process, even if that means delaying eating for a few minutes. My sister-in-law does that and it’s fricking irritating! We want to eat and she’s screwing around with cleaning dishes. I hope you don’t do that while entertaining guests. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-for-dish-washing/1033839.md?page=1)