How To Make Emptying the Dishwasher Fun


Okay, maybe this won't make emptying the dishwasher fun, but it will make it less annoying.

Almost two years ago, I asked my seventeen-year-old son to empty the dishwasher. He emptied all the dishes and put them away, then disappeared, leaving the baskets of silverware untouched. I called him back. "You forgot the silverware."

"I didn't forget. I hate unloading the silverware."

"It still has to be done."

"Why don't we separate it when we're loading it? It would make unloading it so much easier."

Ah hah! It actually would make unloading easier. But wouldn't that make loading it a lot harder?

Actually, no. I load all dishes first. Then when I'm down to silverware, I load all spoons, all forks, all knives into their own basket. Then I load all of the odds and ends. They actually fit better and then when its time to unload, it's a snap.

I know this might sound a little obsessive/compulsive, but a little organizing up front makes it so much easier in the end.


Comments

Juli said…
We also do this here. :) I also have OCD but I spell it CDO (because all the letters are in the correct order)

But, seriously, it all started when my nine year old wanted to help me out, and put the dishes away while I was still asleep in the morning. I started putting all the really sharp knifes in the spot on the right so he wouldn't get cut separating forks and spoons. The rest just kind of followed.

Great post. So simple, yet great!
Rebecca Adams said…
I just started doing this a few days ago! It does make it a lot easier to unload when you put all the forks together and all the spoons together, etc. :) It's a great idea!
Scott / Lori said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Scott / Lori said…
When I first heard about this I thought it was an interesting idea but never cared enough to try it. After unloading the dishwasher today and hating the silverware the entire time I have decided I will give it a go. I will let you know how it goes...................
Christie said…
Silverware is the WORST! This is such a good idea. My OCD brain would totally take to this idea. Thanks!
Annie said…
Yes! This is the One True Way for loading silverware in the dishwasher. Now if I can only get my kids and husband to cooperate...
Thanks for the how-to!
Cares and Mimi said…
My sister has been separating her silverware like this for ages - and has been telling me about it for ages too! Seems that great minds think a like!!!! Carrie (Cares)
John said…
I've always enjoyed unloading silverware. Ever since I was little. Weird, eh?! It's the rest that I hate. And I don't think I'll start loading that way because when it's my kids turn to unload they'll expect it to be easy for them. : )
My husband has taken on the duty of kitchen anyway. Isn't that nice of him? I'll share your tip with him. Maybe he'll like it. (I still clean the kitchen but if it didn't get done, he's made it a goal to get it done.)
Thanks for sharing.
crystal said…
If this gets kids to stop whining about unloading the dishwasher, so be it.

I choose to just dump the silverware out on the floor and then say, "NOW put it away."

Just kidding, but I've been tempted.
Oh you are so right; I love loading mine that way. Plus I put the pointy ends down then when you remove them you're holding the handles instead of the eating part.
Donna said…
I love doing the silverware this way. I just wish the basket had more sections, like, one for salad forks and one for dinner forks! HaHa!! JK ;)Thanks for sharing!
It is a great idea and I heard about it years ago so I usually do it this way
Thelma said…
This could change my life. Why didn't I think about that before?
Kristi said…
Yes! You get it. I try to do this. It feels so orderly to have things in the correct compartment. Maybe I have a bit of the OCD myself.
Anonymous said…
I was always told to specifically put them in different compartments jumbled up because if you put a whole bunch of spoons together they, well, 'spoon' each other and the food particles don't get washed off.
So is this a myth?
Karey said…
I haven't had a problem with the spoons not getting clean. But I usually clean my silverware pretty well before it goes in the dishwasher and the dishwasher sterilizes it.