1. I don't like when plates are stacked in the sink. This just hit me a month or so ago, and I finally told my poor husband about it a couple weeks ago. Don't ask me why. It has something to do with having to also rinse/scrape the bottom of the plate due to its contact with the other plate. It just magnifies the grossness quotient for me. I'd rather cover up all the counter space with dirty plates, and attack them that way.
2. I try not to let silverware touch each other. I'm sure I'm not alone on this one. In fact, I know they have those little covers now that force you to put everything upside down so it doesn't touch. Since we're in an older house right now, there's no covers. But, I'm pretty sure we just took them off our last dishwasher anyway. Forks pointing up toward me are scary. My dishwasher shouldn't be menacing, but I do shudder at the idea of two spoons going through a cycle next to each other... SPOONING EACH OTHER! Ewwwww.
3. I wash my non-dishwasher-safe knives in the dishwasher. I didn't always do this. I used to believe that I'd ruin the expensive knives that we got as a wedding present... 11 years ago. I guess that I just got to the point where I figured that losing them wouldn't be a big deal. They have had a good life. Also, doesn't the dishwasher clean better than me and my sponge? When I'm cutting fat off of chicken, I want that sterilization factor. (Note: they've been just fine in the dishwasher.)
4. I like to hand-wash pots and pans, but the lids can go in the dishwasher. I don't know why, but it pains me to put a pot in the dishwasher. I do it, probably two or three times a week, but I guess it's all the precious space that I have to give up that annoys me. But, for some reason, that lid can go in - no problem. Even though the lid would take me literally a minute to wash, I'll just plop it in.
5. I refuse to run the dishwasher until it's completely overflowing. If there's a spot left for just one plate on the bottom, I'll wait until it can be filled. This, of course, is a horrible idea. There's never going to be just one plate in my house. It's 5 or 6 or 10 at a time. Usually, I'll fill the empty spot first thing in the morning and then have to run it right after the kids leave for school. This leaves me with bowls and cups from breakfast sitting in the sink until lunchtime, which I hate. So, I'm just making myself angry... which is stupid. Run the dishwasher when it makes sense! 10mm of emptiness isn't going to hurt anyone. Yes, I will keep telling myself that.
All this craziness being said, there's nothing better than finding out how to fit those extra 3 bowls and 2 plates in there, right? You'll spend 10 minutes reconfiguring that bad boy just to get them to fit, even though hand-washing them would have taken half the time.
It's just that sense of accomplishment...
Sometimes, you just take it where you can get it.
There's a certain beauty to every load. It's a piece of art. The fullness, the configuration that took tens of minutes of visualization and planning,... and, of course, that empty sink. Nothing feels better than to walk away from the kitchen with a clean sink and the dishwasher purring.
It's like you're on a dish vacation for a couple hours.
And no one can take that away from you. Not even the terrorists. Because if they try, you can just avoid the kitchen and pretend there's nothing IN the sink.
Next time you reorganize a load and then start it, take a moment to enjoy it. It's unique. It's got your own OCD written all over it.
Like a little, perfect, symmetrical snowflake.
Mostly, because you moved around whatever your husband did in there.
I love you, honey!
Say a prayer for me,
Kristin
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