Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Why I Love to Wash Dishes

Please don't think I'm crazy, but I really enjoy washing dishes. It's one of my favorite chores. I find it relaxing, soaking my hands in warm soapy water. And it's one of those satisfying tasks, where you can see the results of your work right away. Piles of dirty dishes and pans are now clean and stacked back in the cupboards and drawers where they belong.

Dish washing is also a social activity in our house. After supper and a walk around the block, we all gather in the kitchen to clean up. For some reason, when hands are busy with a task that doesn't require deep thought, conversation flows. We have some of our best talks together then.

I think my love for dish washing began in my grandmother's kitchen. At home, we had an automatic dishwasher, so washing dishes by hand was exotic to me. Sort of like gathering eggs, something else I only got to do at grandma's house. I would always volunteer to wash, and my grandma would dry. It was one of the only times I had her attention all to myself.

I have an automatic dishwasher now, but I hardly ever use it. I like the feeling of getting all of the dishes done at once. Dishwashers delay that; you have to remember to unload it later. And somehow, loading and unloading a dishwasher doesn't lend itself to the relaxed conversations we have when we're washing, drying and putting away the dishes together.

Do any of you have a favorite chore, one most people seem to hate? If any of you could convince me of the joy of cleaning toilets, I'd be most grateful!

8 comments:

  1. My favorite chore is vacuuming. I get that AHHHHHH feeling when I'm done, kind like what you feel when you brush your teeth. I think vacuuming just makes the whole room feel clean. Dishes on the other hand...not so much! I don't have a dishwasher and so wish I did! Want to come over to my house? LOL!

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  2. Ashley, if you come over and do my vacuuming, I'll do your dishes! :) Though like you, I do enjoy that just-vacuumed feeling.

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  3. I enjoy cleaning toilets. :D Its fun. You get to sprinkle the powder in it and scrubbing with the brush is my favorite part. Cleaning the tub is fun, too. Its the only thing you get to climb inside of to clean. And, no, I am not making this up. I really like it.

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  4. You people are all crazy!;) Just kidding. I really like to go grocery shopping. But then my daughter says I am a hobbit so maybe that explains it.

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  5. I love washing dishes too! I wash my sister's dishes when I stay at her house, too. She hates them, and I love them, so I just dive right in and make myself at home!

    Speaking of which, baby's done nursing and I have some lovelies in the sink calling my name! :)

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  6. I don't like any of it. It never ends!! Don't come to my house please. Oh, you can come but I give your fair warning. I have a ministry to women distressed by housekeeping. They leave my house thinking that they are doing better than they thought.

    I do feel a sense of accomplishment, though, when all the laundry is washed and put away.

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  7. Well I have to be honest, I don't care for washing dishes, in fact it is my least favorite chore. I do it, but would rather spend my time doing laundry. My younger daughter and I do all our laundry by hand, outside with a plunger and a bucket. We purchased an antique wringer on Saturday and got to try it out yesterday. It was so nice to be outside with her doing the laundry. Wouldn't trade it!

    http://ourroadtosimplicity.blogspot.com/

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  8. Wow, Kelly, I am impressed! Washing laundry by hand is not something I've ever considered doing. Glad it's something you and your daughter enjoy doing.

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