To rinse or not to rinse, that’s the question in our house.
I’m talking about the dishes, of course, which would go straight from the kitchen table into the dishwasher if most of my family members had their way.
“You don’t have to wash the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher,” my kids will say — with some sarcasm, I might add. But I usually get my way, prompting a more thorough rinse (including use of the dish brush and a little soap) before the pan or plate or glass or piece of silverware makes its way into the dishwasher.
But I’m not always around when the dirty dishes are loaded or the clean ones put back into the cupboards. And it’s an unpleasant surprise when I pull out a mug for my morning coffee and find chocolate residue from the hot chocolate last sipped from that cup that, for some unexplained reason, the dishwasher does not remove. (Same residue easily comes off with a quick pre-dishwasher scrub and a little soap.)
Similar scenarios happen with other food not rinsed that ends up baked on the “clean” dishes.
Is this a problem in your house? Am I a horrible nagging mother when I show said dishes or glasses as proof of my point and the need for some pre-dishwasher cleaning? Will I ever win this battle?
Of course I will, since it’s only a matter of a time until I’ll be doing almost all of the dishes myself after all of the kids have moved out!
