See how to make life easier when washing dishes – 05/15/2023 – Food

Imagine a kitchen where, in a single day, a thousand dirty dishes accumulate on the sink, apart from cutlery and glasses. What looks like a scene from a horror movie is the routine at the Rancho Português restaurant, in Vila Olímpia, in the west zone of São Paulo, which receives around 500 people on a Saturday — each customer soils at least two of each utensil.

It was in this scenario, almost a decade ago, that Ana da Silva, 40, started working. She washed dishes from 8 am to 4:20 pm, six days a week, until she became a cook. “I love washing dishes and I learned many techniques, which I use at home today. I mix a little bleach in the detergent, for example, to make the dishes whiter, and I don’t forget the gloves, so as not to damage my nails”, he says. she.

It is true that the restaurant’s equipment gave that strength to Ana’s work. According to Valdeci Castro, manager of Rancho Português, the dishwashing environment is sectored — plates, cutlery, glasses and pans do not mix. Each sector is equipped with a machine that operates in a fast cycle. “The dishwasher holds 20 units, with a hot water cycle that lasts less than two minutes,” he explains.

As this luxury is for the few — a domestic dishwasher doesn’t cost less than R$ 1,200 — the way is to face the sink. For organization specialist Flávia Ferrari, the secret is to understand the task of washing dishes as a process that requires planning.

“I’m an engineer by training and I look at the house as a set of processes. With order, everything works better”, she says. See below for tips for better dishwashing.

BEFORE

• Place the dirty dishes in the sink, taking care to separate them according to the level of dirt. “If you mix glasses with cutlery, for example, you end up spreading grease residues on utensils that would be easier to wash”, recommends personal organizer Ingrid Lisboa.
• Eliminate food residues as much as possible.
• In the case of dishes, recommends organizer Liz Gea, the tip is to scrape them with a paper towel, which also helps to remove some of the fat. Cutlery should be deposited in a plastic basin with water and drops of detergent.
• Remember to empty the drying rack before starting to wash more dishes, ensuring space to support clean utensils. The size of the drainer must be consistent with the number of residents. It’s important that at least all the dishes for a meal fit.
• Cleaning specialist Flávia Ferrari adds vinegar or lemon juice to the detergent. “A teaspoon of vinegar or half a lemon is enough. It’s much easier to remove the fat.”
• For experts, the ideal is to use three units of sponges simultaneously, one for each purpose. “I recommend leaving one for the exclusive use of grease-free glasses and crockery, another for other utensils and a third for cleaning the sink and countertops. This avoids cross-contamination”, says Ingrid Lisboa.
• Pay attention to the shelf life of the sponge. According to biomedical Roberto Figueiredo, known as Dr. Bacteria, they must be discarded after one week of use. “That’s why the packages bring four pieces, the exact amount to be used in a month”, he says. As an alternative, it is worth looking for versions made entirely of natural material, available on the market.

DURING

• Those who have piped hot water in the kitchen sink have to take advantage of the resource. “It degreases dishes faster”, says Ingrid Lisboa. If you don’t have it, heat water and throw it in more greasy items to facilitate the process.

• Detergent should not be applied directly to the sponge, much less to dirty dishes. “This way, there is waste and contamination of the water table. The right thing is to put a liter of water in a basin, add four tablespoons of detergent and one of vinegar and alcohol, and wet the sponge in this solution”, teaches Dr. Bacterium.

• If the dirty dishes have already been separated, it is easier to order the washing. “I suggest starting with the glasses and non-greasy items, the easiest to clean, then the plates, then cutlery, leaving pans last”, says Liz Gea.

• No one needs to waste time drying dishes with a dish towel, according to Dr. Bacterium. “It is in this step that the most mistakes are made. A damp cloth can have a million more bacteria than the toilet seat in a public bathroom. It is better to leave the dishes on the drying rack, drying naturally”, he explains.

AFTER

• Leaving the sink clean is just as important as washing the dishes: standing water, teaches the biomedical doctor, is certainly contamination: “Just use a squeegee to remove the accumulation of water”.

• For this reason, choose detergent holders with a space for a sponge that have a hollow bottom, which prevents the accumulation of water.

• At least once a week, Flávia Ferrari uses cloths moistened with disinfectant to clean faucets and mixers. “This avoids the accumulation of slime on the metals”, explains the specialist in organization.

• The sink drain needs a monthly disinfectant bath, explains Dr. Bacteria: two spoons (soup) of bicarbonate in the drain, plus half a glass of alcohol vinegar and hot water on top. “It’s efficient, because it unclogs and degreases; it’s better than chlorine or disinfectant.”