I am avoiding DOING the dishes by sharing something about dish washing in our home. Yes, I’m brilliant.
Adrian prefers to use sponges. I am freaked out by sponges (it’s up there with my phobia of the kitchen sink drain…which is lame because then I’m so afraid to clean it properly, since I’d have to touch the nasty, that it then still stays dirty, thereby perpetuating my fear). Sponges, I feel, are a breeding ground for bacteria. They have their place for certain cleaning tasks, but not for washing the dishes off of which we also eat. Plus, before rinsing them he rests them on the side with the garbage disposal so that he can rinse a bunch at once, so they have therefore TOUCHED the grossest area of the sink in my mind. It makes me feel a little queasy when I see it.
Due to my sponge distaste, I use dish rags. I say they are cleaner because I can wash them in very hot water and sometimes even bleach them to get rid of any scariness. I only use them for one load of dishes, generally, before they are washed again. And I sewed the corners so that I can distinguish them from the rags I use to, say, clean the shower (also a freakishly dirty place to me, because feet touch it. But that’s another story). Dish rags and other cleaning rags are not to be washed in the same load. Of course, I also wash diapers in the same washer. But for some reason that doesn’t bother me. Yes, this is how my twisted mind works.
So. Adrian, in turn, thinks my rags are disgusting. To him, a wet rag is the breeding ground for Scary. I say science is on my side, but I will allow him his feelings because, of course, I have my own and we are mutually respective of one another. (We also have our own peanut butter. It’s not necessary for two married people to have every single thing in common.) Also, to do the dishes, I have to fill up a bowl with soapy water, in which the rag sits, and the sight of that gives him the heebie jeebies or whatever you want to call it. Basically, what it comes down to is that we each have to not watch the other one do the dishes, but just know that however they’re done, afterwards they are probably not going to kill us.
Thursday night I had done some dishes and hung the washcloth on the oven bar to dry. Adrian grabbed the bar to open the oven and remove the cookies and of course grabbed it right over the wet rag. Face slightly contorted, hand frozen in place, he said in a sour voice, “It’s wet.”
“Oh, um, yeah. Let me just take that for you,” I replied, as I quickly grabbed it and stashed it out of his immediate range. No one wants to get a handful of Yuck. Ever.
Of course, this all could be avoided by using the dishwasher, but it’s broken, and neither one of us want to stick our hand in the pool of water at the bottom to dianose the issue. Washing by hand is far superior to THAT. Blech.
I’m with you on the dish rag thing. I guess I’ve had too many scary encounters with roommates who left out old sponges that smelled like mildew. Anything that touches a mildewy sponge gets that same smell. I especially can’t stand it if it get on my hands. I also will only use a dish rag once before washing it (although, I admit, that I’m not so picky about the laundry load that it gets washed in because I sadly probably have some old food on my clothes, too), because it starts to stink also if left out or reused.
I installed a little hook off to the side of the sink to hang the latest wet dish rag. That system seems to work pretty well in avoiding any unnecessary encounters with grossness.
I can relate to both of you on this one. We DO NOT use sponges for the dishes, they freak me out. In my opinion, sponges are ONLY to be used for scrubbing out the bath tub. We have one in the kitchen at work and if I must wash a dish there, I use paper towels rather than that dirty sponge (who knows who’s touched it or what they’ve done with it, blech!).
Ryan likes to use a dish rag to wash dishes or wipe down the counter tops, then he hangs it over the faucet to dry, I HAVE to wash my hands if I accidentally touch it (wet or dry). I prefer to use a scrub brush for the dishes before I put them into the dishwasher. I also put the scrub brush in the dishwasher to keep it nice and clean. I will use a rag to wipe down the counter tops, but then it goes straight into the wash, not on the faucet to use again tomorrow.
Ryan pretty much thinks I’m crazy for thinking everything is so gross, but now I know I’m not alone.
Hmmmmm, I can very much relate. We have one sponge for scrubbing the kitchen sink with lots and lots of Soft Scrub. I threaten John with death if he ever uses that sponge anywhere else. Ick. I’ve decided though that I just have to not pay attention to how other people do things or else I’ll just make myself crazy (which I’ve come really close to doing a couple of times).
By the way, Emily, got your note yesterday…hilarious. Made my night. Too bad it was too late to go out and by some Crunch Eggs. Love the announcement and the picture of Morgan, by the way. So cute.
This post makes me miss you even more. Which isn’t helping, because I already miss you so much. I need you to help me pick out the flowers for the wedding and how I should do my hair. And I think I picked the wrong dress. I think you guys should move home until after the wedding, or maybe after our first baby is born, or maybe until the last baby turns 18. So much for no pressure. hehe Give Morgan a big kiss for us.