Dishwashing tips? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

desertnurse · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dishwashing tips?

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

My wife has cut down on the large skillets she uses and over all we have cut down on a lot of dishes. It is only the two of us and we don't need large pans to cook in now. The more you cook for just the two the fewer dishes you will need. Our sink is rather large in our RV and we are getting a dishwasher installed next month.

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Being the cook and dishwasher on board (even when Ethel cooks, I wash) I have no problems. However, I do what my mother always did. "When you finish with a pot, pan or whatever, wash it."

This way, when you complete the cooking, you only have that last one or two containers and utensils to wash up. I also cook enough rice for another meal and ziplock it for the freezer. That eliminates one pot the next time I need rice.

Charles

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just put hot water and soap in a big pot and set it on the counter to clean it.

Then rinse it under the faucet. We changed our faucet to the type with the pull out hose and sprinkle button.

Othere dishes are cleaned like we do at home.

When boondocking we put a plastic pan in each side of the sink. One with hot soapy water the other with hot rinse water. All dishes are first wiped as clean as possible, then scrubbed in the soapy water and rinsed in the clean water and placed in the dish drain.
This helps to conserve water. We tend to use paper and plastic when boondocking to keep the dishes needing washing to a minimum.

azrving · RV-Dreams Family Member

We bought one of those big (plastic) wash basins @ WallyWorld and I fill it up with hot soapy water and wash the dishes outside (or inside) and rinse with the hose. We have 6 people in our camper so the small sink is pretty much useless.

Not a tree hugger but I do try to conserve and throw very little into the wastebasket. We wash everything! Never use paper or plastic if at all possible. Happy Camping.

http://www.your-camping-guidebook.com/camping-dishwashing.html

-- Edited by azrving on Wednesday 21st of July 2010 09:24:52 PM

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

We purchased a BIG outside camp sink that hooks to the water feed with a splitter T. When we have a big dish wash I take the dishes outside, i love our outdoor sink, G

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Delaine does all the cooking and we very seldom eat out. I do all the dish washing and we I don't have a problem. She did however down size many of the pots and pans. But really I'm Blessed because she has the ability to make the right choice in pots and pans. GBY...

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

First of all, I always use a dishpan. As was mentioned above, I usually have a bit of hot soapy water in the dishpan as I cook, and wash as I go. As others, I find I don't use many big pans these days. However, I do try to cook enough for two meals on occasion. We always wipe the dishes with a paper towel if they have a lot of "residue" that we don't want washed into the holding tanks. The dishpan is often emptied into the toilet (black water tank) to help even out the waste water and so that the black tank is "flushed" frequently.

Mary

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have always tried to wash as I go when I did not have a dishwasher or was cooking a large meal like Thanksgiving, etc. and had one.

Like others, we wipe the plates, utensils, pots, pans, etc. well before washing so as little food residue as possible goes into the tank.

We're lucky, I guess...we have a separate grey tank for the galley. I have a couple of those rubber mats that fit nicely in the sinks. If there are too many dishes to put in the dishwater, I stack 'em on the closed stovetop surface until there's room. If it is a "large" wash, rinsed dishes go into our wee drainer. If a small wash, Dave rinses and dries 'em after I do the washing.

There may be better ways, but we are in our early days of full-timing and this seems to work.

Cheers!

Happytrails · RV-Dreams Family Member

When I begin to cook I fill up my sink with dishwater and I wash as I finish using a pan or dish. This keeps the counter tops clear of dirty pans or dishes. When we are finished eating I wash a few dishes, stop and dry and then continue till finished. I have also purchased a drying towel from Bed, Bath and Beyond that you can lay on the counter and put dishes on it to drain. It kinda soaks up excess water so the drying goes quicker.

I really have had no problems and honestly wasn't sure with the limited counter space (as compared to my former s & b). You will figure out what works for you and I don't think it will be a problem.

desertnurse · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the tips!