There are a few challenges when it comes to wash and rinse dishes in a farmhouse sink, and many new owners will run into them.
They wonder how they’ll wash their dishes without breaking them. Despite the sink’s beauty, washing dishes in a farmhouse sink can result in shattered china, broken glass, water spray, no drying area, and more.
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How to Wash Dishes in a Farmhouse Sink:
When start washing your dishes in a farmhouse sink, there’s a learning curve. Be prepared to get a little wet the first time from the spray. But, this quick step-by-step guide can help you get into a routine and come to enjoy the nostalgia of hand washing and rinsing your dishes.
You’ll figure out how much time it takes you, how much water you use, and how to prevent sprays and spilling. Once you do, you’ll save effort, water, and time each time you wash your dishes in this traditional kitchen sink.
Step 1: Scrape Your Dishes
One of the first things you want to do before you even turn your sink on is scrape your dishes. This process will remove most of the leftover debris, and it’ll keep them out of your water when you fill your sink. In turn, you’ll be able to clean more dishes before draining your water and refilling it.
Step 2: Sort and Stack Your Dishes
You don’t want to damage your sink or break your dishes, so carefully sort and stack them beside the sink. Put plates in one stack, pans in one, pots in one, and cutlery off to the side. You can put your glasses off to the side. Otherwise, set them further down the counter until you create room.
Remember, water will splash back at you if it hits any dishes, so leave a clear space for your water to fill the sink.
Step 3: Set Up Your Drying Area
Since farmhouse sinks have a single basin or double basin, you need a drying area for your clean dishes if it is single basin sink. A lot of people get a simple drying rack.
You can set it up on your counter on the side of your sink. Leave the lip hanging over the side of the sink for water to drain out. If you don’t have a draining rack, a towel or mat will do.
Step 4: Put a Small Amount of Soapy Water in Your Sink
You can either set your first stack of dishes in the sink or leave it empty and put a few inches of soapy water into it.
Take your first stack of dishes and wash them one by one. You’ll pass them through the soapy water and scrub them. Turn your faucet on low to rinse as you pass the dishes through.
If you have really dirty dishes, you can switch the farmhouse sink faucet off between rinsing. Turning it off will help conserve water and dishwashing detergent. Additionally, it’ll make sure your sink doesn’t get too full of dirty water.
Step 5: Set Your Dishes up to Dry
The final step is to set your dishes up to dry. As soon as you finish rinsing them, place them in your designated drying area. This can be the mat or drying rack we mentioned earlier. Repeat steps one through five for all of your stacks of dishes until you finish.
Step 6: Clean Out Your Sink
When you finish with your dishes, it’s time to clean out your sink. Pull the plug to drain the soapy water. Carefully rinse out any debris and clean out your drain. You can let your sink air dry, or you can wipe it out with a microfiber cloth.
Dealing With Common Issues Associated With Farmhouse Sinks
Although farmhouse sinks are beautiful and functional aspects to any room, they come with issues. We briefly touched on them in the introduction. We’ll go more in-depth and tell you how to fix them below.
1. Fixing Water Spray
Part of the charm of farmhouse sinks is their lower positions and flat bottoms. However, the flat bottom creates a perfect setting for water rebound or spray. This is why you don’t turn the water on high. However, you need more than a drizzle to wash your dishes.
If you fill your sink with a few inches of water, this will help to absorb the water spray. Another option is to get an absorbent sink protector.
Put it in the bottom of your sink to help catch and absorb the water before it hits the bottom. You also want to put a mat on the floor to stand on and wear an apron.
2. Setting Up a Drying Zone
Not having space in the sink to dry your dishes is something many people try to power through. However, this is a relatively simple fix.
But a drying rack or mat and set up a designated drying zone on the counter next to the sink. If you set it up straight away, you’ll get in the habit of using it.
3. Avoiding Broken Dishes
Fireclay sinks have durable and deeper basin. The deeper basin gives your dishes more area to fall and break. Additionally, these sinks don’t have traditional edges. There are are no rims, and dishes can slip far easier than with other sinks.
There’s not a lot you can do to avoid broken dishes but pay close attention. Wearing gloves when you wash dishes can increase your risk of dropping them.
So, try skipping the gloves and paying closer attention. Also, don’t stack your dishes in your soapy water. It’s easier to lose your grip and drop them.
4. Preventing Grime
Depending on your kitchen sink material and color, it can look grimy if you don’t take care of it. When you finish with your dishes, make sure you rinse your sink well.
Since this sink has a unique design, it’s relatively easy to clean it between uses. White sinks will show more grime than other materials.
Conclusion
Washing dishes on the right way in a farmhouse sink is important. Since they come in several different materials like fireclay, cast iron, enameled steel, acrylic, and copper, it’s easy to find one to match your decor.
Stainless steel farmhouse sinks are suitable for rough use. As they are made from heavy grade stainless steel, there are a few chance to brake it while washing your heavy dishes. Now that you know how to wash dishes in a both of single bowl farmhouse sink and double bowl farmhouse sink.
