Today I have 7 reasons to share with you of why I’ve started hand washing the dishes rather than use the dishwasher. I know it sounds pretty silly right? But hear me out. 2020 has been a doozie of a year to put it mildly. I’ve decided this small change in my chore routine keeps me busy and gives me a warm cozy feeling inside. I think the warm water is soothing and gives me time to reflect on other things.
It’s also Cozy Living Saturday hosted by Jennifer, she puts together a monthly post of all things cozy; where I’ve been invited to share my ideas. Please click the links below to see the other posts from this months roundup.
JOY
I know it sounds crazy but doing the dishes brings me JOY. Years back when my only option was to wash dishes by hand it didn’t make me feel very joyful. But as I get older the simple task of washing the few dishes hubby and I create gives me time to be THANKFUL.
THANKFUL
Who in their right mind is thankful to be doing dishes? Well right now that’s me. It keeps my hands busy and keeps me focused on what being truly thankful is all about. Yes I can fire up the automatic dishwasher and not bother with doing them the old fashioned way, but right now I thankful to have the distraction from the world around me.
KEEPING WARM
Since it’s winter time in Michigan KEEPING WARM is a priority and plunging my cold hands into the warm and soothing dish water takes those winter chills away. For me once my hands and feet get cold it’s all over; my entire body is shivering. Dish doing is much like drinking a cup of warm tea for me, it warms me up all over.
SIMPLE PLEASURE
It doesn’t sound like it but doing dishes is a SIMPLE PLEASURE for me right now. I’m taking time to really reflect on what maters and some of the most simple things mean the most to me. I’m determined to keep finding the simple things in life as 2021 progresses.
TIME FOR PRAYER
I never realized how much PRAYER TIME I could get in while washing a few simple dishes. God is always there to listen no matter what I’m doing, and praying while I work seem like the perfect combination. Slowing down and spending time in prayer is one of my most looked forward to time of the day; and why not scrub a few pans while I’m at it?
FAMILY DOWNSIZING
Now that it’s just hubby and I it takes forever for us to accumulate enough dishes to run the dishwasher. I know, I know the experts say doing dishes by hand takes more water than running a dishwasher but that just doesn’t seem logical to me. Any-who hubby is out of town a lot and it’s just me so at most I’ll have one cup, a plate, and few pieces of silverware to wash once a day so it’s much easier to do them by hand.
RELAXING
Last of all dish washing seems to be relaxing to me. It’s a great way to wind down at the end of the night with my nice warm hands and my heart full of joy. I do believe as I get older the little things are way more important to me than I ever could have imagined.
So what do your prefer, washing by hand or using a dishwasher? Don’t get me wrong if I make a big meal or bake I do use the dishwasher since it’s a full load. But for now I’ll spend my time enjoying my simple cozy method. Thanks for dropping in today and don’t forget to click the links below for more Cozy January ideas.
FYI
- Countertop: Black Concrete, with Exposed Aggregate Edges (DIY)
- Sink: Black Silgranit
- Cupboards: Custom Made (by Amish) in Shaker Style
- Bowls: World Market
- Green Mug: World Market
- White Bowl: Vintage
- Dish Scrubber: Bamboo, Amazon
- White Plates: Corelle
- Dishpan: Vintage
- Dish Strainer: Amazon
- Kitchen Lights: Exterior Barn Lights, Menards
Vinyet Etc. / Creative Cain Cabin / Hymns and Verses
A Stroll Thru Life / Duke Manor Farm / Town and Country Living
While I don’t really like washing dishes, I will agree that it can be a time to pray, appreciate the beauty of creation right outside my window, and think about what I have to do for the rest if the day. Thank you for providing sources for the items in your pictures!!! I love your kitchen! We are in the process of trying to do a mini-remodel of our kitchen and yours gives me so many ideas!
I do a lot of hand washing also. I like to keep the kitchen clean, so when there are just a few things I love to fill a bowl with warm soapy water and get the dishes clean and the kitchen at the same time. Loved your post. Great time to talk to God.
Hello fellow Michigander. We acquired a dishwasher when we had young children at home who seemed to always be getting sick. A dishwasher seemed the way to eliminate many germs. We still use it for just us two, but I too enjoy the soothing, meditative feeling I get when doing dishes by hand. That warm, sudsy, foamy water is good to my hands as I watch the many birds at our birdfeeders out the kitchen window.
Love this post, Dawn. I don’t have a dishwasher so we always wash by hand. I’ve never really been a fan of dishwashing machines, to be honest. My mom always washed dishes by hand even though she had a dishwasher. My grandmother always hand washed hers, too. Maybe it’s just ingrained in me. And I know what you mean about the warm-almost-hot water warming your hands and insides during the winter!
Happy New Year Dawn! Loved this post, and YES I’m a dish washer. We replaced our dishwasher several years back and I stiff prefer to wash by hand. Each day is ended with a clean kitchen & clean favorite coffee cup. I enjoy using old dishes that need special care and I’m a bug about wanting my dishes CLEAN!!!
Bonjour,
Je fais comme vous, et j’ai toujours refusé d’acheter un lave-vaisselle.
L’eau chaude détend, soulage les douleurs articulaires des mains, on a le calme, le temps de réfléchir et on voit le travail avancé au fur et à mesure. Et quand monsieur est là, c’est lui qui se charge d’essuyer et ramasser.
Bonne année 2021 à vous.
Hello,
I do like you, and I have always refused to buy a dishwasher.
Hot water relaxes, relieves joint pain in the hands, we have calm, time to think and we see the work advanced as we go. And when Monsieur is at home, he is responsible for wiping up and picking up the clean dishes.
Happy New Year 2021 to you.
I also rarely use the dishwasher with just the two of us but we had family for Christmas so I used the dishwasher as I was told to run it on occasion to keep it lubricated so it doesn’t dry out the parts? Who knew…lol How is Grandma Red doing
Dawn,
I absolutely love this! Even a simple thing like washing the dishes can bring us joy and boy, have we needed joy in our every day lives this past year!
I am like you. I have a dishwasher but always wash dishes buy hand. Living in the country I just love looking out the window at all the nature. It also gives me time to pray and reflect. This its my time to count my many blessings. I really enjoyed this post
.
Finding the time to let our minds wander with the simple task of washing the dishes by hand, appreciating the simpler things in life is never a bad thing. I am such a messy cook that I rely heavily on my dishwasher hahahaha. But, I do enjoy the moments when there are a few dishes we need to wash by hand. It’s also such a great way to catch up with each other at the kitchen sink.