My discovery: Dish washing unnecessary

snoozy · #81 03/27/10, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ in WA

I explained situations in which one should wash them - sharing dishes.

I explained how to prevent significant bacterial growth.

When one does understand bacteria and sanitation, one can know when to break the rules. Maybe that's why I shouldn't mention this subject, because so many just can't comprehend the concept.

I do understand women's revulsion for all things dirty. If mom's weren't so, I suppose all our bottoms would have rotted off. Unfortunately, with modern chemicals and machinery, we've taken it to an extreme. I'm now hearing that our sterile environment is more and more of a problem.

Well I don't know about your house but my house is a far (and anguished) cry from a "sterile environment"

...

You make it sound as though the bacteria that one can become sick from only comes from some other person. Where does bread mold come from? Bread is going to mold, regardless of whether it has been "exposed" to a human's defiling touch or spittle, isn't it? So too with leftover scum on plates and in glasses.

I've got a friend who got food poisoning at a Seattle restaurant yesterday - perhaps it was one you inspected...

This is certainly true: "If mom's weren't so, I suppose all our bottoms would have rotted off."

DJ in WA · #82 03/27/10, 09:21 PM

I give up.

ChristieAcres · #83 03/28/10, 08:59 PM

Hmmm, okay...?! And YOUR wife wants to kiss you? (?????)

Me, I would

My DH washes dishes and also brushes his teeth...cool, eh?

Heritagefarm · #84 03/28/10, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ in WA

I give up.

ChristieAcres · #85 03/29/10, 12:59 AM

The rare moment I see DH sitting there looking relaxed, I ask him sweetly, "Honey, have you eaten off a plate without washing it?"

"Lori, what kind of stupid question is that?! Oh, okay, so I might have eaten something off a plate and then half a day later used the same plate without washing it," he first questions, then answers looking a bit puzzled.

"So, would you eat off the same plate 24 hours later?" I ask, smiling.

"What kind of an idiot to you think I am? I am not exactly an animal, you know. I am a little civilized, even though I eat raw oysters..." he answers.

Don't worry, I wouldn't kiss him after he ate raw oysters

Old John · #86 03/29/10, 06:24 AM

Ennnh, we have a dishwasher. We both load it. When it's full, whoever gets it there runs it. After it is run, whoever notices first, unloads it.........
No problem here.Oh, and I puts my coffee cup in at the end of each day and my beer glass in the dishwasher, each morning.

DSW gets on me, if I eat any leftovers out of the fridge that are nearing two weeks down the line.
We would rather be safe than sorry, Thanks.

salmonslayer · #87 03/29/10, 10:50 AM

Quote:

and my beer glass in the dishwasher, each morning.

I like yer breakfasts John....

HermitJohn · #88 03/29/10, 12:42 PM

Another way of looking at this idea of just case hardening your plates instead of washing them is that people have preserved food for millenia by DRYING it. Stops bacterial growth. So in reality you are just drying your "leftovers" for later use instead of washing them down the drain.

In fact he is just practicing food preservation like any good homesteader.....

michiganfarmer · #89 03/29/10, 12:52 PM

my moms mother was married during the depression. She rinsed the dishes off wiht water after every meal, fed the water to the pigs and washed the dishes with soap and bleach once a week

suitcase_sally · #90 03/29/10, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ in WA

At my work for the past several years, I have failed to wash my dishes. I just reuse them. I've started to do the same thing at home, even though my wife would love to wash my stuff.

I spent years as a public health inspector enforcing severe dishwashing - either high temperature or chlorine to kill everything. Can't believe I'm saying all this.

Why? Why??? WHY????? WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THIS???

Something is wrong with you!

Heritagefarm · #91 03/29/10, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HermitJohn

Another way of looking at this idea of just case hardening your plates instead of washing them is that people have preserved food for millenia by DRYING it. Stops bacterial growth. So in reality you are just drying your "leftovers" for later use instead of washing them down the drain.

In fact he is just practicing food preservation like any good homesteader.....

Warped thinking. Maybe I should stop canning now.

badlander · #92 03/29/10, 03:49 PM

Funny Topic.

I think probably at one time or another we are all guilty of letting the dogs have the leftovers.

I myself have a habit of setting my plate down, yelling, "PRE-WASH!" and watching the dogs scramble to see who is going to get to do the honors. Of course from that point, the dishes are rinsed in hot water and stuck in the dishwasher (when at our work residence) and when home, they go in a dish pan of boiling hot water to be scrubbed with soap and a chore girl!.

Sorry, but the thought of never washing the dishes kinda makes the nurse in me cringe.

But when it comes to drying dishes. I always let them air dry and put them away. One of the first things they taught us in nurses training is that dish towels harbor Tuberculosis buggies. That broke me of dish towels around the kitchen. We use paper towels to dry our hands or wipe out dishes when the need arises.

I have also observed our Amish neighbors during meals. They leave NO food in a plate or bowl. They are literally wiped clean before they leave the table. Kinda cool. No waste. If a child leaves food on its plate, mom or dad finishes it up for them.

Kinda cool really considering how much food the average family scrapes off their plates and into the trash (if you don't have pigs or chickens) every day.

Minelson · #93 03/29/10, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linda in se ny

The trick for getting the dog "slime" off the dishes is white vinegar. Squeaky clean after that!

Just wanted to let you know I tried this and it worked wonderfully! We are now going to do it at the Vet Clinic where I work too. I just put a couple glugs into the soap water and presto cleano!!
Thank you so much!!!

whodunit · #94 03/29/10, 05:21 PM

The majority of our cast iron hasn't been "washed" for a very long time. We just rinse it with extremely hot water and scrub with a brush.

I have no issues with what I used to call a "bachelor wash"- just a quick hot water rinse and dry.

Didn't California miners used to hang their pots and pans out to be sandblasted by the sand and wind?

We use the dishwasher at least twice a day due to having stainless steel milking equipment, so we may as well wash anything else that needs it, too, but this idea might help keep it at two uses.

We wash our bath towels maybe once a week- I don't see the issue since I am drying my clean body. We just hang them up to dry for the next time.

Sbrock · #95 03/29/10, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

...I've santized needle nosed pliers to use as a fork/chopsticks with a propane torch!!

We use battery acid...

Homesteader at Heart · #96 03/29/10, 09:40 PM

Cindy in NY, why would you ever let a dog lick a plate in the first place?

seedspreader · #97 03/29/10, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ in WA

If I could eat the whole thing, I would eat straight from the pot, but if can only eat some, alot of wet stuff left behind, and growth would be a problem. With a thin crust of food, it dries before enough bug numbers to make me sick. Which is the bottom line, I haven't been sick. If I die, I'll type a retraction.

I thought this site was about getting back to the simple life. How did the Indians wash dishes? Sure alot of squeamish people out roughing it on the homestead!

You know DJ, this explains a lot to me about your posts. LOL, just kidding (sorta... shiver).

Homesteader at Heart · #98 03/29/10, 09:49 PM

All you dog slobber people, I am glad I am not eating at your houses. I know I have probably eaten worse things, but that was unintentional!

Heritagefarm · #99 03/29/10, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homesteader at Heart

Cindy in NY, why would you ever let a dog lick a plate in the first place?

We let 'em lick, but we clean them afterwards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homesteader at Heart

All you dog slobber people, I am glad I am not eating at your houses. I know I have probably eaten worse things, but that was unintentional!

Well, did you get sick from that? Maybe you should try it. Meanwhile, I'm going to continue to clean our dishes (after I let the dogs run their disgusting tongues all over them).

CamM · #**100** 03/30/10, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culpeper

CamM, you eat things off the floor? I have visions of you down on all fours, head down, bum up......

Think of the places a dog will lick on itself - then think of eating from the plates that same tongue has been licking!!

A dog's tongue is not only his wash cloth but also his toilet paper.

"...people who believe that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans' mouths are greatly mistaken, according to veterinarians who have spoken on the subject. Most humans have a strong belief in good hygiene, and brush their teeth at least once or twice every day. Human mouths rarely come into contact with external bacteria. Dogs' mouths, in contrast, are rarely cleaned in most cases. Dogs also have a tendency to sniff around and eat bacteria-filled waste — including rancid food and feces — whenever they are given the opportunity to do so. Contrary to popular belief, dogs' mouths are far dirtier than the mouths of the typical human being."

http://www.wisegeek.com/are-dogs-mou...han-humans.htm

Lol. Indeed. I knew I coulda worded that better after posting.