Talk

Put a towel on the kitchen floor, place bowl of soapy water on it, put lpastic plates and cuterly inside and let her wash up to her hearts content

Is there any way you can put a little bowl on a small table for her?
That way you can give her a few non-breakables and leave her to it.
How about putting it on a chair, if you haven't got a child sized table?

Yes, let her do her 'own stuff' while you do the dangerous stuff.

I put a basin of water on a low table beside the sink and ds helps wash his own cutlery, dishes and cups which are mostly plastic.
Usually the floor/cat/slippers get washed too.

That's way too obvious . I didnt' really consider it as I used to give her a bowl of water to play with - 5 seconds later she'd be sitting in it and within a minute it would be upside down... That was last summer, though, so maybe she's gone off the idea!

Thanks - I'll give it a try

If she's anything like my dd she probably still sit in it!

Yes, paddling is inevitable!

go for it, but not with teh knives and glasses. mugs, bowls, plastic or sturdy pottery will all cope with a toddler washing them.
Boy likes having his "own" washing up bowl on teh counter next to me at the sink, he has a cut down sponge and will spend AGES lovingly washing a mug till it squeaks with clean-ness while I whip through glasses or whatever. A tea towel under his bowl reduces teh flood potential.

Alternative version 1. boy stands on chair next to dh or I and passes items when asked to. This version required more training.

Alternative version 2. boy stands on chair AT sink, half full of luke warm water and potters about with plastic stuff and a sponge while I get on with cooking tea. This one tends to result in a fair bit of splashing, I strip off his shirt and put a rolled up tea towel in front of sink.