In thinking this isnt normal?

[laptopdancer]

I seem to have to wash up at least 8-10 times a day (or DH does). Its not the washing so much that I have a problem with but Im thinking the constant use of plates and cups is a bit out of hand.

It seems that no sooner is my sink clear, there is another cup and plate on the side. We never seem to have a time when NO-ONE is using something from the kitchen. I hate dishes by the sink (or in it) and it just alwsys looks like no-ones washed up but you can guarantee soeone just has not 5-10 minutes before.

Is this kind of kitchen traffic unusual?

No - that's why I now have a dishwasher

I have the same problems

Not especially.

I have one and the damn thing isnt working properly . Cross. (I never do plastic in it though and now have 2 plastic beakers, a bread board and a plate on the bloody side)

Get a dishwasher!!

I tend to leave it all for a week or two till there's nothing left, then do it all at once. It looks brilliant for a few minutes.

It's all about the prize

we do end up eating off sheets of kitchen rool though, last year's party plates and tupperware lids.

I just don't have TIME.

Reduce the amount of crockery you have forcing people to wash and reuse.

This is why a dishwasher is good not so much to do the dishes but so you have somewhere to hide the dirty things.

You need to fix the dishwasher, once you have a dishwasher there is no going back.

I become enraged if ours breaks !

You leave the dishes for a week or two? [Fshock]

Where the heck do you keep all the dirty ones? How many dishes do you have? We would run out after 2 days.

reuse the same cup all day?

I dont know what the problem is.It doesnt seem toclean very well.May be a blockage but Ive used those cleaner thingies you put in.

I have kitchen roll...and haloween party plates!

stop buying food that people can snack on. If they are having 3 meals a day there's no need for them to be dirtying plates inbetween meals.

we don't use that many. Ds2 barely eats anything apart from the odd sandwich and yogurts. Not many plates needed for that.

Ds1 has dinner at school so again onl;y a small meal in the evening. I do exaggerate - I leave the unnecessary stuff for a week or two as I'm too bloody busy to do it, but I wash a plate or two every day and obviously cups as and when needed.

We are definitely on the back foot though. But you should see my tiling! It's brill

Can't you have a rule that in between meals everyone washes up what they use?

YANBU to think it's not normal to wash up 8-10 times a day

YABU to do the washing up 8-10 times a day.

You don't have to wash up every time there is a cup on the side. A cup that has been used for a cup of tea, or a glass that has been used for water or juice or squash, can be used again when the same person wants another drink later in the day. Reusing = less washing up. If you wash it up then everyone will have to use another clean cup the next time they want a drink.

True trills but in the mean time I ay have 3 or 4 dirty cups on my bench top by the sink.

I wash up once a day after tea!

If I have done a load of baking I might wash up before I start tea just to break it up a bit

Those who save their washing up for a job lot...where do you keep the dishes while they bank up?Just on the side of the sink?

We put ours in the bowl in the sink and at the side

No, not at all. a few on the side. The rest under the sofa, on the carpet, in the bedrooms and on top of bookcases that I can reach but not see. Gets embarrassing when we have a tall visitor.

But the mould is interesting

in the mean time I ay have 3 or 4 dirty cups on my bench top by the sink.

And? This is my point. Nothing wrong with 3 or 4 dirty cups on the side. They're not dirty cups, they are eco-friendly work-saving cups waiting to be re-used.

I do remember reading on flylady that you can put them all in the cupboard under the sink until you are ready to wash them. Could you put them all in your (non functioning) dishwasher and then wash them once or twice a day?