DC'S effectiveness at household tasks

[AdaFuckingShelby]

Single parent household, 2 DC early teens. It's their responsibility to do the washing up on alternate evenings. I make most of the meals and do most other things other than DD tidies up when she wants a takeaway, which is a sort of agreement these days.
My morning routine now includes re-washing the pots that aren't properly clean (I overlook the odd grease mark, I'm talking bits of food still stuck to plates) and washing the things that didnt make it into the sink- mainly pans and plastic tubs. This has come about by my trying not to expect too much and hoping their skill would improve over time.
WIBU to pull them up on their standards and expect the washing up to actually make all the dishes and cutlery clean? Or should I give them some more time and carry on as I am ?

There are no kitchens in the UK that can't accommodate a dishwasher - but some people choose not to have one

Is this for real? I lived in a block of flats and only had a kitchen recess. Absolutely no chance of a dishwasher. I can't have been the only person in the UK with nowhere to put a dishwasher surely?

Basically they are taking the piss. They do a half arsed wash up and you do a proper wash.

If the get an allowance, make it conditional on properly washing up and cleaning the kitchen. Deduct a set penalty per dirty item and make it significant so they will feel a consequence for laziness.

Check each evening and give them the choice of either suffering the deduction or doing it properly to earn the money back.

@ChangeChingyChange

I won't "mind what I say" thanks. That's my solution to the problem - it might differ to your but don't be so rude. There are no kitchens in the UK that can't accommodate a dishwasher - but some people choose not to have one. Even worktop dishwashers exist as an alternative or remove a cupboard to fit one in. Sorted.

Bollocks. My last flat (local authority) had 60cm of worktop in total and no cupboard, the draining board and sink were tucked into a slanting corner and the other side of the room consisted of the boiler and oven. I had to kneel in the hallway to open the fridge door and the oven door directly opposite blocked the 2'3" kitchen door and was wedged up against the wall, backing onto the rear wall of the gas meter cupboard.

I suppose I could have balanced a tabletop dishwasher across the taps and overhanging the edge by 15 cm or on the hob with an extension lead trailing 15 foot from the living room (one double socket in the kitchen which had the cooker and fridge plugged into it) but sudden death wasn't in my plans as a means to avoiding washing up. Under the sink was the pipework for all the other flats, so couldn't even fit a bucket in there.

Plenty of places have no room for a dishwasher.

Wrt a dishwasher - I have to scrub all food off everything I put into it. It's not a great model and since I rent there's nothing I can do about it. A dishwasher might not solve your problems.

@ChangeChingyChange

I won't "mind what I say" thanks. That's my solution to the problem - it might differ to your but don't be so rude. There are no kitchens in the UK that can't accommodate a dishwasher - but some people choose not to have one. Even worktop dishwashers exist as an alternative or remove a cupboard to fit one in. Sorted.

Well that’s just not true because mine definitely can’t, it’s a tiny off shot kitchen with barely any worktop space and not enough cupboards as it is. It is literally impossible to fit a dishwasher in there, a lot of my kitchen stuff goes in a cabinet in the sinking room and the tumble dryer goes at the top of the cellar stairs.

Cheerfully say Quality control! and give it back to them to wash again.

I can't find the little video now, but there was a little video of a mum showing her family how to do simple household tasks. Her family were wearing white lab coats, goggles, and noting down on clipboards saying Ahhhh and nodding when she showed them how to pick up a towel, or put their shoes on a rack.

If you don't tell them they are not just going to suddenly realise and start doing a better job "over time".

You need to show them what to do.

@Clymene

I would get one to wash and the other to dry. Alternate who takes which role but the drier is responsible for washing quality control. I can guarantee this system results in clean plates.

This reminds me of a good natured "war" I had with my brother where the washer would leave the items as soapy and precariously stacked as possible to annoy the dryer. And the dryer would look for any slight oversight from the washer as an excuse to send an item back

There are no kitchens in the UK that can't accommodate a dishwasher - but some people choose not to have one

Well, you've never seen mine. I live in a tiny cottage. I would love a dishwasher. But that would mean having to give up my fridge or oven or washing machine. What a patronising comment.

The patronising privilege of anyone who thinks every kitchen can have a dishwasher. My kitchen can only accommodate one person in it. If I'm cooking and someone needs to get a glass of water, I have to leave . Bet anyone who thinks this also can't understand that not everyone can do a big weekly/fornightly shop, in the car, and fill up the chest freezer in the utility room with lots of bargains

I overlook some stuff, but anything that I can tell they've not bothered with, i stack on their place, so they have to sort it before they make their breakfast. It's definitely lessened, the skimpy washing!

It’s classic strategic incompetence.

They redo it. You’ll feel like an arse but that’s how they’ll get better. Why would they get better when apparently their half-assed methods are acceptable?

"Inspect what you expect", you've got to keep correcting them and coaching them (patiently) until its an acceptable standard.