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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

How Do I Hide Washing Up Without Buying A New Sink

28 replies

EllieOLOfficial · 07/02/2019 17:37

Because apparently that's the only thing you can do to hide your washing up according to Google.

@ Live in a new farmhouse with a new big sink
@ Buy a new big sink
or even

@ Buy a new farmhouse with an old sink just so that you can buy a new sink for your new farmhouse... and then buy a cover to put over your new sink lol.

Because apparently it's better for interior decorators selling someone all that in the new year, than trying to help them save time and money by recommending a new product lol.

No seriously, how do you busy mums hide your washing up when there's too much of it?

I'm sharing a flat with my housemate, and we have a tiny kitchen. It's good enough for us two, but when it comes to putting the washing up on the side until we have time to sort it... (we work like nearly 40-50hrs+ a week on long morn-night shifts in care) it builds up pretty quickly.

We live on pretty much a 'get up when it's dark, go to bed when it's dark' schedule so :/ by the time we come home we do tend to just eat and sleep on the spot.

We usually have a day where we do our cleaning and washing and catching up. But it would be nice to not have a clean house just for one day a week lol. Or to at least pretend we have a clean house by hiding stuff for a while.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 07/02/2019 17:48

I've never hidden washing up but if I was going to I'd buy a big plant pot and a small plant and hide it in there with the plant on top.

LuckyLou7 · 07/02/2019 17:52

Get a dishwasher - some people freecycle their old ones when they renovate their kitchen. Although you say your kitchen is tiny so that probably wouldn't work. I just wash up as I go along, so there's never a huge build up of dirty pots.

Poppins2016 · 07/02/2019 17:52

Thinking outside the box here... do you have space/funds for a countertop dishwasher (I note you said the kitchen is tiny... but worth throwing out there just in case!)?

Original poster
EllieOLOfficial · 07/02/2019 17:52

Hahaha.

Somehow I don't think that would work, but thank you all the same lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
EllieOLOfficial · 07/02/2019 17:55

We rent our flat so we can't do any renovations or anything. But I will look into a countertop dishwasher.

I was thinking even just something simple like a bread bin sized plastic box or something lol, with a lid that goes over it.

Thank you to the people replying xx

OP posts:
upyoursdolores · 07/02/2019 18:17

It must be really hard to wash up if you're leaving it for a week. Do you soak it overnight so at least it's a bit cleaner when you do stack it? Honestly I would find some way to wash at least some of it up as you go along (while meals are cooking?) - could you do a quick ten minutes washing up while something is cooking and while watching TV?

I am a lifelong procrastinator who would always have looked for this type of 'solution' in my youth, but this post is making me realise I may finally have learned at least one lesson! Because I wouldn't do it now. I'd try to minimise the amount of washing up and to do a little bit every day.

Poppins2016 · 07/02/2019 18:17

Does your under sink cupboard (assuming you have one) have enough space to house a washing up bowl (with dirty crockery piled into it)? I'd then have a two bowl system... one bowl for use in the sink and one for the cupboard.

Trouble is, with only a small kitchen, you're creating another problem by adding a large storage box (for example).

As a pp said, you might be better off attempting to change your habits and wash as you go... at least you could avoid the dreaded 'cleaning day' that way?!

picklemepopcorn · 07/02/2019 18:26

A crate in the oven? Rinse plates immediately they are used, so it doesn't matter if they sit around a bit. Have your own mug and glass so you don't need to wash properly between uses.

Gottalovesummer · 07/02/2019 18:33

We once hid 3 days worth of washing up in the oven when we had an unexpected house viewing.( although they didn't put an offer in so waste of time)

And hoped they didn't open the oven door (they didn't)

SavoyCabbage · 07/02/2019 18:40

https://etsy.me/2RIKis0

I rest my case.

TheFairyCaravan · 07/02/2019 18:43

I didn't know hiding washing up was a thing. Why not just do it? It doesn't take long.

ChakiraChakra · 07/02/2019 18:45

If you changed your way of cooking you would manage to keep the washing up to minimum :) a big pot of stew or curry once a week in the slow cooker, keep in big tub in the fridge. Both of you keep one plate, mug and set of knife/fork/spoon, go to fridge, dole out and microwave a portion, leave only a plate and cutlery to wash (or, you know, wash them immediately in less than 5 minutes). Repeat. Only have one plate and bowl and set of cutlery available each, no cheating. Then you're washing up one set when you need it/have finished with it, takes much less time than a weeks worth in one go, more tidy, more hygienic.

Littlechocola · 07/02/2019 18:50

I do the same hours (also leave in darkness, get back in darkness) and have 3 dc.
I wash up as I go.

IWantMyHatBack · 07/02/2019 18:56

What? Just wash up 🙄

PrismGuile · 07/02/2019 19:52

Reminds me of student digs - do you not get flies?

FromEden · 07/02/2019 19:55

Why not just do washing up as you use stuff? Once you get into the habit it's easy. It's easier than trying to hide it at least!

Magpiefeather · 07/02/2019 19:57

In the microwave! We never really use it for microwaving!

PositivelyPERF · 07/02/2019 20:02

So long as the plates are scraped and stacked and the cups, etc put inside each other, then it’s not a big deal. Put a container on the worktop and put any dirty cutlery straight into soapy water.

PrismGuile · 07/02/2019 20:04

@PositivelyPERF but then if you leave it all week the water becomes filthy and full of floating bits and eventually mouldy scum forms atop.

I have seen this at uni.

MyOtherProfile · 07/02/2019 20:07

Seriously it is so much easier to wash as you go. While you're cooking run a bowl of hot soapy water. As you finish with each thing stick it in the bowl. Once you finish eating stick the rest in the bowl, do a quick wash up and pile it on the draining board. Easy.

WanderingDaffodil · 07/02/2019 20:07

Just do the washing up as you make it. Don't leave it to build up so it needs hiding. I've worked far longer than those hours, with young children and I just did it.
I have a dishwasher now and I work less hours so easier all round.

PositivelyPERF · 07/02/2019 20:08

PrismGuile Good point. 🤢 I’m sure OP would change the water, every couple of days. lives in hope

bobstersmum · 07/02/2019 20:33

I have no idea why someone would want to stash dirty crockery anywhere, it must stink! If it's just a plate and a cup and knife and fork, it takes seconds to wash, am I missing something?

anxiousbundle · 07/02/2019 20:43

Oh man, don't pile dishes up in a bread bin🤢🤢🤢 that's so gross.

I'm sorry @EllieOLOfficial so many people work long hours and have kids and STILL manage to wash up. You can't be using that many items each day? Surely just wash up as you go along, or get up earlier/go to sleep later. Washing up (even a full sink) takes less than 20mins, and that includes a wipe round of surfaces!

Just sounds like lazinessGrin

Beebumble2 · 10/02/2019 09:30

Why don’t you fill the sink with hot water and washing up liquid and soak your dishes overnight. They will be cleaned by the morning and only need a light rinse. Drain while you out during the day.

Years ago, a friend’s young son looked into my sink and asked, ‘ where do you keep your washing up?’ So it must be a thing to leave it hanging around.