School and Home Cooking | Page 7

her right hand. That there
may be no unnecessary motions, the dishes should be placed to drain
after washing at the left of the dish-pan. In this way there is no crossing
of the left hand over the right arm as there would be if the washed
dishes were placed at the right of the dish-pan. A cupboard located
above the draining board at the left makes the storing of dishes an
efficient process (see Figure 2).
WASHING AND SCOURING DISHES AND UTENSILS.--Fill the
dish-pan about two thirds full of hot water. "Soap" the water before
placing the dishes in the pan; use soap-powder, a soap-holder, or a bar
of soap. If the latter is used, do not allow it to remain in the water. Fill
another pan about two thirds full of hot water for rinsing the dishes. A
wire basket may be placed in the rinsing pan.
Place the dishes, a few at a time, in the dish-pan. Wash the cleanest
dishes first, usually in the following order: glasses, silverware, cups,
saucers, plates, large dishes, platters, cooking utensils, then the
soapdish and dish-pan. In washing decorated china, use soap sparingly.
Do not wash glassware in very hot water. Use slices of potato, finely
torn bits of blotting paper, or egg shells to clean the inside of water
bottles or vinegar cruets. Wooden-handled utensils or the cogs of the
Dover egg beater should not soak in water.
If the cogs of the egg beater are soiled, wipe them with a damp cloth.
Change the dish-water occasionally, not allowing it to become cold or
greasy.
[Illustration: FIGURE 4.--DISH-DRAINER.]
Wash steel knives and forks and place them without rinsing on a tin
pan to scour. With a cork apply powdered bath brick or other scouring
material to the steel. Again wash the scoured utensils, rinse, and dry. If

there are any stains on tin, iron, or enamel ware, remove with scouring
soap. Apply the latter with a cork, or wring out the dish-cloth as dry as
possible, rub scouring soap on it, and apply to the utensils. Scrub meat,
pastry or bread boards, wooden rolling pins, and wooden table tops
with cold water and scouring soap. Then rinse and wipe the scoured
wood with a cloth which is free from grease. If it is not necessary to
scrub meat, pastry, or bread boards on both sides, they should be rinsed
on the clean side to prevent warping.
[Illustration: FIGURE 5.--DISH-DRAINER.]
RINSING AND DRAINING DISHES.--Place the washed dishes in
wire baskets (see Figures 4 and 5) or in dish-racks (see Figures 6, 7,
and 8). If the former has been placed in the rinsing pan, the basket may
be lifted out of the water to drain the dishes. In case the washed dishes
are placed in dishracks, rinse them by pouring hot water over them and
let them drain again.
[Illustration: FIGURE 6--DISH-RACK.]
DRYING DISHES AND UTENSILS.--If such dishes as plates, platters,
and saucers are placed upright to drain and are rinsed with very hot
water, no towel-drying is required. Glassware and silver should be
dried with a soft towel. Towels made from flour sacks or from glass
toweling are good for this purpose.
Coarser towels may be used to dry cooking utensils. To prevent rusting,
dry tin, iron, and steel utensils most thoroughly. After using a towel on
these wares it is well to place them on the back of the range or in the
warming oven. Woodenware should be allowed to dry thoroughly in
the open air. Stand boards on end until dry.
[Illustration: FIGURE 7.--DISH-RACK.]
CARE OF DISH-TOWELS AND CLOTHS.--Use dish-towels and
cloths for no other purpose than washing and drying dishes. It is a
matter of much importance to keep dish-towels and cloths clean. To
clean the towels and cloths soak them in cold water. Then wash in hot

soapy water and rinse them well. Wring, stretch, and hang to dry on a
rack, or preferably in the sun. At least once a week boil the towels. First
soak, wash, and rinse them as directed above. Then place them in cold
water and heat the water until it boils. Wring, stretch, and hang to dry.
[Illustration: From Home Furnishing, by Alice M Kellogg FIGURE
8.--A RACK FOR DRYING DISHES.]
CARE OF THE SINK.--If the sink is of porcelain or enamel, it may be
cleaned with soap, but not with scouring soap or powder. The latter
wears away the smooth finish, makes it slightly rough and hence more
difficult to clean. Before applying soap to a sink, wring out the cloth
used in cleaning it as dry as possible and then with the hand push any
water standing in the sink down the drainpipe. Then apply soap to the
cloth and wash the sink. _Do not let the water run from