Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
HOW TO WASH DISHES
MODERN METHOD Is REALLY A
SCIENTIFIC ONE.
Water Must Be Kept at Even Tenn
perature OF China May
Crack and Break.

Few women know how to wash dishes.
That Is. understand the scientific principles
Of cleansing and keeping chinaware In good
condition, though. ordinarily. 1t Is consid-
cred the simplest of household duties and
one that a novice can do quite as we'll as an
experienced worker. Dish washing. how
ever, Is not an easy task. for II properly
done to free the dishes from all soil. to
preserve the enamel and to prevent chip
ping care must be taken that the plates.
cups and saucers, &C. are not plunged into
too hot water and then rfnsed in cold, or
the result will be to practically ruin the
dishes so far as their appearance goes.
For sudden hot and cold changes take
the temper out Of clay and almost invari-
ably make tiny cracks in the glaze Of the
china and cause the pieces to chip and
break easily.
There are few housekeepers who do not
cleansed easier, but they do not under
stand in doing this that the temperature
Of the water should be about 100 or 105
degrees Fahrenheit to get the best results
with least labor, and that the rinsing water
must be few degrees hotter to not only
make the pieces easier to wipe. but to pre-
vent the glaze of the dishes from being
impaired. II the pieces were plunged into
a cold water bath after being removed from
the pan OF hot water fine china would
surely be affected and tiny cracks would
appear on the shiny surface. It must be
remembered that II dishes are washed IN
while II washed with cold water then cold
should be used in the rinsing.
Prepare the dish water by running hot
water of the desired temperature into q
clean pan. filing it almost to the top. Then
make a frothy suds of good quality OF
white soap. Do not use the strong laundry
kinds, and never make the mistake OF rub
bling the soap directly on q dish to remove
Q. spot Of dirt or grease. for such treatment
Il injurious to dishes ornamented with gilt
and even affects designs made In bold
bright coiors. Then. too II soap is put
to stick to the edges. and II later It Is not
thoroughly rinsed this cleanser may faint
the food when served on the table. Such
homes where housewives pride themselves
on being particular. but It Is a disagreeable
happening that no one wants to occur.
When especially fine china Is to DO
breaking Is to spread thick clean cloth
on the bottom OF the pan. so that II by
accident a dish should drop IL will fall on
a soft pad, and the chances OF its chipping
or cracking will be greatly lessened. II
convenient have only one dish in the water
at time, cleanse it thoroughly with a
soft clean cloth or mop after rinsing IN
rub dry with a soft cloth before It cools,
or the surface Will not take as bright
polish.
Do not let dish stay in hot water any
longer than can be avoided, for 1t does the
temper Of the clay no good, and the grease
can be washed of quickly when the water
Is hot, and later the surface gets dry with
less rubbing II the towel Is applied as soon
as the rinsing water has drained on. In
addition to the saving OF work by rapidly
washing and wiping dishes. the odor from
them Is much sweeter II they are dried
before the heat of the water dries off tho
dampness.
Never attempt to dry a dish with damp
towel II the surface Is to be rubbed shiny,
for this can be done successfully only with
g. dry towel.
Once dry, each dish should be set in q
place to cool. for II one hot plate is placed
on top Of another the heat is almost bound
to make cracks in the glaze Of the ware.
AS the water begins to cool add more
hot so as to keep It at an even tempera-
ture, and If specks Of grease appear on the
surface get fresh painful.
All dishes should be carefully scraped
and freed from the remnants Of food be-
water from a faucet over each piece be-
fore plunging it into the suds. so that the
worst Of the grease Is removed. before the
cloth or mop is used.
In arranging the dishes before washing
put the glasses, cups and SaucerS and Sill
verware where they will be washed before
the heavy greasy pieces.
Never begin dish washing without plenty
Of fresh clean towels and wash cloths or
mops. These should be soft, so that they
will readily absorb the water yet not of
Unity material Always wash out these
cloths with fresh suds, after each using,
and hang them out of doors to dry and air,
for in this way they may be kept In per-
fectly sanitary condition.