We are handwashing out dishes to save energy (and to get used to the fact that we will be handwashing dishes when we move to the other house). We have something of a routine now: the dirty dishes get put in a sink or container of soapy water; when the container is full, or after a meal, someone (usually me), washes the dishes and puts them on the drying rack; later in the day or first thing in the morning, the dishes get put back in the cabinet.
With the dishwasher, we put the dishes in the dishwasher, close the door, listen to a lot of noise, then put the dishes away. Now that we wash by hand, we actually get in there and feel the dirty dishes and the soapy water (usually not a bad feeling unless the water sits too long and gets cold), then get to rinse under nice warm water, and then get to see the nice shiny, clean dishes. There is also a window so we can look outside into the nice green (or brown, or white, depending on the season) back yard. After all is clean, we pull the plug out of the sink where the dirty water is (this is the yuckiest part since there may be little food bits there) and the dirty water runs down the sink. But, the very last thing to run out the sink is the soap bubbles, and they make the shape of a butterfly.
Even though handwashing takes more time, it's time well spent. I can interact with whichever child is helping me. Or it is time that I can ponder the intricacies of life that get us from dirty dishes to soap bubble butterflies.
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