Proper Way to Wash & Sanitize Your Dinner Dishes

Follow a set procedure for cleaning and sanitizing your dishes.

To properly wash and sanitize your dinner dishes, use a quality automatic dishwasher or wash them by hand. Washing dishes is a multi-step process that should be done in an established order for proper cleaning.

Organize Your Dirty Dishes

Begin washing dishes by scraping excess food.

Organize dirty dinner dishes by scraping off excess food. Stack similar dishes together for easier transition into the dishwasher or sink. Soak silverware in a cup and prepare pans as soon as possible after use by filling them with an inch of hot soapy water.

Use the Dishwasher

Mix flatware in the silverware caddy of your dishwasher for best results.

Load glasses and delicate items on the top rack where water pressure is less. Plates and heavy-duty items go on the bottom rack. Silverware faces downward. A dishwasher increases water temperature beyond hand washing and can clean, sanitize and dry all in one cycle. A sani-rinse cycle kills germs with a second hot rinse.

Establish a Washing Order

Wash items that come in contact with your mouth first.

Hand wash in an established order. Wash silverware and glasses, items that come in contact with your mouth, first. These benefit most from the hottest water. Wash plates, serving dishes and finally pots and pans. Change water once it gets cool or dirty.

Rinse

Remove soap and chemicals by rinsing.

Rinsing is for removing any chemical residue left by the cleaning detergents. Spraying dishes works, but soaking dishes in clean water is better. Change the rinse water often to avoid build up.

Sanitize

Sanitize your dinner dishes in hot water and bleach.

Sanitizing is often neglected but is important for killing unseen bacteria left over after washing. Sanitizing, or dipping dishes in a hot water and bleach solution, kills unseen bacteria.

Dry

Air drying is the preferable method of drying dishes.

Air-drying is preferred over towel drying because wet towels can carry bacteria. If towel drying is necessary, use a number of clean, dry, towels from clean cabinets. Dinner dishes should not be put away damp, or wet, because bacteria grows quickly in standing water.

References

• Rubbermaid: Kitchen Solutions
• Dishwasher Guru: Sanatize Wash Program
• The HACCP Food Safety Employee Manual: Page 22