Washing Dishes in Round Sink

[martian]

We are transitioning from a two sink to a one sink kitchen. Since we have never washed and rinsed dishes in a single sink, we're hoping for advice. What is your technique?

[r carl]

One sink load at a time. Wash, drain, and rinse.

[Fly at Night]

I was thinking same. My 2010 Flying Cloud has the single round sink.

I haven't even had my shakedown cruise yet, so haven't washed dishes, tried-out shower etc., but was looking at the sink. It is very deep, so I will only fill it with water at just below the half-way mark, do a few dishes at a time, then rinse under the tap. If the rising water gets too close to the top, drain and start over.

Or, you could buy a small tub as a rinse tub. I don't think this is as effective in getting all the soap off, though.

[blmitch5]

Try washing dishes in a Bambi! We use a soap/sponge thing and soap and then rinse without filling the sink. We have 2 plastic tubs do do dishes outside when we don't have a sewer hook up (which is often) so we don't fill up the grey tank. You adapt pretty fast.

[Fly at Night]

Right on, mitch. It is all about adapting.

The 27' Cloud has a bit more counter space than most, so the tub beside the sink would work. After I posted my last, I realized some 'streams have little to no space between sink and range.

I like the idea of doing the dishes outside....especially if one is surrounded by scenic wonder.

[blmitch5]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Right on, mitch. It is all about adapting.

The 27' Cloud has a bit more counter space than most, so the tub beside the sink would work. After I posted my last, I realized some 'streams have little to no space between sink and range.

I like the idea of doing the dishes outside....especially if one is surrounded by scenic wonder.

Lots of people pay big money for an outdoor kitchen! Mine cost @ $84 bucks, $80 grill and $2 a tub.

[jdalrymple]

When connected to utilities, we use a running water technique. Just a small trickle from for the faucet, and one of those dish-washing scrubbers on the end of a handle which contains detergent. When on limited water, we start with a small amount of water in the sink, then wash and rinse as we go.

Of course, there is only two of us so not many dishes at a time.

Regards,

[idmtman]

We would use a plastic (they make some cool collapsible ones) tub, but that was one of selling points for us to purchase the 28' versus a 27' when we were looking to buy. The double sink just makes more sense to us, though the round sink is pretty.

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by blmitch5

Try washing dishes in a Bambi! We use a soap/sponge thing and soap and then rinse without filling the sink. We have 2 plastic tubs do do dishes outside when we don't have a sewer hook up (which is often) so we don't fill up the grey tank. You adapt pretty fast.

We followed a different route with our 2002 Bambi, and it might be a useful method for the transition to a single sink. In about 2003, we installed a fairly large oval sink, one large enough to accept a pile of regular plates or a frying pan. With about 2" of soapy water in the sink, we can rinse above it without any danger of it getting too full. A drip board to the side completes the setup.

Tim

[Foiled Again]

I had the round sink on my first one, and the double sink on the current one. The double sinks are small and shallow and anything bigger than a saucer seems to create splashes on the wall, counter and floor. There's a lot less wipe up after with a single deep round sink. I agree an inch or so of water in the bottom of the sink and a soapy scrubby or soap dispensing scrubber work wonderfully.

Another advantage to the single sink is that there is less under the counter plumbing, so you get more storage space in the cabinet. Zeppelinium also made a great point for remodelers: even if you get a rectangular sink look for one with a corner drain or a drain offset toward the back of the sink. Reason? Drain doesn't take up the MIDDLE of the lower cabinet but is off to one side. Where every inch of storage space is precious that is one PRACTICAL and inexpensive change!

Paula

[blmitch5]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

We followed a different route with our 2002 Bambi, and it might be a useful method for the transition to a single sink. In about 2003, we installed a fairly large oval sink, one large enough to accept a pile of regular plates or a frying pan. With about 2" of soapy water in the sink, we can rinse above it without any danger of it getting too full. A drip board to the side completes the setup.

Tim

Do you have a picture?

[Airstreamer@]

we use a bucket that fits most of the sink. After use, I pick it out by the handle and water the landscape.

[Lily&Me]

We use a round plastic tub as a dishpan---often found at WalMart come summer---and a sponge/soap/wand for most things. Get a little hot water in the bottom, wash everything clean, rinse and drain on the counter on one of those microfiber absorbent pads----works great.

If we are boondocking, we dump the dishwater into the toilet, to conserve grey water space.


Maggie

[DreamStreamr]

I briefly rinse the dishes to remove gunk. Then I heat a cup or two of water, put it in a bowl or small pan from dinner and add a small squirt of dishwashing detergent. I wash however many dishes I can array around the detergent bow in our big round sink, then turn on cold water to rinse them individually, turn the water off, and stack them to dry on a dishcloth atop the stove cover. Wash and repeat.

Debbie doesn't like to stack the dishes to dry, she has a handy-dandy folding dish drain she puts atop the stove cover and she is expert at arraying all the dripping dishes on it. Works a little better than my lazier (easier) drying mode.

We can't imagine working with less than the big round sink -- one of our favorite galley features in our CCD 22 and in this CCD 25. The sink is good at everything we need it for.

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by blmitch5

Do you have a picture?

I thought that question might come up. I posted some pictures at the time we did the modification, but that was years ago. You can see from the pictures that we also gave ourselves a little more counter space. It is amazing what a difference that made.

Tim

[Michigander]

We use a black circular "oil drain" pan from the local auto parts supplier. Fits well in the circular bottom and is only about 4" deep. Therefore, you can't put too much water in it before it overflows. When possible, we then empty it outside.

[Michigander]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

I thought that question might come up. I posted some pictures ............

BTW, that sure looks beautiful.

[Byams55FlyCl]

I've been loving my CCD single round sink.
I wipe off the dirty dishes with a paper towel starting with the cleanest to the dirty big pot last. Putting the big pot into the round sink - it fits!! Then a bit of hot soapy water in the big pot will get the smallest dishes washed. Rinsing in a trickle of hot water, the extra water will help clean up the big dishes, and finally the pot.

As we boondock alot for days at a time, we are very water frugal. When I get home, any running water makes me feel wasteful!

With our 1955 Flying Cloud, the sink is rectangular and much smaller than my big pasta/chili/casserole pot - Anyone have any ideas?

[TBRich]

We are in a 19' Bambi so there is virtually no counter space except for the table. When we wash dishes we clean the stove first, then close the cover over the burners...then we use a piece of flexible rubbery shelf lining material over the stove top (it's sorta like thin foam rubber, but with a smooth surface that doesn't absorb water), draping one end of it over the sink's edge so any stray water goes into the sink..its' sort of a low-tech dish drainer tray (you could actually use a small drainer tray with a lip positioned to splill into the sink)...then we wash dishes in the dish tub and place them in the sink for rinsing with the sprayer. We put the clean, rinsed dishes on a towel on the table, dry them and put them away. We can then either dump the wash water on a needy bush outside or down the drain. We dry out the wash tub,dry off the rubbery shelf liner, roll it up and stash it somewhere. Dishes done!

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by TBRich

We are in a 19' Bambi so there is virtually no counter space except for the table. When we wash dishes we clean the stove first, then close the cover over the burners...then we use a piece of flexible rubbery shelf lining material over the stove top (it's sorta like thin foam rubber, but with a smooth surface that doesn't absorb water), draping one end of it over the sink's edge so any stray water goes into the sink..its' sort of a low-tech dish drainer tray (you could actually use a small drainer tray with a lip positioned to splill into the sink)...then we wash dishes in the dish tub and place them in the sink for rinsing with the sprayer. We put the clean, rinsed dishes on a towel on the table, dry them and put them away. We can then either dump the wash water on a needy bush outside or down the drain. We dry out the wash tub,dry off the rubbery shelf liner, roll it up and stash it somewhere. Dishes done!

We, too, have very limited counter space in our galley kitchen, but found a very cool and reasonably priced 2-burner cover at one of those Kitchen Collection stores in the outlet malls. They come in several colors.

It is glass, looks like grey-black marble that goes nicely with the counter top and is on little legs that have no-slip plastic on the bottom so we don't have to put it up as we drive. Adds counter space and covers the burners so every speck of dust or crumb on their black selves doesn't show.


Maggie