I just had a revelation about my dishes

[kettish]

I'm ADD and I'm pretty sure my husband is ADHD. Either way, we both hate doing the dishes. I took them as one of 'my' chores back when we were trying to do assigned chores and hate them and never get to them in a timely fashion. It's the one thing in my house that both bothers me when it isn't done and I can't make myself do very often.

I was reading some tips online about ADD management and that often-repeated part about "if you can't/don't/won't do it, stop trying to make yourself and get someone else to." And it occured to me.

I could totally buy disposable. Paper plates. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO GET SOME!!! I will probably try and get some utensils too and maybe even cups. Dunno about the cups though. I always felt guilty about wanting to do this because I'm generally very environmentally friendly, but I'm done with it. So, YAY!!

Anyone else resolved a hated and dreaded chore lately in a satisfactory manner? How do y'all handle the things you really really really don't want to do?

[ndnbutterfly]

I too, hate to do dishes.

We've been using paper plates for as long as I can remember now. It sure beats washing!

[ilostmybeer]

Does anybody like doing dishes? If so, i bet they are OCD and they have their own forum

[RedHairedWitch]

Paper plates are very, very bad for the environment.
They kill trees to make them, and they fill up landfills as dirt paper plates cannot be recycled.
And no they do not biodegrade as quickly as you make think, also just because something will eventually compost, doesn't make it ethical.
Styrofoam and plastic are even worse.
Please, just wash the dishes. I hate doing the dishes too, but I'd rather have to wash nasty dishes than look my (future) grandkids in the eye and tell them that Grannie did not right by the only home we have, Earth, because she didn't like washing dishes.

Paper plates and paper towels CAN be composted in your backyard however.

[Driver]

I hate doing the dishes too, but I cannot support the regular use of paper plates for environmental reasons.

The habit I'm trying to get into is just using one cup, plate, knife & fork, bowl, etc so that I only was and re-use one item.

[ustilago]

I hate dishes too. But I like trees. And I've become accustomed to breathing oxygen.
Seriously, two words. . . dish washer. . . rinse the plates and cutlery after meals, load the dishwasher, when it's full, add soap, push the button and get on with your life. It's easy. Really. I've trained a 5 year old and a 9 year old to do it. And we all hate dishes.

I'm not trying to be mean. I just get really frustrated with the "disposable society". Fire and forget. . . I know we're all AD(H)D in here but disposable dishes goes wayyy beyond irresponsible. Lets cut down all the trees so we can see the whales from the highway. . .

Where does plastic come from? Oil.
Where does oil come from? . . . Do you really want to increase your own personal dependence on fossil fuels so that you don't have to wash knives and forks?

Please reconsider. . .

[FrazzleDazzle]

Originally Posted by ilostmybeer

Does anybody like doing dishes? If so, i bet they are OCD and they have their own forum

LoL! That forum is also here!

Being OCD, it is really hard, tho not impossible to NOT do the dishes. I have evolved to taking care of them as I go along, rather than be faced with a mountain of dirty dishes I'd rather donate to Goodwill than wash. Soooo, instead of setting a dirty dish down, I just put it in the dishwasher, or wash it in the sink, shake it dry, (my folly, I don't always towel dry!!) and put it away. Then, no more worries. It's part of my rule of living, the OHIO rule, Only Handle It Once.

It's taken years of self-training to get to this point, and it is still fine-tuning. I hate doing them, but I do feel better having them taken care of. I hate work staring me in the face inflicting self-guilt.

[gnbeg]

I don't mind doing dishes as long as all the dirty dishes fit in the dishwasher.
Actually, even occassionally, I will even wash dishes by hand. But before you bannish me to my own OCD forum, please know that once I put the clean dishes on the kitchen counter, that's as far as they go. I am unable to organize the dishes once they are clean.

[moo4dougie]

I, too, am concerned about environmental issues. If you go somewhere like Whole Foods, you can find bio-degradable paper plates and utensils. Yes, they are more expensive. But you can feel better about circumventing dishes and not harming the environment.

[ilostmybeer]

my daughter is almost old enough where I can pass of this responsibility...kids are awesome

[Driver]

Originally Posted by ilostmybeer

my daughter is almost old enough where I can pass of this responsibility...kids are awesome

My parents did the same thing - I HATE DISHES!!

[kettish]

FrazzleDazzle and Driver, thanks for sharing your strategies of dealing with dishes. And thanks moo4dougie for suggesting an alternative that at least helps with the environmental issue. Ilostmybeer, I don't have kids. :P Kinda wish I did at times so I could do the same!

I'm a little upset that some of y'all feel like I'm being completely irresponsible for wanting to resolve an issue that neither my husband or I are very good at taking care of. You guys make it sound like I'm a complete jerk about the environment! My husband and I take so many other measures though (and would be taking more if we had our own home and yard) that I personally feel we can have a fault. You guys name it, we probably do it, from recycling to buying local foods, from biking when I can to trying to buy used clothes, even 'green' lightbulbs and cleaning products. We do as much as we can, and I think could be forgiven for-God forbid-using paper plates.

And before you start in on me again, this isn't some back-slide into the terror that is the modern American mindset. Every purchase we make we consider, is this good for the environment? Is this healthy for us? And, can we afford it? When we make plans for the future, they involve energy star appliances, reusable diapers, and hunting when it's in season.

I avoided paper plates for years and years for the reasons you guys are giving me, but I really don't think that I should keep giving myself grief over it. Isn't learning to stop blaming ourselves unnecessarily part of this whole "adult diagnosis ADD" thing? I hate dishes. So does Vince. Instead of criticizing, can I just get some strategies for dealing with them? Or getting DH to split them with me?

[ilostmybeer]

Originally Posted by kettish

FrazzleDazzle and Driver, thanks for sharing your strategies of dealing with dishes. And thanks moo4dougie for suggesting an alternative that at least helps with the environmental issue. Ilostmybeer, I don't have kids. :P Kinda wish I did at times so I could do the same!

I'm a little upset that some of y'all feel like I'm being completely irresponsible for wanting to resolve an issue that neither my husband or I are very good at taking care of. You guys make it sound like I'm a complete jerk about the environment! My husband and I take so many other measures though (and would be taking more if we had our own home and yard) that I personally feel we can have a fault. You guys name it, we probably do it, from recycling to buying local foods, from biking when I can to trying to buy used clothes, even 'green' lightbulbs and cleaning products. We do as much as we can, and I think could be forgiven for-God forbid-using paper plates.

And before you start in on me again, this isn't some back-slide into the terror that is the modern American mindset. Every purchase we make we consider, is this good for the environment? Is this healthy for us? And, can we afford it? When we make plans for the future, they involve energy star appliances, reusable diapers, and hunting when it's in season.

I avoided paper plates for years and years for the reasons you guys are giving me, but I really don't think that I should keep giving myself grief over it. Isn't learning to stop blaming ourselves unnecessarily part of this whole "adult diagnosis ADD" thing? I hate dishes. So does Vince. Instead of criticizing, can I just get some strategies for dealing with them? Or getting DH to split them with me?

If doing the dishes is that much of a pain in the ***, use paper plates. i promise I won't send Al Gore to your house. Yeah paper plates are are a no-no for environmentalists, so what, you sound like you make it up in other ways. IMO you can still be environmentally conscious with out being environmentally perfect.

Now turn off the damn computer, your wasting electricty.

[meadd823]

Originally Posted by kettish

FrazzleDazzle and Driver, thanks for sharing your strategies of dealing with dishes. And thanks moo4dougie for suggesting an alternative that at least helps with the environmental issue. Ilostmybeer, I don't have kids. :P Kinda wish I did at times so I could do the same!

I'm a little upset that some of y'all feel like I'm being completely irresponsible for wanting to resolve an issue that neither my husband or I are very good at taking care of. You guys make it sound like I'm a complete jerk about the environment! My husband and I take so many other measures though (and would be taking more if we had our own home and yard) that I personally feel we can have a fault. You guys name it, we probably do it, from recycling to buying local foods, from biking when I can to trying to buy used clothes, even 'green' lightbulbs and cleaning products. We do as much as we can, and I think could be forgiven for-God forbid-using paper plates.

And before you start in on me again, this isn't some back-slide into the terror that is the modern American mindset. Every purchase we make we consider, is this good for the environment? Is this healthy for us? And, can we afford it? When we make plans for the future, they involve energy star appliances, reusable diapers, and hunting when it's in season.

I avoided paper plates for years and years for the reasons you guys are giving me, but I really don't think that I should keep giving myself grief over it. Isn't learning to stop blaming ourselves unnecessarily part of this whole "adult diagnosis ADD" thing? I hate dishes. So does Vince. Instead of criticizing, can I just get some strategies for dealing with them? Or getting DH to split them with me?

Way to stand up for your self - I like that absolutely no guideline violations


A site that may offer a suggestions as to where and what to purchase - this will allow for disposable convince with less environmental damage

Save Time and the Environment With Earth Friendly Disposable Plates

or how about this idea

Edible Plate

No compost to deal with it is biodegradable as well as flush-able {okay it will be the next day any way }

and when you go to wipe your bums after flushing yesterdays plate you may want to check out which company uses the most earth friendly practices when making your toilet paper - here is a list

Shop Smart, Save Forests

Using recycled metal, plastic and paper goods will do some thing for the environment most haven't thought about - it will improve the economic environment - Right now the recycling industry is in bad shape and the smaller guys to medium guys are struggling - I know we are the smaller guys and we take to the medium guys - so buying post consumer goods will keep the recycling industry alive me out of nursing plus save the planet - I knew there was a win win win message in this some where

Mean while do try to help some one look for solutions - instead of criticizing the idea they do have. . . . .

Some times it just take a bit of compromising attitude {which I tooo struggle with finding} . . . .

Oh the dish washers I save energy by washing only when the dishwasher is full and not using the dry heat setting but letting the dishes dry naturally - this has the added benefit of giving me a good reason for putting off emptying the thing. . . .

We use disposable dishes some times but will also go with the old fashion eatable kind - two pieces of bread

[Driver]

Originally Posted by kettish

My husband and I take so many other measures though (and would be taking more if we had our own home and yard) that I personally feel we can have a fault. You guys name it, we probably do it, from recycling to buying local foods, from biking when I can to trying to buy used clothes, even 'green' lightbulbs and cleaning products. We do as much as we can, and I think could be forgiven for-God forbid-using paper plates.

Allow me to facetiously demonstrate the fallacy in your logic:
I love animals and all. I mean, I don't eat meat, eggs, dairy etc because I care about animals. I foster sick & injured animals, as well have lots of pets. But for the life of me, I'm sick of my neighbours cat sh*tting and p*ssing everywhere around my place, so I trapped him in a foot-hold trap and then just let him starve to death.
I love animals and do everything I can, so I think I can be forgiven for this one inhumane act?!?!