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DishWashingSystem

Dish Washing System

Dishes are a perennial Big Deal with every camp on the playa. It seems that no matter how much effort we throw at it there are still problems with unclaimed dirty dishes accumulating. It will probably always be this way until something shifts inside each of us; a new relationship with a dirty dish. What if we saw the act of washing a dish— any dish! — as an act of gratitude for all the playa is providing me in this moment. It could be a ritual of purification and baptism of the Chalice of the all Holy Smoothy in the most precious of fluids on the Playa. Amen. Or something like that.

Dish Washing Process — Overview

  1. Scrape— Use the rubber spatula to squeegee ALL of the material off your dish and into the compost bin
  2. Initial wash— Use the long handled scrub brush to remove all food particles from your dish. NO GREASY PANS HERE!! Pre-wash all greasy pans separately
  3. Soapy Wash— Use the scrubber sponge to completely clean your dish
  4. Rinse— thoroughly rinse all soap residue from your dish
  5. Sanitize— Immerse your dish 10 seconds in sanitizing solution. Hold over sanitization bin a few seconds for it to drip
  6. Drain— Place dish in drain rack. If rack is full take entire rack to metal shelves in kitchen and bring an empty rack back.

Changing Dish Water If the Initial Rinse bin is greasy and gross, pour it into the sump under the sink. Pour the soapy wash water into the Initial Rinse bin and add 1/2 cup degreaser. Pour the rinse water into the Soap Wash bin and add 1/2 cup dish soap (under the table). Pour the sanitizer water into the Rinse Bin. Refill the Sanitizing Bin with fresh water from the faucet at the shower station and add 2 sanitization tablets. Pour carefully so we don't spill dirty soapy water onto the playa, and ask for help if it's too awkward.

Dish Washing Process — Details for Experts

The more ease and love and light we can introduce into the mix the greater our chance for success. If everyone in camp were to just do the 6 steps above we would have an abundance of ease. If just 10% of our camp were to absorb the points below and share them lovingly, we could solve almost 100% of our difficulties.

  1. Use initial wash water to wash big dirty pots by pouring some into the pot. But DON'T put the rinse water back into the bin. Pour it into the catch basin below the hand wash station. This keeps the initial wash water useable as long as possible.
  2. If the wash bins are not going to be used overnight or if a dust storm is coming, cover them with the covers.
  3. There is a sponge holder in the wash basin. Return the sponge to the holder so that it is easy to find.
  4. The wash table is 2 sided. Make 2 lines to double the usability.
  5. If you are servicing the dish washing station prior to an evening meal, pre-fill an extra bin with sanitizer water, put a lid on and store under the table.