Buying non-disposable plates/utensils for my team - suggestions?
August 23, 2021 12:37 PM Subscribe
I would like to buy each member of my in-person work team a set of non-disposable mean basics (a plate, bowl, cup and utensils) they can use at work instead of paper and plastic. Any recommendations?
We are a team of about a dozen or so library staff, who work almost around the clock. We are lucky to have a small kitchen in our suite, with a sink large enough to wash dishes, and although we do purchase quantities of paper plates and plastic forks and knives, I'd like to encourage a more environmentally friendly approach (esp since we have a sink). Does anyone have a recommendation for a packaged set that I can buy for my colleagues?
Also, tangentially, do you think this is a weird gift?
Thanks in advance!
We are a team of about a dozen or so library staff, who work almost around the clock. We are lucky to have a small kitchen in our suite, with a sink large enough to wash dishes, and although we do purchase quantities of paper plates and plastic forks and knives, I'd like to encourage a more environmentally friendly approach (esp since we have a sink). Does anyone have a recommendation for a packaged set that I can buy for my colleagues?
Also, tangentially, do you think this is a weird gift?
Thanks in advance!
Instead of thinking of it as a gift, maybe think of it as office supplies? Maybe as part of a greater push to be more thoughtful about waste, generally?
Are you looking at getting a dozen matching sets or something that is color-coded to a person?
On preview: love aniola's suggestion!
posted by QuakerMel at 12:47 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
Are you looking at getting a dozen matching sets or something that is color-coded to a person?
On preview: love aniola's suggestion!
posted by QuakerMel at 12:47 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
Re: "weird gift", I would feel fairly neutral-to-positive about "hey, I brought in a bunch of dishware for us to have around the office, for when that's useful!", and would likely find "here, I bought you a set of dishes" somewhat odd and moderately off-putting. Also, be mindful that you're likely introducing a small collective action problem around responsibilities for washing/drying/putting away dishes.
posted by twigatwig at 12:50 PM on August 23, 2021 [19 favorites]
posted by twigatwig at 12:50 PM on August 23, 2021 [19 favorites]
Response by poster: @QuakerMel: I was envisioning different colors or patterns for each person so that it would be their own set. We do have some "shared" plates etc., however they suffer from the "no one owns them so no one treats them very well" syndrome. @aniola: I'm 100% a thrift store buyer for myself; I'm not sure my colleagues would see it the same way. But, I'm open to buying a variety of dishware for the department as a group, too!
posted by crepeMyrtle at 12:54 PM on August 23, 2021
posted by crepeMyrtle at 12:54 PM on August 23, 2021
If you don't have a dishwasher, make sure everyone has long enough breaks to wash up, and make sure that people like the dishwashing setup (eg soap feels/smells nice to them, sponges are replaced often enough that they don't get grody, maybe scrubbing brushes, etc).
posted by rivenwanderer at 12:58 PM on August 23, 2021 [15 favorites]
posted by rivenwanderer at 12:58 PM on August 23, 2021 [15 favorites]
I'd maybe hold off on this idea until after covid is less of a concern; my place of work used to have washable dishes in the kitchen and they've gone to only compostable disposables for now.
If they have a dishwasher at home I can imagine that there's going to be plenty of people that will use disposable flatware if there isn't one available at the office. Keep in mind that hand-washing typically uses more water than a dishwasher as well.
Individual "gifts" feel borderline passive-aggressive to me, especially if you just do this out of the blue. Might do something where you pass around a sign-up sheet that explains what you're doing and why for this and then get dishes for those interested in it?
posted by Aleyn at 1:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [13 favorites]
If they have a dishwasher at home I can imagine that there's going to be plenty of people that will use disposable flatware if there isn't one available at the office. Keep in mind that hand-washing typically uses more water than a dishwasher as well.
Individual "gifts" feel borderline passive-aggressive to me, especially if you just do this out of the blue. Might do something where you pass around a sign-up sheet that explains what you're doing and why for this and then get dishes for those interested in it?
posted by Aleyn at 1:00 PM on August 23, 2021 [13 favorites]
I was envisioning different colors or patterns for each person so that it would be their own set.
I share your values but think it's a weird gift because, honestly, it's not a gift, it's a new system you'd like to implement for the workplace and people may feel more or less kindly to it depending on their general feelings about dishes. If you're the boss, it's definitely a thing you can do. If you're not, I'd check in with the boss before moving forward.
Keep in mind that one color per person can also seem a lot like keeping an eye on who is not doing their dishes etc. I also work in a library that has a small kitchen. My director is very into sustainability which is a feeling I generally share. However, a workplace with dishes also needs to have workflow that accommodates those dishes, which includes all the things that rivenwanderer mentions as well as making sure someone is emptying the dish drainer. And that there is storage for all these implements. And people have FEELS about the right way to do dishes and what does and does not count as "clean enough" so making sure it's stocked enough to make people comfy may be a challenge (or may not!)
I think the thing to make this a "genuine option" for people is making sure there is a functional system for the entire dish process if one is being implemented. Like maybe someone is the dish person each day and it's built into their work schedule. And whoever opens up is the dish emptying person and that's built into that process as well. If you alredy share a fridge, there is hopefully already a system for that.
And, to your actual question, I might look for something that was made from recycleable (or upcycled, to aniola's point) plastics, something like this maybe. You want something that doesn't break, that stacks, that's easy to find and in nice colors. Maybe take some money and buy everyone their fave coffee mug and install hooks for them, that kind of thing. I think it's a nice idea what you are trying to do, but I'd be cautious about introducing some "This will make you a better person" spin on the whole thing. Maybe ask who is already up for this idea and go from there?
posted by jessamyn at 1:08 PM on August 23, 2021 [28 favorites]
I share your values but think it's a weird gift because, honestly, it's not a gift, it's a new system you'd like to implement for the workplace and people may feel more or less kindly to it depending on their general feelings about dishes. If you're the boss, it's definitely a thing you can do. If you're not, I'd check in with the boss before moving forward.
Keep in mind that one color per person can also seem a lot like keeping an eye on who is not doing their dishes etc. I also work in a library that has a small kitchen. My director is very into sustainability which is a feeling I generally share. However, a workplace with dishes also needs to have workflow that accommodates those dishes, which includes all the things that rivenwanderer mentions as well as making sure someone is emptying the dish drainer. And that there is storage for all these implements. And people have FEELS about the right way to do dishes and what does and does not count as "clean enough" so making sure it's stocked enough to make people comfy may be a challenge (or may not!)
I think the thing to make this a "genuine option" for people is making sure there is a functional system for the entire dish process if one is being implemented. Like maybe someone is the dish person each day and it's built into their work schedule. And whoever opens up is the dish emptying person and that's built into that process as well. If you alredy share a fridge, there is hopefully already a system for that.
And, to your actual question, I might look for something that was made from recycleable (or upcycled, to aniola's point) plastics, something like this maybe. You want something that doesn't break, that stacks, that's easy to find and in nice colors. Maybe take some money and buy everyone their fave coffee mug and install hooks for them, that kind of thing. I think it's a nice idea what you are trying to do, but I'd be cautious about introducing some "This will make you a better person" spin on the whole thing. Maybe ask who is already up for this idea and go from there?
posted by jessamyn at 1:08 PM on August 23, 2021 [28 favorites]
Speaking for myself, I think buying plastic eating implements for a specific person is OK if that person is your school aged child, but otherwise I would find it a passive aggressive implementation of a new set of rules, or just condescending.
posted by caek at 1:09 PM on August 23, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by caek at 1:09 PM on August 23, 2021 [10 favorites]
Is there room for a countertop dishwasher? IME those are weak for stovetop pots but fine for tabletop dishes, and you have a sink for it to drain into. I’d consider getting one of those and a few sets of dishes and seeing how it went.
posted by clew at 1:17 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by clew at 1:17 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
I did this in my office for just the flatware so we wouldn't use so many plastic forks and spoons. The plates weren't an issue because most lunches come in their own serving containers. (Cups are way too personal.)
First I talked to people on my floor to see if they agreed. Then I went to Goodwill (like aniola suggested above) and raided their flatware, put company-logo-blue nail polish on the tips of the handles so people wouldn't accidentally bring them home to wash, and put a canister next to the sink in the kitchen with a sign saying "Rinse off your schmears and drop used flatware in the can. Headnsouth will take them home and run them through the dishwasher." Then I take them home once a week or so and do that. (Even before the pandemic, I would not trust people to wash communal kitchenware to my standards - I've seen too many people leave the loo without washing their hands.)
posted by headnsouth at 1:18 PM on August 23, 2021 [6 favorites]
First I talked to people on my floor to see if they agreed. Then I went to Goodwill (like aniola suggested above) and raided their flatware, put company-logo-blue nail polish on the tips of the handles so people wouldn't accidentally bring them home to wash, and put a canister next to the sink in the kitchen with a sign saying "Rinse off your schmears and drop used flatware in the can. Headnsouth will take them home and run them through the dishwasher." Then I take them home once a week or so and do that. (Even before the pandemic, I would not trust people to wash communal kitchenware to my standards - I've seen too many people leave the loo without washing their hands.)
posted by headnsouth at 1:18 PM on August 23, 2021 [6 favorites]
… belatedly I went and looked at countertop dishwashers and they’re way more capable than when I had one but also bigger and more expensive. Hm.
posted by clew at 1:19 PM on August 23, 2021
posted by clew at 1:19 PM on August 23, 2021
I think the idea behind this is admirable, but I wouldn't appreciate it as a gift. I'm permanently work from home now, but when I worked in the office, I brought my own dishes in and took them home and washed them. The office sink got pretty disgusting, and the sponges were gross, so I didn't want to wash dishes at work. I also just don't like eating or drinking from plastic, so I always use glass dishes. If someone gave me a set of plastic dishes, I would just donate them. If someone gave me a set of dishes with the expectation I would use them at work, I would be annoyed.
My office did stop having disposable silverware available and provided flatware, which people were expected to wash after using. I continued to bring my own (not trusting my coworkers to clean to my standards). But some people used the non-disposable stuff. Maybe a set of nicer dishes for the office would encourage people who might be inclined to use them?
posted by FencingGal at 1:29 PM on August 23, 2021 [5 favorites]
My office did stop having disposable silverware available and provided flatware, which people were expected to wash after using. I continued to bring my own (not trusting my coworkers to clean to my standards). But some people used the non-disposable stuff. Maybe a set of nicer dishes for the office would encourage people who might be inclined to use them?
posted by FencingGal at 1:29 PM on August 23, 2021 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the questions and suggestions!
To clarify, we do already have a system for washing our own dishes, with dish soap, sponges, paper towels, and a dishrack (and lots of cupboard storage space). I was thinking of buying ceramic dishes, not plastic, and metal knives, forks, spoons, to replace the current plastic and paper stuff we buy in bulk.
With your comments in mind, I'm thinking that maybe a complete set of dishes for anyone to use and wash is a better plan than individual sets -- thanks!
posted by crepeMyrtle at 1:41 PM on August 23, 2021 [7 favorites]
To clarify, we do already have a system for washing our own dishes, with dish soap, sponges, paper towels, and a dishrack (and lots of cupboard storage space). I was thinking of buying ceramic dishes, not plastic, and metal knives, forks, spoons, to replace the current plastic and paper stuff we buy in bulk.
With your comments in mind, I'm thinking that maybe a complete set of dishes for anyone to use and wash is a better plan than individual sets -- thanks!
posted by crepeMyrtle at 1:41 PM on August 23, 2021 [7 favorites]
Re: "weird gift", I would feel fairly neutral-to-positive about "hey, I brought in a bunch of dishware for us to have around the office, for when that's useful!", and would likely find "here, I bought you a set of dishes" somewhat odd and moderately off-putting.
This goes for me as well. Just get a bunch of the same dishes for everyone to use if they want.
posted by Stacey at 1:42 PM on August 23, 2021
This goes for me as well. Just get a bunch of the same dishes for everyone to use if they want.
posted by Stacey at 1:42 PM on August 23, 2021
I don't mind the idea, and I certainly like the intent... but my experience with office kitchens that lack dishwashers but have non-disposable utensils are very much Not Good. Sinks constantly filled full of dirty dishes, questionably-"washed" stuff put back in cupboards, moldy dish sponges, sink strainers full of [bletch], etc.
Heck, even at an office that did have a dishwasher and where there were disposable plates/cups, people still left dirty dishes in the goddamn sink, to the point where the CEO had to send out all-hands emails telling people to cut it out, or he would cut them out.
Obviously not every workplace is like that. But it only takes a couple of people who feel entitled to leave their stuff in the sink "for later" to start driving other people absolutely nutso.
I'd definitely talk this over with your team before moving forward with it, and make sure you have buy-in from everyone that this is a good idea. And then if you do, you can float the idea of getting everyone an individual set of dishes, vs. communal dishes, vs. people just bringing stuff from home and storing it at the office.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:48 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
Heck, even at an office that did have a dishwasher and where there were disposable plates/cups, people still left dirty dishes in the goddamn sink, to the point where the CEO had to send out all-hands emails telling people to cut it out, or he would cut them out.
Obviously not every workplace is like that. But it only takes a couple of people who feel entitled to leave their stuff in the sink "for later" to start driving other people absolutely nutso.
I'd definitely talk this over with your team before moving forward with it, and make sure you have buy-in from everyone that this is a good idea. And then if you do, you can float the idea of getting everyone an individual set of dishes, vs. communal dishes, vs. people just bringing stuff from home and storing it at the office.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:48 PM on August 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
I would not find this odd. At my last job, someone did exactly this, albeit only for a couple other people on our team as part of a gift exchange. Most of our team didn't eat in the office, but a couple people did, and so for Christmas, one person bought "lunch kits": dishes, flatware, a dish sponge, and a storage container. Was it weird? Yes. Did it get used? Yes.
There's an easy solution for pre-owned and yet individually distinctive dishes, and that's Fiestaware. It's easy to find old Fiestaware, and you could get each person their own color. Especially the older stuff is pretty high quality, and the colors make it fun and lighthearted rather than institutional-feeling.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:56 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's an easy solution for pre-owned and yet individually distinctive dishes, and that's Fiestaware. It's easy to find old Fiestaware, and you could get each person their own color. Especially the older stuff is pretty high quality, and the colors make it fun and lighthearted rather than institutional-feeling.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:56 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
I've seen a lot of company swag recently that takes the form of reusable travel flatware and/or nice reusable straws. Obviously there are travel mugs. Plates, though.. seem different somehow.
posted by supercres at 2:33 PM on August 23, 2021
posted by supercres at 2:33 PM on August 23, 2021
Re: Shared office kitchenware - Pre-covid I worked in an office with shared crockery and cutlery where everybody was supposedly responsible for cleaning what they used, and about 50% of the staff would *always* just dump theirs in the sink, expecting someone to magically clean it up. Spoiler: Eventually someone always did, and it was always a woman.
I feel like you're over-complicating it hugely.
Just give people a couple of weeks' notice that, for environmental reasons, disposable kitchenware will no longer be provided after x date, and that people will need to bring their own. They'll bring them in, and because they're their own things that they chose, they'll wash them up and probably keep them somewhere around their desk to stop them disappearing (though you should certainly leave the cupboard space in case they want to keep them there). A plate, knife and fork costs very little; people who are happy to eat from takeaway cartons/tupperware from home/the bag their sandwich came in from the shop will do just that and won't have a kitchen set they didn't ask for that they feel obliged to use.
If that feels mean, give everyone a small amount of cash or a voucher for a place that sells kitchen stuff, at the same time you announce the change, making it clear that everyone is free to spend it as they like so that if they don't want to spend it on kitchenware for work (because they already have some, or want to eat from Tupperware), they can use it to buy whatever they want.
posted by penguin pie at 2:51 PM on August 23, 2021 [7 favorites]
I feel like you're over-complicating it hugely.
Just give people a couple of weeks' notice that, for environmental reasons, disposable kitchenware will no longer be provided after x date, and that people will need to bring their own. They'll bring them in, and because they're their own things that they chose, they'll wash them up and probably keep them somewhere around their desk to stop them disappearing (though you should certainly leave the cupboard space in case they want to keep them there). A plate, knife and fork costs very little; people who are happy to eat from takeaway cartons/tupperware from home/the bag their sandwich came in from the shop will do just that and won't have a kitchen set they didn't ask for that they feel obliged to use.
If that feels mean, give everyone a small amount of cash or a voucher for a place that sells kitchen stuff, at the same time you announce the change, making it clear that everyone is free to spend it as they like so that if they don't want to spend it on kitchenware for work (because they already have some, or want to eat from Tupperware), they can use it to buy whatever they want.
posted by penguin pie at 2:51 PM on August 23, 2021 [7 favorites]
I have a similarly sized work team and implemented this change a few years ago, pre-Covid. Upon our return to the office, we have continued to use the re-useable stuff and have greatly reduced purchase and use of disposable plates, cups and utensils.
I bought everything for common use in the kitchen rather than individual sets, except for glass water bottles. For the bottles, I bought sets of bottles with different color sleeves so everyone could claim one and we don't lose track of who's is which. For dishes, I went with Corelle because it doesn't easily chip, is light and stackable. We always get swag coffee mugs so no need to purchase those. I also bought a little dish drain and a dozen dish towels so we wouldn't replace paper plate usage with paper towel usage. I am responsible for bringing home dish towels to launder, but everyone has been really good about cleaning their own dishes. YMMV.
We announced the switch at a group lunch and I've been really pleased with everyone getting with the program. We still keep a small supply of disposables for guest use but haven't ordered bulk forks from the office supply vendor for maybe three years now.
posted by rekrap at 3:54 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
I bought everything for common use in the kitchen rather than individual sets, except for glass water bottles. For the bottles, I bought sets of bottles with different color sleeves so everyone could claim one and we don't lose track of who's is which. For dishes, I went with Corelle because it doesn't easily chip, is light and stackable. We always get swag coffee mugs so no need to purchase those. I also bought a little dish drain and a dozen dish towels so we wouldn't replace paper plate usage with paper towel usage. I am responsible for bringing home dish towels to launder, but everyone has been really good about cleaning their own dishes. YMMV.
We announced the switch at a group lunch and I've been really pleased with everyone getting with the program. We still keep a small supply of disposables for guest use but haven't ordered bulk forks from the office supply vendor for maybe three years now.
posted by rekrap at 3:54 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
Go with your idea of just buying a bunch of dishes and bowls, and let everyone know the end date for the single use stuff.
Giving everyone a set of their own as a "gift" is obnoxious (no matter how well intentioned)--and not really a gift, it comes with strings attached (you will use this at work, you will wash it at work, you will leave it at work). And the slobs are slobs, it won't make a difference if it is their special yellow plate or not.
It sounds like you have the cleaning process in place, but for some additional input, I found washing things at work annoying because the lack of any kind of dish towels. When there was a dish drainer, it was never washed. And the sponges got really gross, and the dish soap was a small (plastic) container of Dawn or whatever that was not always full. Lastly, as someone mentioned, washing stuff in the sink can be a terrific waste of water, especially when it is one plate and a fork at a time.
As Kermit the frog sang, "It's not easy being green!"
posted by rhonzo at 3:58 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
Giving everyone a set of their own as a "gift" is obnoxious (no matter how well intentioned)--and not really a gift, it comes with strings attached (you will use this at work, you will wash it at work, you will leave it at work). And the slobs are slobs, it won't make a difference if it is their special yellow plate or not.
It sounds like you have the cleaning process in place, but for some additional input, I found washing things at work annoying because the lack of any kind of dish towels. When there was a dish drainer, it was never washed. And the sponges got really gross, and the dish soap was a small (plastic) container of Dawn or whatever that was not always full. Lastly, as someone mentioned, washing stuff in the sink can be a terrific waste of water, especially when it is one plate and a fork at a time.
As Kermit the frog sang, "It's not easy being green!"
posted by rhonzo at 3:58 PM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
If you do this, it might be better to just get a set or two of new dishes for everyone to use.
Some thrift wares may not be dishwasher and/or microwave safe, and it'd be bad to find that out the hard way.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:16 PM on August 23, 2021
Some thrift wares may not be dishwasher and/or microwave safe, and it'd be bad to find that out the hard way.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:16 PM on August 23, 2021
My small office switched to reusable plates and utensils, and we do keep it clean, it's a team effort.
Best thing is to make the right thing the easy thing. Get a whole bunch of Dish Wands. Rotate in a new one each week. Something about the slight remove from hands on a soapy sponge makes it easier to clean dishes in an office setting. It also takes a two step process (pick up sponge, pick up soap) and combines it into one step.
I would to to Target and buy in bulk the simplest flatware and ceramic dishes with no detail or places that can capture food, and a large dish drying rack that can hold all the dishes at once. We tried mismatched thrift store plates but found that consistency makes nesting in the drying rack so much better.
I think the people that do the dishes should not also be responsible for maintaining the tools so you or someone you delegate should have the task of changing the dish wand and cleaning or replacing the drying rack.
posted by sol at 5:09 PM on August 23, 2021
Best thing is to make the right thing the easy thing. Get a whole bunch of Dish Wands. Rotate in a new one each week. Something about the slight remove from hands on a soapy sponge makes it easier to clean dishes in an office setting. It also takes a two step process (pick up sponge, pick up soap) and combines it into one step.
I would to to Target and buy in bulk the simplest flatware and ceramic dishes with no detail or places that can capture food, and a large dish drying rack that can hold all the dishes at once. We tried mismatched thrift store plates but found that consistency makes nesting in the drying rack so much better.
I think the people that do the dishes should not also be responsible for maintaining the tools so you or someone you delegate should have the task of changing the dish wand and cleaning or replacing the drying rack.
posted by sol at 5:09 PM on August 23, 2021
A further complication of buying individual sets: what will you do if someone new is hired? Will you be able to find the same set again? If you are not upper management or HR, it will be quite odd for you to spring upon a new hire with a set of dishes.
posted by Comet Bug at 9:35 PM on August 23, 2021
posted by Comet Bug at 9:35 PM on August 23, 2021
Does Fiestaware come in 12 different colors? You could buy a set for the break room and ask everyone to “adopt” their favorite color.
posted by SLC Mom at 10:51 PM on August 23, 2021
posted by SLC Mom at 10:51 PM on August 23, 2021
This entire thread is why I very specifically never use anything -- disposable or reusable -- from the kitchen at my office. I bring all my own stuff, eat the way I wish, and pack out what I packed in. I'm not cleaning up after other people in my office because they are adults and I am not their mother. Likewise, I don't expect them to clean up after me. I have specific standards about how plates/cups/utensils should be cleaned, and I've never worked in an office where those standards can be met. (Sponges? No. Gross.)
If I visited someone else's office and was offered food/bev served in random china/plastic I would be concerned because I'd have no idea when it was last washed or to what standard.
I think the best you can do is get some matching basics -- ether thrift or Target -- and put them in the kitchen to see if people will uptake. If you want to remove the disposables (post-COVID) be prepared for some peope to just bring their own.
posted by mccxxiii at 7:00 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
If I visited someone else's office and was offered food/bev served in random china/plastic I would be concerned because I'd have no idea when it was last washed or to what standard.
I think the best you can do is get some matching basics -- ether thrift or Target -- and put them in the kitchen to see if people will uptake. If you want to remove the disposables (post-COVID) be prepared for some peope to just bring their own.
posted by mccxxiii at 7:00 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
A complete set of dishes for anyone to use is a nice idea, with a caveat:
At my old office, we had a system in which everyone loaded their dirty dishes into the dishwasher throughout the day. Whoever left the office last in the evening would start the dishwasher, along with locking the door and turning off the lights. The big boss always, without fail, emptied the dishwasher each morning, and was very persistent about reminding people to load the dishwasher and not leave dirty dishes in the kitchen. Without his dedication to the system it would not have worked and would probably have been resented by the rest of us, who would have ended up cleaning up after other people now and then.
So, I think you should push to implement this system only if you are willing to be the person who empties the dish drainer each morning!
posted by beandip at 2:15 PM on August 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
At my old office, we had a system in which everyone loaded their dirty dishes into the dishwasher throughout the day. Whoever left the office last in the evening would start the dishwasher, along with locking the door and turning off the lights. The big boss always, without fail, emptied the dishwasher each morning, and was very persistent about reminding people to load the dishwasher and not leave dirty dishes in the kitchen. Without his dedication to the system it would not have worked and would probably have been resented by the rest of us, who would have ended up cleaning up after other people now and then.
So, I think you should push to implement this system only if you are willing to be the person who empties the dish drainer each morning!
posted by beandip at 2:15 PM on August 28, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by aniola at 12:45 PM on August 23, 2021 [34 favorites]