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Dishwashers vs. Hand Washing: Which is Best?

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clean hands

While many people today use a dishwasher to scrub their dishes and kitchenware clean, not everyone enjoys the same luxury. There are still plenty of people across the country who eschew the conveniences of machine-powered washing in favor of cleaning each item by hand. And believe it or not, some actually do so by choice, preferring not to deal with the drawbacks of a dishwasher.

While convenience is a big selling point for many people who opt for a dishwasher, the reality is that there are many pros and cons not just for hand washing, but using a dishwasher as well. One of the main points of concern is trying to determine what method of cleaning is least damaging to your Corelle and other dish ware — it’s an unfortunate reality that dishes can become chipped or broken in the cleaning process.

But there are other issues to consider as well. Here’s a neat-and-simple breakdown.

Dishwasher pros

Of course, the easy of using a dishwasher can’t be matched by hand washing. But when it comes to dish safety — making sure that germs and bacteria are effectively killed in the washing process — dishwashers can also have an edge over hand washing. Your dishwasher is capable of using very hot water that kills all bacteria and germs, and does so without exposing your skin to high heats. Even the drying process uses hot air to keep temperatures high and make sure dangerous germs are dead.

Dishwasher cons

For all the benefits, there are some drawbacks. First off, the high heat can be damaging to some dishes — you might actually have some items that can’t be dishwashed because of the risk of warping or other damage. Some dishwashers can leave a detergent residue on dishes that makes them look dirty and stained, which can be embarrassing when you’re handing out dishes to guests in your home. And because detergents contain chemicals that may be harmful for children, you’ll have to keep these products out of a child’s reach at all times, and there’s the slight possibility that the residues could introduce those chemicals into your body.

Hand washing pros

When it comes to washing a small amount of dishes at once — which is common for people who live alone or otherwise fail to ever fill the dishwasher with an entire load — hand washing can be quicker, easier and more efficient with water and soap. You can also make a dirty dish clean much faster than what happens during a dishwasher cycle. And you can hand wash any dish and get the same results, which you can’t say when putting dishes in a dishwasher.

Hand washing cons

Because of the risk of scalding your skin, it’s impossible to expose hand washed dishes to the high temperatures of a dishwasher. That makes it tougher to fully eradicate all germs and bacteria. And when you’re washing large amounts of dishes, it can actually lead to more wasted water than what you would get from a dishwasher. Plus, it’s a tedious, time-consuming process.

While dishwashers aren’t expected to fall out of favor anytime soon, it’s your decision alone to decide what solution is best for you. You might ultimately find that your best solution is one combining both hand washing and a dishwashing machine. Whatever the case, just make sure your dishes are being effectively cleaned of germs and aren’t suffering unnecessary damage during the cleaning process.

Thomas is a professional writer living in the Philly area and he writes on behalf of Sears and other deserving brands.

Of Dress Codes and Lifestyles

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The way people dress up is typically dictated by the kind of lifestyle they lead.  They follow what is deemed acceptable including both the written and unwritten rules contained in acknowledged dress codes.  With the exception of people who intentionally go against societal standards to make a personal statement, people generally observe established standards as modified by certain preferences.

People have long attributed social significance to the manner of dressing.  This has remained fairly true even with the much more relaxed dressing atmosphere we have at present.  Even then, there are still minimal standards that guide trends and innovations and dressing.  It is a worthy observation that no matter how far, present dressing standards have deviated from the long-established ones; there will always be a way to connect the present to the past.

In the area of formal wear, there are specific pieces of clothing and accessories that will most probably be forever identified with it.  Some of these are the tailcoat, bow tie, waistcoat, detachable wing collar, shirt studs, and cufflinks.  They have served distinguished and ordinary men alike in the past and they continue to do so during this time.

A fairly relaxed lifestyle is not an excuse to avoid some fancy dressing for important occasions.  There are events that will call for some effort in dressing up.  While women have more styles to choose from, men’s choices remain classic, making it easier for them to rise up to the event.  A pair of USB cufflinks is able to provide a distinct formality in the overall attire.

White-tie and black-tie events call for some adjustment from the usual lifestyle dressing.  Including a pair of cufflinks to spiff up the attire is not difficult at all especially now that it has become an accepted accessory for informal dressing.

 

De-Clutter Your Room

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Yesterday, I spent most of the day re-arranging my bedroom. I moved cabinets and drawers. I got rid of a few tables, big and small. This is nothing new of course. In the family, I am known for trying to make something new out of my room. However, one major difference this time around is the fact that I moved my bed.

It’s amazing what a difference moving one piece of furniture can do to a room. Instantly, I have this huge space in the middle. I’m thinking of putting a carpet there, actually. I have also gotten rid of years and years’ worth of paper. All that time, I had stored them in some cabinet or drawer, vowing to one day sort them out.

You might be wondering why I’m telling you about all this. Well, aside from having a nicer room, I realize that my mind is also more organized. Now that I don’t have clutter hanging around in every nook and cranny, I can breathe easier and also think clearer. I am less stressed.

Here are two important tips on how to de-clutter your room.

* Have a plan
Sometimes, diving into such a big task (such as cleaning your room after a long time) can be daunting. Unless you have a concrete plan, you might end up not finishing what you started. All you’ll have is more mess than what you had to begin with.

* Do not wait until tomorrow what you can do today
Obviously, I procrastinated and procrastinated until kingdom come. And I ended up wearing myself thin with more than six bags filled with paper. While they’re good for recycling and selling at junk shops, I must have spent the better part of the day just going through the documents.

* The simpler the better
Incorporate the zen way of living. I found out that the more desks and drawers you have, the more you are tempted to just stack your things on or in them. Aside from gathering more dust, they just add complication to your life. I have to admit that I love collecting interesting stuff. But if you don’t have any room for them, take a pass card.

Do You Have These Bad Habits?

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We all have our bad habits, there is no denying that. There are some habits, however, that may seem to be harmless on the surface but are actually wreaking damage without us noticing it. Take a look at some of these habits and see if you are guilty of engaging in them.

Using the phone while driving. This is really a no brainer – bad habit no doubt. However, everyone who does this has his own way of rationalizing it. There is a plethora of hands-free devices that we can use to make talking on the phone while driving safe. STOP IT. Driving requires concentration and even if you’re using a hands-free device, talking on the phone takes away from that concentration that can make the difference between life and death!

Watching TV every single night. So what’s bad about that? People need to de-stress after work. If TV is their way of doing it, why not? The bad thing about spending every single night glued to the tube is that there are so many other negative implications. One, you may not be spending as much as time as you should interacting with other people – that will help you de-stress better. Two, you tend to eat more when watching TV. Three, studies have shown that too much TV can increase your risk for Alzheimer’s later in life.

Listening to music. Alright, I have to qualify this. Music is part of many people’s lives and that shouldn’t be counted as a bad habit. The bad part comes into the picture when you plug those earbuds in constantly and increase the volume. Our ears are sensitive machines and if exposed to loud noises constantly, they will simply stop functioning. The alternative then is to force yourself to get used to lower sound levels.

Which of these bad habits do you have? Don’t you think it’s time to do something about them? Do visit o5.com for great lifestyle tips of every kind- it’s a wonderful resource- I especially liked a recent article on toddler anxiety.

Photo courtesy of Time

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

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Foodies watch out. There’s a revolution going on and Jamie Oliver’s right smack in the middle of it.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s new show airs tonight at 10PM on ABC. The show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, actually aired a sneak peek on the 21st but I missed it. After seeing Larry King last night though my interest was peaked, not because it seemed a particularly entertaining show, but because I am eager to see how well the “revolution” will be accepted.

According to Ryan Seacrest (He’s the executive producer of the show. That guy is getting busier and busier by the minute!), he was “embarrassed as a teenager” because of his weight. Like Bill Clinton he thinks that by changing the kind of food served in school cafeterias he would probably have been less fat and reap better health as he grows older.

The revolution starts in Huntington, WV where Jamie helped change the daily menu from serving processed foods like pizza, frozen chicken nuggets, ready-to-eat eggs and corn dogs for breakfast and lunch to healthier foods made from fresh ingredients. Not surprisingly his first few weeks was met with resistance from the school cooks (They should be thankful it’s Jamie Oliver and not Gordon Ramsey that’s “revolutionizing” their kitchen) and the children. However, it seems that they are already warming up to the idea and other schools are starting to look into the possibility of making changes.

Jamie Oliver is also taking his advocacy to the White House where he wouldn’t be hard pressed to find an ally since we all know that First Lady Michelle Obama has made reducing childhood obesity a priority.