Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: getting people to wash dishes and do post-meals

[Lynn Nadeau / Maraiah (welcome]

At RoseWind (long built in Port Townsend WA) we have lots of help with clean 
up. I cooked yesterday's dinner (chili, cornbread, salad, cheese, cookies, 
fruit) with one assistant. At cleanup, we two were joined by at least 8 others, 
running the counter-top commercial type dishwasher, drying and putting away 
dishes, washing pots and pans and big serving dishes, packaging up leftovers, 
wiping tables and counters, taking out the compost, etc. I stayed till last, 
putting out the trash, collecting my own stuff from the cooking production. But 
(out of maybe 20 present at the end of the meal -- some did take out, or had to 
leave early) there were ten people chatting, busy on their own track, 
voluntarily pitching in on the clean up. Clean up is usually complete within 
half an hour. 

Factors? 
Easy system to clear tables: bring your own dishes to kitchen counter, silver 
into dishpan of soapy water, compost scraped into bin, dishes set by dishwasher 
counter.
Dishwasher is stainless steel, belching steam, quite satisfying to run-- guys 
seem to especially like it! 
Rolling cart for clean dishes, with fresh white dish towels in bin on its lower 
shelf, trays for silver on the mid shelf, Corelle plates and bowls on top. 
(Full, it goes back to the beginning of the serving line.)
Drawer on dining room side of serving counter has containers (yogurt etc) for 
leftovers. 
Besides dishwasher area, we have triple pot sink, plus normal double  kitchen 
sink, with dish drainers for hand washed items. 
Kitchen is contiguous with dining room. 

If we are short help to wipe tables, I just take a damp rag to each table and 
hand it to someone still sitting there. 
Sweeping is done if visibly necessary. 
Twice a month we have several hours of paid housecleaning at the common house: 
bathrooms, floors, included. 

Maraiah Lynn Nadeau
RoseWind Cohousing