EFFICIENCY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 47, 23 August 1930, Page 19

EFFICIENCY

In the Kitchen

With the average number o2 dishes ordinarily subject to washing during an average day in an average American family it has been determined by recent analysis and tabulation of human behaviour during this process that to wash these dishes—assuming it is done in the manner customary to such a family—takes "38min Ssee and require! 1954 motions, says the "Christian Science Monitor."

As the investigators (Mary K. Heiner and N. M. Venner, of the University of Chicago) have reported to the "Journal of Home Economics," this includes 950 motions more than are necessary, and the dishes could actually be washed in 22min 58sec. In other words, the "application of office efficiency to i the dining-room and kitchen" would save the dishwasher 15min for cultural reading, with lOsec to take off the apron and take on the book. It appears, however, that the dishwasher must give up the "present standard methods of American dish-washing." She, or he (for the task is nowadays said to be perfo:fied also by/males), must be "willing to break with traditional methods," such, for example, as washing by hand and drying with towel. Thus vanishes the old-fashioned and congenial occupation, at which two have so often been company but three a crowd, of washing and wiping. There are those who would maintain that four-handed dish-washing was highly cultural.-But, says "Efficiency," why use a towel when a plate will dry by itself? And why three dish-washings a day when one—assuming dishes enough for three meals —is sufficient? This daily ' ceremony, following '' the best office practice," will occur "probably after breakfast," but can obviously' be' fitted 'in; whenever the dishwasher has a spare. 22.mm 58sce In especially well-dished families it would seem that further economy of time might be secured; by having the dishwashing after every other breakfast.