EFFICIENCY

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 13

EFFICIENCY

IN THE KITCHEN With the average number of 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 Bsec and requires 1,954 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 the dining room and kitchen ” would save the dish washer 15min for cultural reading, with iOsoc to take off the apron and take on the book. It appears, however, that the dish washer must give up the “ present standard methods cf American dish wasning.” She or he (for the task is nowadays said to be performed also by males) must bo “ willing to break with traditional methods,’ such, for example, .s 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 aighly 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 dish washer has a spare 22min 58sec. In especially well-disned families it would seem that further economy of time might be secured by having the dish’ washing after every other breakfast.