Farmhouse sinks feature a larger capacity, which makes them more convenient for washing your dishes.

But there’s a painful truth behind these sinks nobody will tell you; you can easily break your dishes in your apron sink. And their exposed front design can make you wet. The low height can make you slouch too much and end up with severe back pains.

If you know exactly how to wash your dishes in your farmhouse sink and the precautions to take, you’ll have an easy time using your apron sink.

Instructions for washing dishes in farmhouse sink:

Wash dishes in a farmhouse sink

1. Scrap off leftover foods from your dishes

When washing your dishes in a farmhouse sink, and generally any other type of sink, the first thing you should do is scrapping off those food remains on your utensils.

The main reason you should do this is to help prevent these leftovers from blocking your sink and giving you the nightmare of standing water in your sink.

Plus, this practice helps keep the debris out of the way as you fill your sink, letting you clean your dishes without repeatedly draining water.

Overall, scrapping off food that remains from your dishes before cleaning them makes cleaning much easier for you.

2. Sort your dishes before cleaning

Sorting your dishes not only helps minimize the risk of damage to your sink and dishes but also makes the cleaning process faster.

The best way to sort your dishes: get all the plates and stack them together. Stack all the pans on the other side. If you have glasses to clean, set them apart from the rest of the dishes to prevent breakage. 

Stack all the other different types of items you’re cleaning in their respective categories.

wash dishes in a farmhouse sink

Keep in mind that if water hits any of the dishes, it will likely splash back, so make sure you leave enough space where water will hit. You don’t want to finish up cleaning your dishes while looking all wet.

3. Set up your drying area

Farmhouse sinks don’t usually feature a drying area, so you’ll have to set up a drying area yourself for easier cleaning of your dishes.

drying area

You can set up a drying rack on your counter, just beside your sink. And make sure one part of the drying rack dangles near the sink so that all the water from the drying dishes gets directly into the sink.

If you don’t have a drying rack, you can dry a mat or a towel to dry the dishes.

4. Time to wash your dishes

Your dishes are free from leftover foods and sorted in stacks. All that’s left is to start cleaning them.

Grab your dishwashing detergent and add a small amount of it to your pre-filled sink. When the water gets soapy enough, start cleaning your first stack of dishes. Be sure to wash one item at a time until you get done with the entire pile.

For the best cleaning results, make sure you scrub each item with a soft sponge or cleaning pad while passing them through the water.

5. Rinsing time

Turn on the water faucet such that water flows out with medium force. Pass all the dishes you have cleaned in the previous step through the faucet water, and make sure you rinse them thoroughly. Properly rinsed dishes should show no signs of soapy residue on them.

6. Clean your farmhouse sink

We highly encourage you to leave your farmhouse sink clean after you have cleaned your dishes.

Cleaning your sink is a hygienic process that helps kill those disease-causing germs that would otherwise accumulate on your sink. It’s also part of taking care of your apron sink to ensure it stays in top conditions and serves you for a long time.

To clean your first properly, first pull the plug to drain the dirty, soapy water. After the water gets fully drained, rinse the basin with water to eliminate any residual dirt left.

Wipe the sink down with a soft microfiber cloth. Or leave it to dry on its own.

Safety tips for cleaning dishes in the farmhouse sink:

wash dishes in a farmhouse sink

Keep these safety precautions in mind to ensure you have a smooth experience doing the dishes in your kitchen apron sink:

Watch your posture

Farmhouse sinks are a bit deeper than standard sinks, and you might end up bending a little more forward than usual when using them. However, doing this for more extended periods can result in severe back pains. Standing close to your sink can help prevent your body from bending too much.

Pay full attention

Farmhouse sinks lack edges, a minor design flaw that can break more dishes than you imagine. For this reason, we advise you to fully concentrate on your dishes when using your sink to prevent possible breakage of your dishes.

Don’t wear gloves

Wearing gloves increases makes your hands more slippery, and you’re more likely to drop and break your dishes when cleaning them in the apron sink.

Don’t wet yourself

A farmhouse sink can get you wet if you’re not careful. Keeping the water from your faucet running at low pressure can fix this issue. Filling your sink up with water to kill splashing also works. Be sure to put on an apron when using your sink apron to keep water off your clothes and body. Don’t forget to put a mat below your sink to avoid wetting your kitchen floor.

Final verdict

Washing dishes in your farmhouse sink doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have so much fun washing the dishes in this type of sink.

Make sure you put in place the measures we’ve suggested to avoid breaking your dishes or wetting yourself up throughout the entire cleaning process.

Always clean your farmhouse sink after you get done with the dishes. It is a simple task that will keep your sink in good condition for an extended period.