doing the dishes

[stokeace]

i live with my partner and our 2 daughters [both teenagers]and its always me whoi does the dishes lol any advice on how to get them to get their hands in the dishwater?

[mifta]

Get 2 cheap washing up bowls, put their dirty crockery .etc. in each and place on their bed!!!
My friend did it and it worked a treat.

[stokeace]

lol nice 1 mifta ill give it a try thanx ..

[ummmm]

Just don't give them any money until they have done there jobs....

That works as well......my 8 year old does dishes....badly I must admit but he still does them.....

[dave1969]

Buy paper plates for yourself and plastic knives and forks and throw yours away

[winny]

I moaned at mr W about this. When we moved house I moaned and told him that the new house rules would involve one cooking and the other washing up and I was sticking to it. He bought a dish washer!!!! (which he never fills or empties) I am not good at the putting my foot down thing.

[Mammar]

It all depends how much earache you can put up with.
You may have to play "Bad Dad / Mum" for a while if you're determined to win on this.
As for the partner, be careful. Does he / she do the cooking? Are you prepared to do the cooking if he / she does the washing up? Could he / she threaten you with withdrawal of conjugal rights if you make an issue of it? See what I mean? Fraught with difficulties.
Buy yourself a dishy but don't expect them to load it either.
It will astonish you how they can make a lovely pile of plates etc right above the door of it but not manage to put anything inside!

[ethandron]

that is so true mammar, why do they do that?
another thing you could try is not doing their clothes washing or ironing unless they help with the dishes. but you really do have to stick to it and not give in, or you'll never get anywhere with them. depends on how much it annoys you.

[winny]

You know what after reading mammars post I realize it comes to us all and I reckon their time will come. Especially as they are girls so get the dishy and make life eazy by not nagging. watch this space in 20 years and voila you will have a little chuckle to yourself when they are asking your advice on the matter!!!!!! lol.

[cockroach]

its horrid. But tell them if they dont wash up you will serve the nx days dinner on the unwashed plates. (saw this on a tv prog years ago)

[stokeace]

thanx for all your suggestions im going to hang up my rubber gloves until they help lol

[wizard69]

hey stokie,
my son and stepson dont get to use the computer or watch tv until they do the dishes after tea, that seems to do the trick.
there's always a lot of face pulling but why should THEY get to use MY facilities when they wont chip in with the house work?
works in the wizard household anyway

[Solarjunkie]

Hve you done something as simple as asking them to do it? Not nagging that they haven't. I suggest a good old fashioned rota on the wall, maybe even complete with stars! If everybody eats, everybody should contribute to the cooking first & clearing after. You may need to lead them in a bit gently by reminding each one that tonight is their night. Then after a week, leave them to it.
It was serving dinner in cereal bowls - the only crockery left clean - that made my lot realise I was serious.
Good luck.