When NOT to Go the Extra Mile

Columnist - Chelsea Ehrke

Ever since I was a teenager, I've insisted to my mom that "pre-washing" dishes before washing them in the dishwasher is ridiculous. "It's in the name, Mom. Dish-WASHER," I'd lecture as a 14 year-old, unenthusiastically bent over a sink of soapy bubbles. It took over a decade but finally, the dishwasher gods have spoken. According to a recent article featured on Yahoo!, appliance industry experts unanimously agree that pre-rinsing dishes is absolutely unnecessary. It wastes not only time, water and energy, but it can actually harm your dishware.

After calling my mom to gloat about my infinite wisdom and lay an immense guilt trip over years of prune fingers (I've never liked those yellow gloves), I started wondering: What other meaningless tasks have I been wasting my time with? Here's a full rundown of chores that are worth the effort, and ones that you can toss out with your dish soap:

Invest a Few Minutes

Rinse fruits and vegetables: I'm always surprised at the amount of people who don't rinse fruits and vegetables they get from the grocery store. "But they're pre-washed," my friends quip. Pre-washed when? Where? Even if your produce is washed at the farm or packaging source, pre-washing is never completely effective. A small amount of bacteria left over has plenty of time to multiply and reproduce for days before reaching the consumer. You also have no idea what may have made it's way into that plastic wrap at the grocery store. And then there's all the people who have to test "ripeness" in their (most likely) unwashed hands. Yuck.

Pre-treat laundry stains: Spraying a little Spray-n-Wash on that ketchup stain before washing it can save a lot of frustration in the end. If you get the stain out right the first time, you can save yourself the hassle of scrubbing endlessly at a set-in stain.

Condition your furniture: Taking out the leather treater at least twice a year will help keep your pricey furniture in great shape for a long time. This is a chore that's easy to ignore, since your furniture may look nice on the outside while it's becoming dry and brittle from the inside. Invest ten minutes to lengthen the life of your furniture and keep it looking nice for years to come.

Wash bed sheets: Washing your sheets once a week is a great habit to get into. Not only will it help you start your week feeling refreshed in a clean environment, it can also reduce illness from germs that may otherwise linger in your bedroom.

Don't Waste Your Time

Cooking vegetables: I love side dishes like pan-sauteed green beans and boiled corn, but if you're looking for a quick vegetable to add to your dinner, the microwave can be your best friend. Throw some broccoli, carrots, or asparagus in a microwave-safe container, add a few tablespoons of water and cover with plastic wrap. Five to ten minutes later, you'll have an easy, effortless dish - and your family will never know the difference.

Ironing: My grandma used to sit for hours ironing every single shirt and pant the moment it came out of the dryer. Half the stuff got thrown in the closet and my grandpa didn't even look at it for weeks, at which point it would have to be ironed again since creases had formed on the hanger. Unless you need to wear a full suit to work every single day (and if you do, I recommend you find a low-cost dry cleaner in the area), save your effort for the special occasions.

Folding small items: A couple years ago, I decided I would stop folding my socks and underwear. I used to spend ridiculous amounts of time matching up sock pairs and folding tighty whiteys into a neat little cube, just so they could be stuffed into a drawer before I'd yank them out again in a few days. It was an endless, vicious cycle. The day I put a stop to it was liberating. Now I throw the underwear (unfolded!) into the drawer. I did the same for the socks after pairing down to only two kinds: white athletic socks and black dress socks. Who needs more than that, anyway? Now it's easy to find exactly what I need, right when I need it.

Primping your bed: I definitely see the point in pulling up the sheet and comforter to cover your sleeping area. It keeps dust, bugs, and pets out. When it comes to decoration, however, a bed is no place to show off. No one's going to be touring your bedroom any time soon (hopefully), and the twenty extra heart-shaped pillows you have stuffed up there are really just an annoying waste of time.

What other chores do you do that could be eliminated? Examine your day, and you're bound to find that there are a few extra minutes you can shave off your routine, whether it's at home, school, or at the office.

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