Teach Your Kids How to Hand Wash Dishes: Step by Step
Hand washing dishes may seem like a simple chore, but it’s an essential life skill that can be taught to kids from an early age. This isn’t just about keeping the kitchen clean although that’s a big part of it. Having your children help with chores teaches them responsibility, a sense of belonging within the family, and the value of caring for their home.
By involving your kids in household tasks, you’re helping them develop a sense of pride and contribution while building skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Today I’m sharing step by step instructions to help you teach your kids how to hand wash dishes.

Chores, like washing dishes, provide children with more than just practical knowledge. They offer opportunities to learn time management, attention to detail, and the satisfaction of completing a task.
These small responsibilities teach kids that being part of a family means contributing to the care of the home, which fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork.
When kids help with daily tasks, they also learn to value the effort it takes to maintain a household and develop an appreciation for the work their parents do every day.
Why Teach Kids to Hand Wash Dishes?
If you have a dishwasher, it might seem unnecessary to teach kids how to wash dishes by hand. However, this skill comes in handy more often than you might think—whether the dishwasher is full, broken, or you’re somewhere without one.
The first 15 years of my marriage we lived without a dishwasher and knowing how to properly hand wash the dishes is a skill worth knowing. Teaching kids to wash dishes can:
- Encourage responsibility and teamwork.
- Teach them to appreciate the effort it takes to maintain a home.
- Foster a sense of accomplishment in doing a task well.
- Serve as a great way to spend quality time together.

My daughter Laura helping clean the kitchen. (2016)
Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Kids How to Hand Wash Dishes
Here’s a simple, kid-friendly process you can use to show your children how to clean a stack of dirty dishes:
1. Gather Your Supplies
To start, make sure you have everything you need is ready to go. You’ll need:
- A clean sink (or two, if you’re using one for rinsing).
- Dish soap.
- A sponge or scrubber.
- A dish rack or drying mat.
- A clean towel for drying.
Encourage your children to help set up before starting. This teaches them to prepare for tasks and work efficiently. A lot of adults don’t know how to properly wash the dishes either, so if you’ve never been taught, that’s okay! Now is as good a time as any to learn how to hand wash dishes.
2. Sort the Dishes
Show your children how to sort dishes into categories: plates, cups, silverware, pots, and pans. Explain that some items, like knives or greasy pans, require special care and should be washed last or handled by an adult. If your kids are old enough to learn how to care for cast iron skillets or your favorite Dutch oven, you can show them how.
Sorting dishes also prevents fragile items from accidentally breaking or getting scratched.
3. Scrape and Rinse
Before washing, scrape off any leftover food into the trash or compost bin. Then, rinse the dishes under warm water to remove excess residue. This step makes washing easier and more effective. You can also use paper towels to soak up excess grease or oil in a pan before washing.
4. Fill the Sink with Hot-ish Sudsy Water
Demonstrate how to fill the sink with warm water (don’t let your kids burn their hands with hot water, but very warm water cleans better) and add a few squirts of dish soap. Kids love bubbles, so make this part fun! Let them swish the water around with their hands to create suds.
Tip: Explain why warm water works best—it helps the soap cuts through grease and makes cleaning easier.
5. Wash the Dishes
Teach your children to wash dishes in the correct order:
- Glasses and cups: Start with items that are least dirty to keep the water cleaner longer.
- Plates and bowls: Move on to these, showing them how to scrub away any stuck-on food.
- Utensils: Be careful with sharp knives—these might need adult supervision.
- Pots and pans: Leave these for last since they’re usually the greasiest.
Show them how to hold each item securely and use a sponge or scrubber to clean every surface, including the edges and handles. You can also explain when to use a scrubber vs when to use a sponge or kitchen rag.
6. Rinse Completely
Once the dish is clean, rinse it under warm running water. Explain that rinsing removes soap residue, which can leave dishes feeling slimy or tasting funny. Encoruage children not to waste water by turning off the facet, washing a few pieces and then rinsing them at the same time.
7. Dry or Air Dry
Place the rinsed dishes in a drying rack or on a clean drying mat. If your kids are old enough, they can dry the dishes with a clean towel and put them away in their proper spots.
8. Clean Up Time
The job isn’t done until the sink is clean and the work area is wiped down. Teach your kids to drain the soapy water, rinse out the sponge, and wipe down the sink and counters.
Tips for Success
- Make It Fun: Play some music or turn it into a game.
- Start Small: If your kids are young, let them start with plastic cups or utensils. As they gain confidence, they can move on to more challenging items.
- Teach Proper Safety: Remind them to handle glassware and knives carefully to avoid accidents.
- Supervise and Encourage: Stay close by to help them as needed and make sure they are doing a good job until they are old enough and you can trust them to do it alone. Praise their efforts and correct mistakes gently.
Age Guidelines for Hand Washing Dishes
Here’s a general breakdown of what kids can handle at different ages. Keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace, so adjust these guidelines based on your child’s abilities and maturity. You know your own child best!
Ages 2-4:
- Help rinse plastic dishes or utensils.
- Use a sponge to “wash” unbreakable items in a sink of soapy water (with supervision).
- Practice putting dishes in the sink or dishwasher.
- Ages 5-7:
- Wash lightweight, non-breakable items like plastic cups, bowls, or utensils.
- Rinse simple dishes under warm water.
- Begin learning how to sort dishes by type before washing.
- Ages 8-10:
- Wash sturdier dishes like plates, mugs, and simple glassware.
- Learn how to handle mildly greasy pans or utensils.
- Begin understanding proper order (e.g., wash cleanest items first).
- Ages 11+:
- Wash all types of dishes, including pots and pans.
- Learn how to handle knives carefully.
- Take full responsibility for washing, rinsing, drying, and cleaning up the sink area.
A Valuable Lesson for Life
Teaching your kids to hand wash dishes may take some time and patience, but it’s a good lesson for them to learn that will pay off in their future. And honestly, moms, you don’t have to do everything yourself – ask for help, delegate, and let your family be responsible for some of the household chores.
What chores do your kids do at home to help keep the household running smoothly?
More Ideas You’ll Love
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- How to Create a Functional Kitchen on a Budget
- 5 Quick Wins to Instantly Tidy Your Kitchen
Free Printable Hand Washing the Dishes Chart for Kids
Teach kids the essential skill of hand washing dishes with this fun and easy-to-follow printable chart! Featuring step-by-step instructions, a simple layout, and an encouraging high-five at the end, this guide makes learning a chore feel like an accomplishment. Perfect for young helpers in the kitchen!

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