Scientific Dish Wiping by Flora Huntley

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 24, 1915

Scientific Dish Wiping

By Flora Huntley

RECENTLY I watched two men in a cafeteria wiping trays, and I discovered some points that are worth observing by those who do their own work. One man wiped the top of a tray at the top of a pile, then turned it over, at the same time passing it on to a second man, who wiped the bottom of the same tray and set it right side up on a second pile, which was then carried to the dining room by a waiter. Each man used two towels, one in each hand, so that every motion counted. Even the work of wiping one tray was thus highly specialized.

This gave me an idea. By experimenting and watching my own motions when wiping dishes, I found that I made many useless passes through the air. I discovered that I could gain time by using two drying towels instead of one, and several motions, such as picking up the end of the towel, were eliminated.

Now, when a woman spends, on an average, two hours a day washing dishes, it will pay her to save even a minute or two at each process. If a business man finds it profitable to study to eliminate every useless motion, it certainly should profit the housewife. One of the reasons why there has not been more progress in housework is because women have not reckoned their time as worth much.

In estimating the cost of a product made in the home, a common expression is, “I didn’t count my time anything.” With this idea it is not strange that there is no leisure for recreation or reading or music. Save the minutes, and eliminate the useless processes, and there will be time for spiritual things.—Flora Huntley, in Christian Endeavor World.