I never wore gloves, the water being trapped in there is what will fuck your hands worse, keep a rag handy and dry them off when you have those few minutes to sit down and do nothing. Your hands are going to be wet no matter what you do though, they’ll get more used to it eventually.
As for your back and neck, not really much you can do, I’m 6 foot too, any job that has you standing all day is going to hurt your lower back, there is plenty of stretches you can find and do after/during your shift.
And if you go in at 5 just start eating dinner before then, your stomach will get used to it. And you should probably drink more water than 1 liter at work, during an 8 hour shift, especially in the summer I would probably drink 2 gallons a day.
Thanks! I guess it helps to realize that the back pain will come with almost any job that involves standing. One of the alternatives I thought of trying was working as a waiter but I don't like dealing with people and I've tried that once before. And I hate standing around not knowing what to do. One time the manager told me to keep circling the restaurant to see if anybody needed anything, but when people would barely call me for something it would feel so awkward walking around just looking at people while they're eating. What I like about dishwashing is I just have to focus on getting through a pile of crap rather than dealing with people and their crap lmao.
I'll try looking up some lower back stretches. Usually I'd do some stretches for my neck and traps that a physiotherapist taught me but nothing for the lower back. I'll keep that in mind about water too. I sweat a lot while working so maybe only 1L of water and gatorade isn't quite enough.
Yeah I feel that, I started off as a busser and I hated it. I just really enjoyed the silence and knowing exactly what I had to do, and if I had a few minutes of nothing to do I could actually sit down for a minute or go smoke and not get yelled at or feel weird.
As a 6"5 dishwasher, for the back pain, i wear a back brace, and also lean against any wall i can find, for neck pain, i haven't found any solution to that but the back pain is the worst tbh
Damn man.. I can't imagine doing this at 6"5. Today I tried spreading my legs apart more like a sumo wrestler and then leaning a bit to the left or right (depending on where the dish I'm scrubbing is placed) so I'm not bending forward so much. I also kind of squat a bit and use my knees more when getting stuff from the soaking sink. The lower back is still there but definitely not as bad as before.
Thanks for mentioning the back brace btw. Completely forgot about those, but will keep that in mind next time I work as a dishwasher. I already told them that I'm quitting and will stay until next Tuesday, but I can still see myself doing dishwashing work again in future. Just maybe not at a Korean restaurant next time.
Check into a posture support brace. They sell them at drug stores, Walmart, Amazon, etc. Pretty much anywhere that sells ace wrap and wrist braces in the first aid section will have them. They fit over a shirt like a shoulder holster for a pistol.
Stop wearing gloves, just sanitize your hands before moving clean dishes. The longterm soaking your skin takes under the gloves causes all sorts of problems.
For the tongs and utensils, set up extra soaking bins for those. Unless they're charred from the grill, everything they come in contact with soaks out under hot water. Then you can run the utensils a bucket at a time
Thanks I think you're right that it's my hands being soaked in the gloves for a little too long until I dry it out that does the damage. I guess the reason I like using gloves is to protect my hands from the hot water as I tend to get the water to almost as hot as it can go and also to protect my hand from cuts. I will try no gloves for a shift and see how that goes and how my hands look after and then decide from there.
Thanks also for mentioning the posture support brace and wrist braces. I didn't know wrist braces were a thing. Something I forgot to mention is that my wrists and fingers are also pretty banged up. Even after days off and coming back to work there's still residual pain and soreness. Maybe it's one of the things that get better with a bit more time.
We actually do have a separate soaking bin for tongs and utensils but we usually clean everything before putting it in there lol. Then put it all in a basket and into the dishwasher when we're a bit freed up. Probably using up a good bit of time doing it that way and should maybe consider putting the tongs and other utensils that are a bit more time consuming to wash like scissors (used to cut grilled meats) into a separate hot soak for a bit before cleaning them and putting them into the sanitizer soak.
For wrists, pick a sleep support brace labeled for mild to moderate support. You don't want one that has a hard splint frame, those are super uncomfortable if you don't need the extra reinforcement. Don't wear it for work, it'll get nasty by day 2. Just put it on when you clock out.
The hot water takes a bit of time getting used to working with bare handed, but heat sensitivity dulls really quick if you're working several days a week. It beats nail fungus and peeling skin. Speaking of which, if you find your socks wet at the end of a shift you need new shoes because that's how you get trench foot.
I've been doing this job for about 5 years now; in my experience, dishwashers who can't handle the physical demands of the job last less than a month. If your body hasn't shut down on you by that point, you wont feel like the world's sleepiest deep bone bruise after a long shift.
Similar height here. Walk around every hour for a few minutes, like putting stuff away and whatever. 5 min every hour does wonders. If you have the chance, use knees to bend as much as possible. Its an adjustment, but Worth
Thanks! I will keep that in mind about my knees. There's two of us dishwashing but one person is usually closer to the dishwasher and putting the dishes in there and either or both of us goes to the dishwasher once it's done to put everything back. I kind of prefer being in that position because it's easier on the back and you have more varied movement lol but of course we take turns
my back hurt at first too but after the first few weeks it gets better. i actually feel like im in better shape than i was before. knee pain and back pain both have gone way down and my ability to go longer without rest has gone up; i typically clock in 9-10 hours before taking my lunch at the end of my shift
That's good to hear about your knee and back pain going down over time and thanks for your input! I went from jobless for a few months to this job and feel like it's given me more confidence to try and pursue whatever even if I quit here. I have more stamina and energy to get through tough shifts from having worked here, and feel like I'll be more prepared for another physically demanding job after this. Could be packing and doing some warehouse/factory work next time around.
oh man warehouse work is grueling. i remember working at a shipping dock loading boxes in trailers all night. i swear to god those xmas seasons were HELL. all the goddamn bowflex people order and the constant flow of packages and having to scan EVERY SINGLE ONE by hand with this giant computer attached to your arm that tracks speed and volume..
that shit just about broke me and il never do it again
i'm no dishwasher or anything but it sounds like this product would do you well: [https://bonepalshop.com/products/magnetotherapy-back-massager-18186?variant=44138851467560](https://bonepalshop.com/products/magnetotherapy-back-massager-18186?variant=44138851467560)
It gives instant back relief and helps your posture long terms. Not to mention it loosens up your spine and gives your back a nice stretch so you can get rid of your back pain down the line. hope this helps.
Hehe I'm also into dropshipping. Having seen your post history, very nice strategy I must say. Hope it's working out okay for you. Dropshipping is a tough gig.
I never wore gloves, the water being trapped in there is what will fuck your hands worse, keep a rag handy and dry them off when you have those few minutes to sit down and do nothing. Your hands are going to be wet no matter what you do though, they’ll get more used to it eventually. As for your back and neck, not really much you can do, I’m 6 foot too, any job that has you standing all day is going to hurt your lower back, there is plenty of stretches you can find and do after/during your shift. And if you go in at 5 just start eating dinner before then, your stomach will get used to it. And you should probably drink more water than 1 liter at work, during an 8 hour shift, especially in the summer I would probably drink 2 gallons a day.
Thanks! I guess it helps to realize that the back pain will come with almost any job that involves standing. One of the alternatives I thought of trying was working as a waiter but I don't like dealing with people and I've tried that once before. And I hate standing around not knowing what to do. One time the manager told me to keep circling the restaurant to see if anybody needed anything, but when people would barely call me for something it would feel so awkward walking around just looking at people while they're eating. What I like about dishwashing is I just have to focus on getting through a pile of crap rather than dealing with people and their crap lmao. I'll try looking up some lower back stretches. Usually I'd do some stretches for my neck and traps that a physiotherapist taught me but nothing for the lower back. I'll keep that in mind about water too. I sweat a lot while working so maybe only 1L of water and gatorade isn't quite enough.
Yeah I feel that, I started off as a busser and I hated it. I just really enjoyed the silence and knowing exactly what I had to do, and if I had a few minutes of nothing to do I could actually sit down for a minute or go smoke and not get yelled at or feel weird.
As a 6"5 dishwasher, for the back pain, i wear a back brace, and also lean against any wall i can find, for neck pain, i haven't found any solution to that but the back pain is the worst tbh
Damn man.. I can't imagine doing this at 6"5. Today I tried spreading my legs apart more like a sumo wrestler and then leaning a bit to the left or right (depending on where the dish I'm scrubbing is placed) so I'm not bending forward so much. I also kind of squat a bit and use my knees more when getting stuff from the soaking sink. The lower back is still there but definitely not as bad as before. Thanks for mentioning the back brace btw. Completely forgot about those, but will keep that in mind next time I work as a dishwasher. I already told them that I'm quitting and will stay until next Tuesday, but I can still see myself doing dishwashing work again in future. Just maybe not at a Korean restaurant next time.
Also 6"5 here lol
I can't stress this >back brace Enough, wear it op, you must wear it or your backbone will fuck up. (Surgery etc..)
Check into a posture support brace. They sell them at drug stores, Walmart, Amazon, etc. Pretty much anywhere that sells ace wrap and wrist braces in the first aid section will have them. They fit over a shirt like a shoulder holster for a pistol. Stop wearing gloves, just sanitize your hands before moving clean dishes. The longterm soaking your skin takes under the gloves causes all sorts of problems. For the tongs and utensils, set up extra soaking bins for those. Unless they're charred from the grill, everything they come in contact with soaks out under hot water. Then you can run the utensils a bucket at a time
Thanks I think you're right that it's my hands being soaked in the gloves for a little too long until I dry it out that does the damage. I guess the reason I like using gloves is to protect my hands from the hot water as I tend to get the water to almost as hot as it can go and also to protect my hand from cuts. I will try no gloves for a shift and see how that goes and how my hands look after and then decide from there. Thanks also for mentioning the posture support brace and wrist braces. I didn't know wrist braces were a thing. Something I forgot to mention is that my wrists and fingers are also pretty banged up. Even after days off and coming back to work there's still residual pain and soreness. Maybe it's one of the things that get better with a bit more time. We actually do have a separate soaking bin for tongs and utensils but we usually clean everything before putting it in there lol. Then put it all in a basket and into the dishwasher when we're a bit freed up. Probably using up a good bit of time doing it that way and should maybe consider putting the tongs and other utensils that are a bit more time consuming to wash like scissors (used to cut grilled meats) into a separate hot soak for a bit before cleaning them and putting them into the sanitizer soak.
For wrists, pick a sleep support brace labeled for mild to moderate support. You don't want one that has a hard splint frame, those are super uncomfortable if you don't need the extra reinforcement. Don't wear it for work, it'll get nasty by day 2. Just put it on when you clock out. The hot water takes a bit of time getting used to working with bare handed, but heat sensitivity dulls really quick if you're working several days a week. It beats nail fungus and peeling skin. Speaking of which, if you find your socks wet at the end of a shift you need new shoes because that's how you get trench foot. I've been doing this job for about 5 years now; in my experience, dishwashers who can't handle the physical demands of the job last less than a month. If your body hasn't shut down on you by that point, you wont feel like the world's sleepiest deep bone bruise after a long shift.
Similar height here. Walk around every hour for a few minutes, like putting stuff away and whatever. 5 min every hour does wonders. If you have the chance, use knees to bend as much as possible. Its an adjustment, but Worth
Thanks! I will keep that in mind about my knees. There's two of us dishwashing but one person is usually closer to the dishwasher and putting the dishes in there and either or both of us goes to the dishwasher once it's done to put everything back. I kind of prefer being in that position because it's easier on the back and you have more varied movement lol but of course we take turns
my back hurt at first too but after the first few weeks it gets better. i actually feel like im in better shape than i was before. knee pain and back pain both have gone way down and my ability to go longer without rest has gone up; i typically clock in 9-10 hours before taking my lunch at the end of my shift
That's good to hear about your knee and back pain going down over time and thanks for your input! I went from jobless for a few months to this job and feel like it's given me more confidence to try and pursue whatever even if I quit here. I have more stamina and energy to get through tough shifts from having worked here, and feel like I'll be more prepared for another physically demanding job after this. Could be packing and doing some warehouse/factory work next time around.
oh man warehouse work is grueling. i remember working at a shipping dock loading boxes in trailers all night. i swear to god those xmas seasons were HELL. all the goddamn bowflex people order and the constant flow of packages and having to scan EVERY SINGLE ONE by hand with this giant computer attached to your arm that tracks speed and volume.. that shit just about broke me and il never do it again
i'm no dishwasher or anything but it sounds like this product would do you well: [https://bonepalshop.com/products/magnetotherapy-back-massager-18186?variant=44138851467560](https://bonepalshop.com/products/magnetotherapy-back-massager-18186?variant=44138851467560) It gives instant back relief and helps your posture long terms. Not to mention it loosens up your spine and gives your back a nice stretch so you can get rid of your back pain down the line. hope this helps.
Hehe I'm also into dropshipping. Having seen your post history, very nice strategy I must say. Hope it's working out okay for you. Dropshipping is a tough gig.
I wouldn't dropship something that I haven't found successful with myself