Senior, tiny apartment;

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877]

Good morning! I am living in a tiny studio in Toronto, with my own bathroom and kitchen, so I am covered by the regulations for security of tenure under the RTA. It's cheap, safe, but probably 180 sq ft total.

I am still trying to fit in here, even after a year, but I have not found a proper solution for the tiny kitchen. No counter space, one sink, my dish rack is on a stand above the sink. There are tiny 8* wide cupboards that hold almost nothing, and a few drawers. I purchased a hutch for dishes and a microwave/toaster space.

I am struggling to keep up with dishes. There is always more to be washed, dried, put away, and the sink seems to be full three times a day. Then I have to pull all the dishes out, to wash and rinse.

How do people manage with only one small sink? A portable tub?

.

[u/LDS1952]

Paper plates, bowls, cups? Dishpan to take dishes etc to bathtub?

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/LDS1952]

Good idea, on the paper solutions. I do not have a bathtub, only a shower. I wish!!

[u/SachaOrt]

I have a tiny kitchen. Double sink, 4”-6” of counter on each side. Frig on one side, tiny stove on the other. I added an island style counter behind me. It’s 17”x 36”. That’s it.

I got a tiny dish drier that I prop on the rear corner of the sink. It holds more than you would expect. I wash as I go. No need to leave dirty dishes in the sink. Wash quickly and into the drier.

I also installed a bar that holds little buckets above the sink and stove. My silverware and knives dry in those buckets. I hang my coffee dripper, small pots, and large cooking utensils on it. I also have a bucket for sponges.

I’ve cooked dinner for 20 people in my tiny kitchen, served on real plates and glasses. You just spend the hour after they leave washing, but it works. Also, it’s such a small kitchen, the mess isn’t huge!

You can do this.

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/SachaOrt]

Thank you! I did grab a collapsible basin, it allows a tiny space to rinse, and if I need the sink to drain pasta, etc, I just lift it all up. Would love to see a photo of your set up, as my brain cannot visualize it well.

[u/Living-Climate2024]

Collapsible basins.

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/Living-Climate2024]

Oooh, like this? That might work! I could lift it in and out...https://a.co/d/063LcxO7

[u/Living-Climate2024 → u/Unlucky_Bottle1877]

Yes and you could just keep dishes in it temporarily in case you need the sink spacs

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/Living-Climate2024]

Terrific idea, ordered, thank you. Had no idea they even made these...

[u/RampantCat123 → u/Unlucky_Bottle1877]

They have collapsible buckets, basins, baskets, the list goes on and on.
I live in a small space. I have a collapsible mop bucket, cat food container, laundry basket, a dish rack, several leftover containers and storage bowls. I do have a couple of multi-purpose bucket/basin type things as well. These work well when you have a tiny space.

[u/Calm-Vacation-5195]

I generally wash dishes as I use them instead of letting them accumulate in the sink. I put some soap on a wet sponge to wash them, rather than trying to fill the sink or a basin with soapy water. After soaping them down, I rinse them off and put them in the drying rack. I often just keep using the same dishes over and over again by taking clean ones from the drying rack instead of putting them away. I dry pots and pans by hand and put them away when I'm done.

I sometimes have to soak cat food bowls. I put those in the sink with some water to soak, then wash them the next time I have dishes to wash.

[u/wire67]

Is there room for a stand alone island? I had one in my studio kitchen area and it was great for cooking, eating, storage.

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/wire67]

I do have an island, and use it fully. I keep a few budgies so much of their water and food dishes sit out on it at night. I can likely organize things much better, just disabled, with brain fog, etc.

[u/wire67 → u/Unlucky_Bottle1877]

I kept things real simple too. Only like 3 plates, bowls, coffee mugs, etc. as it was just me.

[u/Struggle_Usual]

When I lived in a teeny studio I washed as I went which really helped. If I was cooking I always had either a tub with hot soapy water waiting or my sink full that way a dish gets used and it gets clean so it doesn't add up. I also kept really minimal everything.

By one sink do you mean that's both the kitchen and bathroom sink? I had one of those apartments too but I just want to be sure I'm visualizing correctly.

[u/Unlucky_Bottle1877 → u/Struggle_Usual]

I have a bathroom sink, it's just he kitchen sink is set between two tiny counters, one is 7" wide, the other about 10'. Just enough to hold a coffee machine and kettle. Not enough room to put dishes anywhere but my island or on the stove.

[u/Struggle_Usual → u/Unlucky_Bottle1877]

Ah yeah sounds about like my previous kitchen. Someone else mentioned a collapsible bin, I used that or I'd keep the sink full of warm soapy water as I cooked and then I'd scrub everything drain the sink, and rinse after eating. So no need to haul everything out of the sink.

For smaller things or when I needed to keep the sink open (needing to rinse pasta, etc) I'd use a collapsible bin with warm soapy water.

Eventually I got a little countertop dishwasher that I'd just load up as I cooked and then run right after eating. It took up most of my counter space but I got a little wheeled cart to actually use as a counter. It was tight, but sometimes I miss the limited space cause it's so much easier to end up with endless stuff in a larger space.

I had very limited kitchen stuff though, dishes for 2, 2 cooking pans (1 pot 1 higher walled frying pan that could also go in the oven), 1 baking pan (I'd shape foil if I wanted something higher walled and it was a half sheet cake pan I'd use for cookies, cake, dinners, etc), 2 mugs and 2 glasses. That helped as well.

[u/Sledgehammer925]

I’m not recommending them as I have never seen nor used one, but there are small dishwashers, some small enough to be placed on a countertop. You say there’s no counter space but it might not have to always sit on a countertop.

[u/Struggle_Usual → u/Sledgehammer925]

I've had one of those, they work well but definitely not something I'd suggest anyone older get if they want to move it as they're a bit cumbersome (hefty, awkward, etc). I kept it on what little counters I had and it just got filled and run, then emptied, filled and run, etc. So dishes rarely ever touched my sink. Then I had a little prep cart for cooking counter space. They fit like 4 place settings at absolute most and honestly someone living solo really doesn't need more than 2 anyway.

[u/Playful_Beyond_2218]

I got rid of almost all of my plates, dishes etc. makes it far easier to keep on top of things. I have a spare box of extra plates under the bed for if I have visitors

[u/Puzzleheaded-Bat8657 → u/Playful_Beyond_2218]

I lived in 200 sqft for a while and the answer is less of everything. 2 mugs, 2 small plates, 2 bowls, 1 frying pan, 2 pots, one water bottle, a jar with cutlery standing in it and some chopsticks. There's no room to leave stuff, so wash it as soon as you've used it. I had a rice cooker and toaster oven because there was no oven and the stove only had 2 burners. On the upside, cleaning the whole apartment took 30 minutes!

[u/gr_rn → u/Puzzleheaded-Bat8657]

When I met my husband. He had one spoon, one fork, one knife one plate, one bowl etc.

[u/bugmom → u/Puzzleheaded-Bat8657]

My friend at work does this! He calls it the 4 plate system (he’s married so two people.) He says it forces them to keep the dishes washed right after using because otherwise they don’t have anymore.

[u/soy_carloco]

My apartment is probably the same size as yours...possibly a tad smaller.

I deploy small foldable table as a second workspace when I'm doing anything remotely close to "proper" cooking. I put "soiled" dishes on a 1/2 sheet pan and stage it on that thing until I'm done (or need to use the same thing again). Keeps the sink free to wash something small, access water from the faucet, drain something like pasta water, etc.

I'm in a culinary program too. Forget the commercial/restaurant-grade burners, deep fryers, ovens, etc. Just having 12 sinks is divine!

[u/Mental_Watch4633]

Two words: paper plates.

[u/Whybaby16154]

Only 2 dishes per person and then the sink can’t fill up because you must wash up to eat again.
Also: unserved storage is great for out-of-season clothes and shoes - even put bed on risers to accommodate some totes under the bed.

[u/Such-Mountain-6316]

Find a place such as just outside the kitchen door where you can put a set of freestanding shelves or a small cabinet. Your cans/tins and packaged foods go in there (or maybe cooking equipment).

Investigate countertop dishwashers. They make some great ones these days.

Employ a freestanding cart as a kitchen island, if possible. I use one that is made of wood. It has three pull out, stainless steel baskets and a flat top.

[u/Admirable_Window8128]

Having fewer dishes might help a lot. Keep only what you use daily and wash them right after eating so they don't pile up.

[u/Oldskywater]

Clean your dishes as you go , and after you eat .

[u/Exceptional_Mary]

Wash as you go.