(NC)—Run a search on dirty dishes on the internet and you will find that not only is this a topic of much discussion and debate, it is a highly personal and emotional issue.

Forums offer advice, suggestions and tips for how to hide those dirty dishes when company comes—in the oven, under the sink, in the laundry basket—to name just a few. Some write to vent their frustrations—“how can so many dirty dishes pile up so fast when there are just two of us?” one woman asks. A highly-rated video shows three young men dealing with their angst when the kitchen is overrun by an unsightly pile of dishes and cookware. The problem is solved when one waves his hand and the dishes magically disappear, no doubt accounting for the popularity of the movie.

Some pose more disturbing questions, like “will dirty dishes in your sink cause roaches to appear,” while one professional photographer has elevated the topic to an art form and a philosophical inquiry. His published book of images captures dirty dishes from his worldwide travels, illustrating the “often thoughtless, wasteful ways in which food is treated in consumerist societies.”

The lack of a satisfactory solution for what to do with dirty dishes, short of the unpopular answer to just wash them, is perhaps what prompted one manufacturer to introduce a new kitchen sink. The Crystalline sink, designed by German sink manufacturer Blanco, features a sleek and striking glass cover, which also serves as a cutting board, that when in place, allows the busy cookto hide the sink and everything in it when company comes over. Designed for the smaller, urban kitchen, the sink is compact in size with one large bowl and smaller prep bowl made of premium stainless steel. The faucet ledge and sink cover are both made of safety glass and consumers have a choice of white or black for the glass components.

“The Crystalline sink is ideal for the homeowner who loves to entertain,” says Alexandra Marshall, director of marketing for Blanco Canada. “Just place the beautiful glass cover over the sink and you have an extended workspace you can use,” she adds. “This makes it particularly ideal for the smaller kitchen with limited countertop space.”

Not only that, but you have yet another place to hide those dirty dishes when company drops by unexpectedly.

More information can be found online at www.blancocanada.com.

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