I have to say that I used to do it your way. Then, I lived in a drought zone and switched to your husbands way. Then, I read that using a modern dishwasher used less water and power and I switched to a Miele. I like it, except that it eats the nonstick coating from pans. Had to switch to kinds without the coating.

I use my dishwasher, there's 2 of us and we just run it 2-4x week, depending on how much cooking I've done. Another option is an 18" dishwasher. They do use less hot water than hand washing and also get your dishes cleaner.

tooky58, you are right. The studies say that dishwashers use less water than rinsing under the faucet, and the studies also say that your silverware will be more germ free if you wash them in the dishwasher.

I tried a method of hand washing for a while. where I kept a basin full of water with a capful of bleach in it near the sink and scraped the plates and wiped with a soapy sponge and put things in the basin for disinfecting. Then, transferred to a different basin of water for rinse. I had tried that as an experiment, because the killing the germs process generally needs hot water and that is where you use your hot water heater and water.

I ended up getting a new dishwasher and I load it every day and it has a rinse or quick wash function if there is something I don't want to have get stuck on. Living alone, I run it about twice a week and know my silverware is germ free.

Dishwasher. There are 5 of us so it's filled every day, at least once, but I use it even when half full, or pretty much whenever. I just see it as a tool to be used, not "saved" for when it's stuffed. I hand wash if there's just a couple of small things to be done, and that's always scrub & rinse.

3 adults, wipe plates with used paper napkin, load DW and run as needed. Hand wash pots and pans, sponge / scrubber with soap, really hot water. I, like my mother, have "asbestos hands".

Back to your main question about sink size. Are you looking for two smaller sinks, because of wanting to fill the sink versus your husband wanting one big sink?

If so, I would do a test of what size you need using your dish pans versus sink.

We used to have two side by side sinks and my mother used to fill one with wash water and one with rinse water. That was when I was young.

But, yes, the studies which showed that things need to have enough contact with hot water to have germs killed and the other study that modern dishwashers use less water and power than rinsing in warm water at all, made me change to loading the dishwasher as I go method.

@D.L. I picked out a sink that has a 20" by 17 1/2" single bowl that has the rack with it that is perfect size for me. Hubby wants a double bowl but the bowls are smaller. He says we can just stick a rack in the second bowl ( hate!! that) I contacted the manufacturer and they will not have a double bowl available till after our kitchen renovation is completed.

When I remodeled I opted for a stainless sink with 3 dividers. The smaller center division houses the disposal. The other two are equal size to wash left to right or the other direction. I always keep a sink of soapy water while cooking to wash, rinse and drain as I go. Now that my kids are grown I for the most part hand wash dishes...your way.

Rinse or hand wash immediately after use then put in the dishwasher. Why anyone would not have or use a dishwasher in 2017 is something I can't understand. I hate dishes piled in the sink and the dishwasher sanitizes.

@ Susan L. I like do a little clean up as the dinner is cooking. I keep some hot soapy water in the sink and wash and rinse as I go. Same as you.