Doing the dishes is a common household chore that involves washing, catering, and wiping. Washing the dishes means to scrub them with soap and water to remove dirt and food particles. Catering the dishes means to arrange them in an orderly fashion in the cupboards or on the counter. Finally, wiping the dishes means to dry them off with a cloth or paper towel. Doing the dishes is an important task that helps keep the kitchen clean and organized.