I am a splasher.
I try not to, but whenever I wash the dishes in the small sink in my small kitchen, I make a splash zone to rival Shamu.* It was even worse when I lived in a 22-ft Airstream -- it's easy to splash your whole lifestyle when all you want is to wash a few dishes.
What I want: a clear, shallow dome cover for the sink, with several holes or ports sized for the easy entry of arms. (Not just two, because people's body geometry varies; besides which, aliens!) The holes not being used can be stopped with pre-fitted circular covers.
Optionally, the ports that *are* being used can be fitted with level-9 CDC TMI Chernobyl Lo-the-end-is- nigh style dishwashing gloves. Otherwise, the user decides on his own. Naked and lathered up? Or sheathed in scented latex?
Besides reducing the splashing, this might slightly extend the usably-hot time for the water, conserving resources. Hot water washes much nicer than cold.
In the most baroque version, there would be a wide-mouthed, multi-level sieve located with its opening well above the intended waterline, so food particles can be trapped better than they are by the round-slotted stopper in typical sinks. Just scrape the particles over the sieve, which can later be itself scraped into the garbage or compost.
* (A killer whale at the amusement park Sea World)-- yhtomit, Feb 14 2006 I thought this was going to be a car accessory for OCD neat freaks.-- DeliveranceRiverBoatCaptain, Feb 14 2006 It certainly sounds like a good idea, but how many people actually wash dishes by hand any more? And can they afford something more than a rubber bowl?-- DrCurry, Feb 14 2006 Re "more than a rubber bowl" ... I grant that dishwashers are common nowadays, but here in grad-student housing, not available :) Also, when it's just a few dishes, I'd rather wash them quickly by hand and be done. A large (or even medium) household would do things differently, I know.
yhtomit-- yhtomit, Feb 15 2006 How do you get dishes out of the sink that are bigger than the holes? Does the dome cover the draining board as well?-- spinglespangle, Feb 15 2006 I had visions of filling the glove compartment of my car with old mugs and suddy water.-- wagster, Feb 15 2006 random, halfbakery