1.   The traveller had dried the dishes.

2.   Polly finished drying the dishes, and wiped down the cooker and the work surfaces.

3.   Mrs. Madrigal began drying dishes.

4.   I check the kitchen, where I find her laughing conspiratorially with a female friend as they wash and dry dishes.

5.   Mrs. Como always did the cooking and Como frequently dried the dishes.

6.   Ms. Mendelson is adamant that people not use the same dish towels to dry their hands and dry the dishes, and my mother agrees.