Todd Ratka

This sounds to me like the drain hose is incorrectly connected to the drain, causing kitchen sink wastewater to back up into the dishwasher. The dishwasher drain hose sits lower than the sink drain, and this must be accounted for to keep from having a back-flow situation. There is a simpler way to do this than my instructions below, and while it may work, any future clogged drains will cause your issue again. The proper and most sanitary way would be to install an air gap into the sink. This device fits into one of the extra holes on the top of your sink and has a cap (usually chrome) to make it look nice. The air gap device has two connections, one that comes in from the dishwasher and the other that flows back down to the drain. The air gap keeps you from having a direct hose connection between the dishwasher and the drain and will allow for the dishwasher to overflow into the sink if the drain pipe gets clogged. Search google for "dishwasher air gap" and you'll find all the information you need. iFixit...

Left handed drill bits are a life saver in these instances, especially for the small screws that come out fairly easily once you get a grip on them. Just drill slowly and wait for it to grab. Never had much luck with extractors.

I love woodworking, but absolutely hate sanding unless it's the final pass. On antiques, you want to be especially careful with the sandpaper. Since you haven't specified, I'll make an assumption that the legs are lacquered or varnished with a clear over some wood stain. If that's the case, these steps have always produced great results for me: Get a small can of acetone and/or a small can of MEK. They both accomplish the same task, but the Acetone evaporates extremely fast, so is good for final cleanup. These chemicals are harsh on the eyes/skin, so wear proper protection. It's the same stuff used in paint remover, without the messy goo and extra $. You'll also need a couple of green scotch-brite pads, some lint-free rags (old t-shirts), and an old toothbrush. Dip the toothbrush in the MEK and start gently scrubbing on the wood. You will see the old finish dissolve quickly. Every so often, wipe of the dissolved finish with the towels and use the scotch-brite pads to get off any tough spots or larger flat...