# Brits don't rinse soapy dishes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411 "2012-09-21T17:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/81 "2012-09-24T17:59:15Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Yes, though I suppose I could turn it off while not rinsing. I also don’t stop the drain, so soap is applied directly to the dishes. I imagine most Brits of my generation would consider that an intolerable waste of water. I expect you use a good deal more dishwashing liquid that way too. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/82 "2012-09-24T18:04:14Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Why make it so hard for yourself? > You live in Australia. Everyone **knows** all you have to do is tie-up your dishes outside and let the sand storms scour them clean. That must be the biggest advantage to living in Australia. Plus the dishes are, by default, upside down, so the suds will fall right off. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/83 "2012-09-24T18:43:40Z")
Now I am curious about how much you pay for water. I live in TN, and I pay about $25 a month. It would take a lot of dishwashing to raise that, as I don’t even use the minimum. Household of two adults, btw. I notice the dish liquid deniers have dropped out of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/84 "2012-09-24T18:46:48Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I imagine most Brits of my generation would consider that an intolerable waste of water. I expect you use a good deal more dishwashing liquid that way too. Water is free for me, always has been. And I think I actually use less liquid than I would if I filled the sink. But I likes me a sudsy sink. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/85 "2012-09-24T19:07:34Z")
> [@](#): > > ETA I usually do rinse, but that’s because I usually end up using too much detergent. Can you please explain how if, ‘washing up’ liquid is so different, and if it’s designed to magically leave no trace, what difference does it make how much you use? And yes, I recognize that cars and clothes aren’t dishes. (Sigh.) My point was, everything else you wash with soap, you rinse. For a reason. To imagine it is not required for the dishes you eat off of, is baffling. Too much stacking? Waste of water? Rather eat soap! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/86 "2012-09-24T19:39:54Z")
Two different US styles of hand-washing dishes. My Way (aka the Right Way): 1. All excess food into the trash can. 2. Run a tub of hot soapy water. If your sink is two-sided, the “tub” is one half of the sink; if one-sided, it’s a plastic tub big enough to hold your plates/pots, but leaves part of the sink open for clean dishes. 3. Dishes go into the water. They soak for a bit to loosen stuck-ons. 4. Using one of those nice sponges that has a scrubber on one side of it, go over each dish individually. As completed, stack on the not-full-of-water side of the sink. 5. When the other side of the sink has a few dishes, run hot water. Pick up each dish and rinse under hot water. Place dish immediately into drying rack. Air dry. Husband’s Way (aka the Wrong Way): 1. All excess food into the trash can. 2. Put dishes in a pile in the tub/sink half. Pick up each dish. Apply dishwashing detergent directly to sponge, or use a scrubber with a dishwashing detergent reservoir. Scrub dish under running water. When dish is clean, put down sponge/scrubber and rinse with running water. 3. Put dish into drying rack. Repeat step 2. Both of us feel that the other’s technique doesn’t get the dishes adequately clean. I, however, am right. He, however, is the one who actually does the dishes, so he wins in practical terms. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/87 "2012-09-24T19:44:11Z")
I prefer your husband’s way. No tub required! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/88 "2012-09-24T19:46:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Water is free for me, always has been. Me too (well, it’s not metered for me), but heating it isn’t free. - and free doesn’t mean I should waste wantonly anyway. > [@](#): > > And I think I actually use less liquid than I would if I filled the sink. But I likes me a sudsy sink. I can’t see how washing under running water could use less, unless the dishes are essentially clean at the start - and for stuff like pans and roasting trays, where there’s grease and encrustation, I don’t know how they’d ever get clean under a running stream, washing the detergent off before it’s worked. It takes me less than 4 US gallons of water to wash up after a typical family meal for 4. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/89 "2012-09-24T19:50:23Z")
See, to me Husband’s way is a huge waste of water and dish soap. Also, it feels nice to put your hands in the hot soapy water. Furthermore, it’s easier to get stuck-on bits off if they’ve been soaking. And, longer exposure to hot water and dish soap = more germs killed. Not to mention, it’s how I was taught to do it as a kid, and you’re not calling my momma WRONG, are you??? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/90 "2012-09-24T19:54:46Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I can’t see how washing under running water could use less, unless the dishes are essentially clean at the start - and for stuff like pans and roasting trays, where there’s grease and encrustation, I don’t know how they’d ever get clean under a running stream, washing the detergent off before it’s worked. Ah, I see where we’re getting confused. You’re thinking that I’m holding the dish in the stream as I’m washing it. I’m not. I’ll stick the dish in the stream for a quick rinse, then pull it out of the stream (but still over the sink) to wash it, then back in the stream for the second rinse. The sponge doesn’t go into the stream at all, except for just before I put the soap on it. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/91 "2012-09-24T19:59:31Z")
I heard Americans clap after doing their dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/92 "2012-09-24T20:03:00Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ah, I see where we’re getting confused. You’re thinking that I’m holding the dish in the stream as I’m washing it. I’m not. > > I’ll stick the dish in the stream for a quick rinse, then pull it out of the stream (but still over the sink) to wash it, then back in the stream for the second rinse. The sponge doesn’t go into the stream at all, except for just before I put the soap on it. Ah, understood. Still doesn’t quite appeal to me, but I understand what you’re describing now. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/93 "2012-09-24T20:15:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > 1. Turn on hot water > 2. Squeeze some dish soap onto a sponge > 3. Sponge off a dish > 4. Rinse off the same dish > 5. Put dish in drainer > 6. Go back to step 3 > 7. Profit! error near line 7: Inaccessible code line ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/94 "2012-09-24T20:24:16Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Not to mention, it’s how I was taught to do it as a kid, and you’re not calling my momma WRONG, are you??? No offense to your momma. But how many decades did she spend as a bachelor, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/95 "2012-09-24T21:11:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > e? > > And yes, I recognize that cars and clothes aren’t dishes. (Sigh.) My point was, everything else you wash with soap, you rinse. What about after you take a bath? ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/96 "2012-09-24T21:18:10Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Now I am curious about how much you pay for water. I live in TN, and I pay about $25 a month. It would take a lot of dishwashing to raise that, as I don’t even use the minimum. Household of two adults, btw. That certainly appears to be a low cost. In NZ its commonly accepted that around 35% of the electricity bill is for hot water. I’d expect to pay $80 for your household and having teenagers, pay a darn sight more. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/97 "2012-09-24T21:59:34Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > I always wondered how people with single basins do dishes. Until recently I only had a single sink and I did it by filling the sink with hot water and washing-up liquid, washing the dishes and then rinsing them under the hot tap as I took each item out. No restacking or any of that palaver that \*\*Mangetout \*\* mentioned. Now I have a double sink but still see no reason to change the method. Rinsing under the hot tap seems more hygienic to me than dunking the dishes in a second sink of water. (I don’t leave the tap running all the time, just flick it in to rinse each item - easy with a lever tap.) ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/98 "2012-09-24T22:02:46Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > That certainly appears to be a low cost. In NZ its commonly accepted that around 35% of the electricity bill is for hot water. I’d expect to pay $80 for your household and having teenagers, pay a darn sight more. If you cool your house in the summer, you pay thrice for hot water: once for the water (maybe), once to heat the water up, and once to run the house cooling system to get rid of the extra heat. pdts ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/99 "2012-09-24T22:09:56Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Can you please explain how if, ‘washing up’ liquid is so different, and if it’s designed to magically leave no trace, what difference does it make how much you use? You’re supposed to use a small amount in a large bowl of water, such that when you remove the item from the bowl, the water and detergent run off with no trace. If you use a smaller amount of water, as I often do, as I’m single and don’t cook many fancy meals, then even a small amount of detergent tends to froth up more, and need rinsing. I don’t imagine it’s magic that allows it to run off the plate or whatever without leaving a trace, I imagine it’s science. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411/100 "2012-09-24T22:16:42Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You’re supposed to use a small amount in a large bowl of water, such that when you remove the item from the bowl, the water and detergent run off with no trace. > > If you use a smaller amount of water, as I often do, as I’m single and don’t cook many fancy meals, then even a small amount of detergent tends to froth up more, and need rinsing. > > I don’t imagine it’s magic that allows it to run off the plate or whatever without leaving a trace, I imagine it’s science. Actually it’s neither, because it doesn’t just run off the plate or whatever without a trace. It has to be rinsed off. If it just ran off without a trace you could just go straight from sink to cupboard without having to towel or air dry them first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-dont-rinse-soapy-dishes/635411.md?page=6)