WIBU- washing dishes under running hot tap

[Naughty1205]

Just a heated discussion between dh and I now. Who fills their sink with hot water to wash the dishes and/or who washes each item under the running hot tap? I've been told that no one does it my way and he's gone off in a huff. Just curious!

That’s of course only if I’m not using the dishwasher

Same argument here when we first moved in. He said I was wasting water, I said washing up in what becomes dirty water is not washing.

10 years later, I still wash up as I want and so does he and it doesn't cross our mind any longer to question it.

Under the tap! The other way is 🤢🤢

Ancient method handed down in our family.
If you're washing up by hand - start filling bowl of soapy water with tap running slowly.
As the bowl is filling wash the glasses (generally the cleanest and show the most if you miss a bit) and rinse under the tap as it's running anyway. Cutlery in the bowl - to soak a bit in the hot water as they go in your mouth.
Turn tap off once bowl is full.
Next crockery cleanest to dirtiest - and yes plates should have been scraped, tea dregs emptied etc. Wash the cutlery.
Once they're in the drainer, pour 1 jug of hot water over the item to rinse - and start them drying.

Meantime soak pans/ utensils in the slightly grubby water (which is still cleaner than the dirty pans) - whilst drying up to make space.
Any really greasy pans - sit on the side with a drop of washing up liquid but no water gently scrubbed in with a brush.

Scrub pans. New bowl of hot water to finish cleaning/rinse if necessary.

Surely it depends?

If I have one plate to wash, I'm obviously not going to full a whole bowl to wash it.

If I have lots of stuff to wash, it tends to go in the dishwasher!

The 'running tap' team would be horrified if they knew how most commercial glass washers worked.

I hope you never visit pubs or restaurants!

In countries like Australia, of course you mustn't use running water - or leave the water running when you wash your hair and so on.

In England when it's pissing with rain half the year, we don't have the same issues!

Dishwasher here but only run it when it's absolutely full.

Running hot tap after soaking

I stack in the sink, dirtiest at the bottom, and do a quick spray with hot water (hose b tap). Then use a soapy sponge to soap up all the cleaner, upper stuff. Then rinse that under the tap so most gets rinsed at the same time. Meanwhile the lower stuff has been getting soapy water over so is easier to wash as the next batch. Repeat, with plug in if there are sticky pans to soak later. We don't have a dishwasher.

My husband cannot cope with the level of thoughtful stacking required to make this work. (He also can't pack a car, no criticism, it's a brain thing). So he uses the bowl method. He takes 4 times as long (we've timed it), still has to rinse, and I usually have at least 2 things to rewash due to inadequate rinsing.

I haven’t washed up for years (dishwasher) but when I did I always filled the sink with water. I wouldn’t waste water running it continuously to rinse each individual item.

Dishwashers don't use much energy per cycle

Many have an eco mode too, I know ours does.

I can't stand the idea of wasting water with the tap running, so I do it in a bowl. My OH can't stand the idea of using a bowl of 'dirty water' so does it the other way. We each have to turn a blind eye to the other's foibles!

Which is the greenest option?

PP are always up in arms when others are not environmentally friendly.

Dishwasher unless it's just something small such as a mug or a pan I need quickly then i'll use running water but turned off whilst sponging - just tap on to rinse at start & rinse at end

Running tap but tap runs into something that needs water in it like a saucepan or mixing bowl so the water is reused. Everything needs to be rinsed anyway so it's not much more water than rinsing thoroughly would be.

Hot tap.. washing dishes and putting your hands in dirty water is grim.

That being said, it's only at the caravan, we have a dishwasher at home - best appliance I ever bought.

I wash everything under the running tap. I don't even have a plug that fits! I'm now rethinking it though!

Agree with PP: you either do the task yourself or the other person does in.

Back seat driving is one thing, but back seat washing up is sport of the most bonkers form.

I have no sympathy or agreement whatsoever with those who assume the mental load of babying their partner through tasks that they are performing in their own way. I couldn't live like that.

Few plates and a cup rhen Under running water. Otherwise in the sink.

get a dishwasher and stop wasting water, you tap runners should be bloody ashamed of yourselves!

Have a dishwasher, tap is for the odds and ends that don't go/fit in the dishwasher or are needed now rather than in 3 hours... Generally use less than a bowl full anyway!

Do those of you who do it under a hot tap put washing up liquid on each item individually? If so, you must use huge amounts which is really bad for the environment, not only the amount of detergent, but also the plastic waste

I don't have running hot water (no instant boiler and too expensive to use the immersion tank). A kettle full of boiling water in the sink does all my dishes and is usually clean enough afterwards to give the surfaces a wipe down.

If you scrape your dishes before you put them in the sink, there shouldn't be any detritus floating about!

@54MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours

Be lovely if I could fit one in my kitchen but alas it ain't happening unless I take either the fridge or cooker out. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I use a sea sponges and apply washing up liquid to that. It foams up really well and I actually use less that way. I'm working on a solid bar but haven't quite got it foamy enough yet.