To think a bottle of washing up liquid should last a year

[Kinsters]

This is dredged up from ages ago but I'm wondering AIBU to think my parents are the odd ones? Is it me that's strange?

I moved into a new place and bought a new bottle of washing up liquid (just normal stuff). My parents came to visit me about 4 months after I'd moved in and in that time I had used about 1/3 of the bottle. They stayed for three weeks and by the end of their visit the bottle was almost empty!

Now it's 10 months later and I'm just getting to the end of the second bottle (ie the replacement for the one my parents went through so quickly). Who is the weird one here?! Are we both at opposite extremes of the washing up liquid scale?!

I dont think you're washing stuff properly confused one squirt of washing up liquid would not sufficiently wash 3 pans, 4 bowls

One squirt of liquid frothed into a bowl of hot water would be sufficient. Cutlery first, plates and bowls, then pans last.

I use washing up liquid to clean the kitchen . I've got a dishwasher and I use more washing up liquid than you do !

I reckon you have very soft water, and the brand of washing-up liquid you use is much stronger than what we have here.

Doesn't anyone use it to wipe down kitchen surfaces too such as tiles, worktops, fridge handle and so on?

I dunk a microfibre cloth into hot water and a bit of washing up liquid and squeeze it out.

Diva66 🤢

PandemicAtTheDisco that sounds ideal and is what I try and achieve but with only one sink it's not so orderly/delineated!

@fabulousathome

Doesn't anyone use it to wipe down kitchen surfaces too such as tiles, worktops, fridge handle and so on?

I dunk a microfibre cloth into hot water and a bit of washing up liquid and squeeze it out.

I have a very little WUL added to water in a squirty bottle that i use. I think the OP would approve.

Even with a dishwasher we use a washing up liquid every 2 months ish.

Nottherealslimshady you won't believe me but it really is clean! The sponge has suds on it right till the last item and if it doesn't then I add more. I know what you mean about being able to tell when stuff isn't washed properly - mine is not like that.

I could tell you lived in Asia from how you wash up. No one in Asia uses a washing up bowl. That’s a U.K./Western thing. That’s how my parents wash up too. But a year seems a long time. Especially curry stains sometimes take a little getting out.

GreyishDays I go through method cleaning spray more quickly than washing up liquid. Maybe I should try this out!

I've got a 1050ml bottle that I remember buying near the start of lockdown and it will probably last another week or two. I have a dishwasher but still wash a lot of things by hand, although I'll admit I don't wash up every day, but then some days I might wash up 2 or 3 times if i've done batch cooking or baking. I don't use a bowl but i do fill the sink. I think the washing things under the tap method has the potential to use a lot of water.

I used Fairy washing up liquid at my FIL's and I did notice a massive difference to the supermarket own brand I use. I ended up with a very foamy sink! I now buy Fairy because it is a superior product and I love the smell of it and a little does go a long way.

I never fill a sink, I wash under a running tap but only certain pans as I have a dishwasher. Plus it is gross to have any bits of food in the water.

I clean kitchen sides/tiles with Method kitchen cleaner.

As in how my Asian parents wash up too. They find the idea of putting all the dirty dishes into big tub quite grim. And some of the washing up stuff in Asia has to do with various cultural rituals around cleanliness as well.

emmathedilemma yes, I think it must use more water. I can do it in a very water saving manner by turning the tap on and off and washing everything before rinsing but its quite time consuming and a hassle to balance everything so I don't bother usually.

We are a family of 4 with a dishwasher. We've had our 800ml bottle since Feb/March and it's now nearly finished.

ChaBishkoot the Asian way is clearly the best way! I did draw the line at no hot water in the kitchen though lol.

We have a dishwasher and get through a small bottle about once every six weeks too. Just for washing individual items and soaking stuff that needs it.

Depending on the hardness of the water as well I think? Here in Dorset the water is very hard, and you need a good old squirt of Shampoo/fairy liquid and so on.We have noticed when away soapy products lasting a long time .and not needing as much.

I must tell DH. He uses loads, and washes up in a bowl of not very hot water. The stuff is often greasy. I've tried training him, but he's resistant.

He's fond of saving a penny though, so may go for this approach.

It won't work as well if you are washing baked on food, of course.

Food that's been dished into tins isn't as hard to clean off as food that's been cooked onto tins.

picklemewalnuts yes, I never have a hard time washing up. I just found it odd that my parents when faced with exactly the same dishes used so much more liquid.

I use a pump unit dispenser for ours ‘some people’ seem to think they are creating a contemporary art work in the sink. Pollocks to that ... I am in the midst of completing an eco challenge and they are doing my tits in ! Let’s not mention the million of tubes of toothpaste that are open - i know it’s not me - I roll the tubes from the end not squeeze the guts out of ‘em.

I haven't got the faintest idea how many bottles we go through a year.
I just order a new one when the level is running low, I am amazed anyone would even notice!

I'm Asian and lived in Asia during my childhood. My English DH and I regularly argue about washing up. He runs a washing up bowl and squirt WUL in and then washes the dishes and drains them on the side...and then leave the bowl of dirty greasy water in the bowl..in case there are dishes to wash later, yuk!! This forms a scum around the bowl and then the bowl is all greasy...eww. He never rinses either.
This is what his parents also do.
Luckily we have a dishwasher too and I always rewash what he's hand washed before using them.
My asian parents on the otherhand hardly uses any washing up liquid and just seem to rinse the dishes, and they are not properly clean. So I have to rewash those dishes too.
Just use the dishwasher!

If you don't cook, there's your answer. You are the unusual one. We have a dishwasher but a small bottle lasts us 4-6 weeks. I do cook, so plenty of greasy pans and I use it for washing down surfaces with a cellulose sponge.

btw, I've never heard of daily food deliveries in my country of origin. You must be from another part of Asia OP :-)