Soaping the dishes instead of sponge

[JennyDune]

For years, I always wondered why the dish sponge in our kitchen often never had washing up liquid imbued in it / leftover. Usually you would expect always a little bit left over from prior wash/s.

I just found out today, that my partner (for 15 years) was been putting the liquid on the dishes instead of the sponge!

Firstly, im annoyed that I never spotted this. But more importantly, surely this is weird? Only a mad man would soap the dishes instead of the sponge?

You use a sponge. 🤢

For years, I always wondered why the dish sponge in our kitchen often never had washing up liquid imbued in it / leftover. Usually you would expect always a little bit left over from prior wash/s

Seriously? That's an actual thought you've had not just once but for years?you need to to get out more, what a waste of a life

@VividGemini

To those that wash in the bowl do you rinse them after? I only ask because in my mind they would be sitting in dirty water. I have a dishwasher but for washing and sterilising bottles I wash in the bowel. But I have to rinse them after because otherwise they would still have milk on them. Surely this is the same with food?

I think it's just down to personal preference really! It must be wasteful though, using fairy liquid for each item. But agree with a pp that you rinse out the sponge after anyway!

When I was things that haven’t gone in the dishwasher, I first wash them in soapy water, put them in the middle sink and once I’ve finished them all put them back in the main sink and pour a jug of hot water over them to rinse off. I leave them in there for a few minutes to drain then put them straight in the cupboard - no drying with a tea towel!

@Claudethecat

I have a dishwasher but for washing and sterilising bottles I wash in the bowel

That is not very hygienic!

😂

@TirednWorried

I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't have a dishwasher. Of course i wash pans, but haven't washed cutlery and crockery for at least 25 years. Its like laundrettes, who uses them

This is a really snobby POV - people who can't afford dishwashers or washing machines live in 'real life' too. There are loads of people who don't have dishwashers.

I do have a dishwasher but never use it, because we cook so much that we'd be washing up all the time anyway, the plates and cutlery are a fraction of our washing up time.

I think you should be glad you have a partner who does the majority of the washing up by the sounds of it!

@TopCatsTopHat

You use a sponge. 🤢

Haha yes good point - the most unhygienic thing is reusing a sponge!

I rarely wash up in the sink but if I do you squirt liquid in the bowl. I’ve never seen anyone squirt it in the dishes or the sponge.

@TopCatsTopHat

You use a sponge. 🤢

What else is anyone supposed to use to wash up with?!

We have a dishwasher but still use a sponge to do the odd thing that can’t go in there.

[quote JennyDune]@Brusca

Ah! The very thought of washing dishes in a bowl of water opposed to a running tap, is going to give me nightmares. [/quote]
God, imagine how much water you are wasting if you are washing dishes under a running tap!!!

Today 01:09 JellyTots2009

I'm more confused why OP thinks the sponge should have left over soap on it from the prior wash.
Surely everyone squeezes/rinses sponges out until the bubbles have gone. I never leave mine full of soap“

We use antibac: if you squeeze a dollop onto the sponge and squish it in when you finished, it stops germs growing on the sponge.

That said, mostly use dishwasher.

@Bagelsandbrie a washable cloth. Mine gets changed daily. The sponge or cloth is proven to be an excellent germ breeding ground.

I use a bowl of soapy water and mainly put soap on the sponge. I do put a squirt directly on chopping boards or baking trays and then use the sponge. I run each item under running water to rinse. The water runs into the washing up bowl though.

[quote JennyDune]@Brusca

Ah! The very thought of washing dishes in a bowl of water opposed to a running tap, is going to give me nightmares. [/quote]
Please don't do this. Water shortages in the UK could become very real in the next 10-15 years due to climate change. My DSis works for the waterboard and some of the stats re water reserves during the dry months are shocking even now never mind 10 years down the line. You should never leave water running whilst you wash up or brush your teeth.

@TirednWorried

I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't have a dishwasher. Of course i wash pans, but haven't washed cutlery and crockery for at least 25 years. Its like laundrettes, who uses them

See I put pans in the dishwasher. I do chopping boards and baking trays in the sink

I appear to have been washing up incorrectly for my entire life...

(water and washing up liquid in sink, cloth and scrubber to wash everything in order; glasses, cups, plates, bowls, change water when necessary, dirty stuff, pans and then antibac on chopping boards)

I have never washed up under a running tap unless it was one cup or spoon and nothing else needed washing up)

I don't have a dishwasher.

Soap on sponge. Clean all dishes with sponge, then you put it under running water to rinse off the soap and dirt. Water isn't running the whole time. Only when rinsing the dishes.
Washing up bowls are rank

Wierd thread. How do you not know that most uk people put the washing up liquid in as the water is running?

The only time we put washing up liquid on the sponge is when we're camping and taking dishes to the wash up area. It's easier and less space to take the dishes in the dry basin with a squirt of fairy in the sponge and then put the hot water in when you get to the sink.
Normally it's always in the basin at home... but we have a dishwasher anyway

@madisonbridges

Washing dishes under running water is very wasteful. It's like leaving the water running whilst brushing your teeth.

I put soap on wet sponge, soap up dishes with sponge, put plug in and rinse dishes. Doesn't fill the bowl. So less water.

Everything well scraped into the bin or rinsed beforehand. Washing up liquid in the water as it's running, wash dishes, rinse each item quickly with fresh water. If there's lots needs doing we'll change the water in the bowl mid-way through.

Washing up under running water is so incredibly wasteful (and no I don't leave it running while I do my teeth either).

You both have a really weird totally wrong method of washing up.

standing versus sitting to wipe your arse

Who the hell stands up to wipe their arse?! Surely the act of standing creates a clench situation? What if you have a clegnut (🤢) and it falls during movement??

@Greyeverywhere

Soap on sponge. Clean all dishes with sponge, then you put it under running water to rinse off the soap and dirt. Water isn't running the whole time. Only when rinsing the dishes. Washing up bowls are rank

Scientifically speaking this way must be less hygienic.

You are just moving germs from one plate to another with the sponge without the hot water to help kill them off.

@TirednWorried

I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't have a dishwasher. Of course i wash pans, but haven't washed cutlery and crockery for at least 25 years. Its like laundrettes, who uses them

What about poor people like me? As always Mumsnet proving it's a million miles from the real world.

[quote JennyDune]@Brusca

Ah! The very thought of washing dishes in a bowl of water opposed to a running tap, is going to give me nightmares. [/quote]
Why?
I rinse everything before using a washing up bowl, and so does everyone I know. You don't really think that people put food encrusted pans and dishes in the bowl do you?
Then they get rinsed afterwards as well.

And I sterilise my wet sponge by sticking it in the microwave for 2 minutes. It also gets put through the washing machine regularly and soaked in a bleach solution.