What is a washing up bowl for?

[UniquelyBoring]

I've never used a washing up bowl in my house but when I go away at Airbnb there's often one there and I don't understand their purpose. Please can you break it down for me.

Thanks.

Ooo. Good point.

Hot water cleans better than cold water. I have vague memories of a science lesson and the "tail" of the soap interacts better with hot water than with cold. (?)

I wear rubber gloves to make sure I can have the water very, very hot.

I'm with the OP, have (genuinely, not faux naively) never understood the point of a bowl within a bowl so was curious about the answers.

I have a single belfast, just like the above pic and use the fairly large hole on the side to pour any dregs down if the sink has soapy water in it.

I have never broken glasses or crockery on my sink.

The point that I do concede is re-using the water on the garden - this is food for thought.

Jesus....you definitely aren't on a water meter?! 😳

I don't rinse them, I just let them dry. You dunk the cup or plate into the water underneath the suds and then pull it out, leave it to dry. Hence why lots of washing up liquids have like "anti smudge" "no rinse" "clear glass drying" labels on them. You don't have to rinse.

We have never had one before and I've never understood the point of them, but we've just moved to a new house and the sink plug is missing. It's been easier to buy a washing up bowl than to find the right size plug! When we replace the kitchen we'll put in a stone sink and the washing up bowl will be retired.

I have noticed that it needs less water and it stays hotter for longer. But it's ugly.

I hate washing up bowls. I don’t believe they use less water and they get horribly slimy on the bottom.

Genuine question. If we're encouraged to shower instead of filling the bath to save water, why is the same not true for washing the dishes under the tap rather than filling a bowl? The only way filling a bowl would save water would be if you only used a small amount of water, never changed the water, and never rinsed the food residue and soap off the dishes which is grim.

We have one for DH to leave dirty crockery in rather than put it straight into the dishwasher....

Bowl to soak and wash non-dishwashable items. Means they don't scratch the sink or break.
Run tap to rinse items as washed.

In my experience they're great if you want your washing up water to go cold and rancid really fast, with the added bonus that you can farm colonies of mould on the underside if you don't scrub it every time you use it. A fabulous addition to any kitchen.

@garlicandsapphires of course they don't, you empty and wipe and then stand on the edge.

I like a washing up bowl, I hate the new trend of washing under a tap, you end up using so much water. We only wash a few things as have a dishwasher. It's also handy for soaking things and still having access to the sink!

@alwaysfactor50 I don't even have counter space for that

It's not a new trend, my parents have always done it that way.

They don't if you clean them

@xfgdhfgnhkk007 counter space for what? The bow gets put on its side in the sink.

Oh ok with washing up, I've never seen anyone else do it until TikTok came along 🤣

We have a massive butler sink. We’d be buggered without a washing up bowl!

The bow gets put on its side in the sink.

That’s what I do.I don’t like a slimy bottom.

counter space for what? The bow gets put on its side in the sink

Ah I see!

Relative size of the tub.

Kitchen sink is 22-30 litres, a bath of typical depth is at least 100 litres (big ones can be twice that!)

Kitchen taps typically run at 6-15 litres per minute - so unless your washing up takes under 5 minutes (or indeed less if you have a flow towards the faster rate) you are using more water.

Average shower uses 10-12 litres per minute (power showers can be more). So unless your shower takes more than 10 minutes, you're definitely saving. Between 10-20 mins you might be, depending on comparison between shower flow and tub capacity.

I think showering in about 10 mins or less is considerably more likely than washing up in under 5!

Mine gets stored under the sink when not in use.

Dishwashers, btw, use about 10-12 litres per wash, and slim ones 8-10, so better to wash by machine if you can.

I haven't even attempted to work out comparison of energy costs for heating tap water v using dishwasher

“I don't rinse them, I just let them dry. You dunk the cup or plate into the water underneath the suds and then pull it out, leave it to dry. Hence why lots of washing up liquids have like "anti smudge" "no rinse" "clear glass drying" labels on them. You don't have to rinse.”

Sorry but that’s just minging. Nobody wants to taste dirty sud residue… ugh vile.

I turn mine 90 degrees, and then it can sit over the sink with an air gap underneath it. And you can fling the odd teaspoon or whatever in there until its time to wash up again.

I have to say I prefer to wash up under a running tap, but these days I do it with tap running in to the bowl, and when it's full enough I turn the taps off and carry on in the bowl.

Most of the washing up goes in the dishwasher though, which uses less water (and even less on the eco mode, but that takes over 3 hours!)

There are plenty of cultures that don't use a washing up bowl but don't and know not to waste water, especially hot water, by leaving the tap constantly running when washing up.

I presume you also leave the tap running when you are cleaning your teeth and rubbing your soapy hands together while washing them?

OP I wash dishes like you do (well most is rinsed then goes in the dishwasher). But for what I do wash, I leave the tap running, rinse and scrub with the dishmatic sponge filled with fairy, rinse suds off and then onto the next dirty dish.

I'm not from the UK originally and was (and still am) perplexed by the bowl.

Sorry but that’s just minging. Nobody wants to taste dirty sud residue… ugh vile.

Blimey, what an over reaction. Loads of people wash up like that, and I have never eaten anything that tastes of suds or dirty residue.

I don't leave the tap running when I'm washing up but I do when I'm brushing my teeth! Been trying to break the habit for ages but keep forgetting. As soon as the brush goes in my mouth my brain switches off!😂😂