Bowls in sinks.

[MWB]

On TV, here in NZ, I see nearly every program that, in the kitchen, has a plastic bowl in the sink. The bowl is filled with the soapy water to wash the dishes, then is lifted up to empty down the sink. And I've seen & heard of British immigrants doing this as well.

Why is this done? Why not just do the dishes in the sink proper?

[scotman]

Because you are hitting crockery against steel(usually) and also the steel sink will remove heat from the water more quickly that a plastic bowl

[scotman]

Soory, should have said 'than a plastic bowl'

[rabbitygirl]

It's noisy straight in the sink.
Things break more easily in the sink.
You don't have to clean the sink if you use a bowl.
It's what Mum used to do.....

We don't have a bowl at home. We wash dishes in the sink. I say 'we' - it's actually 'him' because I refuse as he should have mended the dishwasher weeks ago!

And anyway, he dirties the pans cos he is the cook as well!

[MWB]

Perhaps you could have a plastic sink installed then?

How long does it take to do the dishes if the water gets cold? Or how many dishes?

Lol.

[TCL-MUMPING]

You have running water now in New Zealand?

[carlton23]

In the `Old Days` we had deep stone sinks which used to chip or break the china cup and plates if dropped into the water, so we bought plastic bowls when they were invented and have continued doing so ever since. Nice to hear from one of our colony cousins..... Whats the weather like down there?

[MWB]

Only cold water, TCL.

Still have to heat water on the fire.

Lol.

[MWB]

Foggy, calm, minus 4 degrees.

10.13 am.

[Ice.Maiden]

Hi MWB. Also, you might squeeze floor cloths out down the sink - or tip/put umptten different things in it - so I wouldn't fancy my dishes going in there afterwards, even if it was scrubbed out first. Bleurgh! : )

[carlton23]

Ha, it`s 23deg in the day here, and rising.

[Mr Veritas]

We don't use a plastic bowl for the washing up,far too much fiddle.
Our (large) kitchen sink is stainless teel, and seems to hold the heat quite well.
When we were in France last year we bought a plastic(cushioned) mat with lots of small rubber sticker type feet.This attaches to the floor of the sink and make a cushioned base for the china,or anything breakable to sit on.It's useful too, if like me you are a butterfingers and dropping things into the sink!

[carlton23]

Not THE Mr Veritas.....the matchman? Sorry, I expect thats an old one.

[coccinelle]

Personally I use one so that I can tip anything left in a glass or cup directly into the sink and not into the dishwater. it also means I use less water as the bowl is smaller than the sink. Here in France everyone asks me why I have a bowl as they don't use them here, many people have a double sink (one for washing, one for rinsing) with a place to tip sauces etc in between.

[carlton23]

Bonjour Coccinelle, comment alez-vous? Enchante ,au revoir. Thats all I can remember of my school French.