Washing up!! Wipe the suds or rinse them?

[Dom Tuk]

I have seen many English and Irish families in the UK and elsewhere adopt this method while washing up. They fill the tub with water, add washing up liquid generously, scrub clean the dishes and the either drain the suds off or wipe off with a dish cloth. There is no rinsing of the dishes to take off the soap suds. Asian familes usually always add a rinsing step before wiping the dishes dry. How do you do it at home. Are there any health concerns with wiping the suds off....there will always be a film of soap left.

[FP]

If I am washing up by hand I always rinse the items under the hot tap before they are drained.  My dishwasher definitely rinses them!

[wellhungjock]

Asking the wife......................

 

.......................................................................waiting for a reply

 

......................................ouch .....I think thats a yes she rinses.

[tubeway]

I live in England - we wash the dishes in soapy water - then let them dry in air. Wiping the dishes dry is considered dirty by many - there is nothing as full of bacteria as a wiping up cloth.   I have never noticed any film of soap

[spudqueen]

I don't rinse. I seem to remember there was something in America (in the 1950's or 60's) about needing to rinse, but what ever was in the washing up liquid has now been removed.

Blimey, I'd never get the washing up done if I rinsed, I've a single bowl and one draining board (badly need the kitchen updating), it just wouldn't be very practical, also I've never seen the need.

[KittyGlitter]

I always rinse, I've never understood why people leave the soap suds on, especially if you want to immediately use the cup or glass for a drink. You'd foam at the mouth!

[marje]

I always rinse with hot water.  It not only gets rid of suds, it also makes the dishes dry very quickly if you leave them to drain, so, no need to use a teatowel to for drying.

[Jackanory]

http://archive.food.gov.uk/hea/1114/english/part7.html

I am with KittyGlitter and marje on this and always rinse.  Click on the above link to see step by step instructions.

PS  I am English & it is a British website.  :o)

[flaming]

Yes, I like to rinse washing-up, too. The washing-up liquid leaves smears if the stuff is left to drain, and you could see from that how much of the chemicals are left on the crocks and cutlery.   I suppose it wouldn't matter if if was the odd plate, but think of re-using unrinsed pots, pans, cups, etc. which then go round to having boiling liquids in once more.  Over a number of years one is imbibing some very strong chemicals indeed - apart from any taste-spoiling which occurs.  Try washing up without strong chemicals!  Another thought: You shouldn't wipe up if possible unless the drying cloth is freshly laundered, as you are just wiping on germs gathered in a used drying-up cloth which rather cancels out the cleaning process.  Rinsing helps.

[Dark Angel]

I always rinse dishes before leaving them to drain, and like you Dom, I can't understand the practice of allowing the suds to dry off. I know a lovely lady who is really accomplished at everything - cooking, housework, everything. But this is one thing she does that I don't agree with!  

[luckystrike]

Yep, I always rinse with fresh water from the hot tap, and then dry with a tea towel.  I have no concerns with using a tea towel, as we change it two or three times a week.  I hate to see dishes piled up and drying when they are covered in soap suds, and the dishes are all streaky when they do eventually dry.

[woofgang]

as taught by my Mum, before I had a dishwasher (God bless and cherish the inventor of dishwashers) I always hot rinsed my dishes in the rack before drying with a tea towel

[joy division]

hey you so got it wrong !....all the irish / brit families I know folow the logical step of rinsing the soap suds off.

After all ..if those soap suds can work wonders on your old burnt on food encrusted pans, what would thsoe soap suds do to the lining in your stomach?

yuk!

[landie]

Rinse under hot tap. (Wales)

[Artful]

RINSE please!

Sadly joy division the English are renowned in France for not rinsing the sudsy dished. When my Mam visits (and other British friends after my man has 'observed' their dishwashing habits) my husband lets her nowhere near the sink and dishes as she never rinses. I have told her but then all she will do is wipe the suds off. To avoid that I put everything in the dish washer, as everyone has been saying that rinses!

[pigface]

I always apply the washing up liquid onto a sponge and rub the plates etc. directly. I always rinse off with hot water before leaving to air dry. I can't be all that good ofr you to ingest that residue.

[netibiza]

I also rinse and use a dry clean cloth - but admit I have heard that drying in the air is the safest.

[netibiza]

Artful - what do they do in Hastings??

[luckystrike]

I don't think any of us would even consider getting out of the bath or shower covered in suds, so keep the same principles for the the dishes!

[Grunty]

I agree with Artful..

  The washing up liquid bottle in my kitchen was bought in France, and has a health warning on the label advising that crockery etc should be rinsed in drinking water.  I was told that it was because the ingredients can cause cancer, but I cannot quote any research on that.

[smudge]

Like netibiza I rinse then use a clean cloth too - but it makes me wonder how both my Grannies lived to 98 years old, without being struck down with some terrible disease caused by washing up liquid!  I wonder if they managed to successfully rinse off the croc's in their butler's sinks too!