Whats the point in a washing up bowl?
Discussion
Hi all
I usually put my dishes in the sink and run a little water in them so the food does not get hardened. When I can be bothered to wash I put a little soap on a sponge and clean my plates. I used to do the filling the whole sink with water and soap thing but now I just dab the soap on a sponge without filling up the sink.
Back when I lived in a house share. My house mate would pile his dishes in the washing up bowl. That thing was filled with some disgusting food skudge that started getting mouldy as he left his plates in so long. Im sure the water never got emptied. It would just be topped up time to time.
I stayed some third world countries where the houses had no sinks. They used washing up bowls.
But whats the point of having a sink then putting a plastic bowl in the middle thats almost the same size as a sink? You can always use a plug.
I usually put my dishes in the sink and run a little water in them so the food does not get hardened. When I can be bothered to wash I put a little soap on a sponge and clean my plates. I used to do the filling the whole sink with water and soap thing but now I just dab the soap on a sponge without filling up the sink.
Back when I lived in a house share. My house mate would pile his dishes in the washing up bowl. That thing was filled with some disgusting food skudge that started getting mouldy as he left his plates in so long. Im sure the water never got emptied. It would just be topped up time to time.
I stayed some third world countries where the houses had no sinks. They used washing up bowls.
But whats the point of having a sink then putting a plastic bowl in the middle thats almost the same size as a sink? You can always use a plug.
I used to use one so that I could have hot soapy water, and still had space to pour/rinse away any stubborn food stains that I didn't want to go into the water, thus making it last longer, or pour away that half cup of coffee that would invariably be forgotten prior to the commencement of washing up but after the dishwasher has gone on.
However, when we had the kitchen redone, I have since gone for a "sink and a half" unit, meaning I no longer need to do this as I always have an available rinsing area for these things.
However, when we had the kitchen redone, I have since gone for a "sink and a half" unit, meaning I no longer need to do this as I always have an available rinsing area for these things.
In one flat we had one huge sink, it would take ages to fill, so to wash a few plates etc I'd use the bowl.
We don't have one in our current house as the sink is a sensible size, and a dishwasher.
I hate people piling things up in the sink! I like everything to the side, then I'll fill the sink and wash. You use a lot of soap putting it on the sponge if you're doing more than a pan or two I think.
We don't have one in our current house as the sink is a sensible size, and a dishwasher.
I hate people piling things up in the sink! I like everything to the side, then I'll fill the sink and wash. You use a lot of soap putting it on the sponge if you're doing more than a pan or two I think.
Shakermaker said:
I used to use one so that I could have hot soapy water, and still had space to pour/rinse away any stubborn food stains that I didn't want to go into the water, thus making it last longer, or pour away that half cup of coffee that would invariably be forgotten prior to the commencement of washing up but after the dishwasher has gone on.
I'd always assumed it was to have an extra sink when doing the washing up.However as I'm a bachelor I rarely do enough washing up to justify filling a sink. When the Fairy bottle is empty I fill it up with pre-mixed washing liquid and just squirt some of that on then use the sink for rinsing.
Shakermaker said:
However, when we had the kitchen redone, I have since gone for a "sink and a half" unit, meaning I no longer need to do this as I always have an available rinsing area for these things.
This, the washing up bowl in the sink is pretty much a British thing and mainly due to older houses only having a single sink. The US and Australia adopted two sinks decades ago. I also do my washing up pretty much straight after eating, so I don't get crusty food stains that require an angle grinder to remove (and absolutely loathe people who leave dirty dishes just sitting in putrefying cold dishwater).
technodup said:
I figure it's because it's 'cleaner' than the sink. My sink is second hand, in that I haven't changed it since I moved in. Who knows what's been poured down it, I know I've put some liquids down it I wouldn't fancy on my plates. So I use a basin as a barrier.
Presumably you have washed/cleaned it since moving in though?
R8Steve said:
Presumably you have washed/cleaned it since moving in though?
My sink leaks a bit and I put a bucket underneath in the cupboard. That 'water' ends up back down the sink, and I just prefer not to have to bleach the sink every time I do it. Which isn't often, but still, a bowl is easier.
I'm probably going to redo the kitchen this year. I'll just as probably buy a new basin to go in the sink.
Who uses a sink these days? Surely 95% of the population have a dishwasher?
Even still, if I need to wash the odd pan that was used to boil some carrots and don't want it taking up a lot of space in the dishwasher, it'll rinse it under the tap and use a sponge and a drop of washing liquid.
Large plastic bowls in a sink is completely pointless unless you literally just have a single sink and no dishwasher. Think it's a generation thing. I know for sure my Grandparents still have a plastic bowl in the sink despite having a double sink and dishwasher.
Even still, if I need to wash the odd pan that was used to boil some carrots and don't want it taking up a lot of space in the dishwasher, it'll rinse it under the tap and use a sponge and a drop of washing liquid.
Large plastic bowls in a sink is completely pointless unless you literally just have a single sink and no dishwasher. Think it's a generation thing. I know for sure my Grandparents still have a plastic bowl in the sink despite having a double sink and dishwasher.
Henners said:
They are entirely useless, and council.
Why don’t we all have a liner for our baths too... See that’s a silly suggestion! So why have a f
king washing up bowl!
I have something like a bath liner. Use it for bathtime with my daughter. Allows her a deep enough pool to sit in and be washed without having to half-fill the bath with however many litres that would take. Why don’t we all have a liner for our baths too... See that’s a silly suggestion! So why have a f
king washing up bowl!The water cools down too quick in a metal sink. Bugs the hell out of me at other peoples houses. 3 or 4 items in...all the real heat has left, so by the time you get to the more heavy duty stuff...you have to change the water or do a crappy job.
Or just use a plastic bowl and keep it clean.
Or just use a plastic bowl and keep it clean.
DaveTheRave87 said:
It's handy to have one to be sick in after a heavy night out.
Personal experience.
When I went away to university, my father slung an old Addis orange washing up bowl in the boot of my car. I asked him why and he told me I would know why when the time came. Personal experience.
27 years on it is still seeing active service although sadly these days it has been retired front front line combat duty and is currently in the loft of the barn catching water from a leaking skylight.
It’s been an invaluable, practical and highly versatile household and lifestyle tool but it was last used as a washing up bowl in my grandmother’s utility room back in the 70s.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff