Fierce debate rages between Americans and Brits on learn how to wash dishes

Life is short and there will always be dirty dishes. However, a fierce debate has caused a divide online about how to best clean homewares.

US-based TikTok users were aghast after discovering many people – in particular people from the UK – don’t wash dirty dishes under hot running water.

According to several TikTok videos, the ‘British’ way of washing up involves filling the sink or small container up with warm, soapy water and cleaning the dishes before placing them on a rack to dry.

Perturbed by the thought of stagnant soapy water, cleaning enthusiasts decided there is actually a correct way to wash them – urging homeowners to instead clean them under running water with soap before rinsing to get rid of suds and putting aside to dry.

Others also slammed the method for being unhygienic, as the dishes are being washed in the same water over and over again.  

A fierce debate has emerged online about how to best clean those homewares, with some declaring not washing with running water unhygienic (stock image)

‘If you’re from the UK will you show me how you wash dishes?’ a TikTok user asked in a clip, sparking a fierce discussion over the right way to wash dishes – if there is one.

Users from all over the world chimed in with their thoughts about the soapy matter.  

‘You saw people not rinsing the soap off didn’t you?’ a user responded.

‘UK dish washing method gave me huge culture shock when I was visiting a UK share home. I thought the dishes were matte until I washed them,’ another TikTok user commented.

Others pointed out it was to conserve water.

‘We’re the same in Australia. Fill up the sink with soapy water. Wash plates etc then they just get put on a drying rack. There is no ‘rinsing’ afterwards. You’d get smacked for wasting water her,’ they wrote.

‘I cant speak for all of us in the UK but the reason I don’t rinse the dish after washing it is because I’m on a water meter and I’m being charged for every drop of water I use. The soap slides off anyway,’ another chimed in.

But, according to experts, there is a correct way to wash dishes to avoid bacteria and viruses – and there is a multi-step method to achieving perfectly clean homewares.

‘If you’re from the UK will you show me how you wash dishes?’ TikTok user @spiritual_af asked in a clip, sparking a fierce discussion over the right way to wash dishes 

TikTok users from all around the world shared how they clean dishes – some pointing out water restrictions mean they can’t wash with running water

‘The biggest issue is making sure that food substances that are conducive to microbial growth are removed in the washing process,’ Amesh A. Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told DailyMail.com. 

‘So that when the plate is used again it doesn’t contaminate the new food being placed on it,’ he continued, adding he doubts the ‘UK process has any clinically meaningful risk associated with it.’

According to Carla Garcia Carreno, MD, it’s also important to keep the kitchen sink clean, recommending cleaning the sink and sink drain with running hot water and bleach or chlorine every one to two weeks.

‘In general, washing dishes in water that accumulates and not rinsing with running clean water carries the risk of spreading bacteria and other infectious agents,’ she told PopSugar.

According to The American Cleaning Institute, if using a sink to clean dishes it’s important to regularly empty the water and refresh it.

‘Rags, dish cloths, and sponges should be left out to air dry, or laundered in the washing machine. Remember to replace sponges and rags frequently,’ they added.

For those using dishwashers, the great debate has raged for years over whether or not to pre-rinse – with experts weighing in.

Dr Rainer Stamminger, a physicist and chair of household engineering at the University of Bonn in Germany, said you don’t need to pre-rinse dishes – a mistake that many households make. 

It is not necessary as it uses a lot of water, and energy if done with hot water,’ he told MailOnline.

‘It is sufficient to wipe off food remains by a napkin or with a knife or fork into the waste bin.’

In general, items that are heavily-soiled with stubborn food stains should go in the bottom shelf (where the rotating spray arms are located) because the water pressure there is higher.

That’s also why delicate glass items or light plastic containers should be placed in the top rack (where the pressure is lower) – so they don’t break or get knocked around.

Also, avoid placing very dirty crockery in the four corners or the shelves, as the water from the circular spray arm can not reach them well.

‘Don’t forget that the water is always coming upwards from the spray arms, so the dirty side must look down,’ Dr Stamminger said.